Page 81 of Her Irish Boss

Selena giggled and tossed back the whiskey. She pointed at Cathal and then Rian. “Now. It's time to give them a taste of who you are.”

“I already cooked for everyone in the dining room, Selena,” Rian said. He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked disgruntled. “And talked to them.”

“Brogan said you played the fiddle.”

Rian shot an accusatory look to Brogan. But Cathal interjected first. “It'll be fun, Rian.”

“The band you have out there might not be up to it.” Rian's lips twisted to the side in a smirk. Oh, he would definitely play. Brogan did not doubt that.

Selena waved them toward the sofa. “Brogan brought these over.”

“They were taking up space in my closet anyway.” Brogan had to hunt to find them in his apartment. “Go play. And play well. Selena said she's putting it on the internet.”

They grabbed their cases and opened them, both grinning like two kids. He'd missed being with his brothers this way. Selena had brought that back to them.

He and Selena needed more time together, but the more he thought about it, the more he agreed with his brother. They both wanted to adopt Selena into the family.

He could make that a permanent addition by asking her to be his wife. The idea didn't scare him. Not nearly as much as losing her did. He'd screwed up so many times with her. Why hadn't she upped and walked out already?

After they'd tuned their fiddles, Brogan followed them out of the office. People watched them as they passed. Mostly, their attention stayed on Rian. They'd turned him into a sort of celebrity for the evening. A title that Rian hated when around his family. He didn't seem to mind being the world-renowned chef on the covers of magazines, but when he was at his restaurant, when he was back to being nothing but Rian O'Keeley, he wanted nothing to do with the fame. He'd said it himself earlier.

But now, watching him climb onto the makeshift stage with Cathal beside him, Rian looked happy. Truly happy.

Brogan crossed his arms and took a deep breath. His ma would be proud.

The band cut their current song short. The din of the restaurant took over the brief silence. “Should I make some type of announcement?” Selena asked as she stepped up beside him.

Brogan shifted her in front of him slightly, wished he could wrap his arms around her shoulders. “No. Cathal will get their attention.”

She leaned back, her shoulder brushing against his chest. “You sound excited.”

He shrugged. “I guess I am. It's been a while since I heard them play.”

Cathal pulled up the fiddle and started. No preamble. Nothing announcing him. The music in the room drew the crowd’s attention.

Swallowtail Jig.

He knew it well. It was the first song Cathal learned to play. Light. Quick. Lively.

Rian took over partway through, causing the crowd to cheer. Yes. Their chef could fiddle and do it well.

The band sat there, stunned.

Cathal spoke to the band for a moment before turning back to Rian.

Brogan barked out a laugh.

Selena seemed amused. “What is it?”

“Dueling fiddles. Cathal treats it like a real duel.” Their ma used to shout about how hard he'd end up playing, losing all his technique. He'd even ended up smacking Rian upside the head once with his bow.

They started slow, building up until everyone in the restaurant clapped along. He took Selena's hand and twirled her in a circle, bringing her back in close. Laughing. He loved her laugh.

Dozens of people started to dance to the music with them. They shifted from song to song, the band picking up and looking as though they enjoyed the change in routine.

At close to one in the morning, Cathal and Rian finally gave up.

Trevor walked up with an arm draped over the shoulders of a waitress named Susie. They both looked tired but excited. Trevor pointed at Selena, standing to the side. “So, Mr. O'Keeley, I thought, since you and Selena are a thing that it meant I could finally let everyone know that I’m dating Sue. I mean—” Trevor grinned and pointed at Selena, "You two look good together.”

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