Chapter 3
3
T wo miles in the pool should have cooled off his body. Eased his mind. Settled the swirling deep in his gut that hadn't stopped. But with each flip-turn in the water, some part of Selena popped into his mind. Her eyes. That damn wink. The way she'd skimmed her jeans down her hips.
He pushed harder until his watch buzzed an hour later.
She was due at the restaurant in forty-five minutes, so he'd head straight into work from the gym. They'd renovated the office, giving him his private changing area as well as a separate area for the employees. His space included a shower.
Maybe, after a shower and putting on his suit, his control would return. Usually, his two-hours of morning exercise gave him a chance to work through problems. One big problem staring him down at the moment was what to do about his restaurant and the offer to buy the property.
Three million dollars. He didn't have the collateral to get that type of loan without more time and planning. He and his brothers worked hard to be successful since leaving Ireland fifteen years ago—from a small goat farm and fighting at the local pub to running a business. They all had their parts to play.
Right now, Cathal was in charge of all the legal business concerning the purchase of the property. Somehow, Georgetown had given the man a damned law degree. His brother was smart. Stupid smart. The kind of intelligence that made you cringe when he showed up scuttered every other night hitting on anything in a skirt.
Opposite from Rian. Although, Rian was an odd one himself. Quiet. A genius in the kitchen. He'd spend his time traveling the world, cooking for famous people or showing off his skills at culinary festivals rather than put down solid roots.
Brogan dried off and pulled on his t-shirt and a dry pair of gym shorts. Both his brothers had their ghosts that they ran from. He knew that. It didn't make it any easier when he was trying to keep their restaurant running.
His ghosts arose each time he had to look, touch, smell Selena, and then walk away. A hot shower and shave would put him into the frame of mind he needed to deal with the day.
To handle Selena.
After the first harassment lawsuit and payout, he never looked twice at an employee. Never crossed a line. Wouldn't. Even if his mind and his eyes always drifted back to Selena. He preached it enough to his employees. Lenny almost had a date with Brogan's fist had he not looked so shaken from the encounter and backed off.
But he didn't blame the boy. Selena was gorgeous, in a messy way. He believed organization led to success, so being late and unprepared almost every day would drive him insane. That was a good enough reason for him to stay away from her.
So, why in the hell had he told her to show up early? That put them together, alone, at least thirty minutes before the cooks arrived. They were both responsible adults. He'd make sure to keep everything professional and keep his distance. Then she couldn't accuse him of anything.
He walked the few blocks to the office from the gym, unlocking the door, and disarming the beeping alarm panel. This was what he needed. A big reminder as to where to focus his mind. O'Keeley's.
“Good morning!”
He whipped around, barely catching the door before it closed in Selena’s face. “Hi, there.” He glanced at his watch. Not too early, but 9:15 a.m. was incredibly early for her.
“I know. Sorry, I'm early.” Her eyes tracked down his body and back up. “You're not in a suit.” She blinked like she was shocked. “I can wait outside.”
He shook his head. “No. Come in. I just need to get cleaned up from the gym, is all. How did you manage to get here by 9:15 a.m.?”
“It seems that my mornings work a little better, leaving earlier.”
He wanted to ask, “Why,” but he kept the question to himself. That was her business. Not his. He pointed down to her feet. “You even have your shoes on.”
“I figured you'd notice. But you probably notice everything.” She sighed. “I'm too overwhelmed to remember anything without writing it down.” They stopped in the hallway between his office and the break room. “So, where do we start.”
“The shower. ”
Her laugh was quick and loud. “I've already taken mine, but thanks for the invite.”
He winced. That was a great way to keep everything professional. “No. Sorry. I meant I need to take a shower.” Now he was acting like an idiot. “If you want to you can do a walkthrough, double-check things. I won't be long.” A cold shower to clear his head.
“Sure thing.” She walked to her locker, her shoulder barely visible from the door to his office. He had to get his mind under control. Because in that one second, he pictured her in the shower.
