“Glad you could make it,” Kane’s voice hissed in his ear. Damn, but his eldest brother was a sneaky bastard. No wonder they always called on Kane when stealth was key. “The old man’s been looking for you. I hope she was worth it, bro.”
Ian clenched his jaw but said nothing. Hell yes, she’d been worth it. If she had been there when he’d woken up this morning, there was a damn good chance he wouldn’t be here now. He’d be buried deep inside the sweetest, tightest, wettest...
“Ian.” Jack Callaghan’s voice sounded on his other side as Ian tried to keep his face neutral. Thankfully, his father didn’t say anything about him being late; the uncharacteristically worried look on his face was concerning something else. “I want you to stick close to Kayla and her mother today. Try to keep her from doing something... stupid.”
Ian raised an eyebrow, but nodded. Kayla O’Connell was Brian’s stepdaughter. Tall and model-like, stunningly beautiful, she drew a lot of male attention. Until fairly recently, she had been a bartender at the Pub and a willing participant in some of the darker forays of sexual adventures with Jake and himself.
At least until Jake found his croie – his soul mate – in Taryn. Now Kayla looked to Ian, but he balked at a one-on-one. Jake was the one she was always after, and though Ian had been willing enough to be an occasional third, he wasn’t interested in batting clean-up, for two reasons. First, she did nothing for him other than provide a physical release, which, really, was easy enough to come by. And second, even if he had found her desirable, he had too much pride to be anyone’s second choice.
Thankfully, Kayla didn’t come by the Pub too much anymore, except when she knew Taryn wasn’t around. Taryn was fiercely protective of Jake – and Ian, oddly enough - and, unsurprisingly, had not taken to Kayla in the least. Taryn believed Kayla was a heartless, manipulating bitch (her words).
In all honesty, Ian had to agree. Jake wisely avoided her whenever possible, and the rest of the clan seemed content to do the same. The atmosphere around the Pub post-Kayla was warmer and more welcoming all around.
Jack clasped his son on the back. “Good man.” He was gone before Ian could ask any questions. He turned to ask Kane what the hell he’d meant by that, but the big, sneaky bastard was gone too.
Ian threaded his way across the reception area toward the front where the family sat before the casket receiving visitors. From across the room, Sean shot him a satisfied, cruel grin. This, it said clearly, will teach you to be late.
Kayla and her mother sat regally in hand-carved, richly-cushioned mahogany chairs, dressed the part in full black regalia. Ian offered his condolences to the widow as Kayla grasped his hand and pulled him down close to her. People milled about everywhere, taking up all available space. Brian O’Connell had been a staple in the small, predominantly Irish community.
“I simply cannot believe she had the nerve to show up here,” Kayla hissed into his ear with surprising venom.
Ian looked up, having no idea whom she was talking about. He followed her glare to the other side of the room where he spotted his youngest brother, Kieran. Kieran was talking to someone, but Ian couldn’t see who it was past his huge frame. The kid was built like a freaking Mack truck on steroids. But, judging by the protective stance Kieran had assumed, Ian could guess who it was.
“Lexi’s here?”
“The little bitch,” Kayla hissed. “Playing the poor long-lost daughter routine. Look at them over there. Grown men falling all over themselves like she’s some kind of princess or something. It’s pathetic. Where’s she been for the past ten years, huh?” she paused, digging her claw-like nails into his forearm. “At least you have some sense.”
Ian frowned. Lexi O’Connell was Brian’s daughter from his first marriage, before he had married his second wife, Patricia, and adopted then-teenager Kayla. Lexi was Kieran’s age, several years younger than him, so that would put her at around twenty-four or so now. For a while, she and Kieran had been inseparable. Lexi had been a scrawny little thing, afraid of her own shadow, and Kieran’s innate white-knight tendencies had him adopting her as the little sister he’d always wanted.
Ian had been in his senior year then, with plans to enlist immediately after graduation, but he could still remember how devastated his brother had been when she left town unexpectedly. There had been a lot of speculation and nasty rumors, but he’d never heard the real story.
