Page 223 of Dirty Padraig: Dirty Dusters

I make my way around the room, stopping to make polite small talk with those I need to. An hour has passed before I’m finally able to excuse myself.

I approach Jessie and Dylan from behind, watching as he whispers in her ear with his arm wrapped around her waist. She giggles in response.

I can’t help but smile at their interaction. I’m glad they found each other. It’s good to see them happy after everything they went through.

“Jaine.” Jessie turns just as I approach. “You remember, Dylan, don’t you?”

I roll my eyes at her, my lips curving upward.

“Jaine.” I stare at him. His expression is laced with regret.

“What’s done is done, Dyl. We can’t change it now,” I say quietly.

He nods slowly, then glances at Jessie, who’s now staring across the room. We both look to see what’s caught her attention, and my gaze immediately connects with the aquamarine eyes of Eoin.

My eyes graze over him as he stands, looking his ever-perfect self in a tuxedo. My gaze then connects with Padraig’s, who’s right beside him and also dressed to impress. Neither gives anything away, their masks held firmly in place.

My eyes then fall to the person standing between them, her red-sequin dress skimming her hourglass curves, her long blonde hair cascading down her back in thick waves.

Sabrina Hawthorn.

It’s quite common for women to get up close and personal with Eoin.

It would seem so. That comment would also appear to apply to his youngest brother.

I watch as my employee makes a play for both brothers, running her red-tipped fingernails seductively down the front of both their jackets as she whispers in Eoin’s ear. He whispers something in return, and she giggles exaggeratedly. She then whispers something in Irish’s ear. He responds by snaking his arm around her waist.

Both are clearly receptive to her blatant admiration.

Why wouldn’t they be? She’s a beautiful woman. I stare across the room, not sure how I feel. Angry. Disappointed.

Jealous.

I realize I have no right to feel any of those emotions. I ended things. They have every right to move on.

“It looks like Sabrina didn’t even wait for the dust to settle,” Jessie comments.

“In her defense, she won’t be aware of what’s gone on, and she does know them both pretty well,” Dylan responds.

“What do you mean?” Jessie frowns at him. I don’t reply. I already know where this is headed.

“She’s fucked them both.”

“And how do you know that?”

“Paddy used to share his escapades with me before….” He stops. Again, I know what he was going to say. Before Irish and I reconnected.

“If I recall, he met her at some legal conference a while back.”

“Well, right now, it looks like she can’t decide which O’Connell brother she wants to sample first.”

“She won’t have to choose, Jessie.”

“You’ve lost me.”

“I’m sure a woman of your higher intelligence can work it out.”

There’s a pause. Then she places her hand on his arm. “Dear Lordy Lou. Do you mean both of them? At the same time?”

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