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...”
* * *
Aidan 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.
“Everything 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.”
Aidan didn’t believe that was the only reason. He’d seen how people looked out for her. That wasn’t the sort of thing a community did unless they truly cared. Conlan O’Leary had even said they called her an angel. The only one who couldn’t see how special she was, was Mary.
They rode a while in silence, then she said, “Does it bother you? Not being a part of it?”
“No, not really. It used to. But now I have you, and that’s all I need. Besides,” he said with a grin, “I prefer a quieter environment.”
“I know what you mean,” Mary said with a wry grin of her own. “Growing up, I always wished I had lots of brothers and sisters. Now, after this afternoon, I’m kind of glad I was an only child.”
Chapter Eighteen
“I don’t need to go to the office today,” Aidan protested as Mary politely but firmly pushed him out of the flower shop. It was her first day back since her surgery, and Aidan was worried that she would overdo it.
For someone used to taking care of herself, it was a bit overwhelming. She loved that he wanted to pamper her, and his concern was appreciated, but after two weeks of being waited on hand and foot she was more than ready to get out of the house and do something.
“Yes, you do. I’ll be fine, Aidan.”
He didn’t look convinced. “It’s only for a couple of hours,” Mary said reasonably, “and if anything happens, Andrew is here.”
Aidan zeroed in on that with laser-like intensity. “What do you think is going to happen? Are you sure you’re feeling up to this? Did the walk over here tire you out?”
She smiled patiently, stroking his arm in calm, petting motions. “Aidan. I’m fine. The walk was wonderful. And I’m not going to overdo it today, I promise.”
He still looked skeptical, but acquiesced. “Okay, but if you start feeling bad, I want you to call me right away and let Andrew take you home.”
“Okay.”
“I mean it, Mary.” He stroked the backs of his fingers over her cheek.
“I will,” she promised.
Aidan looked over Mary’s head to where Andrew was watching with undisguised amusement. “You’ll make sure she doesn’t do anything too strenuous?”
Andrew nodded.
“And you’ve got my personal cell, yes?”
Another nod, this one accompanied with an ill-concealed grin.
“Alright, then,” Aidan said, exhaling. He cupped the back of Mary’s head with his hand, then kissed her soundly right there in the front of her flower shop in a clear show of possession. “I’ll see you later. And don’t even think about doing anything when you get back home this afternoon. I’m bringing dinner.”
“Good Lord, woman, that man has it bad for you,” chuckled Andrew, shaking his head as he joined Mary in the window and watched Aidan walk away. They weren’t the only ones following him with their eyes.
“Well,” Mary said on a sigh as two older women simply stopped on the sidewalk and stared, openmouthed, as Aidan inclined his head and wished them a good morning, “I guess everyone knows he’s been staying at my place. My reputation’s shot to hell.”
Andrew laughed. “About damned time, too. You were making the rest of us look bad, you know.” At Mary’s disbelieving look, he said, “Oh, come off it. You know it’s true. And you wouldn’t have a problem with your rep if you’d just marry the man.”
Mary’s eyes grew to the size of saucers. “You know about that?”
“Yes.” Andrew’s eyes sparkled. “He’s laid public claim, darlin’. You and your rich boy toy are the hottest thing to hit Birch Falls in years.”
“You are taking way too much enjoyment out of this.”
“I’m just happy to see you finally getting what you deserve, Mary,” Andrew said, still smiling but his tone more serious. “If anyone deserves a happy ending, it’s you. And you can’t get much happier of an ending than Aidan Harrison, sweetheart.”
“You knew, didn’t you?” Mary asked, lifting one of the gardening aprons from a peg behind the counter and slipping it over her head. Andrew raised an eyebrow and pinned her with a look.
“I know lots of things. Which one are you talking about?”
Mary rolled her eyes. “About Aidan. You knew who he was, didn’t you?”
“Of course I did. Everyone knows who Aidan Harrison is. Hell, Mary. A millionaire moves into the next town, one who just happens to be one of the most eligible and sought after bachelors in the country, and people tend to notice.” He gave her a stern look, but his eyes twinkled with amusement.
Mary blushed, wondering once again what Aidan saw in her.
“Then again,” Andrew drawled, “maybe it’s that demure naïveté that snagged him in the first place. He’s probably never met anyone as completely unaffected as you before.”
The rosy tint upon her cheeks darkened. “I’m not sure how to take that, Andrew. It sounds nice when you say it, but it feels kind of insulting.”
Andrew laughed. “De
finitely not an insult, Mare. Don’t you know how attractive you are? Soft spoken, gentle, kind. You couldn’t give two shits how much money someone has or what they do for a living. No wonder Harrison has it bad for you. You must be like catnip to him. Irresistible and intoxicating at the same time.”
Embarrassed, she turned away. “I cannot believe you just called me catnip,” she said, lifting up a plastic pot of the stuff and frowning at the small green spiky leaves. It wasn’t the most attractive of plants, but it was a huge favorite with local cat lovers.
He laughed again. “Just saying.”
It didn’t take long for Mary to lose herself among the plants. The humid heat of the greenhouse, the smell of damp earth, the scents and colors of hundreds of blooms bursting all around her was a balm to her soul. This was where she felt most at peace, her hands deep in potting soil, nurturing and tending to create something beautiful.
It had been nearly a week since she’d been at the store, and it was clear that her plants missed her. Andrew did what he could, and Becky, the shy high-school girl with glasses, was still learning. It would take several days to get things back to where they should be, and Mary was looking forward to it. It was nice to feel needed, even if it was only by her plants.
And Max. Max needed her. But did Aidan?
Mary’s thoughts returned unerringly to him, just as they had from the very first night they’d met. There was something about him that made it all but impossible not to think of him. Aidan Harrison had somehow burrowed deep into her mind and her heart (not to mention her body) and conveniently set up shop.
He said he loved her. He said she was his heart. He even said he was going to ask her to marry him.
But he hadn’t, had he?
He said he was waiting for her to be ready, but was that really true? Or was he, on some level, biding his time, waiting to see the results of the biopsies before taking that last, final step?
Oh, he was pampering her, taking care of her, saying and doing all the right things. He even took her to meet his sister. And he had shown her the ring. But none of that was as irreversible as a proposal, was it? Maybe he would find out something else about her and just stop coming by again. It had been so easy for him to do so once. What guarantee was there that he wouldn’t do so again?
Bottom Line: Callaghan Brothers, Book 8 Page 19
