Sherryl Woods - The Devaney Brothers - Michael and Patrick - Michael's Discovery

“That might be a shortsighted view, especially if you’re attracted to her,” Ryan said, refusing to let the subject drop.

“I’m not,” Michael insisted.

A grin spread across Ryan’s face. “I hope you were more convincing when you tried that line out on her brother.”

Michael sighed. “Probably not.”

“Just make me a promise, then,” Ryan pleaded. “When you two decide to have it out, don’t do it in here, okay? The bar glass is expensive.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Michael glanced toward Kelly and saw that she was watching him. “Guess I’d better bite the bullet and get back over there. I’ve managed to stay out of Kelly’s path most of the evening, which pretty much defeats the avowed purpose of bringing her here.”

Ryan stepped out from behind the bar and blocked his path. “Look, I know you didn’t ask for any advice from your big brother, but I’m going to offer some just the same. Therapy might get you back on your feet, but it’s going to take more than that to heal your soul. If Kelly’s offering more, don’t be so quick to turn your back on it.”

“I suppose you gave in the very first second that Maggie came into your life,” Michael speculated.

Ryan laughed. “Hardly. I’m just trying to save you a little time. You can learn from my mistakes and give in to the inevitable.”

“There’s nothing inevitable about Kelly and me.”

“If you say so,” Ryan said doubtfully.

“I do,” Michael said very firmly.

Unfortunately, Ryan didn’t look as if he believed the denial any more than Michael did himself.

* * *

In terms of building a bridge between herself and Michael, the evening had been a bust so far, Kelly concluded as he rejoined the group who’d clustered around several tables in the middle of the pub. She noted he was careful to stay on the opposite side of the table from her.

Unfortunately for him, Bryan had just asked Katie O’Brien to dance, so the chair right next to Michael had just opened up. She made her way around the table.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” she accused lightly as she took the vacant seat.

“Bryan’s orders,” he said just as lightly.

She laughed. “I probably ought to kill him.”

“You probably should.”

“Then, again, I’m surprised you scared off so easily.”

“A smart man knows to pick his battles and his enemies.”

Kelly regarded him with dismay. “Is that what I am, the enemy?”

He winced. “No, of course not. Neither is your brother. We’re just caught up in a complicated situation.”

“It doesn’t have to be all that complicated. I’m trying to get to know you. I’m not asking you to marry me or even to sleep with me.”

“Thank heavens for that,” he said fervently. “Your brother really would kill me, then.”

She decided to play it cool. “Only if you took me up on it,” she teased. “Would you?”

“Kelly.” Her name came out part warning, part plea.

“Yes?”

“You’re playing a dangerous game.”

“Only if you’re the least bit tempted,” she said.

“I’m a man,” he said, as if that said it all.

“So, of course, you’re not capable of resisting temptation?” she scoffed. “Please, Michael. Don’t try to make me believe you’d take advantage of the situation, if I happened to throw myself at you.”

A dull flush crept into his cheeks. “We’re never going to know, because you are not going to do that. Are we clear?”

The direct order made her see red. Something dark and dangerous came to life inside her. Before he could make his demand again, she leaned forward, clamped a hand around the back of his neck and kissed him.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she’d only intended the gesture to be a belligerent response to his unreasonable order. Big mistake. No, huge mistake. Because the instant her lips met the hard line of his mouth, she felt as if the entire world was spinning out of control.

And when his mouth opened and his tongue thrust between her lips, she was completely lost to sensation...greedy, urgent sensation that made her pulse hum and her heart thump wildly. Liquid heat pooled low in her belly and desire made her want to cling and savor and taste. Only a low growl in Michael’s throat had her tearing herself away, her cheeks flushed, her breath coming in quick, unsteady gasps.

She rocked back in her chair and raked her fingers through her hair. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, embarrassment flooding through her. Only the dazed look in Michael’s eyes kept her from feeling like a complete fool.

“Don’t,” he said, his voice harsh. “Don’t apologize. I shouldn’t have—”

She cut him off. “Shouldn’t have what?” she asked with self-derision. “Responded when I all but attacked you?”

He smiled faintly at that. “I dared you,” he pointed out.

“You did not,” she said, then thought about it. Maybe he hadn’t dared her in so many words, but the challenge in his voice was exactly what she’d responded to. She studied him in confusion. “Okay, maybe you did. Did you do it on purpose?”

He looked almost as bewildered as she felt. “I wish to hell I knew.”

Before they could explore it any further, her brother arrived, a glowering expression on his face. “I see that my warning was taken to heart by both of you.”

“Oh, stuff a sock in it,” Kelly retorted.

Bryan ignored her and looked at Michael. “What about you?” he demanded indignantly. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

“I think ‘stuff a sock in it’ pretty well sums up my view, as well.”

Bryan scowled from Michael to Kelly and back again. “Okay, then, I wash my hands of this. You two are on your own.”

“Fine by me,” Kelly retorted.

“I always have been,” Michael said, his expression already distant and withdrawn.

Bryan hesitated. He seemed as if he were about to relent, but then he whirled around and headed for the bar.

Kelly instinctively reached for Michael’s hands and held them tightly. “You are not on your own anymore. Look around you. You never have to be alone again.”

Michael surveyed the assembled Devaneys and O’Briens warily, as if he still didn’t quite trust what they were offering. In that instant, Kelly felt something deep inside herself shift. Years ago what she had felt for Michael Devaney had been a teenage crush on a handsome, mysterious boy. What she felt right now was so much more. She wasn’t quite ready to put a label on it, especially not one he would reject out of hand.

But if it took her a lifetime, she would find some way to wipe that bleak expression from his eyes and prove to him that he was a man worthy of being loved.

5

The memory of that soul-searing kiss kept Michael awake most of the night. It had taken him totally by surprise on so many levels, his mind was still reeling.

Even after Bryan’s warning, he hadn’t actually expected Kelly to make a move on him. A part of him still thought of her as Bryan’s kid sister. That she had impulsively and thoroughly out-of-the-blue locked lips with him had shocked him right down to his toes. That wasn’t some kid’s move. It was the act of a woman willing to take what she wanted.

That he had responded, that he had all but devoured her right there in the middle of his brother’s pub in front of a whole slew of witnesses—including her disapproving brother—had been almost as shocking. Maybe that head injury he’d dismissed had left his brain more addled than he’d realized.

He’d admitted to Kelly that part of the blame was his. He had—albeit unintentionally—pretty much challenged her to kiss him. What red-blooded, healthy, spirited woman wouldn’t have reacted exactly as Kelly had? That didn’t make it right. It certainly didn’t make it smart. And it most definitely didn’t make it something that could be allowed to happen again.