Page 61 of Fall for Me

Chelsea

In the hallway, I paused, doing my best to swallow down the lump in my throat and brighten my expression before I went out there to tell Jude it was time to get the hell out of here. Only in more socially acceptable terms.

But right as I was heading for the door to the reception area, the bell chimed and Mr. Reilly appeared.

“Oh!” I exclaimed. For a moment, my mouth went dry as once again I was struck by how much he looked like a gray-haired, more weathered Seamus.

But Mr. Reilly smiled kindly at me. “Chelsea. Nice to see you again.”

They were different, I could see now. Little things. Seamus had those brooding dark eyes, whereas Mr. Reilly’s were paler. Seamus had a little cleft in his jaw where Mr. Reilly didn’t.

I’d just been making out with Seamus in his office.

I cleared my throat. “Yes, hi,” I stammered, then felt my cheeks go pink.

He frowned. “Everything okay?”

Everything was very much not okay—Seamus had just confirmed he didn’t want to continue our burgeoning friendship. In fairness, it wasn’t the friendship part that was the problem. It was the painfully intense attraction between us. Even though I had to agree the best course of action was to keep away from each other, hell if it didn’t hurt.

But I didn’t say that. Instead I said, “Yes… I… Seamus just had something for me. In his office.”

I held up the package. Could I be more obvious? What kind of person needs to show proof they weren’t up to something they shouldn’t have been? A guilty person, that’s who.

Mr. Reilly didn’t say anything for a moment, just nodded, and I felt like he had to know exactly what had just happened, that it was written all over my face. I needed to get out of here fast, before Seamus came out too. I glanced at the door behind him. But it would be deeply weird to squeeze past him and run out without saying anything else.

Then I remembered where Mr. Reilly had been.

“Joyce tells me you have an events crisis,” I said, smiling. Then I cut the smile—I sounded a bit more upbeat about this than I should have.

Mr. Reilly grimaced, looking instantly weary. “I was hoping the lodge would be repaired in time but apparently not, and there’s no place that can accommodate a hundred and fifty people on such short notice.”

I glanced over my shoulder, wishing I’d brought this up somewhere Seamus wasn’t.

“Joyce told me what you do for a living, but please don’t worry about it, I know you’re off work right now…” His eyes went to my bandage, then quickly away.

It was fine, only natural, but still my stomach turned slightly. Would I always be a topic of averted glances?

“It’s fine,” I said. “Really.” I did want to help, but not here.

I looked once more to the door to the foyer and Mr. Reilly got the hint, stepping aside for me.

“Something I thought of,” I said as I pushed the door open, sending the chimes dinging. “Was if maybe you have a construction site you could use? One that has a roof but isn’t necessarily finished?”

Mr. Reilly frowned.

“I know it’s not exactly outdoor weather,” I continued, “but I could hook you up with heat lamps and any other equipment or furniture you might need.” My event planner mind was already ticking ahead. “Being at one of your sites might be really nice from a thematic point of view. Celebrating 30 years in the industry and all that.”

Mr. Reilly had his lips clamped together but hadn’t said anything, and I couldn’t tell if he thought it was an idea worth considering or if I’d totally lost it. I didn’t know the first thing about construction sites—maybe it was totally illegal to host parties on them. But I knew I could make it amazing.

“Anyway, you have my number,” I said.

Behind him, down the hall, I saw Seamus’s door opening, and I panicked, letting go of the foyer door, cutting the conversation short.

Shit. So mature.

“Sorry,” I said to Jude.

“Fine by me,” he said. “Joyce and I were just getting to the good stuff. Though Cass’ll have my head if I’m not back for the staff meeting at two.”

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