Page 32 of Nothing to Win

“I shouldn’t come home with you,” she said.

“You’ll do as you’re told.”

Sliding a hand up under his lapel, she edged nearer.If he could feel her apprehension, she wouldn’t have to say it.

“What happens when we’re alone with nothing but the night in front of us?”

He curled his fingers beneath her jaw.“Who said we’ll be alone?”She’d just assumed… Who did he live with?“You’ll do as you’re told, Irish.”

A limo waited for them outside.No waiting, it was there.Brogan was the one to open the door to guide her inside.

“Would you like something to drink?”

“No,” she said.“I’ve had enough.”

His phone rang.“Excuse me.”

Who called at this time?Going to his place had been the plan.Could she trust herself?It would be a lot easier to trust them in private if they weren’t alone.Except midnight wasn’t the best time to make a good first impression on a new person.During the party, she’d been swept up in the moment.Being broadly social fitted the mood at a busy party.In a more intimate setting… Her true desire would be a shining beacon.She wouldn’t be able to hide it.And, ridiculous as it was, she feared embarrassing herself, yes, Brogan?Sure.And… her parents.Yeah, they had her well trained.

She’d have to be on her best behavior.Deep breaths.Oh, she really didn’t want to embarrass him.

TEN

HIS APARTMENT was in a sleek modern building that rivaled his corporate HQ.Gia tried her best to take in the features of the lobby before Brogan swept her into what turned out to be a private elevator, but none of it stuck.

The black steel doors opened to an expanse of hardwood floor, a few doors in the wall beyond.To the right, a staircase led up to a wide open double-height floor and it was up those stairs they went.

The huge kitchen stretched all the way to the glazed wall at the far end of the room, beyond which was what looked like a wide exterior terrace.

The living room took up three quarters of the large open plan space, with various seating areas.A flight of stairs led up to another floor that hung above the elevator.All of that was interesting, though not as interesting as the man standing at a bar in the far right corner next to the open terrace doors.

“You must have been having fun,” the man said, pouring Scotch.“Midnight is your limit.The hospital has enough for its new lab?You’ll need to double whatever you donated tonight for the Kavanaghs or they’ll question your loyalty.”

The Kavanaghs were an extremely rich family.Brogan was affiliated with them?

He didn’t respond to the comment, merely carried on as though it hadn’t been said.

“Julius McAlm, Gianna Sear,” Brogan said, leading her across the room.“We call her Gia.”

“Charmed,” Julius said and handed Brogan a drink before shaking her hand.“I didn’t know what you like to drink.”

“We have business,” Brogan said.“Gia won’t be staying up with us… It’s necessary to introduce you two and, with that done, I’ll show you to your room, Gia.”

He put his drink on the bar and took her arm to guide her up the stairs to a long balcony hallway that stretched the width of the apartment.Without pausing to appreciate the great view of the living space beneath and the grand windows with the terrace beyond, Brogan led her down a long, wide passage away from the view.Moonlight lit the end of the new corridor, but they didn’t get that far.He stopped at the first door on the right and opened it.

“This will be your bedroom,” he said, staying in the doorway.“You have your own closet and bathroom; Jenna stocked both.Make a list of anything else you need; everything will be provided without question.Make yourself at home.You have to become accustomed to this apartment if people are to believe you’ve been here often… we’ll be holding events here.”

“We?”

“Yes, you’ll play hostess,” he said and grazed her jaw with the knuckle of his index finger.“Get some sleep.We’re going out tomorrow night, I want you fresh.”

As he went to leave, Gia stepped forward and curled her fingers around his lapels.“Where do you sleep?”

“At the end of the hall,” he said.“Julius’s bedroom is opposite yours.”

Sliding her fingers higher under his lapels, she edged closer.“Is that your way of telling me we have to behave for our chaperone?”

“Alcohol lowers your inhibitions, Irish,” he said, admiring her mouth.