But from what he remembered, Lexi was nothing like what Kayla was describing. She’d been a tiny little thing, shy, quiet, always hiding behind Kieran when he’d drag her home with him after school. Being the center of attention was probably the last thing that she wanted. Judging by the way Kieran was shielding her with his body and the way his brothers had arranged themselves protectively around her, he was willing to bet that not much had changed.
Another group of people stopped in front of them to pay their respects. With Kayla’s attention diverted, Ian used the opportunity to glance back toward the corner again. He couldn’t help feeling that this was somehow wrong. Brian’s daughter should be sitting here before the casket, too. Surely she was grieving, even if she had been away for a while. After all, you never stopped loving your parents, did you? Didn’t she deserve some of the support and empathy from the people who had come to pay their last respects?
He’d heard there was a lot of bad blood between Kayla and Lexi. Now he understood the worry on his father’s face and his request to keep Kayla in check. Given the chance, she’d cause a scene. Kayla loved to have the starring role in a good drama.
Kieran stepped to the side and all of the air whooshed out of Ian’s lungs in one swoop at the sight of the familiar figure. The long, shimmering hair. The big, amber eyes. The full, womanly curves. God help him.
Alexis Kattapoulos was Lexi O’Connell.
He’d spent the night having sex with his brother’s childhood best friend the night before she had to bury her father. His stomach roiled uncomfortably, and he was suddenly glad he hadn’t had time for breakfast.
Misinterpreting his reaction, Kayla smiled cruelly. “I know. Ugly little bitch, isn’t she?”
Irrational rage surged in his chest. Had Kayla been a man, Ian would have broken her jaw right then and there. He fought to regain his composure.
Alexis – Lexi – God, how could he have missed that? She looked like an angel, standing before the glass in the far back corner, the light from the window forming a nimbus around her hair, now smoothed and shiny, clasped loosely at the base of her neck with an antique-looking silver clip. She smiled at something Kieran said, but it was a sad smile. Kieran reached down and grabbed her hand, in friendship, Ian knew, but still a tightness formed in his chest. Against all reason, he wanted to be the one with her, even though he knew just how wrong that would be.
As if sensing his gaze, she turned to him then. It only lasted a moment or two, but the look on her face was locked in his mind forever. Now you know, it said quietly, as if he could hear her speaking the words in his head.
Like pieces of a puzzle, it all started coming together. Her initial attempts to keep her face and eyes hidden, afraid that he would recognize her. Her reluctance to go out to dinner with him. The look on her face when he offered to show her around.
It hadn’t been disappointment he’d seen in her eyes; it was hurt. Because he didn’t remember her. Because to him, she was just a girl he was trying to hook up with. God, he was such an idiot! How could he not have seen it?
But the most amazing thing of all? She’d spent the night with him anyway, giving him more pleasure than he ever could have imagined.
Lexi turned away as Jack Callaghan took her arm and began to lead her toward the back exit, away from the masses gathering for the exodus to the church. Kayla grabbed his arm again as they were shuffled toward the limos. He caught a brief glimpse of gold silk getting into his father’s Infinity before the door closed and they were whisked away.
Hell, he’d give anything to be in that car with her
right now. To know what she was thinking. Did she hate him? Hate herself? If he could only talk to her, get her alone for a few minutes. Instead, he’d been relegated to –
“... if she thinks for one second that she’s going to sit in the front pew with -“
“Kayla, enough,” Ian said firmly. Kayla looked stunned, unused to Ian speaking to her that way. “Don’t cause a scene. This is neither the time nor the place.”
Kayla narrowed her eyes for a few moments, then licked her lips. “You’re right, of course. It would make me look like the baddie, wouldn’t it?”
Ian mentally rolled his eyes. He’d known Kayla was cold and self-centered, but even he was shocked by her total lack of propriety. “Yes,” he agreed quietly. “It would.”
At the Mass, Ian sat behind Kayla and her mother in the first pew. Lexi sat on the opposite side, toward the back of the church, between his father and Kieran. He was grateful that they were there for her, but he couldn’t help the simmering resentment that it was them and not him. Then again, maybe this was how she wanted it. He certainly couldn’t blame her.
