Her Irish Boss: O'Keeley's Irish Pub: Book One Page 5

  Rian accepted a pint of beer from the bartender. “Do you want another drink, Selena?”

  She blinked, trying to clear the buzzing feeling in her head. Cathal's comment about talking too much reminded her of where they went.

  “That's right. You all met at the bank today. How did that go? Your brother told me about needing to find a loan to buy the property.”

  Rian looked back to the door and back to her. “Not so good. I'm leaving for Ireland soon to talk to our banker over there. See what strings they can pull on the property we still own.”

  “But Brogan's not leaving?” Could she call him by his first name to his brothers?

  Maybe not by the way Rian smiled at her. “No. You probably already know that I travel. A lot.”

  Cathal finished whatever he'd had in his glass. “Me, I'm okay to fly once or twice, but not keen to do it and work at the same time. Brogan hates airplanes.” He pointed at her drink. “Was it good?”

  She squinted one eye closed and looked at the glass. “A little too good, I'm afraid.”

  “Your Katie found herself a man, I see.”

  Katie had wrapped her arms around the army man, kissing him quite enthusiastically. She did manage to get the hat off since she now wore it – oldest trick in the book.

  “I don't know what to do about her. We were supposed to go home together.”

  Rian chuckled, and Cathal's eyebrows raised higher than she thought possible. She nudged him with her shoulder. “Not like that. Although, I do know Katie loves all people, as she says it. She told me the plan was to tell any guys we meet that we were going home together to get out of the situation.” She motioned to her dress. “Despite my appearance, I have to go home soon. Alone.”

  “And Katie was your driver.” Cathal put his arm along the bar behind her back, shifting a little closer.

  “Yes. She was.”

  “I called you a ride.” Rian clicked his beer glass to her empty one.

  A shadow blocked out the low light above them.

  Selena looked up.

  Brogan.

  “I guess I know why you're always late to work.” His gruff voice sent a shiver down her body.

  “Give her a break,” Cathal said, his arm slipping onto her shoulder and giving her a gentle squeeze. It was brotherly to her, but to Brogan, his eyes narrowed into slits. “She was unwinding after the hard day of work you put her through.”

  “I'm sorry. You really shouldn't have come down here.” She cut her eyes at Rian. He held up his hands in fake innocence. “I'm here with Katie. She's my ride.”

  Brogan scanned the room. “She's the one currently wearing the army hat and taking shots at the bar.”

  “Yeah.” She waited until he looked back down at her. “She's a pretty shitty DD.”

  Both Rian and Cathal laughed. Brogan did not.

  “Hey there.” The man that had waved to her a few moments earlier stepped up beside Brogan, his soft brown eyes were hopeful. “I'd hoped I could buy you a drink?”

  She wrinkled her nose, ignoring Brogan's sharp look. “I think I've had enough for the night.”

  “How about a dance?”

  “I really don't think so.”

  But the man would not be deterred. “We could always get out of this place.”

  Brogan shifted, blocking the man from Selena's line of sight. “Are you interested in talking to him?”

  Part of her wanted to say, “yes,” just to see what Brogan would do. But, honestly, she didn't want to talk to anyone but her grumpy, sexy boss. She reached out and nudged Brogan to the side.

  “I'm sorry. I think I'm about to leave for the night.” Because planned or not, that fourth drink was starting to get to her.

  The guy moved away, and Brogan continued to aim his frown at her. “How drunk are you?” He asked her before swinging his gaze to his brothers. “And how much have you two contributed to it?”

  Rian took a sip of his beer. “Ask Cathal. I got here a few minutes ago.”

  “I bought her one Salt and Honey. That's it.”

  “Oh. A couple shots of Jameson's should top off the night.” Brogan held up his hand when Cathal started to speak.

  Selena set her empty glass on the bar and stood, her eyes locked on Brogan. “Don't yell at him.” In her sky-high heels, she was much taller, not as tall as him, but their faces were noticeably closer. She fisted her hands to keep them by her side and not reach for him. Just because they weren't at the restaurant didn't mean the rules had changed.

