by Annie Dyer
“Can I take her?”
“You don’t need to ask,” I said, letting my niece go into Claire’s grip and be plastered with kisses, big noisy ones. I laughed, unable to take my eyes away. “I’m pretty sure Nick won’t mind if you borrow her and Kitty for a few hours so he can get some work done. Your client needs setting up.”
Claire’s eyes fixed on mine, her arms wrapped around Margot and she looked the most content I’d seen her in years. “I’m pretty sure I can babysit tomorrow. It’d be a good excuse to avoid listening to wedding plans. I’m going to end up tipping water over Jackson if he doesn’t stop mooning over Vanessa and being so excruciatingly happy.”
I laughed. “Just water?”
“I’m sure I can find something that would sting more. I suppose we need to meet about my client too. I’ll see if Marie will have the girls for a while too. This could be a complicated one,” she said, heading into the lounge.
I remembered the Christmas holidays when Claire and I had sneaked off to the cottage every chance we’d had to be alone. The place had undergone a whole refurbishment since then, probably more than once, but the rooms still echoed with memories of that year when no one had known that we couldn’t get enough of each other. We’d found an empty bedroom in her halls of residence, where some student had left to go home for compassionate leave while it was term time. Finding privacy during the holidays was more difficult. I’d come to the Callaghan home as Max’s friend. We’d been best mates since Freshers’ Week at Oxford University, and I’d known Claire before she’d joined us, two years below us, at the same college.
I heard an excited scream as Claire entered, followed by Nick shouting at Kitty to watch his beer with a resulting “shit” that at some point the twins would be repeating. We’d already given up trying not to swear in front of them.
“Your step-mum’s going to refuse to have me stay here again when she sees the state of this place,” Nick said, looking up at me as we followed Claire into the room. She had both the twins climbing over her now and was showering them with kisses.
“Marie is thrilled to have them here. She’s desperate for grandkids so Kitty and Margot are honorary granddaughters while they’re here,” Claire said. “I’m just glad you’re able to step up Katie’s security as well as house sharing for a few weeks.”
I looked at Katie, who was sitting with a bottle of water at the opposite end to the sofa where Nick was. She was pale and tired and clearly at breaking point with what she had gone through in recent weeks.
When Claire had agreed to act for Katie when divorcing her husband, Dean Lacey, Max and Jackson Callaghan had approached me to organise security for Claire. Eighteen months ago, Claire had represented a well-known actor in a divorce which had ended up with her apartment being ransacked by someone acting for his wife looking for files on the case and Claire being threatened and followed. The media interest had been high with one reporter especially persistent. Based on that experience, Jackson, the firm’s managing partner, had arranged security from the outset, something Claire had been resistant to, especially when I had covered some of the shifts. And the reasons for covering were not fuelled by business acumen.
“We need to know exactly what we are dealing with,” Nick said, picking up Margot from Claire. “I need to know what threats you’ve received, even if you think you’re just being paranoid and I need to know everything about your husband. We’re not the police. You’re employing us, so we’re working for you.”
Katie nodded, looking up at him. “Can I talk to you in the morning about it?” she said. “I just want a night where I don’t have to think about him. Please?”
There was no way my brother would refuse that.
“Sure,” he said, Mr Predictable. “The twins have a mid-morning nap. We’ll talk then.” He reached down and scooped up Kitty, who started to pummel his chest, knowing what was coming. “Bath time. Then bed. Then daddy can have a beer without worrying about it being knocked over everywhere.” He continued to mutter as he left the room, the twins grumbling.
“They’ve grown so much,” Claire said, her hair was tousled from the twins having fussed it. “Your brother’s doing an amazing job.”