How could he have not known it was her? Had he been that blinded by lust?
The answer was a resounding yes, he had been. It had hit him hard and fast, and from the moment his eyes had found her on that bus, he had to have her.
The lust was still there, and in spades, but no longer blinding, reduced to just a torturous ache. Now that he knew, he could see the familiarity. She was still below average in height (Kieran always teased her about being “fun-sized”), she still had the same delicate, slightly exotic features, and the quiet, almost-stoic air. But in his defense, her slim girl’s body now held the lush, full curves of a woman. Her hair was much longer, an intricate palette of fiery color. And her eyes, once rarely seen because they were usually downcast in shy reserve, were golden amber depths of passion.
Lexi stole glances at him throughout the service, he was sure of it, thanking God each time he felt the familiar prickling on the back of his neck. It meant – well, he wasn’t sure what it meant exactly, but at least she was still looking; she wasn’t ignoring him completely.
Other than a slight inclination of her head out of sheer politeness, she had not openly acknowledged his presence. Each time he had glanced at her – and the times he had probably numbered in the hundreds over the course of the afternoon – she’d been looking elsewhere. If she had any reaction at all to seeing him with Kayla, she didn’t show it. She stayed in the back, out of the limelight, letting Kayla and her mother play center stage throughout the service. He noted that she remained alone in the pew when the rest of them went up for Communion, looking even lonelier than he felt.
“Thanks, Uncle Jack,” he heard her say after the Mass as they waited for the casket to be placed in the hearse, “but I really don’t think it’s a good idea. I would just like to go back to my hotel.” Ian managed to get within hearing distance while Kayla “composed herself” in the ladies room, though as far as he could tell, she hadn’t shed a single tear.
“This is not a time to be alone, Alexis,” Jack said kindly, but firmly. “You belong with family, lass.”
“I don’t want any trouble.” Lexi scanned the crowd, no doubt looking for Kayla. She took a half-step back, instinctively seeking the shadows of a marble column. Ian doubted she even realized she did it; hiding came naturally to her, and for some reason, that pissed him off.
“Of course you’re coming,” Kieran said adamantly, and for once, Ian agreed with him. Ian guessed that they were speaking of the gathering immediately following the burial. They would be holding the traditional Irish wake at the Pub. It would be an opportunity for the friends and family of Brian O’Connell to informally panegyrize him, to remember and eulogize and say their final farewells while sharing drink and song in his memory; a celebration of his life, laced in grief but more so in fondness, and hopefully one that would remind Lexi of better times and of the fine man that had sired her.
As a bonus – albeit a selfish one on his part, perhaps - Ian also believed that anything that put him in the same physical location with her was a great idea. It would sure make it a hell of a lot easier than tracking her down later. Plus, he could keep an eye on her. Yes, his father and brothers seemed to be doing a great job of it, but she was looking smaller today. More fragile. And Ian felt somewhat responsible for that.
* * *
Lexi felt Ian’s eyes on her again. His expression gave nothing away, but his crystal blue eyes were as intense as she’d ever seen them. Was he angry at her deception? Disgusted? Ashamed?
Other than the looks he was shooting her way, he hadn’t spoken a word to her, nor had he given any indication that he wanted to. Lexi wouldn’t have traded last night for anything, but she wished she could spare him the awkwardness now.
“He was your dad, Lex,” Kieran was saying, his voice filled with compassion. “You have more reason to be there than anyone.”
Lexi’s breaking heart swelled. Kieran had always been her friend, her champion. She knew her abrupt departure all those years ago must have hurt him deeply, but, amazing man that he was, he didn’t seem to harbor any resentment. He had been at her side all morning, offering his quiet support. Still her big brother, even after everything that had happened.
Lexi shook her head. Kieran meant well, but Kayla and her step-mother had been shooting daggers at her all afternoon. While she didn’t care in the least what either woman thought of her, she would not dishonor her father’s memory by causing a scene. It was her love for her father that had her leaving all those years ago in the first place.
“I shouldn’t have come. This was a mistake.”
