Page 17 of Her Irish Boss

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 fourveryheavy 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 imaginedhim 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.” She 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 wantthem 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.”

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