by Magan Vernon
“I don’t know if I can do this,” she whispered.
“A work out will help sober you up. You don’t want to feel like shite in the morning.”
“I’m not that knackered.” She pouted.
“Really? Because you were just about to call your mum to bring your dog, and then you giggled.”
“I said…I’m…not…that…shite…faced.”
She slowly dropped down and I had to grab her legs for support so she didn’t fall on her arse. Her hands went to my shoulders as I gazed into those deep golden brown eyes that had caught my attention from the moment I first saw her at the gala.
“Grace…” I warned.
“I’m not that knackered, not on the whiskey anyway, but possibly something else that has me feeling stupid enough to do this…”
She crushed her lips to mine and I held on to her, trying to fight the urge to take her right there. But I wasn’t going to go where my heated body was begging me to.
Then her tongue traced the bottom of my lip. A low growl emitted from deep in my throat and I opened my mouth to her.
She tasted better than I could have imagined with the whiskey and her sweet lip gloss. Her body pressed against mine, and I tried to think how I shouldn’t be there. How I should have gone home and been a gentleman. My heart and mind tugging me in two different directions.
I walked backward, carrying her across the room until I slowly leaned back onto the couch.
She straddled my lap. Her heated core pressed against my aching dick. If I wasn’t lost in lust before, now I was swimming in it.
But I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t shag a drunk girl, or my brother’s best friend and my employee for that matter. She broke our kiss, leaning back with a broad smile across her lips as she pulled off her dress, tossing it to the ground.
My gaze wandered briefly over her breasts spilling out of the lacy bra and the dips and curves that outlined her beautiful body. But then I clenched my fists at my side.
No. No. This was wrong. This was so very wrong.
“Grace…” I murmured, keeping my eyes on her face instead of where they wanted to roam.
I thought she would come back with a smart comment, but instead she squeezed her eyes shut, her body going rigid.
“Are you okay?” I asked. Maybe she really was sobering up and realizing this was a bad idea.
It was probably time I made my exit anyway, even though every part of my body was now on fire, adrenaline and anticipation coursing through me.
“I think I might throw up,” she said, covering her mouth and quickly running away.
I sprang from the couch and moved aside the pieces of workout equipment before she ran past me into the small room. She crouched down.
My feet took over, and I closed the space between us. Leaning over, I pulled her wavy brown hair from her face as she dry heaved.
When she had finally finished, she moaned and muttered, “This is embarrassing. I feel like I need to puke, but I can’t. Blast. I need to sleep and sober up.”
“It happens to all of us,” I said in my best soothing tone.
I grabbed a washcloth from the rack and wet it in the sink, handing it to her. “Where are your pajamas?”
She stood up slowly, keeping her back to me as if I didn’t just see her dry heaving into the toilet. “Um. What?”
“I don’t want to go through all of your drawers but figure you want to put something on that isn’t work clothes.”
Her shoulders stiffened, and I tried not to admire how beautifully her back curved with a small tattoo right above the silk of her panties. One that I recognized she and Sean had gotten on a trip to China with their class when they were fourteen. Da was royally pissed when he found out they snuck off and did that.
“I’m not trying to get you naked. I just want to help you out, okay? Unlike that artist who told you your ink meant ‘beautiful’ and then you looked it up and found out it meant crazy.”
She groaned, looking over her shoulder. “Top drawer in the dresser near my bed. And I happen to think it’s a nice sentiment. The guy thought Sean and I were both crazy for each other. How wrong he was…”
I nodded, trying not to think of all of these moments she’d had with Sean and everything with me was just one feck up after the other.
I shook my head, trying not to think too hard on these thoughts. Quickly, I went back to the main room and grabbed the first pair of shorts and a top I could find, bringing it back into the bathroom.
Slowly she turned toward me, her bottom lip trembling.
Damn the woman was gorgeous. Seeing the rise and fall of her breasts as she breathed deeply, her wide eyes locked on mine, had my heart thumping rapidly, my words caught in my throat.
“Here. Do you need anything else? I can make you some toast? Or tea?”
She nodded slowly but didn’t look up. “That would be nice. But you don’t have to. I should just get to bed.”
I didn’t respond and instead made my way out of the bathroom. In the kitchen, I heated the tea kettle on the stove and found a loaf of brown bread in the fridge that was one of the only things in there. Toasting the bread with some butter, I kept my hands and my mind busy.
What was I doing?
I needed to focus on the company and finding a wife. Not whatever this was.
Yet, I couldn’t move.
“Do you want to eat this in the kitchen or by the window?” I called.
I’d heard the bathroom door open but was busy filling two cups with boiling water.
Taking a few steps into the main room, I stopped when I saw her curled up in a ball on the bed, her eyes closed and sleeping soundly.
I should have left. Feck, she would probably be angry as hell if she found me there when she woke up.
But I also thought about how she would feel in the morning. And I didn’t want her to get sick all over herself in the middle of the night. Before I could stop myself, I walked to the couch.
After finding a blanket, I kicked off my shoes and laid down.
I closed my eyes, pulling the blanket to my chest.