With him.
Which would never happen. He'd have a lawsuit handed to him quicker than he could get lathered up for a shave.
He showered and shaved in record time, ready to go over the tedious paperwork, as his brothers called it, and distract himself from the pretty waitress currently walking through the dining room.
“I did the walk-through—” Selena's voice trailed off. She stood in the doorway. They weren't alone in the building any longer; the cook’s already prepping for the day in the kitchen, which was a good thing with the way her gaze held his.
“What is it?”
“You look different. Without a tie and your sleeves rolled up.”
He smiled. “I hate ties.”
She crossed her arms and leaned on the doorjamb. “Really? I would have thought you slept in a suit.”
“Not until I'm six feet under, I'm afraid.”
“Then why wear one?” She tilted her head to the side. “You run an Irish pub. And you're the boss. You make the rules. ”
“I run a business.” And as a new kid out of college, no one took him seriously. The suit added an element of power that he leveraged. Still did. So did making rules and sticking to them.
She stood there, watching him. Thinking. He could tell when she thought hard about something because her lips pursed together and distracted the hell out of him.
“I still need something else to do.”
“Right.” He motioned to the seat across from him. “I was wondering how you were with a computer?”
“Decent.” She sat down in the seat he'd indicated. “Why?”
He turned a second, large monitor so she could see it too. “I need someone to go through the review sites. You know, the ones that the tourists use to figure out where to eat. We're trending fairly well, but I want to know what the overall thoughts are. Any simple improvements we can make. See if there's a pattern to what people like or dislike.”
She scowled. “You know some people are just plain cruel, right?”
“Yes. I do. Are you afraid I'll get my feelings hurt?”
She pursed her lips together for a moment. “Until I saw you this morning dressed like a normal person in gym clothes, I wasn't sure you had feelings.” She waved her hand in the air, her eyes wide. “Never mind. Pretend I didn't say that. Sorry, Mr. O'Keeley.”
“I asked you to call me Brogan.” And he had feelings. Far too many inappropriate ones aimed her way.
“Sorry. Brogan.”
“And can you stop apologizing.” He held a finger up. “Except when you’re late.”
“Are you never late?”
“No. ”
“Ever?”
He shook his head. “No. It's almost time for the other waitstaff to arrive. If you think this is something you can handle, we can start tomorrow morning. Do you have a laptop?”
She fidgeted in the seat. “No,” she finally said, embarrassed. “If I need to buy one—”
“No. I'll give you a company one for you to use. Not a problem.” Once he went out and purchased a company laptop. He'd make Cathal do it. “But you can share this one or use my phone until then.”
“Okay.” She rose. “I know you don't want me to apologize again, but really, I'm sorry about the feelings comment.” With a shy smile, she took a step backward. “You just, you know. You look a little more—”
At her long pause, Brogan crossed his arm. “Spit it out, Selena.”
“You look a little more human. Like this. Without the tie or jacket.” Then she left.
Brogan leaned back in his seat. Human? Oh, if she only knew exactly how human he was underneath his suits. Especially when it came to her.
But humans were flawed. They made mistakes. Lapses in judgment. He wouldn't do that with Selena. Not while she was an employee.
“Holy shit.” Katie, platinum hair with newly dyed blue tips pulled back into a ponytail, nudged Selena. “Look at how the boss man is dressed.”
Selena's head whipped around; her mouth instantly ran dry. He'd left the tie and jacket in his office. His shirt sleeves were rolled to just below his elbow like earlier. The top button of his shirt undone. Was it because of what she'd said?
“Girl—” Katie pretended to faint. “I'd let that man do almost anything he wanted to me. Anywhere.” She laughed. “Based on your face, you're in complete agreement. Oh, shit, he's coming this way.”
Katie continued clearing off a table.
Selena didn't move, even knowing her boss had a scowl aimed her way. Her breath quickened with each one of his long, sure steps. Perfect. Brogan was the ideal specimen of a man. Too bad he probably dated models and sophisticated women who wouldn't embarrass him.