  Rian had called him to give her a ride. Of all people, the one that made her light up like Christmas in July.

  Brogan leaned to the side and looked at her shoes. She didn't miss the quick way his eyes skimmed over her body on his way up. She wished she could read his mind since it made his frown deepen.

  “Those cannot be comfortable considering you'd rather wear flip flops.”

  She tilted her nose up. “They hurt like hell, but Katie said I looked nice.”

  “Nice?”

  Rian laughed again. Selena decided she liked him, reserved but with a sense of humor when he wasn't working. She actually liked both Brogan's brothers.

  “Let’s go,” Brogan said. “I'll drive you home.”

  Her heart stuttered. “I don't need you to drive me home. I'm a big girl. I can call a cab.” She didn't want him to see her small apartment. It was all she could afford in Atlanta. He probably lived in a penthouse somewhere, lined with his designer suits where he made his guests take their shoes off at the door.

  “Cabs aren't safe.”

  “I know self-defense moves.” She held up her hand like she might do a karate chop.

  Brogan caught her wrist, tugging her a fraction closer. God, this was torture. “Show me later. If I drive you, you don't have to pay for a cab. I'm free.” He didn't release her wrist. “Cathal, watch out for Katie.” He glanced Cathal’s direction. “From a distance.”

  Cathal leaned back against the bar. “Of course, Brog.”

  “Rian watch out for Cathal.”

  Rian smirked. “Who’s going to watch out for me?”

  “The fact you're drinking beer means you'll be fine.” With a small tug, Brogan led Selena out of the bar and into the late summer night. His entire hand encircled her wrist in a warm grip, putting her under Brogan's complete control at that one moment.

  She glanced at her cell phone, trying to give herself something else to think about besides her wishful thinking that he had any other feelings for her. “I gotta get home. It's almost midnight.”

  He smiled over his shoulder, slipping his grip from her wrist to her hand.

  She stared at their hands, linked together. His was large. Strong. Was holding hands against the company's rules? She hoped not because she didn't plan on dropping it first.

  “Do you turn into a pumpkin at midnight?”

  She blinked, focusing back on him. “No, but the nurse has to go home. Or almost a nurse.” She squinted, trying to get the story straight. “She's Katie's sister.”

  “Why do you have a nurse?” He unlocked his car. She'd expected a Mercedes or BMW. No, just a really clean four-door Audi. Responsible and conservative. Just like Brogan.

  He opened her car door. “You don't have to tell me.”

  The seat seemed so far away from this height. No way she'd make it down without falling on her butt in her shoes. She set one hand on his shoulder and kicked up a foot behind her, slipping out of the shoes from hell.

  He gripped her waist, keeping her steady. His amazing hands were almost as distracting as trying to balance after four very heavy drinks.

  “Tell you what?” She looked up at him, remembering his last statement. She was back at her normal height.

  He hadn't released her waist. Again, she either imagined him drawing her closer, or she swayed his direction. Not enough for their bodies to touch, but enough for her to feel the heat radiating through his shirt. Wait.

  “You're wearing a t-shirt.” Sh
e stepped away, shamelessly checking him out from head to toe and back up again. And probably one or two more times. “And blue jeans.” Damn. The man could wear anything and look hot. “It looks good on you.”

  He grinned and motioned to the car. “Get in, Cinderella.”

  His hand cupped her elbow, helping her down. He was sweet. And helpful. A perfect gentleman. She wished he could be more, but even drunk, she knew that was impossible. Brogan never broke the rules. If he had any idea where her thoughts had been, he'd probably fire her out of principle.

  5

  “How did it go at the other bank?” Brogan sat on the edge of his desk. After the first bank declined their loan yesterday, he'd sent Cathal to two more banks. Same answer from both. Securing a loan with the expectations of future profits and nothing tangible such as property, was risky.

