House Calls: Callaghan Brothers, Book 3 (16 page)

* * *

M
aggie found it hard to form a coherent thought.  From a distance, he’d looked stunning.  But this close, he literally took her breath away.  Dressed in his black tux, he was devastatingly handsome.

He held out his hand; there was no other option but to take it.  “Come with me.”  His voice, low and soft, sent shivers through her, and she found herself wanting to obey without question.

“Don’t you have, uh, wedding stuff to do?”

He smiled, and she swore her knees actually went weak from it.  “Yes, but I want you with me.”

“I don’t think –“

“Don’t think,” he commanded softly in her ear as he placed his hand along the small of her back.  “Just be with me.  Otherwise I’ll be forced to do something that will end up embarrassing us both.”  His voice was low, silky, and so suggestive it had her moist between the thighs.

Maybe it was the look in his eyes, maybe it was the tone of his voice, or the expression on his face, but she didn’t argue.  He led her into a quiet room and closed the door softly behind them.  Before she knew what was happening, his mouth was on hers and he was kissing her as if his life depended on it.

“Don’t scare me like that again,” he said finally, pulling away and allowing her to catch her breath.  “Please.”  He stepped back enough to study her from head to toe, running his fingers over her as if checking for further injuries.

His kiss had been so possessive, so commanding, she was unable to reply.  He didn’t seem to be expecting one anyway.  He took her hand and led her back into the church, now mostly empty.

“Please wait here.  We need to do some pictures, okay?”  He nudged her into a pew.

She nodded.  With one last quick kiss, he joined the rest of the party before the altar.  One by one they glanced her way.  The bride smiled warmly and said something to Michael.  He nodded, and the groom laughed, clasping him on the shoulder.

* * *

“S
o that’s my future sister-in-law, huh?” Lexi asked, looking at the woman trying unsuccessfully to blend into the shadows, but it was impossible.  The woman was beautiful.

“Welcome to the club, brother,” Ian laughed softly.

“Another one bites the dust,” Kieran lamented, reiterating Shane’s earlier assessment.

T
he Celtic Goddess was one of the most opulent structures Maggie had ever seen.  Huge white columns and arches divided the massive space.  Built in the style of an ancient Greek temple, it boasted a restaurant made up of several floors that looked out over the entire valley, as well as several ballrooms for private functions.  It was in one of these that the reception was held.

The Grand Ballroom was filled to capacity.  The blizzard earlier in the week didn’t seem to have kept anyone away.  Everywhere she looked – every table, every corner, every available space in fact – was occupied.  It was a bit overwhelming, really, especially for someone as accustomed to quiet and solitude as Maggie, though it might have been much worse if everyone hadn’t seemed so happy.  All around she saw friendly, smiling faces.  Heard them laughing, ranging from soft chuckles to loud, raucous bellows.  Arms were raised in toasts or clasping another’s back.  Maggie had never seen anything like it.

“Are they always so happy?” Maggie asked quietly.  Michael’s fingers flexed lightly on the small of her back.  He seemed content as long as he was touching her, and she took much comfort in that.  His smile was genuine.

“Usually, yes,” he told her.  “But this is an especially happy celebration.”  Michael gave her the Reader’s Digest version of the past year, explaining how they almost lost Lexi, how it had nearly torn Ian apart, and her miraculous recovery.  Maggie listened with rapt attention. 

“If Lexi had been up front with Ian,” Michael added softly, “she could have saved everyone a lot of heartache.  It nearly killed Ian.  And her.”

Maggie looked down at their joined hands.  When she spoke, her voice was even softer than his.  “If she had, then she never would have experienced half the things she did.  Ian would never have allowed it, would he?”

“Of course not!  She could have died, Maggie, and she would have taken Ian with her.  Nothing is worth that.”

“Some things are.”

Michael opened his mouth, but before he could respond another voice piped up.  “She’s right, you know.”

They both turned, startled to find that Lexi and Ian were behind them.  Lexi had a soft, gentle smile on her face, but the expression on Ian’s face more closely resembled the denial on Michael’s.  Maggie was mortified to realize they had overheard them.

“I’m so sorry,” Maggie sputtered.  “I didn’t mean –“

“It’s alright,” Lexi said, placing her hand on Maggie’s arm.  “You’re probably the only one here who didn’t know.”  She leaned a little closer with a conspiratorial smile.  “There’s not a lot of secrets in this family, you’ll find.”