“Selena,” he began, her name a grumble in his accent that she loved. “Two things. One, I, uh, found your cell phone.” He held it out. Had she left it in his office?
“Awesome. Thanks.”
“Typically, I’d ask you to keep it in your locker, but—”
Selena held up her hand, stopping him and smiling wide. “I know the rules, boss. What was the second thing you needed to tell me?”
“Lenny won't be in today.”
“Did you go ahead and switch him to the night shift?”
“No. I fired him.”
Katie gasped and stepped right back to her spot beside Selena. “Seriously? It was because of Lauren, wasn't it? I knew it. There's no way a woman that hot would pursue someone like Lenny.” Her voice dropped. “Did you catch them in the supply closet, too?”
Brogan looked confused and annoyed at the same time. “What? Lauren? What happened with Lauren?”
Selena answered to put him out of his misery. “She asked Lenny out on a date and then asked for better tables. She told me it worked, too. I didn't know if you knew about it or not. Plus, you know, I'm not a snitch.”
He ran a hand over his face. “I feel like I'm dealing with high schoolers.”
Selena arched an eyebrow. “Present company excluded, I'm sure.”
Katie giggled beside her. It was a little presumptuous to assume that they had some type of hesitant friendship, but still, she was twenty-eight. She didn't want to be lumped in with the hormonal drama.
Brogan's scowl darkened. “He was fired for stealing money. I just ran over the video from the bar last night.”
“Dang,” she mumbled, shaking her head. “I would have never guessed he'd have the balls to do that.” She clasped a hand over her mouth. Exhibit “A” as to why she'd never fit in with high society. “Sorry!”
Katie nudged her. “Way to go. You'll be next on the chopping block.”
But Brogan seemed amused and not upset. Her ex-boyfriend would have frowned and scolded her like a little child.
“I can't vouch for the size of his anatomy.” Brogan crossed his arms. “It does leave us in a bind. I'd hoped to train someone else for his position. To train you, actually. Can you take over his position as shift manager?”
“When?”
“Now.”
“Me?”
She looked to Katie, who nodded. “Yes, she can.”
“Thank you, Katie,” Brogan said. “But I'd like to hear Selena's answer.”
“I...I can. If you think I'd be good at it. ”
Brogan smiled. A full-fledged, outright, sexy as hell smile. Katie sighed and leaned against Selena's shoulder.
Selena managed not to let her knees grow too weak to stand. Yes. He was absolutely the perfect man. Well, aside from his stiff personality.
“I think you'll do just fine. I won't even make you wear a suit.”
Was that an attempt at sarcasm? “Thank you.”
He looked at Katie and frowned. “Is this your section?”
She squeaked and scurried away, glancing back once before rushing to her area.
“See, you don't need a suit to show people you're in charge,” Selena said. Their new relationship, friendship, whatever it was sent butterflies soaring through her body.
Brogan had fired employees each time they started a relationship at the restaurant. He sure as hell wouldn't pursue something with an employee.
He pulled at his already loosened collar. “I had someone tell me I wasn't a human. I'd hate for my employees to think I'm not a fun, likable fellow.”
“Look at that. No tie and you're mingling with the little people.” She laughed at his scowl. “What about my area if I'm taking over for Lenny?”
“I already called Trey into work. He's wanted to get on the early shift for the past few weeks.”
Great. Trey might not ask her out on dates like Lenny but discussing his video games was almost as bad. Good thing she was at a management level now. It gave her a great excuse to stay busy and away from him.
“Thank you again, Brogan.”
His eyes softened, the blue bright and offset against his perfectly styled dark hair. “You're welcome. Especially since I just bumped up your morning time to nine. ”
“Nine?”
“I still need help with those reviews.” He leaned toward her. The smell of his woodsy cologne drew her closer, but she managed to keep her place. Nothing screamed management material like sniffing her boss in the middle of the restaurant.
