First and Only (Callaghan Brothers #2)

“Me and Michael, too,” said Keely, nodding her head. “But then we talked it out and –“

Taryn snorted. “Yeah, you guys talked long and loud. Repeatedly, from what you told me at the Christmas party.” With only a slight tinge of color to her cheeks, Keely grinned from ear to ear. She loved her big, physical husband, and made no secret of the fact.

“Thanks, but no thanks,” Lexi said, suddenly feeling very awkward among these happily married women. From the other side of the grove, she saw Ian and his brothers moving toward them. It took a little bit to get to her feet. When she scooped up Patrick, she tried unsuccessfully to hide her grimace.

“Here,” Lina said, grabbing Patrick until Lexi could right herself. “You’re not leaving, are you? It’s almost dark – the fireworks will be starting soon. Boy, he’s a big one, isn’t he?”

“Don’t go, Lex,” Stacey said. “Watch the ‘works with us. Best show ever.”

“She’s not kidding,” Lina laughed. “But that’s what happens when you get a computer genius and a few demolition experts together, huh.”

Lexi shot another look toward the men who were closing the distance quickly. From where she stood, she could see Ian hardening himself, the way he always did when he got close to her. They rarely spoke at all anymore unless it was to share information about Patrick, though the very air between them practically crackled with electricity. It made it uncomfortable for everyone.

“Maybe next time,” she said, forcing a little smile as she took back her child. There was no way she was going to ruin this for everyone. “Thanks, girls. This was fun.”

They watched in silence as Lexi made her way across the fields, her steps deliberate and methodical, as if each one was a tremendous effort.

“Hey, the fireworks will be starting soon!” Jake announced, as the men returned from the initial setup. His gaze followed Taryn’s. “Is that Lex?”

“Yeah.” There was an awful lot in that one little word. They watched as she disappeared behind the booths.

“Well?” Taryn asked, turning to her brother-in-law and poking him in the chest.

“Well what?” Ian looked down at her, his expression hard, as if he could scare her into holding her tongue. It didn’t work.

“Aren’t you going to go after her?”

“No,” he said flatly. “Why would I?”

“How can you be so cold?” asked Taryn. A few seconds later, under the combined, disapproving stares of his family, Ian turned and walked off in the other direction.

“Talk to him, Jake,” Taryn pleaded.

“Don’t you think I’ve tried?”

“We all have, Tar,” Johnny said quietly. “He won’t listen. He thinks he’s protecting her, and nothing any of us say or do is going to change his mind.”

*

Three Months Later, October

Ian looked at the ancient wall clock in the Pub kitchen. It had advanced three whole minutes since the last time he checked, which, he decided, was physically impossible since at least two hours must have passed. Patrick chattered happily in his high chair, telling a long-winded tale in mumbles and grunts to Taryn and Jake’s daughter Riley, who was mesmerized. Riley had deep, violet eyes, just like her mom, and they were focused solely on her playmate. The two had become inseparable, each happy when in the other’s presence. It made for some pretty easy days.

Lexi was late picking Patrick up. Again. Okay, so technically she wasn’t late. She was supposed to pick him up by six p.m., and it was five forty-five. But she used to come over by five o’clock to chat and have coffee with Taryn, and this was the third night in a row she hadn’t.

Ian missed her terribly. He looked forward to that hour at the end of the day, when Lexi was ending her work day and before he started his shift at the bar. Other than a quick greeting and an exchange of Patrick-related information, they didn’t speak much to each other directly. Their relationship, if you could call it that, had been reduced to little else.