Page 48 of Her Irish Boss

Brogan read the purchase agreement from the owner of his property. A full five hundred thousand higher than the original offer.

“And he increased the price, because?”

Brogan passed the contract back to Cathal, his jovial brother quiet for a moment.

“Simmons came in with a higher offer. He said it was hard not to accept the offer right then, but he wanted to give us a chance.”

“But another five hundred?” Brogan ran a hand over his hair, not caring how it looked. He stood in his condo, staring out over the Atlanta skyline. For fifteen years he'd lived in Atlanta. For the past ten operated the bar. Everything he had was wrapped up on the bar.

“I know. It was that shit Simmons pulled with Selena and our reaction. It's a power play.”

He glanced over his shoulder, Cathal slowly shaking his head. They didn't have to say it out loud. Neither one ofthem would have done a thing differently. They'd both want to beat the bastard to a bloody pulp. They'd both resisted.

Their Ma would be proud of that.

As it was, both he and Rian were very proud of Cathal for only snatching him away from Selena and not going further. Cathal's aggression, when it came to men like Simmons, wasn't controlled.

“We ask the bank for more.” Brogan knew that was an impossible request.

Cathal tossed the paper onto the kitchen table and leaned back in the old, wooden chair. The sky rise condo building was modern, but not the furnishings inside Brogan's home. He'd brought over the table and chairs from his parents' house back in Ireland. Several pieces of furniture, in fact. Warm. That was how he wanted to live.

Rian lived with hardly any furniture. Everything chrome, black or white, and sparse.

Cathal was lucky his cleaning lady didn't quit.

“I already called Jacob Peters. He didn't say ‘no’ but he wasn't optimistic. I had half a thought to see if Selena could ask him for it.” He held up his hands at Brogan's sharp look. “Hey, she's not my girl, and I hated seeing him make a fool of himself over her that way. He tried to cut up her steak.”

“I think Rian was more appalled that he asked for ketchup to dip his in.”

Cathal grinned. “By the end of the night, Rian hated his face more than you, if that was possible. Did you notice Rian left, without even saying goodbye?”

“No. Where is he now?” Brogan couldn't keep up with the restaurant and his brother's travel schedule.

“Not with a woman.” Cathal shook his head. “He could wine and dine any woman on this planet, and instead, he lives like a monk.”

Brogan chuckled at his brother's analogy. “You know he's not a monk. He doesn't feel the need to share the women he's interested in because then we'll want to meet them.”

“Great.” Cathal threw his arms up. “Our own brother is embarrassed by us.”

“Probably.” He motioned to the paper sitting on the table. “What are we going to do about that?”

“I've given it a little bit of thought. What about raising it through the restaurant? We have five more weeks before the owner needs a decision. Let's do something unique that draws in a crowd.”

Brogan partway smiled. “We'd have to pay for someone to come in and plan the event. None of us know how to do that.”

“What about Selena? You did give her that fancy title.”

Brogan turned back to face Cathal. “What about her?” He checked his watch. “She's probably getting ready to go out to a bar with Katie.”

“You have to trust her, Brog.”

“I know.” It didn't mean he had to like it.

“Do you want me to head out later and check-in with her?”

Brogan hesitated. “Does it make me an odd person if I said, 'yes,' and had you do it?” Because he did want to make sure she was safe. He trusted her not to be with another man. He didn't trust the other men out there. Selena was beautiful. Simmons and Jacob confirmed that she was attractive to everyone else as well.

“Yes. It makes you very sad.”

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