He’d had no choice. The twins had been the result of a one-night stand with a long-time friend. She’d been a little older than Nick and when she found she was pregnant she’d wanted to go ahead with the pregnancy. Three months after the twins were born she’d been killed by a drunk driver coming home from a day out shopping with friends. The twins had been with Nick, as they had ever since. He had a nanny of sorts to help him out during the week when he needed to arrange meetings, but he was as hands-on as he could be, working around them. They’d meant he had taken a strategic role, a bit more along the lines of investigative work, while I had organised the employees who worked for us. It was working well, we made a good profit that enabled us to live a comfortable lifestyle with a few investments along the way. “He’s mastered the art of accessorising toddler food on designer sweatshirts,” I said. “And never open a cupboard or a drawer because you probably won’t be able to shut it again.” There was plenty more I could say; my brother had made being a single dad look easy, but I knew it hadn’t been. There had been days when the twins were still infants and he’d been drowning in nappies, bottles and projectile vomit and I’d found him staring out of the window, despite the yelling from the cribs. But after those early days had been conquered, thanks to our parents and the employment of a nanny, he’d started to survive a bit better.
“Maybe I can pick up some tips,” Katie said, the smile now more genuine.
I raised my eyebrows. “You’re pregnant?”
She nodded. “I think so but it’s not confirmed yet. I’m seeing a doctor next week. My ex doesn’t know. In fact, you’re the second person I’ve told.”
There was a yell and a holler from upstairs. “You know, if any of you three wants to experience a bath time feel free to help,” Nick shouted. “They’re only slightly demonic at the moment.”
Katie stood up. “I’ll go. I may as well be useful seeing as I’m crashing your brother’s holiday.” She left the room, living me alone with Claire who refused to meet my eyes.
“How are you?” I said to her. “I’ve not seen you since your dad’s retirement ball.”
Her father had officially retired a couple of months ago and a large ball had been held in his honour with the who’s who of London’s business community attending. I’d been going anyway as Max’s friend and I’d always gotten along pretty well with Marie and Grant, so I’d kept an eye on Claire for most of the night. It was the same night that Jackson had proposed to his girlfriend, Vanessa. After that, I’d slipped away, not being able to look at Claire without remembering and thinking about what could’ve been.
We were too young when we were messing about with each other at university, but even then, I’d known I wanted her to be mine, that she was it for me. I’d thought about how long I’d need to wait to propose, about not joining the marines like I’d always planned, about telling her brothers that we were together and facing their interrogation and threats. But before I’d been able to suggest it all to her, she’d blocked my calls and ignored my texts. No explanation.
I’d joined the marines and gone off around the world, trying to forget in the tits and asses of women I met along the way. Not that it had worked.
“I’m good, I suppose,” she said, looking anything but. “Working hard. This case is going to be difficult.”
“Are you looking after yourself?” I asked, noticing the dark shadows under her eyes and wanting to pick her up and take care of her. I tried not to notice her soft curves or remember how her skin felt under my hands.
“Kind of. Things are feeling crazy at the moment with the rebrand and we’ve had an influx of work. Plus, Jackson and Van are mad keen on getting married early next year and, well, you know,” she said. But I didn’t. She looked sad, those doe eyes wide and uncertain.
“I should head off back to the house. Are you staying there?”
“I am,” I said. “I arrived yesterday. As much as I love my nieces it’s nice to be able to walk away and leave my brother drowning. I want to catch up with Max too. How is he?”
We were on safe ground discussing her brother.
“He’s good. They appointed a legal executive to work for him yesterday. I’m hoping she’ll make it past a month. He needs to pick up some of your Irish charm,” she said, standing up and stretching, a few inches of flat stomach visible as her t-shirt rose up. She gave me a shit eating grin as she caught me staring. “Eyes up here, K.”
I raised my brows at her, stifling a smile. “We’ve spent half an hour together and you haven’t tried to verbally maim me yet,” I said. Claire had for the past three years insulted me any chance she’d had.
“I’m saving it for when my brothers are present. Let me say goodbye to Nick and the twins,” she left me at the bottom of the stairs and I heard splashing and giggles coming from the bathroom. A ripple of laughter from Katie echoed down and a retort from Nick who was clearly taking a bashing from all the oestrogen that was swimming around.