  Cathal kicked back on the long, leather sofa, a glass of whiskey in his hand. The top line at their bar. And he'd paid for it. No free drinks. They all agreed on that when they first opened, mainly to prevent Cathal from running their profits into the toilet.

  “They're considering it, but this banker seemed more interested than the others. Filing our tax returns Monday helped. Showed our profits even higher this year.” Cathal rested his ankle over his knee. “Rian said the banker in Ireland agreed to provide a loan against our property there. That lowers the amount we need here if it comes to that.”

  He never wanted to involve the land, but the more he thought about it, the more he knew his Ma would want them to keep the Pub. She'd have loved it there. “Good. That's good.”

  “Now, for the important question.” Cathal leaned forward. “How did it go last night with Selena?”

  Brogan pushed off his desk. “I've tried to forgive you and Rian for that.” And forget about how good it felt to touch her because it was still hell to keep his distance at nine in the morning.

  “Forgive me? You'd have had my head if we'd seen her and not called you. And after she mentioned getting a cab. Alone.” He shook his head. “No. Don't turn your A-type personality around to be my fault. Or Rian's. You forget that he was the one who actually suggested you come and give her the ride home.”

  “You realize that nothing can happen with Selena. Yes, I appreciate you watching out for her, but don't think that it's some lead-in for me to start seeing an employee. Despite what you and Rian will allow.” Not that Brogan hadn't thought of it. Constantly. But he needed to focus on keeping his business open, not how he can manage to date an employee in secret. The four lawsuits from his past still haunted him. No woman would ever have a reason to accuse him again. He already slept like shit the night before.

  Selena had innocently gripped his shoulder to take her shoe off. Holding onto her waist to keep her from swaying and possibly falling was out of instinct. Then she'd looked up at him with those eyes and heart-shaped face, and he couldn't let go. And for that brief second, he'd forgotten about his rules.

  Cathal huffed. “This is ridiculous.”

  “It's fair.”

  “Fair? You've given her extra work. You promoted her to a management position.”

  “Exactly. If I turned around and tossed her in my bed, the entire staff would talk, not to mention she could throw a big sexual harassment suit my way.”

  “It's not nice to brag. Who are you tossing in your bed?” Rian entered the room without knocking, closing the door behind him. “Selena? What did I miss last night?” He smiled. “Did you finally take your younger brothers' advice and make a move?”

  “No. And I won't.” Brogan walked around his desk, putting himself back where he was comfortable. In charge. “Nothing happened or will happen.”

  “Two hundred he doesn't make it to Christmas.” Cathal tilted his head to the side. “Three hundred that she invites him to a home-cooked, Thanksgiving dinner.”

  Rian scoffed. “I'm not going to bet you.” He pointed at Brogan. “That man has never gone against his word a day in his life. A pretty face and nice—smile won't change the very fiber of his being. Strict and straight. That's what Ma called him, wasn't it?”

  Cathal nodded. “Yup. By the book, old Brogan is.”

  “Shut up and drink your whiskey.” Brogan sat down at his computer. The spreadsheet Selena had made was open on his screen. She'd help with the reviews, organizing them into praises and improvements, and still sugar coating it, so she doesn't hurt his feelings.

  “Fire her.” Rian lifted a shoulder. “Fire Selena. Then ask her out.”

  “She needs the job. And she's good at it. I know you think I promoted her because of whatever reaction you saw from me—”

  “Lust,” Cathal said.

  “Longing,” added Rian.

  Brogan pinched his nose. They were making it worse. Which, if he knew his brothers, was their main objective.

  “Whatever. Selena is the best employee I have. Especially now that I have her coming in early. She's only been late a couple of times, but she's still on time for her shift.”

  “And you get to spend a little more time with your pretty waitress. Win-win.” Rian took a long sip. “It won't go away, you know. The attraction. You might as well give in to it.”

  “You two have the luxury of giving in. I don't. I just listed out,” he paused. They'd never listened to him. “Never mind. I'm done talking about it. Go away. Both of you. I'm ready to call it a day.” Brogan had been there for eleven hours. He rarely drank, but tonight, after his brothers' nice, annoying reminders about Selena, he needed a beer.

