Bottom Line: Callaghan Brothers, Book 8 (24 page)

Aidan was also casually dressed, sporting jeans and a dark chocolate button down that complimented her outfit.  Of course, Aidan managed to make everyday Levi’s and a cotton shirt look like something right off the cover of a fashion magazine. 

Mary sighed.  He was just too gorgeous for his own good.

“You look beautiful,” Aidan assured her, giving her a reassuring squeeze about her hip.  “Absolutely lickable,” he added in that silky purr that had her tingling, reminding her of exactly what they had been doing less than an hour ago.  Warmth flooded her cheeks (as well as a few other areas), making him chuckle.  “But I’ll force myself to behave until we get home.”

Until we get home.
  The phrase sent a different kind of warmth through her, one that wrapped around her heart.

––––––––

“G
lad you finally made it, man,” Ian called out from behind the bar with a huge grin before pinning his gaze on Mary.  “Ready to run the gauntlet, Mary?”

“Cut the shit, Ian,” Aidan said lightly, but his eyes held a definite warning.  “She’s nervous enough the way it is.”

“I’m sorry, Mary,” Ian said, though his mischievous eyes were twinkling.  “Lexi can’t stop talking about you, and she’s got everyone dying to meet you.”  Ian leaned over the bar and winked playfully.  “But you can send Aidan up there alone and hang down here with me if you’d like.”

A low, deep growl sounded nearby, and Mary realized it was Aidan.  “Sit with your own
croie
,” Aidan said, pulling Mary tightly against him.  Ian laughed. 

“One of these days someone’s just going to shoot you and be done with it, Ian,” warned an amused female voice as a striking woman appeared on Ian’s side.  She had long, streaked honey blonde hair and the most amazing violet eyes Mary had ever seen.

“Don’t mind him,” she said, tilting her head toward Ian.  “He gets off on irritating people.  Mary, right?  I’m Taryn.”

“Irritating people?” Ian said, somehow managing to look genuinely affronted.  “Me?”

Taryn ignored him, rolling her eyes and Mary felt a smile tugging at her lips.  There was something about Taryn she liked instantly.  Anyone who could manage to hold her own with Ian was okay in Mary’s book.  She was also pleased to see that Taryn was dressed even more casually than she was in faded jeans and a black ladies T sporting the name of a well-known heavy metal band. 

“Want to head upstairs right away, or would you like a drink first?”

Aidan looked at Mary and shrugged, leaving the decision up to her.  “A drink might be nice,” Mary admitted.  It would buy her a few more minutes to mentally prepare.  Aidan’s unique method of distraction had worked wonders, but a little extra couldn’t hurt.

“What’s your poison, Mare?” Ian asked, showing off by juggling a couple of bottles, tossing one behind his back and up over his shoulder.

“Oh no you don’t,” Taryn said, snatching one, then the other bottle out of the air.  “You’ll get her soused.”

Ian grinned.  “But she won’t be nervous anymore.”

Taryn selected a few items from the shelf behind the bar and proceeded to mix Mary a drink, her moves smooth and practiced.  “Here.  Try this.”

Mary took a sip.  It was light and fruity, with just a hint of kick.  “It’s delicious,” she said.  Taryn beamed and winked.  “I’ve got your back, sister.  Now, here’s what you need to know before you go upstairs and face the clan...”

Taryn paused, aware of Ian and Aidan looking at her expectantly.  “Don’t you boys have something else to do?”

“Are you kidding?  I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Ian said, placing both elbows on the bar and leaning over with great interest. 

Taryn looked at Aidan.  “Not a chance,” he agreed firmly.

Taryn shrugged and focused her attention back on Mary.  “Okay.  So you already know Ian and Lexi, and you met Michael, right?”  Mary nodded and took another sip of her drink.  “That’s Jake,” Taryn said, pointing over to a very large man coming out from another room carrying a half-keg as if it was as light as a gallon of milk.  “He’s mine.” 

Mary saw the flash of possession in Taryn’s eyes as she looked at her husband, and instinctively knew that they were every bit as in love as Lexi and Ian.  Jake put the keg down and stalked over. 

“You must be Mary,” he said, his voice deep and smooth.  “Welcome.”  He kissed Taryn, gave her an affectionate pat on the behind, then went back to the other side of the bar to take care of the customers down there. 

Mary liked him, too.  He was a little intimidating at first glance, but his smile was genuine.  He was also apparently a man of few words, which Mary could appreciate.

