“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.