5. Abigail

5

ABIGAIL

My brother, Nate, lingers "I need an assistant…"

"No," I say without looking up from my computer screen.

I've been staring at the application for a research fellowship taking place on the west coast of Ireland to study the puffin mating season this upcoming spring.

I'd rather not have to leave New York, family is everything to me. But it's starting to look like the confines of New York, hell, even the tristate area, aren't going to yield me what I need.

He drops onto the leather couch next to me. "Come on, Abs, you need a job–"

"I said no . Besides, shouldn't you be doing your job right now?"

Nate rolls his eyes, a cheeky smile playing on his lips. "I'm supposed to engage with our members, you know, get data and info over what vendors they're liking, what I should scratch next buy period…"

"Sounds thrilling." My tone is as dry as my excitement.

"Hey! It's important work. Without me, the club would collapse out from under us!"

I smile at my brother. He's a far cry from the "I don't want responsibility" surfer he was when he moved back to New York two years ago. Now he's the primary buyer for our father's club, meaning he's always seeking out the latest and greatest when it comes to liquor, spirits, gourmet foods, etcetera.

Not only does he have to balance the public-facing nightclub upstairs, but the members-only club downstairs too.

All the members are of a certain tax bracket and expect the most at all times.

"I appreciate everything you do for the club, Nate."

Nate gives me a sparkling smile. "And?"

"And I want nothing to do with working for the club."

He collapses onto the couch with a heavy sigh. "Worth a shot."

"Why are you being so pushy about it, anyway?"

"Dad's idea."

"Dad? No way!"

Dad has definitely turned a corner since he met Sonia. He used to be obsessive about the club. After all, the Lyons Club is our family's legacy, dating all the way back to the seventeenth century.

Now, he's slowed down a bit, what with two new babies and a wife.

But he's still Edwin Lyons, still owner of The Lyons Club. He has a philosophy of doing things, and that philosophy is often "If you want it done right you have to do it yourself."

Nate nods. "I know, it surprised me too." My brother scratches a hand through his hair. "But he thinks it'd be good for me to get a bit more work life balance since we're trying to have a baby."

I shake my head, my mouth ajar.

Life moves fast, that's for fucking sure. "How's that going to work anyway? Are you going to mix up your sperm in a vial and just see which one gets there faster?"

Nate narrows his eyes. "You're not funny."

"I'm just asking! You're the only person I know who is in a throuple!"

Nate gets up. "I'm leaving before you ask anything else annoying."

"I just don't want to be surprised when the baby looks like Mason instead of you!"

Nate walks away without turning around, waving a hand over his shoulder. "Bye, Abigail!"

Being the annoying little sister has its advantages.

I always know how to push buttons so that my annoying big brother will leave me alone. Even if deep down what I really want is what he has already.

He found his place in life, is doing something he loves, and has found his people.

I return to the application on my computer, try to focus up again.

I need to get this in asap, so I don't waste another day feeling like a useless heap with an overly expensive degree.

I start typing up my personal statement on a document, repurposing old applications to fit with the new so that the Ireland Coastal Marine Institute feels like I have written all of this explicitly for them.

It's all just a big game, a useless one. Busy work.

Halfway through my third paragraph, a laugh I recognize floats through the club to me.

I look up. I was so focused I didn't realize Theo fucking Wallington just walked in through the members-only entrance.

I thought his company in the UK went kaput. Surely, he doesn't have the tax documents to be a member here.

But he's dad's best friend. Nepotism exists everywhere, I suppose.

He's talking with Lourdes, the head of security. She's not a particularly smiley woman, but oh, is she smiling at him. Big and bright, all her teeth.

He's…oh, my god, Theo's flirting with her.

I watch him place his hand against his chest, do a self-deprecating dip of his head, and say something low, meant only for her.

Lourdes giggles.

Lourdes doesn't giggle. She's always in black with her thick, dark hair pulled out of her face, and her buffness is impossible to ignore no matter what she's wearing.

She's intimidating . Which doesn't mean men shouldn't hit on her. She's beautiful, of course.