“Jack Callaghan is the patriarch of the clan.  He’s the one responsible for this bunch of crazies.  You are going to love him.”

“Kieran – he’s the youngest – and his wife, Faith, are here, along with Faith’s teenage son, Matt.  They just got back from their honeymoon and Faith just found out she’s pregnant, so don’t be offended if they’re off in their own little world.” 

Ian snickered at that.  Taryn ignored him.

“Um, Shane and Lacie – you’ll like them.  They’re both on the quiet side.  Shane’s a lawyer, and Lacie’s a Kindergarten teacher.  Then there’s Sean and Nicki.  They run the garage in town, but Nicki also runs a center for teens.  They look really badass, but don’t let them scare you.” 

Ian snorted.  Taryn shot him an annoyed look. 

“Michael, you met him – he’s a sweetheart, and his wife Maggie.  Michael said you and Maggie are kindred spirits, but he won’t go into details.”  Taryn looked at Mary hopefully, but Mary just blinked innocently and took another sip of her drink.

Taryn ticked them off, mumbling their names.  “Kieran, Shane, Sean, Michael, Ian, Jake... oh, and Kane.  That’s Rebecca’s husband.”  Taryn looked directly at Aidan at that point.

“What do I need to know about him?” Mary asked, feeling slightly braver than she had a few minutes earlier.  So far she hadn’t heard anything too worrisome. 

“Yeah, Taryn,” Ian prodded gleefully.  “What does she need to know about Kane?”

“He worships the ground Rebecca walks on,” Taryn finally said.  Mary could have sworn she heard Ian mumble “chicken” under his breath.

“Don’t worry, Mary.  From everything Lexi’s told us, you’re going to fit right in.”

Mary wished she felt as confident.

Leaving Ian and Jake to cover the bar, Taryn led Aidan and Mary away from the public area and into a large, old-fashioned kitchen.  “This kitchen is amazing,” Mary commented, looking around and noting the ten-foot high ceilings, carved wooden cabinetry, and ancient banquet-sized table taking up a good portion of the room. 

Taryn smiled.  “I know, right?  When it was originally built nearly three hundred years ago, it was a hotel.  People would take ferries up the river and stay here overnight.  Then during the Civil War, the owners offered it up as a place where Union soldiers could crash and recover, grab a hot meal and a clean bed.”

“No kidding?”

“Nope. There’s a historical plaque marker on the front and everything.  Jack Callaghan bought the place as an investment not too long after he got married.  Jake took it over about a dozen years ago or so.  He and the others put a lot of time and effort into restoring it to its former glory.  Can’t even imagine Pine Ridge without it now.”

“They did a fabulous job.”

Taryn smiled proudly.  “Yeah, they really did.”  She opened a door to reveal a flight of steps.  “The top two floors are private living areas,” she said as she beckoned for them to follow.  “At one time, all the guys lived here, but now it’s mainly just Jake and me and our rugrats.  And Jack, of course.” 

“Welcome to the clan lair.  Everyone ends up here eventually.” 

They emerged on the second floor into a massive central room.  Mary stopped, blinking her eyes several times.  On one side of the room there was a flat screen that took up nearly the entire wall; the rest was covered by shelves and shelves of electronics.  The other three walls were decorated with an assortment of speakers and lights.  The room itself was a collection of oversized furniture – sofas, recliners, chairs, and various coffee tables. 

Each piece of furniture was occupied by some of the largest men Mary had ever seen (which explained the size of the stuff), and a number of children ranging in age from a few months to mid-teens.

“Organized chaos,” Taryn laughed, picking her way across the room.  “Come on, the girls are in here.  Try not to step on anyone.”

Aidan placed his hand possessively on the small of Mary’s back; she took comfort in that.  The men greeted him, glancing at her and nodding with curious, slightly amused looks.  She nodded back,  feeling like she was walking through a den of big bears and their cubs.

Arches at the far end of the man cave opened into a kitchenette.  That is where the women had gathered, and where Taryn now led Aidan and Mary.

Six pairs of female eyes locked onto Mary the instant she came into view, from the bluest skies and the deepest greens to the most startling silvery gray.

Rebecca was the first to stand and approach them.  Mary knew it had to be Aidan’s sister, because her hair was the color of bronze and they shared the same exotic golden amber eyes.

“Aidan,” she said, smiling and embracing her brother. 

“And you must be Mary,” Rebecca said, turning to her.  “I am so glad to meet you.”  Rebecca’s voice was soft and soothing, and when she turned her smile to Mary, Mary felt the gentle power of it.  “I am so happy you came.  Can I get you something to drink?  Coffee?  Tea?  Soda?”

