Page 15 of Cocktails & Cauldrons

“Indentured, more like,” Eoin muttered before lifting her hand and dropping a kiss on her knuckles. “But you’re your own person, yeah? No more of that. Here, with me, you’ll speak your mind, and we’ll both be happier for it.”

“But you’re my boss!” Her protest was met with laughter, and she drew away in her confusion. “Aren’t you?”

“Not at all. I’m your employer, and I’ll be payin’ your salary. But you’remyboss, love.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Yes, you’ll need to keep my schedule and tell me where to be. You’ll deal with galleries and set up showings. You’ll essentially run the business that is me. And when I’m at my cranky, temperamental worst, you’ll need to make it known you’re not putting up with my shite.” He grinned. “In other words, you’ll be in charge, love. I only want to paint.”

She couldn’t prevent her answering grin if she tried. The idea of being the one in charge was heady, and there was no doubt in her mind she would be a good manager. After all, she’d managed the majority of Aunt Odessa’s businesses for years. The only thing lacking had been the final decision-making. OdessaSullivan wouldn’t give up control the way Eoin O’Malley was offering to do right now.

“I see ya like the idea of bossin’ me about.” He guzzled half his pint, then wiped the back of his wrist across his mouth. There was still enough alcohol left behind to cause his lips to glisten, and Brenna’s tongue itched to swipe the remaining beer from them.

“There you go with that look again, Brenna, me love. If you keep at it, I’ll not be responsible for my actions.”

Her face felt like it was on fire, and she took a sip of her pint to ease her suddenly parched throat. “You’re my bo—uh, employer. There can be no hanky-panky between us, Mr. O’Malley.”

“It’s Eoin, and to be sure, we make the rules, love.”

“What doesthatmean?” Clarification and boundaries needed to be set, but if he was determined to skirt the rules, she probably needed to find the willpower to object—but not too much. Truth be told, she liked the hot look in his eyes.

“If you wanthanky-panky, I’ll not be denyin’ ya.”

She seriously considered it as they drank in comfortable silence, and she eventually rejected the idea of sex with Eoin. He was far more experienced than she and would find her sadly lacking in the bedroom department. No, it was better she remain an efficient employee, where she knew what to do and wasn’t likely to misconstrue or fantasize about things she couldn’t have. Things like love.

“Ya turned sad there, Brenna. What was it I said to make you unhappy?”

His somberness shook her out of her self-pitying mood.

You told yourself no self-pity, Brenna! Knock it off!

“I’m tired, is all. You didn’t say anything to make me unhappy, Eoin. I promise.” How she managed to lie withoutgiving herself away was a mystery, but he seemed to accept her comment at face value.

“Sure, and let’s get you settled for sleep, yeah? Ya have to be knackered.”

“Are you certain we should stay here? I don’t want to take up a spare guest room.”

“If the Black Cat were full, Bridget would’ve said, but we can check the reservations.”

Five minutes later, Brenna was staring in shock at the reservation list. Only one room was available, which meant she either needed to find a hotel or bunk with Eoin, which he happily suggested.

“Coming here was a mistake,” she said with a heavy sigh. “I should’ve begged Odessa’s forgiveness.”

“Fuck. No.”

She looked up at Eoin’s angry reply.

“You’ll take the bed, and I’ll not have ya fightin’ me on it. My brother Carrick can provide a place to rest my head for the night. His is the house next door.”

“I don’t want to kick you out of your bed,” she protested. Her self-pity returned with a vengeance and shifted to self-loathing. At twenty-six, she should know how to take care of herself. She should have a 401K started and a little money saved. Should have taken her college degree in fine art and done something with her life. Something like the job she’d currently accepted with Eoin. With a side glance at him, she shifted her thinking. Perhaps shewasdoing something with her life. Perhaps he was handing her a chance to finally be someone Gran could be proud of instead of a lifeless robot always at Odessa’s beck and call.

“It’s not my bed, love. I haven’t lived here in a number of years.”

“I—”

He placed a single finger over her lips, effectively silencing her. Those same lips grew tingly as the urge to nip the tip of his index finger struck her. An interested look crossed his face, one that said he found it hard to pull his attention from her mouth, but he managed to contain his standard sexy grin with a small shake of his head. But the twinkle in his eyes and his winking dimple told her all she needed to know. Charm oozed out of Eoin’s pores like sweat out of a sinner in church. For him, it had to be as natural as breathing.

“I can see you’re intent on arguin’ with me, Brenna Sullivan. But I’ll tell ya true, you won’t win this one. I’ve a mind that you should stay here and work for me, and unless you can show me you’ve made other satisfactory arrangements, I’m not letting ya run back to that she-devil Odessa.”

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