“Don’t let them get to you, Lex,” Kieran said. “Patricia won’t dare say anything around Dad, and Ian will keep Kayla occupied.”
Hearing her stepsister’s name paired with Ian’s opened up old wounds that had never completely healed; visions of Ian and Kayla all those years ago. She fought to keep it under the surface where it belonged, her face betraying none of the pain she felt.
“They’re still together, huh?” she said casually, but Ian heard the hollowness.
Kieran shrugged, his voice laced with disapproval when he said, “You know Ian.”
Yeah, she thought sadly, she did. She knew now what it was like to be held in his arms, loved by his body, brought to the heights of passion repeatedly and in such varied and creative ways. How could she ever fault Kayla – or any other woman for that matter – for doing everything she could to hold on to that?
The moment of silence that followed was heavy. Against her better judgment, she sought Ian out, finding him standing in the shadows of the little alcove. Her eyes locked onto his.
Forgive me, Ian, she begged silently.
Kieran followed her gaze, his eyes narrowing. “Is that why you don’t want to come, Lex? Because of Ian?”
Of course Kieran would think that. Even as kids he had sensed her feelings for his older brother. He’d never embarrassed her by coming right out and saying anything, but he’d dropped enough hints, warning her away in his attempts to spare her a broken heart. Too bad she couldn’t have listened.
Though Kieran’s voice was tender as he spoke to her, his eyes blazed at Ian. He was still her protector. Thank God he had no knowledge of what she and Ian had done last night; if he had, she would probably be mourning Ian’s death right along with her father’s.
Before she could answer, Kayla chose that moment to emerge and demand Ian’s attention.
“Ian! Let’s go, already.” Kayla’s voice rose over the respectful, muted conversations of those exiting the church. When Ian hesitated, Kayla followed his eyes, landing on her with barely concealed hate. Kayla pressed her body up against his side in a clearly possessive move. Ian clenched his jaw, but he didn’t stop her. That told Lexi everything she needed to know.
Lexi lowered her eyes, accepting it for what it was. She had known the previous night was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and
had been mentally preparing herself for the stark reality of the morning after. Admittedly, she hadn’t foreseen Kayla’s blatant posturing, but that was her own fault, and ultimately, it changed nothing.
With one last lethal glance Ian’s way, Kieran slipped his arm around her protectively and guided her toward the exit.
* * *
Ian stepped away from Kayla, refusing to meet her eyes. If he did – if he saw the malice and cruelty he instinctively knew were there – he wasn’t sure he could maintain this little charade. He was doing this for his father, no one else. Reluctantly, Ian led Kayla out to the black Lincoln that would take them to the cemetery, then back to the Pub.
If there was a hell on earth, Ian was in it. Several hours later, Kayla was drinking too much, getting louder and growing more obnoxious by the moment. Every time he tried to slip away she pulled him back again. If she made one more blatant reference to the need to be comforted, he was going to be physically ill. Thankfully, most of the crowd had left, and only family and a few close friends were still around to witness it.
“Rough night, huh bro?” asked Jake, slipping him another beer. Kayla, satisfied that Ian was within grasping distance, turned to speak to someone else, giving him a few minutes of peace. Thank God.
“You could say that,” Ian admitted, raising the bottle to his lips and downing half of it in one swallow. “Throw a shot in there, would you?”
Jake raised an eyebrow but wisely said nothing, tipping the bottle of Connemara over his glass. “Not as bad as she has it, though,” Jake said, nodding toward where Lexi was sequestered in the back of the room. Ian could think of nothing to say, so he remained silent.
“Do you remember her?” Jake prodded.
“Sort of.” But the image Ian had in his mind of that young girl was nothing like the goddess he was stealing glances at now. The one surrounded by his family but looking so lost among them. He remembered a skinny, shy creature who always seemed to get lost in his brother’s shadow, a wisp of a thing of whom Kieran was insanely protective. Definitely not the beautiful, sexy, curvaceous embodiment of his every fantasy come to life. Fantasies he now knew without a doubt were absolutely true.
First and Only: Callaghan Brothers, Book 2 Page 5
