Page 62 of Her Irish Boss

But focusing on one thing at a time was productive. Resolve the issue with this business first. Then, he'd figure out the personnel issue with dating an employee. He'd figure out how to introduce it into the public view without jeopardizing his business or giving the employees the wrong impression.

Her phone chimed.

I hope you enjoyed the movie as much as I did.

From Jacob.

He blinked, trying to comprehend what that meant. Had Selena gone on a date with Jacob? Friendly? Romantic? It didn't matter. Nothing with Jacob would ever be friendly on his side. The man had watched her at dinner that night like she was his damn dessert.

I'll swing by sometime next week and pick it up. Or you can finally take me up on my offer to go to dinner.

Brogan's eyes closed with relief. So they hadn't gone on a date. His feelings for Selena had become borderline obsessive. And deep.

The thought of any other man touching her pissed him the hell off. Maybe if they didn't have to keep it a secret, it wouldn't be so bad. He wouldn't have to wonder what excuse she came up with when she didn't accept Jacob's dinner invitation.

His basic instinct was to close his arms around her, shield her from everything. He half-laughed. She'd resent him for thinking she needed it.

He walked back into the living room, spotting Selena and Cathal standing on the balcony. Rian drank a beer, his hip leaned against the counter as he scanned his phone.

“Thanks for cooking.” Brogan grabbed a Guinness and poured it into a pint glass.

Rian lifted a shoulder. “No problem. He handled Simmons on behalf of all of us and managed not to kill him.” He set his phone down and met Brogan's stare. “I think this will all work out. The bar. You and Selena. It feels right.”

The way he phrased it meant a long,longfuture. Thinking of being without Selena brought a sour taste to his mouth. But a future? He wanted one. But for how long? Better yet. How?

“You're overthinking this, Brog.” Rian pointed at the pint glass of dark liquid in Brogan's hand. “Drink. Stop analyzing everything. Stop running the numbers or whatever you're doing.”

“I wasn't thinking about the bar.”

“I didn't think you were. Don't screw this up with Selena.Cathal and I both like her. A lot. She's good for you.” He smiled and nodded at the window of the balcony. Selena said something to Cathal that made him throw his head back and laugh. “She's real. Down to earth. Isn't afraid to stand up to you. Apparently, she liked your condo, which only leaves her tastes questionable.”

Brogan rolled his eyes. “Just because I like things that are comfortable doesn't mean I have poor taste.”

“Outdated? Is that a better word?”

Brogan held up his pint. “Sentimental.”

“She's also headstrong. I'm sure the two of you will come to blows from time to time if you haven't already.” He tapped his phone. “She's left me four text messages and four voice mail messages. All about that promotion you want to put on.”

“That weneedto put on.” Brogan shifted to watch her as she and Cathal walked back into the living room. “If the food can survive without you for a few minutes, why don't we go sit down and discuss it?”

Rian let his head drop back. It didn't matter at this point whether Rian wanted to participate or not, they needed his name to draw in a crowd. The promise of traditional Irish dishes with a gourmet edge.

Brogan sat down on his sofa, pleased that Selena sat down beside him. He passed off her phone. “Everything is fine.”

“Great.”

She looked at the screen and then back at him with a small shred of panic. “It's nothing like how that sounds.”

Good. But he'd keep it to himself just how disconcerting it'd been a few minutes earlier. Or how much he wanted to find Jacob and tell him to stop trying to date his Selena.

She pulled up a list on her phone and waited until Riansat down in a wide sofa chair before asking her first question.

Brogan stayed quiet, sipping his drink, enjoying listening to the cadence of her voice. The wildflower scent that clung to her hair. The way her hand occasionally brushed over his knee. She was here, with him, not out with Jacob.

None of the women he'd dated since coming to America had brought him so much jealousy. That meant one of two things. Either those women meant far less to him than he'd realized at the time. Or, the scarier prospect.

Selena means more to him than any other woman before her.

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