“Thanks for abandoning me, K!” Nick hollered. “Freaking awesome of you!”
“You can handle it, man. Jackson needs me more than you do for all this wedding shit!” I yelled back as Claire returned, her eyes shining. She had adored the twins since she had first seen them when they were just a few weeks old. “See you tomorrow.”
We left to the sounds of excited screaming from the twins and laughter from the adults to the peace of the countryside. An owl hooted somewhere nearby and there was a rustle in the bushes in the garden. The walk from the cottage to the big house where Claire’s parents lived was only about five minutes, enough distance to give privacy and enough trees and shrubs to dash in for a quick kiss and feel away from everyone else. That was how it had been in the past and I kept having to remind myself that it was the past, as the urge to wrap myself around her and bury myself in her warmth was still the same as it had been when I was twenty.
“You think Nick is okay with Katie staying?” she said after a couple of minutes.
“Nick’s okay with anything,” I replied. “If she helps with the girls he’ll be appreciative. She’s attractive too, which he won’t mind.”
Claire laughed. “I remember your brother and his manwhoring ways. She’s a bit too delicate for that at the moment so please warn him off.”
“He’s more careful now he has the girls. You needn’t worry,” I said. “I will warn him though. He could do without any complications.”
Claire nodded. “Relationships do complicate everything, don’t they? I’m surprised at Jackson. I never thought he’d get married and be this excited about it.”
Her words cut at me and I wondered if she was warning me off her. “I think a relationship with the right person isn’t a complication. In fact, it makes everything simpler.”
Her eyes dropped to the ground, away from me. “With the right person.”
“Claire!” I looked up to see Vanessa waving madly at us. “And you’ve brought Killian with you without murdering him! Max will be so proud. Come in – Marie’s opening the champagne!”
She strode away towards her future sister-in-law, leaving me reeling over her words.
***
Claire
Fourteen years ago
“Max?” I yelled through the closed door, banging noisily. My brother slept like the dead and I felt bad for potentially waking other students up at what was practically the crack of dawn, but it was my first full day at university and I wanted my brother to show me round. I was excited and nervous, not sure when one feeling ended and the other began. “Max! Open the fucking door, will you?” I banged again, my fist slipping as the door open and I saw my brother’s best friend and roommate, Killian, standing in front of me, pyjama bottoms hanging low on his hips and his torso bare and tanned.
I’d known Killian since Max had met him in their first week at university and he’d been a regular visitor to our homes in London and Oxfordshire. He was the boy my friends stared at when then saw him, well, him and my brothers. Tall, blonde and muscles like a Viking. I’d lusted after him since I’d first met him when I was sixteen and then kept away from him, not really knowing what to say and for the first time in my life, feeling shy.
“Max isn’t here,” Killian said, looking knowingly at me. “He didn’t sleep here last night.”
“Oh,” I said, realising what Killian meant. “You won’t know when he’ll be back either.”
Killian shrugged, muscles flexing. “Was he meant to meet you?”
“For breakfast. Then he was going to show me round,” I said, blinking to stem the tears that had accrued. I didn’t cry. I wasn’t a girly girl, I didn’t get emotional and I didn’t need my big brother to direct me round the university. But it was my first proper time away from home and the enormity had hit me about four o’clock in the morning when I couldn’t sleep because the halls of residence were filled with the sounds of drunken freshers stumbling back intoxicated.
Killian opened the door wider. “Come in while I get dressed and I’ll take you for breakfast.”
I entered the suite anxiously. I’d visited Max at university before but he and Killian had managed to get a two bedroomed suite with a largish living area and kitchen this year. Killian disappeared, returning five minutes later in jeans and a t-shirt. September was mild and there was no need for a jacket or jumper.
“Come on, Max’s sister,” he said. “I’ll give you the tour.”
