“I thought it would go well with the beef.”
She shakes her head, offering me a smile. “Oh no, it’s fine.”
I settle the bottle down and pick up my glass. “So, tell me something I don’t know about you.”
Riley looks thoughtful as she picks at a piece of beef. “I think you know everything already. I’m pretty much an open book.”
“So, there are no deep, dark secrets hidden away?” I wiggle my eyebrows.
Her smile falters just for a second.
Before I can press her, the moment shatters as Ronan walks into the kitchen with a face like thunder.
“Sorry to interrupt, but it’s important.”
I shoot my brother a glare. “It always is. But I’m busy right now. Whatever it is, it can wait an hour.”
“No, it can’t. Sean’s made a move against us with the promise that something bigger is coming.”
The shift in the air is immediate.
Riley tenses, and I curse under my breath.
There goes our romantic evening, and now there’s another broken promise added to the list.
I glance at her, and she meets my eyes.
“It’s okay. You should go.”
What I should do is stay true to my promise. But if Sean’s made a move, we also can’t afford to waste any time.
“Kieran,” Ronan presses.
Balling my hand into a fist, I shake my head.
I couldn’t give Riley one fucking dinner without work getting in the way.
How much longer is she going to keep putting up with my broken promises?
As if reading my thoughts, Riley gets to her feet and comes around to press a soft kiss to my cheek.
“Dinner was amazing.”
“Dessert was going to be even better,” I whisper, and she smiles. “I’ll come and find you once we’re done.”
Another promise that I might not be able to keep, but it seems to be enough for Riley.
She squeezes my shoulder once before disappearing out of the kitchen, leaving Ronan and me alone.
Ronan tilts his head toward the kitchen door. “We should talk in my office.”
I push back my chair. “Lead the way.”
We climb the stairs together, and once the door to his office shuts, Ronan drops into the leather chair behind his desk, scrubbing a hand over his face.
The lamp on the corner casts harsh shadows over his features, deepening the lines around his mouth.
He looks exhausted. And maybe a little broken.
