Page 111 of Nothing to Win

“I’d have followed as soon as I found out,” he said.“And wouldn’t have been a man to be reasoned with when I caught up with you.”He grazed his knuckle along her jaw.“Promise me you’ll never do anything reckless like that.Never, Irish.If anything happened to you…”

Oh, he was dreamy.“I think…”

“What, sweetheart?”

“I needed your comfort more than your money,” she admitted.“Yes, I needed the money for Shanna and I told myself that’s why I came to your door… But I needed an excuse to kiss you again.”

His fingers curled around her chin.“Any time you want, Irish.”

Guiding her mouth up to his, the tenderness in his kiss was his apology and his promise.The bed was right there and if she—the phone in his hand buzzed.Jenna’s name lit the screen.

“You should take that,” she said, backing away, putting the other items in her robe pockets.“I’m going to get changed.”

“You okay?”

She nodded.“Yeah, I’ll call Shanna from my room and let her know what’s happening.”

“You want me to swing by your room in a few minutes?”

A smile curled her lips.“I think it would be smart for you and me to avoid bedrooms,” she said and eyed the bed for a second.“We’re all due downstairs in a few.”

“I’ll see you there.”

She blew him a kiss and left the room.Her father’s door was still closed.They could be at the party already or not.She didn’t care.Brogan promised to fix the situation and she believed in him.

Running off to Mexico with Shanna wasn’t on her bucket list.Brogan taking the problem from her plate meant more to her than he could comprehend because, at the end of the day, what did she and Shanna know?And if something went wrong… her family had proved they wouldn’t bail her out.At least Brogan was paying attention.

As for their relationship, that was a puzzle all of its own.Her feelings were obvious.Pursuing them wouldn’t be smart, not here and now.Convincing Brogan though could be a challenge.Julius might be the only way to do it.

Returning to her room, she finished getting ready, resolved to find her ally as quickly as possible.Controlling Brogan Spurn wasn’t easy at the best of times.The whole team would have to work together to get it done.

THIRTY-FOUR

IN A GROUP WITH JULIUS, Tripp, and Jenna, Brogan’s attention zeroed in on his woman when she walked through the ballroom doors on Gault’s arm again.What was wrong with this picture?That was one question that didn’t need to be asked twice and one he hoped would never need to be asked again.

“She said what?”Brogan asked, unable to understand what his mentor was trying to explain.

“We bumped into Gia in the hallway upstairs,” Julius said again, glancing at the perplexed Tripp.

His friend’s confusion was nothing to his own.Could be Tripp didn’t get why Julius’s rationale was difficult to understand.From his perspective, he’d never heard anything so ludicrous.If it wasn’t so insane, he may be impressed with the ruthlessness of his woman’s untenable strategy.

“Yeah.I got that part,” Brogan said.“You were talking, Gault texted her and she left you in the elevator.I heard that.”He pointed toward Gia and Gault schmoozing on the opposite side of the room.“And now they’re standing across there.Tell me again why I can’t go speak to her.”

“Gault’s into her,” Tripp said.“A little sickening, I know, but he likes her.I doubt he thinks anything will happen between them.He’s a sleaze, but not that kind of sleaze.”No because if he was that kind of sleaze even Tripp would be between them right now.Guy was a Breckenridge after all.“He’s an old guy who likes the attention of beautiful younger women, not like it’s unusual.”

“To optimize our chances,” Julius said, “for the next few days, Gia thinks you shouldn’t spend too much time together.Until Gault makes his decision.”

“Which she may be able to influence,” Brogan said.

The others nodded, perhaps encouraged that he understood.Acknowledging clarity didn’t equal acceptance.

“She suggested dinner on Tuesday,” Julius said.“It’s a smart plan.Talk things out back home.When things have settled.Without her family in the room.”

“You’ve got yourself a clever cookie, Bro,” Tripp said.“Gault will be distracted, could be feeling a little guilty that he’s stolen the attention of your ex, and—I’ve been spending too much time with Rox Out.”

“Wait,” Brogan said and held up a hand to silence them before another word could be uttered.“I’m sorry, I’m still not getting this.”

“Your bid is the best; you’re the right choice.Gia reviewed everything, every proposal,” Tripp said, talking slow.Hard copies had been submitted on arrival, though they wouldn’t get the chance to sell them until the in-person pitches tomorrow.“She’s honest, some might say biased, but she’s a good girl, she’s not screwing the guy over.Tomorrow, we’ll—”