Lexi lifted up onto her tip-toes and kissed Michael on the cheek.  “Except maybe where this guy is concerned,” she amended, a twinkle in her eye.  “He’s the strong, silent type.  Definitely not one to kiss and tell.”

Maggie felt the heat rise in her cheeks, wishing her skin tone wasn’t quite so pale. 

“Ah, she blushes,” Ian chuckled softly.  “She’s a keeper, Mick.”

“Way ahead of you,” Michael said, smiling easily as he formally introduced Maggie to the bride and groom.

“Mind if I sit for a bit?” Lexi asked.  Before she even got the words fully out Ian was pulling out a chair for her and easing her into it.  Maggie marveled at the way he looked at her – like she was everything to him.  She saw the same look mirrored in Lexi’s eyes. 

“How are you holding up, Lex?” Michael asked.  Maggie instantly recognized the look of genuine concern and affection in his voice as he naturally slipped into what Maggie had dubbed his “doctor mode”.  Rather than being annoyed by it, as she would have been, Lexi seemed appreciative. 

“Good,” she answered.  “But I’m slowing down a little.  I could use a little help.”

Maggie was amazed at how Lexi could ask so easily for help.  She would have found it next to impossible.  Michael’s response was immediate.

“You got it, Lex,” he said with a dazzling smile.  “Anything for my favorite sister.”

“Hey, I thought I was your favorite,” another voice said with mock hurt as Taryn and Jake joined them.

“She’s nicer to me than you are,” Michael said seriously, but his eyes were dancing. 

Taryn laughed, stretching up onto the tips of her toes and giving him a kiss.  “I love you, too, big guy.” 

Maggie smiled.  Apparently these women were quite fond of Michael.  A slight stab of jealousy went through her at their obvious closeness to him, but one look at the total possession in their husbands’ expressions and their unquestionable love for each other and she knew she had no reason to feel that way.

“Maggie, I need to get something for Lex.  You’ll be okay for a few minutes?”

“She’ll be fine, Michael.  We promise we won’t corrupt her while you’re gone.  Much.”  Turning to Maggie, she said, “I’m Taryn, by the way.  This is Jake.”  Maggie shook the hand of the large man next to her, recognizing him as the man she’d first seen at Ian’s bachelor party. 

“We’ve met,” Jake said, his eyes twinkling.  Now that she wasn’t completely stricken, she could assess him more accurately.  He looked remarkably like Michael – and Ian – with blue-black hair and clear blue eyes, but he was a bit stockier and probably had a good twenty pounds of lean, hard muscle on both of them.  This, Maggie knew instinctively, was not a man to trifle with.  Yet as he greeted her, he had a boyish grin that she couldn’t help but like.

Michael looked a little uncertain about leaving Maggie, but she mustered what she hoped was a reassuring smile.  “I’ll be fine.  Go.”

Very deliberately, Michael leaned down and kissed her.  Then he looked pointedly at Taryn.  “Behave yourself.”

Taryn’s eyes opened wide and in the span of a heartbeat her face became the picture of innocence.  As soon as he had taken two steps, Taryn plopped down next to Lexi and winked at Maggie.  “But seriously, if you ever have to get a shot in the ass, Michael’s your man.”

“Amen to that sister,” Lexi said, giving her a high-five. 

“Taryn!” Michael growled in warning, but she shooed him away with a light-hearted wave as Lexi succumbed to a slight fit of the giggles.  Maggie was sure she caught the hint of a smile on his face as he turned away once again.  She had the distinct impression that this was a recurring joke among them.

“Did you hear what your wife just said?” Ian asked Jake in feigned disbelief. 

“Yeah, and
your
wife agreed with her.”

“I think we should kick his ass.”

“Agreed.”

“Be nice, boys,” Taryn warned as the two men followed Michael toward the exit.  “I think Maggie likes him.”

Boys?  That was the last word she would have used to describe the Callaghan brothers, Maggie thought.  Even “men” seemed a little too mild a word for them.  The phrase “lethal alpha males” was more accurate, though that didn’t quite capture the dark, natural beauty that seemed to surround them.  Or their innate intensity and power.  Or their base, raw sexuality. 

Maggie forced herself to take a slow, deep breath.  Clearly the brandy Michael had ordered for her was more powerful than she’d thought.

Since Michael had just finished telling her, she knew about Lexi’s condition.  Looking at her now, though, she never would have guessed it.  The woman was strikingly beautiful.  True, every woman looked stunning on her wedding day, but Maggie sensed that Lexi would look just as breathtaking in jeans and a T-shirt.

