Page 29 of Nothing to Win

Four Sears traveled in the limo, yet only two of them spoke.Nothing new there.It was only as they approached their destination that conversation stopped and her brother poured champagne.One glass, half for her, prepared them for the party.

Someone should say something… Her father hadn’t even addressed his meeting with Brogan last Monday.Nothing, not a word.

“It’s likely I’ll go home with Brogan tonight,” she said.

“Yes, he told us,” her father said, dragging his attention to the side window.

“I don’t get what you see in that guy,” Bram muttered.

“Bram…” Her father sucked in breath.“Your sister has our blessing.”

The—they—she.“I… what?”

Bram squirmed.“Yeah.Right.He’s not my first choice for a brother-in-law, but any information you can pump from him works for us.”

Ah, of course.The old pimp out your sister for corporate advantage chestnut.

“Oh, Bram, no, that’s not my job.”

“You’re so stupid.Don’t you know what he’s doing?”Bram said.“He’s only with you for insider information on us.”

So much for the three men coming to some kind of truce.

“Or for Gault,” her father muttered.

“Gault?”she asked.“What’s Gault?”

The limo stopped, stealing her opportunity for answers.The door opened to the glitz, the call of those gathered, and flash of cameras.The red-carpet part was over there, at the opposite side of the grand entrance.Didn’t interest her at all and the feeling was, thankfully, mutual.Sear women were not supposed to be attention seekers.

Every other line of thought stalled at the sight of Brogan at the top of the stairs.What was he doing outside?

Like James Bond or a model from the pages of a glossy mag, the breadth and certainty of those shoulders could hold the whole world up and still keep those he cared about unburdened.It shouldn’t be like that though, should it?The burden shouldn’t be all his.

He descended the stairs and despite watching every step of his trajectory, it still stunned her that he stopped by her.

“Irish,” he said and picked up her hand to kiss her knuckles.

Beyond him, her own family mounted the stairs, leaving her behind.Good, the less contact they had with Brogan, the longer her pulse had a chance to even out.Ha, right, like it would, Brogan agitated that with his presence.

“Mister,” she said, failing to move when he tucked her hand into his elbow.

“What’s wrong?”

Searching his eyes, she couldn’t find her confidence.This way he made her feel.The gravity of his presence.It was more than the way he looked.Brogan Spurn was… breathtaking.

She smiled and shook her head.“Nothing.”

The stone stairway was enclosed on each side, making it necessary to stay close as they ascended.

In the lobby, her family was—Brogan hurried her to the periphery of people and into his direct eyeline.

“Talk.”

“Excuse me?”

“I want you in my ear,” he said.“I want to hear you, others to hear you.”

“I don’t understand.”