Page 8 of A Billionaire Abroad

“Don’t you think Boss Charming would give you time off enough for a bus ride?”

She pulled her jacket more firmly around herself. The wind was a little too chilly for comfort. “Why don’t you like Sterling?” she asked.

“Whydoyou?” he tossed back.

The question set her a little off balance. Why did she like him? She just did. And if Conall hadn’t caught her off guard, she could have told him the answer in detail.

“Where are these venues we’re supposed to be looking at?” She was all business again.

He just laughed. Of course he did.

Chapter Four

Keighley met Sterling in the lobby early the next morning. He wanted to know how plans were coming along, but had meetings all day long. She didn’t mind. She liked mornings, even with the jet lag.

“We looked at two venues yesterday. Both were promising in their own way, but neither really jumped out at me as the perfect spot. Conall said he’d send me a list of other places to check out.”

Sterling nodded. “I knew you were the right one to plan this.”

She needed the compliment. He offered them often, something Conall seemed to be allergic to.

“How do you like Dublin?” Sterling asked over his coffee mug.

“I’m enjoying it. Reminds me a little of New York.” She sipped her tea. “But wetter.”

He smiled at her quip. He had a very charming smile. She doubted many people got to see it over a friendly breakfast chat. “And the business heads here are harder to schmooze.”

She kept both hands wrapped around her teacup. She appreciated the warmth. “Is that what we’re doing? Schmoozing?”

“Schmoozing. Smooching. Whatever it takes.” He chuckled a little as he took another sip of coffee.

She didn’t know whether to laugh, blush, or take him entirely seriously. That she had no idea which gave her pause. Maybe she didn’t really know him that well yet. Yet.

“I would like to get invitations out in the next couple of days,” he said. “So try to find a location soon and get that all worked out.”

“Not a problem.”

“I knew it wouldn’t be.” It was little wonder women melted when he smiled at them.

“I will plan on having a venue selected by tomorrow morning,” she assured him. “The rest of the details should fall quickly into place after that.”

He rose. “You’re the best, Keighley.”

“Thanks.” She stayed outwardly relaxed, but inside she was a little giddy. “We can touch base tomorrow.”

He raised his coffee mug as he stepped away. “I look forward to it.”

She watched him walk out. Which meant she also saw Conall walk in. She ought to have been annoyed, but he’d been kind of fun to go back and forth with the day before. She looked forward to doing it again.

He walked directly to her and, smile pulling at the scar on his chin, dropped two cards on the table in front of her. She looked at him from around her teacup. “Hop-on Hop-off bus,” she read aloud.

“No American can come to Dublin and not ride the green bus.”

The green double-decker. That had looked like fun. But she couldn’t. “I promised Sterling I’d have a venue for his event selected by morning. I can’t spend the day on a tourist bus.”

“Wouldn’t take all day,” he said. “And we might think of another venue option while we’re out.”

“We? You were born here. Why would you want to ride a tourist bus?”