And he did. We spent the day in the cafes and bookshops of Oxford, walking by the river and ending up in a pub for dinner, both with pints of bitter, both laughing, Max forgotten.
“Thanks for today,” I said. “I’m sure you had other things planned than babysitting Max’s kid sister.”
He grinned, impossibly blue eyes sparkling. “I was meant to beast your brother in the gym this afternoon, but he’s obviously too busy getting rid of his energy elsewhere. This has been nice anyway. Maybe we should do it again.”
My cheeks flushed and I felt heat gather between my legs. The more time I had spent with him the more attractive I’d found him. He was gorgeous in a gruff and manly way rather than being model pretty like my youngest brother, Seph, was going to be. And he could talk; he was clever and interesting and he laughed, teasing me, stealing my food. “Yes,” I said, reminding myself that he was just a friend of my brother’s. “That’d be good. Especially if Max is going to spend most of the semester balls deep in whoever.”
Killian laughed, throwing some notes down to cover the bill. “It’s Max. He has about three or four girls on the go at any one time. None serious.”
“I hope he’s extended his repertoire beyond the missionary position,” I said, causing Killian to laugh loudly.
“What?” he said. “Where have you got that from?”
“Max’s first was the sister of one of my friends from back home. We had a blow by blow description of the event when I was fourteen. She didn’t care that she was describing aspects of my brother that I never wanted to hear about,” I said. “Jackson’s never let him forget it.”
Killian used a large hand on the small of my back to guide me past a large group of tourists, his touch causing shocks all the way through my body, right down to my toes. “I promise not to tell you any tales about your brothers,” he said, once we’d escape the noise. “If you go out with me tomorrow afternoon.”
I stood still, surprised. “Has Max asked you to look after me?”
He shook his head and looked half shy. “I’d just like to see you again before term gets busy. You don’t enrol until Tuesday, is that right?”
I nodded, dumbstruck. Then, not having a clue what possessed me, I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his lips, my shoulders shaking, my whole body shaking. I’d been kissed before, I’d done plenty before, but never had I been nervous. His lips
caught mine, remaining there for a few moments longer than anything that could’ve been considered just friendly.
He slipped his hand into mine as we walked back to my dorms, more people entering with suitcases and bags. My hand was tiny in his, just the simple grip filling me with warmth. “I don’t mean this in a pervy sense, but do you want to see where I’m living?”
He followed me to my room, which wasn’t as small as I’d expected it to be, and stood in the doorway, looking in. “How are you decorating it?”
I grinned broadly. “Wallpaper. That’s tomorrow’s job.”
“You can wallpaper?”
“Of course. Marie made sure we could all do some DIY. I’m better than Jacks or Max too.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. You always were competitive. And murderous. Max told me about how many times you tried to kill him and Jackson,” Killian said, still staying at the doorway.
“You’re back!” My eldest brother slapped Killian’s back and pushed him into my room. “Claire, I’m so sorry about this morning. I had a late night and overslept. When Killian messaged me to say you were with him I knew you’d be okay.”
“So, you carried on shagging your fuck buddy?” I said, hands on hips, glaring at him. “I know my place in your list of priorities.”
Max pulled his face. “Killian said you were out and he was showing you round. We’ll go out tomorrow night – it’s pound a pint night at the bar in your halls.” He sat down on my bed. “I knew you’d be okay with Killian. He’s like another big brother for you.”
I glanced up at the tall blonde Viking. He was nothing like a big brother and judging by the expression on his face, he felt nothing like being my big brother either. “With you and Jackson I don’t need anyone else looking after me.”
Max pulled a face. “If anyone gives you any hassle - and believe me it will happen – tell us and we’ll rearrange their face. Or if you do end up with a boyfriend, don’t let me know. I’d have to threaten him.”
“Sure. Now go away. You’re potentially cramping my style.” I glared at the pair of them. Max stood up and waltzed out; Killian lingered.
