Page 61 of Her Irish Boss

“Rian's a chef. Doesn't he usually cook amazing food?” Selena asked.

Cathal opened the door to Brogan's apartment, pushing the door open and letting Selena walk in first before cutting off Brogan and following her.

“When he cooks, it's delicious.” Cathal rubbed his hands together and turned the corner into the kitchen. “The problem is that he never cooks for us.”

“That's a lie,” Rian responded. “I cooked for you last year. Hi, Selena.”

“Hi. It does smell delicious. My stomach doesn't seem to care about Mary's little lamb at the moment.”

Brogan motioned her to a chair at the table, but she didn't notice him. Her eyes scanned over his apartment, lingering on the sitting area he had set up, similar to how it was growing up, facing an electric fireplace. He'd not considered himself sentimental until both his brothers pointed out the unconscious move. Neither one of them had wanted the furniture from their parents' home, so he'd taken it.

“This is completely different from how I imagined your apartment.” She smiled a real smile that eliminated the remnants of their earlier fight. “I love it.”

“I'm glad. Sit. Cathal can get you something to drink while I call the nurse for you.”

“He doesn't have to do that. I can find something to drink.” She took a step toward the kitchen, but Cathal held up his hand.

“No. I've been lazing about in a cell for the past couple hours. I'll get it. Then I'll take you on a tour of the apartment.”

“What he means is he'll show you the balcony. It's his favorite part.” Brogan took her cell phone from her outstretched hand. In a quick move, he snatched her around her waist with his other hand, pulling her close.

She gave a small yelp of surprise and then laughed. Good. He liked that sound.

He kissed her, as softly and sweetly as possible with an audience. He knew his brothers would busy themselves to give them a moment. He wanted longer than a moment with her, like their time spent at her apartment, just the two of them. Well, and her granny.

“I'll be back in a moment,” he murmured and released her. That had pleased her, he could tell. She nodded her head and watched him walk into his office.

He called the contact she'd pulled up on her phone and introduced himself when Tina answered.

“Is everything alright with Selena?” she asked.

“Yes. She'll be home a little later than usual.”

“What time?”

He thought for a moment. It was already seven, and dinner would be at least another hour. “Eleven?”

“Any time after ten is considered an overnight stay charge.”

Overnight. He glimpsed out the office door. Selena sat with a beer in her hand, laughing at his brothers as if she'd always been a part of their group.

“Are you able to stay overnight?”

“Yes, sir. The charge is more substantial, like I said.”

“That's fine. But I'll pay for it. Don't charge it to Selena.”

The woman chuckled. “Alright, sir. Tell Selena that her grandmother is doing fine. She's had a good day today.”

“I will. Thanks.”

That'd been presumptuous of him. He'd stayed at her place before. She could stay here without any pressure. Take the second bedroom if it came down to that.

He hoped it didn't.

But she'd been right. They couldn't do this forever. He was thirty-seven. Sneaking around to see a girl seemed wrong.

Dumb, really.

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