Page 31 of Her Irish Boss

“I could figure it out,” he continued, lifting one shoulder, “but I'd appreciate the help.”

Help. The boss wanted help. Not fondled by his employee. He looked up at her. If they were together, an item, she'd lean down and kiss him. Would he flip out if she did that, now? His blue eyes watched her a long second before looking away.

“I'll find out for you.” She hoped her voice sounded light.

“Thanks,” he murmured.

“Oh, I meant to tell you I have a meeting tomorrow morning. Do I need to find someone to be the shift manager?”

He turned the chair around to face her. “I hope everything is alright.”

“It is.” She'd not told him about Mimi. She didn't want to ruin whatever image he held of her with the knowledge that every morning and night she took care of an elderly woman with memory loss. It wasn't the sexist thought in the world.

He wanted to ask; she could tell. She bit back a laugh. He always followed every rule about the separation of work and personal life. Except asking if she had a boyfriend—he'd broken his rule for that.

“Do you want to know what my meeting is for?”

“That's your business.” He turned back to his computer, grumpy again. Poor guy.

She twisted to lean against his desk, partway blocking his view of his computer. She'd take the face-on view when she admitted to him that she took care of her grandmother.

“I have to meet with the insurance company.”

“Oh? Why's that?” He tried to look around her at the screen, but she shifted, her knee pressing against his leg.

This was the point that people usually backed away from her. But Brogan wasn'tin,to begin with. “I live with someone.”

His jaw tightened. He leaned back in his office chair, and he linked his hands behind the back of his head. His white dress shirt flared open, confirming all the hours he spent in the gym were worth it. “I didn't realize that. I thought you said you weren't seeing anyone.”

She blinked at his sudden irritation. “Oh.” She smiled and patted his knee. “Not a man.”

His shoulders relaxed. “Then who lives with you?”

“My grandmother.”

“Your—” He sat forward, bringing them closer than usual. Her breath caught, but she didn't move. “Your granny lives with you?”

“Yes.” Was it that bad? Would he turn away like the few other men she'd tried to date? She cleared her throat. Not that she had any plans, or ability, to date Brogan, but it would hurt if he did.

He rose. Good God, so much man stoodrightin front of her. She itched to touch him, wrap her arms around his body. Her day was good because of the insurance meeting. It'd just kicked up another notch. The spicy scent of his aftershave made her want to lean closer.

“Is that why you were late all those times?”

“Yes.” Her voice sounded breathless. It was his fault. “I had to wait for the nurse to get there.”

“You should have told me, Selena.”

If she wasn't already propped up on the desk, her knees might have given way. He even cared about that. “I don't like excuses.” She tilted her head to the side, studying his expression. “You wouldn't have had to invite me here early every morning if I had.”

His thighs touched hers, the only evidence that he'd shifted a fraction closer. “Where are your parents?”

Brogan asking another personal question was major movement forward in their not-quite relationship. “I have no idea about my dad. He split when I was nine. My mom is in California somewhere. Chasing after a man, I'm sure. She took off for good last year. Just picked up and left.”

“I'm sorry.”

“It's better, actually. Taking care of Mimi is much easier than dealing with her B.S.”

He nodded and brushed a strand of hair away from her face, resting his hand on her neck. “What's your meeting about tomorrow?”

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