They made it out to Michael’s farmhouse in record time. Shane suggested they drop Nick off at his apartment, but Sean didn’t think it was a good idea. On the off chance that Nicki tried to contact him, Sean argued, he wanted Nick to be there.
Introductions were made, and Sean was ushered directly into a room at the back of the house. Shane left Nick in the kitchen with Maggie while he joined his brothers.
Nick was hesitant to accept anything, but it was hard to say no when Maggie placed a plate piled high with roast beef, mashed potatoes, sweetened carrots, homemade rolls and whipped butter in front of him. He looked at it as if he had never seen such a thing before.
“Go on,” Maggie coaxed, smiling. “They’ll be a while, most likely, and it looks like you could use it.”
He thought to have only a little so as not to insult her, but after the first bite he couldn’t help himself. It was easily one of the best meals he’d ever had. He tried to remember his manners, at least, forcing himself not to eat too hurriedly, or to shove too much into his mouth at once. He wouldn’t have believed it possible, but he finished every last bite.
“Would you like seconds?” Maggie asked in amusement.
Nick thought about it, then shook his head. As fine as it had been, he did not want to be rude.
“Then you’ll have room for this,” Maggie said, bringing him a plate oozing with caramel apple pie and vanilla ice cream.
“Ah, Mags,” Shane said as he entered the kitchen and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He paused and closed his eyes, inhaling deep. “Your special roast beef?”
“Sit down and let me make you a plate.”
Shane winked at Nick, then turned his attention back to Maggie, placing his hand over his heart. “I swear, Mags, if Mick didn’t call dibs first I’d ask you to marry me.” Maggie laughed and swatted at him with a dishtowel.
“Need me to kick his ass for you, love?” Michael said, joining them. He pulled Maggie into his arms and kissed her passionately, leaving no doubt as to exactly which brother Maggie had chosen.
Nick looked up at the man he’d met briefly upon arrival. He was just as big, just as formidable as the others. He sported the same blue-black hair and blue eyes, but Nick guessed him to be a few years older. He’d heard that there were seven of them, and wondered if they all resembled each other so closely.
Shane began tucking into a plate of food at least as big as Nick’s had been as Sean came through the door.
“Smells awesome, Mags,” Sean said, rubbing his stomach in anticipation.
“Sorry, Sean, none for you.” Michael didn’t seem very sorry at all, snagging the plate Maggie had already prepared for himself. “It’ll slow the purge of toxins from your system. Maggie has some great herbal tea for you, though.”
Shane could barely hold his snickers as Sean sat down, shooting daggers at Michael and mumbling something in Irish under his breath.
“Ah, don’t listen to them,” Maggie said, laying her hands on Sean’s shoulders and shooting the others a fierce look. “Dandelion tea with a little fennel will have you right as rain, and I’ll save you the last of the chocolate cake.”
Michael’s smug smile faded as he looked up from his meal, his expression horrified. “That’s my cake!”
“Not anymore,” she said firmly, squeezing Sean’s shoulders affectionately. “Dark chocolate’s as good as charcoal for filtering out the bad stuff. He needs it more than you do.”
“That’s not true,” Michael grumbled. Sean grinned as Shane tried to cover his laughter with a cough.
After they had eaten their fill and the plates had been cleared away, Michael leaned back and glanced at Nick before turning his gaze to Sean. Sean had already briefed his brothers on what had happened; Shane had shared everything that Nick had told him.
“So. How do you want to play this?”
Sean looked at Nick, clearly wondering just how much to say in front of him. “She’s mine. I’m going after her.”
Nick’s eyes widened slightly, but to his credit, he displayed no other reaction. Michael studied him for a while, then nodded. “Alright. You want some help?”
“Yeah, I think I’m going to need it.”
Nick looked up, clearing his throat. Thus far he’d remained silent except for occasional murmurs of thanks to Maggie. “I’m in.”
Three pairs of similar blue eyes regarded him. “Might be more than you bargained for,” Sean told him.
Nick heard the warning clearly, but chose not to heed it. “I’m not stupid,” he said, summoning the courage to look at each one in turn before settling on Sean. “I’ve heard the rumors.”
“What rumors?” Michael asked softly.
“About you, all of you,” Nick said carefully. “About how you... do stuff.” He flicked his eyes away as Shane arched a perfect brow.
“Stuff?” Shane asked.