“Goodnight, Grace,” I whispered.
Chapter Nine
Grace
When I woke up, from my drunken, probably snoring slumber, I sucked in a deep breath.
My head and chest ached and not just from the whiskey.
The alcohol didn’t make me forget any of the night before. All I could think about was the way Jack’s muscles tightened as he worked that salmon ladder. How my body clenched, watching him. How I kept telling myself that I could totally have a one-night stand with a guy who needed a wife. Something I would never be for him.
But I couldn’t think like that. I had to move on and forget it.
Looking over at the alarm clock, my eyes adjusted to the darkness. Six a.m. Still time to maybe eat the bread Jack hopefully had left out.
When I slowly sat up, my body aching with each movement, I noticed a glass of water and bottle of aspirin on the nightstand. I quickly took two pills, downing them with the water before I stood up, my joints popping.
I wondered how many other girls Jack had done these hangover cures for. And if he’d bring it up today at work. Lord knows he never forgot about the almost arrest and that was eight years ago.
But all my thoughts stopped when I got to the bathroom and saw my face in the mirror. I didn’t have time to think about anything other than washing my face, brushing my teeth, showering, and trying to not look like a raccoon on crack with my makeup smeared face and frizzy hair.
I’d tried to shag Jack looking like this? Was that before or after I almost puked?
Bollocks, I was never drinking whiskey again.
When I finally opened the bathroom door with my hair and makeup done, dressed, and feeling slightly human, I heard the faint sound of voices.
The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. This wasn’t technically my flat, but I thought I’d have some privacy. Slowly, I peered around the corn
er
“Thanks, Mrs. O’Hanlon, Have a good day.”
I recognized that voice, and when the front door shut, I quickly pulled back, pressing my body against the bathroom wall.
Blast. What was he doing here? Was my embarrassing night not enough? Now was he going to gloat?
“Sleep well, Grace?” His voice carried through the small room.
“Spying on me? I thought this was my flat and you couldn’t just walk in,” I said, finally walking out of the bathroom.
Jack was still in his dress shirt and trousers from the night before, smiling, and holding a white paper bag. “Thought you might want some breakfast.”
He brought me food? What?
What kind of guy does that after he watches you get sick? And apparently stays the night…somewhere…close…
A guy who is a decent human being and not the devil incarnate, I guess.
“Have a seat.” He walked toward the small table by the window and pulled out a stool, effectively knocking me out of my thoughts.
“You didn’t need to get me breakfast…” I said, looking at the Styrofoam container of food. My stomach was growling. Blast, why couldn’t I control any of my reactions today?
“I did, and I should be a proper gentleman and make you a cuppa,” he said, heading toward the kitchen.
“A proper gentleman who showed up at my apartment in his clothes from the night before,” I blurted, unable to stop myself. I wondered if he really did leave another girl that morning. If I was now the epitome of repulsion.
Why did I even try anything with him? I’ll blame the whiskey and salmon ladder.
He laughed slightly and sat the kettle on the stove. “I stayed here last night. Thought that was obvious.”
Blood rushed to my head. He stayed here? He saw me at my worst then still stayed? I didn’t know whether to vomit or swoon. “I puked and passed out. A proper gentleman would have left me to my misery.”
He stilled, then slowly turned away from the stove. His dark blue eyes bore into me as he crossed the room to stand in front of me.
A gasp escaped my lips, partially from shock and partly from the nearness of him. It had been so long since I’d been with anyone, but he especially did something that had every part of my body come alive with one little touch.
“I did nothing improper. You were bolloxed, and I wanted to make sure nothing else happened to you, so I slept on the sofa. You can be pissed at me all you want, but I’m not apologizing for doing what I thought was right.”
I glared, trying to keep my resolve. No man had ever done anything for me like that. Hell, no person had.
Just because we shared a drunken, yet very explosive kiss that still made me warm from thinking about it, didn’t mean anything. I wasn’t going to get involved with my boss.
“I should head out. I have a meeting this morning, so I’ll be in later. Have my assistant hold my calls, will ya?” He winked like this was just an ordinary occurrence. Like we were old pals.
“Thanks for breakfast,” I muttered, looking at my food instead of the dimple on his cheek. The one I had kissed just the night before. The one I would never, ever kiss again.
I didn’t breathe again until the door shut and I knew he was gone.
“What the hell had I gotten myself into?” I whispered to no one in particular, since I was by myself, again.
I gasped when my answer came with the front door opening and Jane Pawsten sprinting in, followed by my mother and Grandmum.
Shit. Just what I needed.
“Gracie, was that Jack Murphy I just saw in the hall?” Mum’s voice carried through the room until she was standing in front of me, hands on her hips.
Grandmum stood beside her in a zebra print shirt dress with sparkly sequin leggings. Mum said her crazy outfits could be the start of dementia or something more serious. Her grand excuse that we needed to be closer and move to Dublin, that I went along with, knowing she wanted to save face for everyone else. But I think Grandmum just always went to the beat of her own drum. I wish everyone could always be as free as she was.
