Page 71 of Her Irish Boss

Watching her all day and then waiting until he could sneak into her apartment later to touch her would be payback. God knew what she had in store for him.

17

How did he not get the message that she wanted him to leave? Selena had listened to Jacob ramble on for the past thirty-two minutes and fifteen seconds based on the digital clock on the bank sign just down the street from her apartment complex. It was also eighty-one degrees outside, and they offered a 1.2% interest rate on their car loans. It meant something that the billboard at the bank was more interesting than her ex-boyfriend's ramblings.

She wouldn't invite him inside. Her Southern grandmother, asleep, would have killed her. She'd expect Selena to invite him in, offer him something to drink and eat, and then listen to him with polite attention.

But she didn't care. She wouldn't have answered the door at all except she'd expected Brogan. But, knowing her behind-the-scenes boyfriend, he'd take one look at Jacob, throw a very quiet fit about her talking to him, and not even venture near her apartment until he left.

Help them all if the banker knew they were dating.

“I think the next movie we watch we should do ittogether.” Jacob smiled and pulled out his phone. “What are you doing next weekend?”

Shealmostreplied with ‘I'm washing my hair’ but managed to hold it in. “I don't know yet. I don't know if I'm working.”

“Do you work every day of the week?”

“If I'm lucky.”

He reached out and set his hand on her shoulder. “I hate seeing you so run down like this.”

“Then you can leave any time,” Brogan's voice replied from the end of the balcony.

She snapped her head his direction. When had he shown up? And he'd actually shown himself in front of Jacob.

“I didn't expect you here.” Jacob didn't drop his hand. Instead, as if they had something more between them, Jacob moved closer, his hand sliding to rest at the back of her neck.

Selena was trapped. Her next step would put her back inside her apartment. Her position, standing firm at the threshold, was the last line of defense before etiquette forced her to offer him a glass of sweet tea.

Brogan's eyes lingered on Jacob's hand. “Is this a bad time, Selena?”

“No.”

“Yes,” Jacob answered. “We were setting up our plans for next weekend.”

He crossed his arms, towering over both of them. “Ah. You've a mind to go on a date next weekend?”

“Yes.”

“No.” Selena glanced at Jacob, suddenly hating how close he stood. His eyes were soft. His chin was weak. Hewasn’t Brogan. “I'm not dating you again, Jacob. I've told you that at least a dozen times.”

“But—”

“No.” She moved his hand from her shoulder. “Look. I've tried to be friends with you, but I can't do that if you're only here because you expect us to pick up where we left off.”

Jacob motioned toward her apartment. “Things could have worked out so differently for you, for both of us, if we'd pushed through our problems back then. You're not the least bit curious if we still have a connection?”

“No.” She might not live the life he did, nice car, an apartment with hot water, but she busted her ass to get what she'd had. Brogan had never once offered to swoop in, pay for everything, insinuate that she wouldn't live in this lifestyle if sheallowedhim to take care of her.

She appreciated that. Pride meant something to her.

“I guess there's nothing left to say.” Jacob stuffed his hands in his pockets and turned. His eyes held Brogan's for a brief moment before he scuffed his feet all the way down the stairs. Extra slow. As if he gave her time to change her mind.

They waited, in silence, until his car drove out of the apartment complex.

“Look, I know you have a dozen questions.”

He stalked toward her, his expression unreadable.

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