But Theo Wallington is not worthy of her.

However, I don't think the annoyance I'm feeling over the situation has to do with how undeserving he is.

I can't put my finger on it. There's something about him so utterly charming it makes me sick.

I want to know how it would feel to be on the end of his flirtations.

I mean, I'd reject them. I wouldn't even bat an eye. For a multitude of reasons, not least of which he's my dad's best friend. There's the list of scandals too.

What if none of that existed, though? What if he were a stranger in a bar who came up to me and did that heart clutching maneuver, no doubt lowering his voice in a way that would only be for me and no one else?

I'm not sure I could be immune to that.

His accent alone, that godforsaken British accent that swoons and circles.

I could see myself being trapped in his web. Easy.

If I didn't know everything I know, though.

I watch them, trying to hide behind my computer screen, until Theo gives Lourdes a soft touch on the arm and gestures toward the bar where I suppose he's going to have a midday nip of something.

He gestures toward her, and Lourdes holds up a hand.

If I filled in the blanks, I'd say he offered to buy her a drink and she said, "Oh, no, I'm on the clock."

Theo backs away as if he can't keep his eyes off her.

Anger flares in me.

No, this isn't anger. It's jealousy. Which is ridiculous . I know too much to be jealous.

No, no. I'm just concerned for my friend.

Which is why the second he's out of earshot from her, no longer sizing her up with his eyes, I leap up from my seat and go to her.

"Lourdes!" I say in the loudest whisper I can.

The security guard whips around, her eyebrows up to her hairline. "What's wrong?"

I hold up my hands. "Nothing! Nothing."

Lourdes lets her shoulders fall. "You scared me."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to sound so urgent, I just…" I glance over my shoulder to where Theo is leaning over the bar, talking to the bartender.

He has the gift of gab, that one. I'm sure it's easy in the States when everyone is snowed over your accent. "Was he flirting with you?"

Lourdes's eyes dart over to the bar. Her cheeks flush the tiniest bit.

I've never seen her flush.

"Um, I think he was just being friendly."

"Yeah, sure, well, let me give you some advice." I move to stand next to her so we both have a view of him at the bar.

Christ, he's got a nice little ass.

That's irrelevant of course, but those slacks are perfect on him.

And his back looks broad and strong underneath his dress shirt.

What's going on? Get a grip, Abigail .

"Theodore Wallington. One of the heirs of the Wallington banking fortune which no longer exists because him and his twin brother got into so many shady business dealings they lost the company."

This isn't insider information. These are articles you can see on Business Insider and in the New York Times. The financial ruin of the Wallingtons was front page news a couple of years ago. Messy, messy, messy.

"Well, everyone makes mistakes," Lourdes says with a husky laugh.

"Lourdes, don't tell me you ignore red flags."

"I don't, but if he's a member, he must have the bank account for it."

I smile at her sympathetically. "He's dad's best friend."

Lourdes rolls her eyes. "Abigail, I know how to hold my own, you really don't have to–"

"His wife left him for his twin brother," I blurt out. "Crazy, right?"

Lourdes's face contorts with horror. "That's terrible!"

"Okay, yes–"

"Who would do that to a person?"

This is backfiring. "Yes, you're right. What kind of person would leave a man for his twin brother, but also… What did he have to do for her to make that seem okay?"

Lourdes opens her mouth to respond but stops short. "Look, Abigail. It's not worth anything to speculate on someone's personal life."

"I just want to make sure you don't get hurt, Lourdes. Friend to friend."

"Abigail, I'm a decade older than you. I've been around the block, okay? I know how to hold my own. And besides…" Her eyes travel over to Theo, and her mouth forms a thin line.

She might be able to hold her own, but I can sense he surprised her.

Theo enamored her just a bit more than she's used to.

Her eyes come back to mine. "I don't mix business and pleasure."

I nod. "I know you don't. I just wanted to warn you. I did the same to Bridget a while back when he was flirting with her, you know? He's chasing after younger women too. That's always a red flag."

"That's good of you."