“Bloody hell, Mum, his company owns the building. And what are you doing here? I thought I’d come get her after work.” I stood up and went to the kitchen, grabbing Jane’s food bowl and water so I’d have something to do with my hands and not face the two women.
“Well, we were just taking a walk and thought we’d stop by and see how you were feeling. You know, since you were out all night with your coworker, but then I see Jack walking out. Do normal business owners check up on their assistants in their buildings or is there something you want to tell me about Jack? Maybe that you considered what I told you?”
“What are we talking about? Is Grace pregnant? Is she carrying the billionaire’s baby? I saw that in a book once. Or maybe it wasn’t a book, and it was a movie…one of those dirty videos from the computer…” Grandmum said.
“Mother,” Mum snapped, turning sharply toward the old woman who just shrugged, fluffing her short gray hair.
I sighed, taking in the overwhelming smell of Mum’s floral perfume and shutting my eyes. This was not the conversation I wanted to have. Not now. Not ever. Especially not in front of Grandmum. “Mum, I’m not going to seduce a man and drop him just to get the company.”
“I’m sure your cousin Lacey would. She is a gold digger that one. Is that what they call it?” Grandmum added.
Hearing my cousin’s name made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
Lacey was better than me at everything. She had flawless skin, beautiful curls, made honor roll, and was a talented athlete. She was Jack’s age, and the two had an on-again-off-again thing in boarding school and uni.
I still wasn’t sure I even liked the man. But it still left a sour taste in my mouth.
“I’m sure Lacey has better things to do than chase after a man,” I quipped, pouring some kibble into Jane’s bowl.
“She is coming into Dublin for business soon. She’ll probably be in for tea. And if there is something going on with you and Jack, I can make sure she won’t be around when he is. Though if you really are falling for him, maybe your cousin would have a few choice words about being in love with a man who wants nothing but business,” Mum said.
I sighed. We always thought father was in love with his work, too. All the late nights at the office were a front for one of his many side flings. Something Mum and I found out way too late.
“I have to get ready for work. And I’m trying to keep things professional between Mr. Murphy and me.”
I turned in time to see Mum’s tight smirk. “Gracie, dear, I know you’ve always had this little crush on the oldest Murphy, but do you think spending the night with him this early is wise? Is this part of a plan to seduce him so he doesn’t get married and Grandfather can get the company? If it’s not…darling…I don’t want you to get hurt.”
She blinked slowly and I saw concern flutter across her usually stoic face.
I never came right out and said how much her and Dad’s divorce ruined my thoughts of marriage, but I think she knew. And she didn’t want her daughter to get hurt like she had.
“He…he…was…just…I…was…” I sputtered, trying to think of a response but my mind went completely blank.
Grandmum cackled, pointing a crooked finger at me. “Gracie has a boyfriend!”
“He’s not my boyfriend, Grandmum.”
Mum patted my arm. “Gracie, I know you may think you know what’s best and it was kind of him to take care of little Janey…”
Mum’s eyes trailed to the little dog who had buried her face in her food bowl. “But I worry about you. I know you work on romance novels and maybe you still believe in a happily ever after, even with everything we’ve been through.” She sighed. “I don’t want you to get hurt in all of this, Gracie. Maybe it was silly to even bring all of this up.”
I shook my head. “It’s fine, Mum. It’s not like I’m actually falling for the guy. He doesn’t even like me
like that. He’s just trying to find any woman he can.”
I nodded to myself, even though her words punched me hard in the gut. Of course he didn’t want to be with me. He needed someone easy to get along with and someone who would fall into the role of his wife. I was neither of those things to him. Something that was hard to even admit to myself.
Janey snorted at my feet then pawed my shoes so I picked her up. “I’m going to have to take Jane for a walk before work, then I can bring her back over on my way out.”
Mum waved her hand. “Nonsense, Gracie, we aren’t going to make you go out of your way. We’ll stay for a cuppa then take Janey back to Grandmum’s.”
Grandmum eyed the little white bag on the table before opening it and pulling out a pastry. “Oh, bannock, your man knows the good stuff.”
“He’s not my man, Grandmum.”
She smiled. “Of course he isn’t.”
I sighed, there was no point in trying to argue with the old woman or my leery Mum. Not when I wasn’t even sure what was going on with Jack and me anyway.
But, I hated to admit it, Mum did have a point. No use getting involved or even trying. No matter if my heart was tugging me in a different direction.
If I thought things were screwed earlier this morning, now things just got twenty times more bloody complicated.
Chapter Ten
Jack
I took the longest, coldest shower of my life, then got dressed and headed to the office.
But before I made my way through the famous wrought iron Murphy gates, I stopped at the same café I met Grace at for our meeting that was interrupted by Jane Pawsten and the vet.
She was sitting at her desk, not bothering to look up from the computer when I approached and sat a Styrofoam cup of tea in front of her.
“I promised you a cuppa that I never got to finish making,” I whispered, leaning in so only she could hear and not any of the gossiping employees.
No acknowledgment from the strong-willed girl, but I accepted that. A challenge never stopped me before.