“Thanks,” Lexi said to Maggie.  Maggie was caught off-guard.  “For what?”

“For surrendering Michael for a few minutes.  Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without him.  Has he told you about my challenges?” 

“A little.  I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” Lexi told her.  “It is what it is.  If you’re going to be a part of this family you should know.”

Maggie blinked, stunned.  Taryn chuckled.  “Uh-oh, Lex.  She’s got that ‘deer caught in the headlights’ look.  I don’t think she knows.”

Before Maggie could respond, two more women made their way over to the table.  One was a gorgeous blonde with multi-hued hair in streaks of gold, platinum, and bronze; the other was equally attractive, with dark hair and cherry red streaks.  The dark-haired one walked with a cane.

“Is this the girls’ table?” the petite blonde asked, sinking down before waiting for an answer. 

“Oh, thank God,” the brunette said, joining them.  “I think I’m OD’ing on male hormones here.”

Taryn laughed.  “Yeah, tell me about it.  I think it should be illegal to have this much testosterone in an enclosed space.”

Maggie couldn’t help it.  She smiled, having had similar thoughts only a few minutes ago.  It seemed so perfectly accurate.  The room was filled with more stunning alpha-male types than she’d ever seen in one place before.  Well, excluding the time Sherri talked her into seeing the Chippendales show when their tour took them to Philadelphia.  But even those men couldn’t compete with these guys.  The Chippendales put on a show.  The Callaghans were the real deal.  Though the thought of Michael giving her a private lap dance sent a delicious shiver up and down her spine.

Taryn’s grin grew wider. Lexi took care of the introductions.

“Maggie, this is Lina.”  The pretty blonde gave a warm smile.  “And this is Stacey.”  The brunette gave a little wave. 

“Maggie’s here with Michael,” Taryn said, exchanging a glance with the others. 

“Ooooo, he’s a good one,” Lina said, slipping out her shoes and rubbing her feet.  “Honestly.  How do women wear heels all day long?  Barefoot and pregnant is a walk in the park compared to this.”  She turned to Maggie.  “So.  How did you guys meet?”

Maggie felt her cheeks flame again and shot a quick glance toward Lexi, who laughed and patted her hand.  “It’s okay, Maggie.  Michael said you might feel a little weird, but honestly, I think it’s awesome.  After all, you did all the work, and we got all the benefits.”  She winked.

At Lina and Stacey’s puzzled looks, Lexi asked, “Can I tell them?”

Maggie nodded, though she was not convinced it was the best of ideas.

Lexi leaned forward and dropped her voice.  “Maggie is the one who danced at Ian’s bachelor party,” she revealed.

Maggie braced herself for the condescending looks or catty comments, so she was unprepared for their reactions.  “Oh.  My.  God.” Lina said, her eyes growing impossibly large.  “That was you?”  When Maggie indicated that it was, Lina leaned forward excitedly.  “Can you teach me?”

“Me, too,” Stacey chimed in.  “Whatever you did, woman, it had our husbands in thrall.”

Maggie was stunned.  There had to be some mistake.  “I think you might be thinking about my friend, Sherri.  She dances all the time.  I’m sure she’d be very flattered - ”

But Taryn was shaking her head, smiling.  “No, Maggie.  It was you.  Jake told me everything.”

“And anything that got Michael to spend three days holed up in your house during a blizzard?  Honey, you’ve got yourself pure magic right there.”

“Oh, I don’t think he meant for that to happen,” Maggie said quickly.  “It’s not like it was planned or anything.”

Lexi was shaking her head, her expression more serious than it had been.  “Maggie, I’m not sure how much you know about these guys, but you need to trust us on this.  Everything they do is intentional, down to the smallest detail.  Nothing is left to chance.  Michael knew when that storm would hit down to the minute, I’d bet.  If he was at your house, it was because he wanted to be.  And believe me, if he didn’t want to stay there, he would have found some way to leave.”

“It must have been so romantic,” Lina said with a little sigh.  “Just the two of you in the middle of a blizzard, cut off from everything...”

“That sounds like an awesome story line,” Stacey said, her eyes glittering.  “What was it like?”

Under normal circumstances, Maggie wouldn’t even consider talking about the time she and Michael had spent together with women she’d just met.  But there was something about them that pulled her in, made her feel like she was one of them.  It was not something she was accustomed to, and it actually felt kind of nice.  Maybe it was the brandy, maybe it was the romance of the wedding, but Maggie found herself sharing.  Not the intimate details, of course, but she couldn’t help but gush a little.  It had been pretty romantic.