Page 68 of Her Irish Boss

Again, she was useless.

Selena watched the ambulance drive out of the apartment complex. She needed a shower. Change of clothes. Then she'd go by and pick Mimi up from the hospital.

“Have some coffee.” Brogan passed her a mug. “I watched how you made yours this morning.”

Their morning together seemed so long ago. Brogan’s sweetness eased her heart a little. “Thank you. I'll have to call for another nurse. Tina said she couldn't stay any longer today.”

“You don't have to come to work.” He leaned against the railing near the stairs that led to the parking lot. The early morning sunlight caused Brogan's eyes to glow a beautiful shade of cobalt blue.

Last night had changed things. An uncomfortable buzz of emotion swirled in her chest. She didn't think it was regret. Brogan hadn't shied away from her. Hadn't become distant. But he looked just as confused as she felt. Mimi's episode had catapulted them both straight back to reality.

“I might not have a choice but to take off today without a nurse. I'll need to go to the hospital in a couple of minutes and wait there until I can bring her home. I have thecompany’s laptop. I'll work on the party once I get her settled.”

“You don't—”

She held up her hand. “Please. It will give me something to take my mind off this,” she said as she motioned around her apartment complex. She didn't want to live like this, scraping every penny possible to take care of Mimi and never getting ahead.

Never giving Mimi everything she needed.

Never having a future with Brogan.

She wiped away the tears that'd formed again before they could fall. She hated crying. Between her love for Brogan leaving her exposed and the fear for her grandmother, Selena hated the overwhelming feelings threatening to bury her whole.

Brogan pushed off the railing and took a step to stand in front of her. He held onto her shoulders, his hands as firm as his tone of voice. “I know you can handle your granny, but let Cathal help, Selena.”

She swallowed over the lump in her throat. Her grandmother's situation was only partly to blame for the tears, burning her eyes. At the moment, she would focus on that situation and ignore her love for Brogan and the big mess that came along with that.

“I feel selfish. Like I shouldn't want all this freedom.”

“You are not selfish.” He cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing along her temple. “You're human.” He pressed his lips to hers, gliding her into a slow, steady kiss. He cared. That much she'd wrap around her for the moment. He was the only stable thing to hold onto, if only for a fleeting minute.

He lifted his head, a small smile on his lips. “Go grab ashower, as you mentioned. I'll drop you by Katie's to get your car as I go into work.”

She kissed him one more time. Last night had been wonderful. Back to reality today.

Brogan stoodup as Selena walked into his office. She closed the door and sagged back against it. “Since when is coming to work supposed to feel like a vacation?”

He'd not seen her for two days. Two miserable days that'd left him feeling empty and disoriented. In an attempt to gain back a shred of control, he'd oversaw her shift personally, staying on the floor and running the dining room.

And his employees hated it.

But she was here now, and that made the chaos in his mind settle. Her dark circles, lightly visible underneath her makeup, matched her tired expression.

He walked to her, debating on how to greet her. Because once they opened the door and their workday began, he was back to square one with treating her like an employee. The way she absolutely hated.

He'd considered calling a big meeting with his staff and laying out the relationship for them, but that seemed partly ridiculous since he didn't even know what to call her. Girlfriend?

That sounded dumb at his age.

“Another bad night?” he asked.

She lifted a shoulder, watching him with her golden eyes. “Notasbad. The medicine helped her sleep. Tina is finally recovered from the trauma.” She reached out and tugged his tie, bringing him closer. “Kiss me and make this a good morning.”

He'd do that every morning if he had any clue on how to get to that point with her. She shifted their kiss immediately. He wouldn't push her. Not with everything going on in her life.

But Selena's teeth grazed his lower lip, her hands gripping his shoulders, and, suddenly, there wasn't anything else in the world but the two of them.

It was his only explanation for reaching around her and locking the door.

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