"And you know, if you see something, now you can say something too."

Lourdes's expression is unreadable. "I'm not sure I'll get involved but thank you for the intel."

I grit my teeth. I overstepped.

Shit. Shit, shit, shit.

I let that red-hot anger inside me get a little too carried away, let it try to start a blaze and now it's been doused in cold water.

For the best. I don't know what got into me.

"Fair enough. Maybe I'm a bit too nosy," I say with a little laugh.

Lourdes nods. "Maybe."

Ouch .

"Anyway, he's coming back." Lourdes clears her throat, lifting her chin higher.

Shit.

I start to ramble as I back away. "Okay, well, anyway. Hope you don't feel I questioned your integrity or your judgment or–"

Lourdes gives me a hollow smile.

"Abigail!" Theo exclaims.

I wince.

Why wasn't I faster?

"Pleasure to see you today," he says and by the look on his face, he means it.

Why is he so damn earnest? And oblivious.

Theo glances between Lourdes and me. "I'm not interrupting, am I?"

"No!" I shout while Lourdes says the same word with much more calm and less suspicion.

Theo quirks an eyebrow.

My mouth grows hot.

"I have to do my rounds." Lourdes tips her chin. "Pleasure meeting you, Theo. I'm sure I'll see you around the club more often."

Theo nods. "Yes, you will."

Lourdes gives me a look. "See you soon, Abigail."

I swallow. "Bye."

Lourdes walks off, her gait strong and purposeful as it always is.

Theo frowns. "Everything all right?"

I pull my gaze back to him.

"Everything's fine!" I give him a big smile.

Theo seems unconvinced, his lips puckered and brow furrowed. "I see."

I try to sidestep him. "Well, anyway, I should get back to my work. I–"

"Would you like a drink?"

I blink at him.

"To…" He tilts his head to the side as if trying to read me. "Complement your work. Let me try to start redeeming myself for everything. Start , being the operative word there."

I try to laugh it off. "I don't really mix working and drinking. I'm too much of a lightweight for that."

"An Irish lightweight. What an oxymoron," he says with a broad grin.

It's an obvious joke, but I don't find it particularly funny.

Theo's smile falls, and he clears his throat. "That was a…it was a joke."

"Yep. Got that."

I watch his Adam's apple dip with a swallow. I didn't notice before, but he's got a five o'clock shadow today. A sexy ruggedness that opposes the clean-cut Britishness of him.

Stop thinking he's sexy, Abigail. He's not. He's a broke single dad whose wife left him for his twin brother. And he's your dad's best friend! No thinking he's sexy allowed!

"Forgive me, I was just trying to…" He gestures between us with an open hand, then closes it with resolution. "Never mind. Just, forgive me."

His blue eyes are locked in mine. Stunning, ice blue. Unfairly pretty.

They hold me in place.

And I notice something I haven't before. A sadness. Subtle, carried in the corner of his eyes.

Have I caused that?

Every comment I've made, every thought I've had about Theo Wallington rushes back to haunt me.

I've been so terrible to him, just in my own head. I've been letting it seep out, pretending like I'm being subtle. But these daggers are not subtle. Not at all.

I don't need to like him or be friends with him.

But when did I become such an asshole?

"No forgiveness necessary, I get it. It's a joke. Ha!" I swipe a hand through my hair. "Anyway, I've got to get back to my work and–"

"Yes, I'm late for a meeting with your father anyway," he mutters, checking the expensive watch on his wrist, a movement so pedestrian and yet sexy.

I get a glimpse of some dark hair below his wrist and shiny cufflinks.

Dad's best friend. My dad's best friend.

Yep.

Cut it out right now.

We say our awkward goodbyes. I return to work on my application, and Theo disappears.

I stare at the blinking cursor on my computer screen.

Can't fucking focus now. For one, I feel awful. I was a total jerk.

He never did anything to me. Sonia is right, it was my dad's choice. It's not like Theo had to twist his arm.

And for the other, there is a warmth in my belly I have to figure out how to ignore.

Because Theo Wallington put it there.