Chapter 16 #2
Several on the committee murmured, but I remained focused on him. We were in my territory now, and I knew I could hold my own.
Still, he held my gaze long enough to make me squirm inside. “And if the structure disagrees with you?”
I allowed myself the smallest hint of a smile. “Then I’d assume I missed something.”
His brow lifted slightly, as if that hadn’t been the answer he expected.
“Good,” he said, almost to himself, as he leaned back in his chair.
Mrs. Halbrook cleared her throat and turned to me. “Large-scale restoration requires steadiness, Ms. Sullivan.”
Her gaze held mine as if testing whether I would bristle or bend, her statement a personal challenge as opposed to professional curiosity.
The word steadiness landed harder than it should have.
The ghost of Mr. Doyle’s voice hovered beneath it, along with an image of the shattered chandelier that had pulsed at the edge of my vision since I’d been reassigned.
I tightened my resolve and gave her a confident nod.
“Then you’ll want someone who understands load-bearing transitions and material aging patterns before they become visible failures. That’s what I do.”
Cillian jumped in to show his support. “Selene’s work on the Harrington townhouse stabilized a structure that had been misdiagnosed for nearly a decade. She has an eye for historical integrity and a practical understanding of modern reinforcement.”
The deafening silence that followed threatened to undo me.
I itched to leave, to tell them all to never mind.
Though I wanted the job, I didn’t need it.
I certainly didn’t need their judgment. “I have no way to prove myself other than what you’ve seen.
I understand it may not be enough to earn your trust.”
I pushed back from the table, catching Cillian’s look of surprise as I did. “Thank you for your time.”
Before I could stand, Bren’s voice broke across the room. “I vote yes.”
Shock vibrated through me, leaving my knees weak enough that I couldn’t have stood if I’d wanted to. I turned to him, but he didn’t acknowledge me.
Bren leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting from Eireann to Halbrook at the far end of the table. “She isn’t burdened by legacy assumptions,” he said evenly. “And Ashcroft doesn’t make careless recommendations.”
No one interrupted.
“I’ll oversee the project,” he continued. “Her skill set aligns with what’s required.”
My heart thudded hard enough that I felt it in my throat.
I hadn’t asked for his defense. I hadn’t needed it, and yet hearing it from him touched something I hadn’t realized was still bruised.
Calculation replaced the skepticism in Halbrook’s expression, but she didn’t argue. “Well,” she said lightly, “if you’re satisfied, Mr. McLoughlin.”
His gaze moved briefly to me as he spoke with certainty. “I am.”
The finality of his answer left me wondering if I’d won a prize or if I’d jumped straight into the fire. I turned to Cillian with a smile, knowing he’d be happy with the outcome, and one should always keep a good boss happy.
But he wasn’t looking at me. He was focused on Bren, studying him with an interested gaze. A second later, my boss turned to me, his lips curving in a practiced smile. “Congratulations, Selene. You deserve it.”
Once again, it occurred to me that I had no idea what I’d just signed up for. Cillian had told me it was a significant project, but that had been it. And to ask now in front of all these people after I’d acted as if I could handle anything seemed like a bad idea.
A soft, familiar tingle crossed my skin, and I jerked my head upward, away from Cillian. And there he was.
I stood to greet Bren, feeling very much as I had in my dream, and prayed my cheeks didn’t show the heat coursing through me. I managed a calm smile despite the chaos inside. “Thank you, Mr. McLoughlin. I appreciate the opportunity.”
He studied me for an extended moment, slowly nodding his head. His gaze penetrated mine, causing the attraction to flare hotter, and he spoke in a tone that seemed it was only for me to hear. “Don’t disappoint me.”
I quickly shook my head. “I promise to do everything in my power to live up to your trust. Keeping clients happy is a top priority with our firm.”
And then I spotted it.
The small scar running along his temple.
And the realization of what it meant turned my world upside down.
I gripped my chair in order to remain upright as Bren’s expression warmed ever so slightly. “We’ll start tomorrow then.”
My boss lightly touched my arm, drawing my attention, and he gestured toward the door. “I need to stay and sign the contract, but I’ll walk you out first.”
I turned toward Bren to say goodbye, but he’d already strode away and now stood talking to Mrs. Halbrook at the end of the table.
Cillian tugged on my arm. “Shall we?”
My thoughts tumbled and tossed as we headed out and down the stairs. Throughout the entire meeting, Bren had not seemed to know me. But he had that scar.
There was no way I could have known about it unless he’d really been in that magical clearing with me. I’d spotted it right before I kissed him.
Oh, gods. I’d kissed him. And it hadn’t been merely a peck on the cheek. At that moment, it had entirely consumed me.
And now he was our client?
This was all too coincidental, wasn’t it? Too strange to be true?
Just as Cillian and I reached the landing on the bottom floor, a single thought brought a flood of relief.
I must have subconsciously noticed his scar at the pub.
That was the only explanation that made sense.
Cillian stopped near the doors leading outside and turned to me, his gaze quickly growing concerned. “Is everything okay?”
I forced a smile and nodded. “I might be a little nervous. You still haven’t told me what I’ll be working on.”
He seemed surprised by my question. “That’s right. I haven’t. I thought the Council would explain it to you, but they went straight into discussing qualifications.” He reached into his leather briefcase and extracted a black binder, presenting it to me. “This has everything you will require.”
I accepted it, and he continued speaking. “I’m very pleased with the outcome, Selene. You will be managing the restoration of an old castle.”
I blinked in utter surprise. “Really? Oh, wow. This is like a dream come true for me.”
The corners of his eyes crinkled as he smiled, sharing my enthusiasm. “I thought you might enjoy it. This is a prestigious contract that will enhance the firm’s portfolio as well as yours.”
My nerves tightened, and I placed a hand over my stomach. “Are you sure I’m the right person for the job?”
He patted my shoulder. “You are exactly the right person. I’m not worried in the least. Now, go home and get packed. You’re headed back to Killarney.”