First and Only (Callaghan Brothers #2)

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.

There was no indication of her wild passion now. Her hair was pulled back so that only the closest examination would have shown the streaks of vibrant colors. Her dress was simple, classic; dark but not black. No hat, no veil, no jewelry. Lexi wasn’t here for show. If anything she was embarrassed by their attention. And in her face, Ian saw true grief at the loss of her father.

“You should,” Jake said, with enough admonishment in his voice to make Ian turn to him.

“Yeah? And why is that?”

Jake gave him a knowing smile, but it wasn’t a friendly one. “She had it bad for you, bro. Used to drive the rest of us nuts. Especially Kieran.”

Ian blinked, the only indication of his total bafflement. “She did?”

“Oh, hell yes,” Jake said. “Until the night she caught you and Kayla together, anyway.”

Vague, hazy memories appeared in Ian’s mind. He was supposed to pick Kieran and Lexi up after a basketball game, a condition of getting use of the family car for the night. But Kayla had other plans for the car. She’d gone down on him while they waited in the parking lot. Thinking about it now, it seemed odd that she’d waited until she saw them coming out to do it. But he’d been seventeen then. He didn’t question an offer of head.