  “We still need to talk about—”

  “No!” Brogan barked at Rian. “I'm done talking about her. You both know what happened the last time I had an employee make it seem as though she was interested. A fat lawsuit. Right now, the last thing we need is another Crissy. I can't risk it.” His own feeling didn't matter in the decision. He'd never thought Selena would be like Crissy. But he never thought Crissy was going to be like Crissy.

  He was young. Dumb. Inexperienced. Now he knew how vindictive one person could be. And how easily they could destroy everything he worked for.

  Rian snagged Cathal's whiskey from his hand, tossing the rest of it back before setting the empty glass on the coffee table. “I was actually going to ask about the last bank Cathal went to, but obviously your mind is still stuck on Selena.” He held out his hands. “We date.” He motioned between him and Cathal. “We see women. We ask women out. We have a social life outside this place. You don't. It only makes sense that you'd be attracted to one of the women you employ.”

  “Doesn't mean I have a right to act on it.”

  “Just,” Rian said, leaning back in his chair, “push it a little and see. If the opportunity presents itself with Selena, then move in slowly. Test the waters. We're not saying to jump in feet first like with Crissy. You're old now.”

  “Older.”

  “Semantics,” Cathal added with a wink.

  “Older then, if you must,” Rian continued. “You'll be able to tell if that woman likes you or she's playing you.”

  It was tempting, moving in on Selena. Just a little. Enough, like Rian said, to test the waters. He wouldn't admit it aloud, but it made him nervous. He'd misjudged Crissy so bad, costing them all money, that he questioned even his own intuition on women.

  * * *

  “I'll grab more napkins.” Selena shifted around a table and walked to the back of the restaurant. Rolling silverware wasn't the most glamorous part of the job, but it needed to be done. It gave the waitstaff a moment to relax off their feet. Talk about the weather. Gossip. Anything to help make their short break feel a little longer.

  The supply room wasn't large, but it was stacked floor to the ceiling, with additional shelves lining the walls. Organized, of course. Her boss wouldn't have it any other way. Her polite boss that had kept his polite hands to himself when taking her home from the bar. And Monday morning, when she arrived for work, he was right back to square one.

  Aloof. Bossy. She groaned with frus
tration and flipped the switch for the fluorescent light in the supply room. It flickered, crackled, and went out.

  Great. Just awesome. She pulled a box of toilet paper from the corner and propped open the door. She'd tell Brogan later about the light after she got a stack of napkins to Katie, who was on silverware rolling duty for the time being. It kept Selena from having to sit with Trey. He was nice, but he constantly wanted to talk about video games and how many points he’d scored.

  She squeezed past the shelf with the condiments and to the corner. Paper towels and more toilet paper. She didn't blame whoever did the ordering. It was hell when the bathroom ran out of TP.

  The light vanished, and the door shut with a solid bam.

  Crap. Some good employee who had no clue she stood in the back corner just closed the door. Feeling with her hands, she grabbed the one box of napkins she'd spotted. Now, to make it back out.

  Her shoulder bumped the tall shelves. She reached out, steadying it. The entire puzzle of boxes would crash down on her if she weren't careful, burying her under paper products and ketchup until someone noticed her missing.

  She tripped over the box of toilet paper she'd pulled out and whoever closed the door had shoved back in, stumbling forward.

  The door opened as she reached to brace herself on the table left of the door. Her legs stumbled over a few smaller boxes, and she ducked trying to avoid the shelf she knew lined the wall at head height.

  Strong hands gripped her shoulders, keeping her from face planting into the box of squeeze packets of hot sauce she recognized the second before the door shut again, leaving them in darkness.

  “Are you alright?”

  Her breath lodged in her throat. Chill bumps ran over her skin from Brogan's rich voice in the dark. The heat from his body and the smell that floated around his office after he showered in the morning enveloped her.

  She leaned back against him to keep from knocking her head on the overhead shelf. His stiff body held still.