“Tea would be great, thanks,” Mary said.  A woman with cherry cola hued hair and brilliant green eyes jumped up. 

“Tea it is.  I’m Maggie, by the way.  Michael’s wife.  He says you gave the nurses a hard time.”

Embarrassed, Mary flushed, but Maggie laughed and added, “Good for you, Mary.  We’re going to get along just fine.”

“And I’m Nicki,” said the woman with jet black hair and eyes like glittering diamonds.  “Nice to meet you.”

Lexi waved a hand and patted the empty seat next to her.  “You already know me.  This is Lacie, Shane’s wife -” (a very attractive blonde smiled and nodded) “- and Faith, Kieran’s new bride.”  Lexi looked over at Aidan and made a shooing motion.  “Go on, Aidan.  Watch the game with the guys or something.  We’ll take good care of her.”

Aidan didn’t look so sure about that.  Mary wasn’t sure either, but she didn’t want to embarrass Aidan, so she forced a smile and assured him she’d be fine. 

“Come on, man,” said Kieran, placing his hand on Aidan’s shoulder.  “There’s no fighting them when they’re united like that.”  Aidan looked again at the women, now glaring at him, and reluctantly retreated back into the other room.

“Good, he’s gone,” said Taryn, leaning forward as Maggie placed a cup of tea in front of Mary.  “Now, tell us how you two met...”

* * *

A
idan shot frequent worried looks toward the kitchen.  He could hear the murmur of Mary’s voice interspersed with the others, and guessed that they were giving her the third degree.  He felt his heart drop substantially when he heard all of the women laughing.

Sean, who was closest to the door, grinned at Aidan and said, “She really took your ass home when you were soused?”

Aidan nodded miserably.  The other men grinned, too, but Aidan found support in the unlikeliest of places.  “Sounds like a quality woman,” Kane growled in his deep voice.  “Someone who’ll have your back, even when you’re acting like a complete ass.”

The other men nodded in sage agreement, then their attention went back to the big screen.

––––––––

“E
verything okay?” Aidan asked an hour or so later on their way back to Birch Falls.  Mary had been on the quiet side since they left, but she didn’t seem to be angry or upset, and had no problem with Aidan holding her hand on the drive. 

“Yes,” she said, offering him an apologetic smile.  “Just thinking.”

“About what?”

“I like your sister,” Mary said. 

“Yeah, she’s great.”

“She loves you very much.”

“Did she tell you that?”

“No, but I could see it when she talked about you.  It was in her eyes, in her face.”

“Funny,” Aidan said, one half of his mouth tilting up in a crooked grin.  “She said the exact same thing about you.”  Mary lowered her eyes shyly, and Aidan added, “She thought we were perfect for each other.”

Mary sighed softly; it was the same sound she made late at night, when she thought he was asleep and whispered confessions of her greatest fears.  He never admitted that he heard them; he was afraid she would stop if she knew.  Instead he tried to reassure her during their waking hours without giving anything away.

“They are a close-knit bunch, aren’t they?” she said, changing the subject.

“Yes, very.”

“They include you, yet you resist.  Why?”

Aidan turned to her, surprised.  He thought about refuting it, or using a little misdirection of his own, but decided against it.  If Mary was astute enough to pick that up, she was certainly capable of detecting a lie. 

“I don’t know,” he answered honestly.  “Lex is my best friend.  Rebecca’s my sister.  And those damn Callaghans – they can be a real pain in the ass but they are good men, and I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have looking out for Lex and Becca.  But as much as I like them, I just ...”  He paused, trying to find the words that would adequately express what he was trying to say.

“Feel like you don’t really belong?” Mary finished quietly.

“Yes,” he exhaled.  “That’s it exactly.  It’s not anything they’ve done.  They’ve always included me, tried to make me feel like I’m part of it all, but...”

“... but you still feel like you’re always on the fringe.”

“Yes,” he breathed in relief that she
got it
.  “Except when I’m with you, Mary.  That’s the only time I feel like I belong, like I am exactly where I am supposed to be.”  Aidan lifted their joined hands to his lips and pressed a kiss against her knuckles.  “How’d you get so smart, anyway?”

She chuckled.  “Takes one to know one, I guess.  For as long as I’ve been in Birch Falls, I’ve never really felt like I belonged, you know?  I mean, everyone was always nice to me, but it was because of Cam.  He was one of their own, and by default, they accepted me as well.”