The familiar sense of unease around large crowds hit with the force of a tsunami when Faith realized just how many Callaghans and Connellys there were. Even Matt, having already met several of them, seemed a little overwhelmed. The two of them stayed close together as Kieran introduced them, rattling off names faster than she could process them.
Faith tried to keep track, she really did. Six brothers, all older than Kieran but bearing the same blue-black hair and trademark Callaghan eyes. Six wives (she considered Lacie was close enough to being married to include her), one for each of the brothers. The patriarch of the family, Jack Callaghan. Three cousins – the Connelly branch – with their spouses, plus the shared grandfather to both sides, Conlan O’Leary. Children were everywhere, ranging in age from around seven years to only a few weeks old.
Out of this initial introduction to the Callaghans and their kinsmen, several things became blatantly clear. One, they were every bit as close as Lacie made them out to be. Two, they were loud and boisterous. And three, they were a prolific bunch.
Everyone seemed nice enough, offering smiles and welcomes. No one grilled her beyond asking how she was settling in and what she thought of the area so far, but Faith sensed their curiosity. Kieran remained in close proximity, his hand lightly behind her shoulder or lower back, and she drew a lot of strength from that. Lacie seemed to pick up on her discomfort and stayed relatively near as well.
“Hang around for a bit?” Kieran asked Faith hopefully when the men started gathering for their annual football game.
“We really should be going,” Faith said, aware of the curious glances being cast her way, no doubt wondering exactly what her relationship was with Kieran. He had been very considerate in his introductions, though even she had been a bit surprised by the constant contact, thankful though she was for it. It was making them wonder, too, and she was sure that it had to do with the fact that of this huge clan, Kieran was the youngest, and only single, male. Any woman in which he showed even the slightest interest was fair game for analysis and inspection.
“Please?” he asked, his face so hopeful that she found herself nodding. She chastised herself vehemently – and silently – as she watched him walk away with that devastating half-smile plastered on his face. If she had any hope of retaining her sanity, she was going to have to work on developing an immunity to such things.
A few minutes later, she found herself wandering over to watch as ten men took to the field, seven Callaghans and three Connellys, five on each team. Around the perimeter of the field, Faith noticed that others were gathering to watch as well. It was no surprise, really. When you had that many gorgeous, muscular men concentrated in one small area, it was bound to draw some attention. She had to admit, she was enjoying the show herself.
She kept a close eye on Kieran, inwardly cheering whenever he managed to break free of a tackle or take someone down. He was one of the biggest of the bunch. There were two or three that were about his size – a golden-haired blonde and his brother from the Connelly side, and the one she thought might have been called Jake – but only one that was bigger. Kane. She had no trouble remembering his name; that man was intensity personified. When introduced to him earlier, she’d had the odd sensation of standing next to a thunderstorm.
Regardless, they all moved with a fluid, masculine grace that was mesmerizing to watch.
At one point Kieran looked over at her and waved. The next moment he was hit so hard the gathered crowd moaned for him en masse. Faith flinched and winced as he went down. Within seconds, though, Kieran was back on his feet and shouting back at Kane.
“Be ready, old man!” he taunted, earning himself several chuckles and head shakes from the others. Kane smiled and beckoned him with two fingers. “Give it your best shot, pup.”
“Boys,” laughed the woman called Rebecca. Faith had a hard time imagining how such a small, soft-spoken, gentle woman could end up with a force of nature like Kane. Several other women joined her in knowing nods.
One of the men not participating in the game – Lacie had introduced him as her brother Brian – was talking with Matt. At least her son seemed at ease, she thought with some comfort. It wasn’t that they weren’t nice – she couldn’t imagine a nicer group of people. Faith just couldn’t shake the feeling that she didn’t really belong here. The sense that she was being discreetly inspected didn’t help, either.
The men returned from their game, sweaty and dirty but grinning like idiots as they allowed their wives to tend to their various scrapes and bruises.
“This is their favorite part,” confided Maggie to Faith with a smirk. “Tough guys, all of them, but they love for us to pamper them.” She winked. “Almost as much as we love doing it.”