An Irish Affair (Heart of Hope 2)

I smiled feeling proud of my accomplishment. “Thank you.”

“And I see you stocked Dad’s whiskey. He’s such an Irish cliché.”

Movement on the other side of the kitchen caught my eye. Devin and another striking woman were walking through the hall. He bent over to whisper in her ear, then with his hand on her lower back, he escorted her to a door. Opening it, he led her in and shut it behind him.

Everything in my body went cold.

“That’s Evie, Evelyn Winthrop,” Bri said.

I turned my attention to her and saw she was looking to where I had been.

“They’re probably talking about when to have their firstborn, if my mother has any say about it.”

What? “Oh?” It took a herculean effort to keep my tone calm and not run down the hall to scratch both Devin and Evelyn’s eyes out.

“They’re supposed to get married.” Bri stole a bruschetta off the tray one of the caterers set on the breakfast bar for one of the wait staff to take to the party.

“Married? I didn’t realize he was engaged.”

She nodded. “Practically since birth. Of course, my brother isn’t ready yet. He’s still sowing his oats. I don’t know why she puts up with that, but who understands love, huh?”

I had been so sure that I’d been keeping my heart safe, but at that moment, I felt like an anvil had been dropped on it. How I was still standing there was beyond me because I was crushed.

Briana took a long swig of her wine and leaned toward me over the counter. “Personally, I think he could do better, but even Devin with all his talk about being his own man can’t escape family duty.”

“Serena, we’re about out of the scallop and truffle appetizer,” Debbie from my team appeared with an empty tray.

It took me a minute to make sure I could speak without crying. “Take this bruschetta. I’ll see if we have more of the scallops.”

“Oh, let me have one more of those,” Bri said before Debbie walked off with the bruschetta.

“I’m sorry, I need to check on the food,” I said to Bri, casting a glance toward the door Devin and Evelyn had gone through.

“He’s probably fucking her. It’s probably why she never gives up on him. I swear he’ll do it anywhere.” She shook her head, but then she gave me a strange look. “He didn’t lead you on, did he? He’s a nice guy really, but—”

I waved my hand away. “No. But he’s the host and should be at the party,” I said by way of excuse.

Bri jumped down from her stool. “I’ll take care of the party.” She sent me a sassy grin. “Taking credit for Devin’s work is always fun.”

I watched her leave thinking that I liked her. Of course, she and I would never be friends. Just like Devin and I would never be together.

Idiot! I chastised myself for getting caught up in the dream of Devin. I put all my focus into the evening, avoiding Devin and not looking his way when he finally emerged from whatever that room was.

A couple of times he approached me but I busied myself with something else and asked Debbie to check with him.

Near midnight, the party started to break up. I worked with my team and caterers to clean up while Devin and his family were out on the sunporch.

“Deb, can I ride back to the city with you?” I asked her. There was no way I was going to spend the night with Devin in a B&B, especially right after he fucked another woman.

“Yeah sure, if you don’t mind being squished as we all rode out together.”

“How’d you get here?” Jimmy who also was on my team asked.

“I came out with Mr. Roarke, but he’s staying here and I forgot to arrange a ride back.”

“If I were you, I’d try to arrange to stay with Mr. Roarke. Like in his bed. He’s yum, yum, yummy.” Debbie sighed wistfully.

“His fiancé probably wouldn’t like that,” I said tightly.