“I have a meeting with the bank in an hour. You'll be in charge. Once Trey arrives, I need you to keep your phone with you and call me if you have any problems.” He lowered his voice, his Irish accent deepening. “I'll call you to check in on the restaurant.”
“I don't have your number.” This was really happening. Instead of dreaming about Brogan from a distance, now she had to figure out how to work with the man, side-by-side. It was like one-sided foreplay.
But, damn, she'd take it over nothing.
“I sent you a text, so you have it now.”
Of course, he'd already texted her. Always efficient. She pulled out her phone from her back pocket.
This is Brogan.
It made her smile. Simple and to the point.
He waited a brief moment as if he might add to it, but then turned and walked away, disappearing back into his office, only to reappear fully dressed in his suit and a leather folder in his hand. He took long strides out of the restaurant without giving her a second glance.
Did he realize that every female, literally, she scanned the room, every single female in the place watched him leave? Probably. His brother Cathal was obvious about his attraction to and from women. She could tell that from their quick meeting. She wasn't sure about Rian. Although he was as good looking, he seemed more modest. Quiet.
Katie squealed and grabbed her arm. “I think our boss has a thing for you! He's never talked to anyone else like that. He actually smiled.”
She shook her head. “No, he doesn't. Have you forgotten how much of a stickler for the rules he is? He fired two people just this week and almost fired Lenny when he asked me out. He's just friendly because he wants me to do this job. He'd never date an employee. Besides, he hasn't said one thing that would make me think that.” Except for the shower comment that morning. But really, anyone could slip up. And if he'd meant it—then she'd missed her opportunity because thinking of him in the shower brought a rush of heat to her cheeks.
“Nope. He is so into you,” Katie said.
“He scowled at me and gave me more work.” If Katie would drop it, maybe Selena could too. She would only drive herself crazy wishing something would happen between them. Because, no matter who it was, her boss, a guy at a bar, she didn't have room to date. Mimi had her complete devotion at this point. No man would take on both of them.
Katie rolled her eyes. “You are so boring. When was the last time you actually went out with a man?”
“Like a serious date? Mimi came to live with me a year ago. So, a year ago.” She pressed her lips together, making her brain come up with a good, rational comment about Brogan. “He told me yesterday that he thought I was a good waitress. I swear that's his only interest in me.”
“Yeah, but other people have been here longer.” Katie's brown eyes shined with excitement.
Selena took Katie by the shoulders. “My first direction to you as your immediate manager is going to be to keep your mouth shut. Brogan—”
“Oh. My. God. You call him Brogan now? ”
Shit. “No. I don't. It just slipped out. I met all of the owners yesterday morning when I was late, and in my head, it's hard to call them all Mr. O'Keeley.”
Katie made a noise that implied she didn't agree. “I haven't met all the owners. Sounds like special treatment.”
She'd never live it down if she'd told her what she did to meet them. “ Mr. O'Keeley will fire me if he thinks people are gossiping about the two of us. Nothing is going on. I promise. I'm still completely single and just as sexually frustrated as I was two days ago.”
Did Brogan actually have relationships? It seemed like his natural authority would overpower someone who wasn't prepared to stand up to him. But then, he probably wouldn't like a woman like that. Why in the world was she even contemplating it?
Katie grabbed her hand. “Then let's go out tonight and celebrate your promotion.”
“I don't have the money. You know that.”
“My treat. We'll go out, meet some cute guys, maybe girls in my case, have them buy us drinks. Then declare we're really lovers and leave together. It'll be fun. C'mon.” Katie cut her eyes at her. “I can get my sister to watch your grandmother. For free. She owes me a favor. It’s Thursday night. You know the bars will be full.”
A night out sounded fun. Katie's sister was in nursing school. Besides, it was only for a couple hours.
“I see you've already made up your mind.” Katie danced in a little circle. “I'll pick you up at ten thirty.”
“I need to be back by midnight.” She had an early morning date with her boss.