An Irish Affair (Heart of Hope 2)

“I saw Evelyn Winthrop,” she said, and I immediately rolled my eyes. Would she ever stop trying to get me and Evie married?

“Did she marry that duke or whatever,” I asked, having heard she’d been dating some guy with a title.

“No. And thank goodness. A title is all well and good unless you’re broke,” my mother said.

“Dodge a bullet on that one,” my father agreed. “You should call her.”

“Sure,” I said to appease them. I might call her, but not to marry her. Keeping in good with her family would help me as I took more control of the business. I’m sure that’s partly why my parents were on me to get with her.

Because I didn’t want to continue the conversation, I put my glass down. “I’ve had a long day and still have more to do.”

“At least you have the right work ethic. Sending you to Europe turned out to be the right decision,” my father said.

“In more ways than one,” my mother said under her breath.

I stared at her, wondering what she meant. Deciding I probably didn’t want to know, I said goodnight and headed out.

They were right about one thing, I was a different man than when I left, except for one thing. The effect Serena had on me hadn’t changed. I wondered what that meant.

3

Serena

I wasn’t sure how I made it through the rest of the day. Nikita immediately started asking me questions about how I knew Roarke and why hadn’t I ever said anything.

“You should be using that connection to help build your career,” she’d said.

“It’s not like that,” I said.

She studied me and I tried not to squirm. Fortunately, we reached the ground floor, so I hurried out of the building. Back at work, I busied myself with my other events, but Devin and his brilliant green eyes and sexy smile were never far from my mind. It was annoying. I’d been so certain I was over him. I was over him. My hormones, however, wouldn’t mind spending time with him again. It was annoyingly frustrating.

After work, I took the train home and picked up Andrew at my parents’ house.

“I’ve made enough spaghetti to feed an army,” my mother said when I found her in the kitchen. “Why don’t you and Andrew stay for dinner.”

I was never a huge fan of cooking, so I agreed. I also hoped being around my family would help distract me from seeing Devin again.

“We went to the library, mommy,” Andrew said coming into the kitchen while I set the table for my mom.

“Did you get good books?” I sat in a chair and pulled him onto my lap.

“Yep. I got one on airplanes.”

“Oh good. Maybe you can show me later tonight.”

“I swear that boy is going to be an engineer,” my mother said, setting a platter of spaghetti on the table. “Andrew, can you let Grandpa know dinner is ready.”

“’k.” Andrew squirmed off my lap and ran into the living room.

My mother watched him in a way that made me think she was wonderin

g about his father.

My father appeared in the doorway. “I’ve been summoned for dinner.”

“Yes, yes, take a seat. Oh…did you and Andrew wash your hands?”

My father held up his hands to show her, winking at me. “I think your mother forgets I’m grown up sometimes.”