I huffed out a breath. "Fine," I said, crossing my arms. "I'll make a list."
Brogan's lip tipped up in a small smile. "If you want me to go personally, I will. I'd enjoy rifling through your underwear. Plus, one good turn deserves another."
I raised a brow. "I didn't rifle through your underwear. You don't wear any."
He put his arms around my waist and pulled me close. "Are you sure? I think I might. It's difficult to remember. How about we explore the answer to that question later?" He kissed my neck and I laughed.
"Tease," I muttered. He brought his head up and gave me a crooked grin and my heart seemed to stop for a fraction of a second. God, he had the power to slay me with his grin.
Stepping away, he laughed softly. "Make yourself comfortable. Call me if you need anything. And text me that list. I'll be home in a couple hours."
Home. I nodded. "Okay. Oh hey," I said, and he turned at the door, "can I use your computer? I need to charge my laptop."
"Help yourself. There's no password."
He left my room and a few minutes later, I heard the front door click shut. I experienced a moment of loneliness as I stood in this strange, quiet apartment. Funny, because I was used to being alone, but suddenly, seemingly in less than a couple of days, I was used to Brogan's company. I wanted Brogan's company.
I took a few minutes to unpack my bag and set my toiletries in the bathroom, and then I headed downstairs and went into Brogan's office. It seemed pretty stark and unused and I wondered if he actually did any work here or if it was more for personal use. There was a photo on his desk of two kids and I picked it up, looking closely, able to tell immediately it was Brogan and Eileen. It must have been taken in Ireland because Brogan looked like he was about twelve and Eileen looked about eight, her legs in the braces I'd known her to wear when their father had worked for us. My heart clenched at the open, joyful smile on Brogan's face. He'd been happy and untroubled. I wondered if that had been the last time . . .
Replacing the picture where it'd been, I opened his computer, deciding to do a little work since I had the opportunity and now knew for sure I still had a job. I spent the next few hours answering and sending emails, checking in on projects, and doing what work I could remotely. A call to my secretary updated me on everything going on in the office.
"Lydia," Trudi said, lowering her voice in the way I knew she did when she didn't want her phone conversation to be overheard, "we all think the team you brought in is wonderful and, well, Stuart being replaced was probably the best thing that could have happened for the company and hopefully for him as well. We know he was Edward's son and your brother, and I do hate to say it, but he just wasn't cut out to run a business." She sighed. "And it's good you're taking some time away while the team is here."
I'd been taken aback. The word circulating was that all the recent happenings were my doing? Perhaps it was only rumor . . . After all, I was the only one left and the other employees didn't know Stuart was, or had been, the sole owner of the company, though he acted as president. Interesting. As we spoke, I noted the hopeful excitement in Trudi's voice, and it made me glad to know the company was being taken care of in my absence. Or perhaps more to the point . . . because of my absence.
Brogan's phone rang repeatedly, annoying and distracting me, but I let it go to voicemail. Who still had a landline anyway? I had my cell phone sitting on the desk beside me, and if anyone needed to get a hold of me, they would have called that number.
Once I'd finished working, I closed Brogan's computer and went into his kitchen and dug through the refrigerator. It held a small amount of food, but I found a yogurt that hadn't expired and an apple that still looked decent and ate it in his living room in front of a late afternoon talk show.
By the time I'd finished the food I was already bored. Sighing, I cleaned up and went up to my room. Despite doing a whole lot of nothing for the past week, I still wasn't used to being idle, and I definitely wasn't used to feeling like a caged animal.
Picking up my phone, I dialed Stuart's number. Just as it'd done for the past couple of days, it went straight to voicemail. I left him a brief message, telling him I was worried about him and to call me. Just as I was putting my phone down, it chimed with an incoming text.
Brogan: Fionn is bringing dinner by. He has the door codes. I'll be home asap.
Me: Okay. Everything all right?
Brogan: Just held up.
I sighed. Well, okay.
An hour later, I heard the beeping of the keypad outside Brogan's door and a second later, Fionn's voice called, "Lydia? It's Fionn."
"Hey," I said as I descended the stairs. Fionn stood in the entranceway. He grinned, holding up several brown paper bags. "Howya? I hope ya like Chinese."
"I do. Thanks." When I got to the bottom, I said, "By the way, it's nice to officially meet you." I shifted awkwardly. "The other day was . . ." I drifted off, not knowing exactly how to finish that thought.
Fionn laughed. "The other day was gas. It's not often I see Brogan snookered. I knew then we'd be mates." He winked and I let out a confused laugh. I followed him into the kitchen where he set the bags on the counter.
"What does snookered mean exactly?" I asked. Fionn paused in unloading the food from the bags.
"Em, it's a heavy defeat." He grinned and I laughed.