The Devaney Brothers: Michael and Patrick: Michael's Discovery

4

Bryan was staring at Kelly as if she’d suddenly grown two heads. “Tell me again how this came about?” he demanded, when she invited him to join her and Michael at Ryan’s Place on Friday night. “You asked Michael—your patient—out on a date? How many rules does that break?”

“None precisely,” Kelly retorted defensively. “And it’s not a date. Michael admits he has issues with trust. I find it’s impossible to do my job if my client doesn’t trust my judgment. I thought it might help if he got to know me better as someone other than your baby sister. Apparently he agrees, because he suggested going to Ryan’s Place on Friday night. Now do you want to come along or not?”

“Oh, I’m coming,” Bryan said, his expression grim. “If only to make sure you don’t do anything stupid. You seem to forget that I can read you like a book. It may be an issue of trust for Michael, but it’s a whole lot more for you.”

Kelly found her brother’s attitude extremely annoying, to say nothing of patronizing. “I am not going to try to seduce him, if that’s what you’re worried about,” she said heatedly.

“What if he tries to seduce you? Will you take him up on it?” Bryan asked with the sort of bluntness he normally reserved for the patients he counseled in his psychology practice.

Much as she wanted to believe that Michael attempting to seduce her was a possibility, Kelly was a realist where Michael Devaney was concerned. He was not going to try to get her into bed, not Friday night, most likely not ever. More’s the pity.

She regarded her brother with a sour look. “I’ll let you know if the issue arises. Then, again, maybe I won’t. It’s not really any of your business.”

“How can you say that? Of course it is. I’m your brother, and I’m the one who talked you into taking this job.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Bryan, you didn’t talk me into anything. You mentioned it. I spoke with Ryan and then consulted with Michael. He and I were the ones who agreed to give it a try. At best, you gave me a lead on a job. You’ve done it a hundred times before without working yourself into a frenzy over the outcome.”

“But this was different.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re talking about Michael,” he replied with evident impatience. “I knew you’d jump at the chance to help him because you always had a thing for him.”

She kissed her brother’s cheek. “Too late for regrets now, worrywart. I’m a big girl. I can handle this.”

“You can handle Michael’s therapy,” he corrected. “I don’t have a doubt in the world about that. But this? This is social. Michael’s not thinking straight these days, and neither, apparently, are you. You’ll end up getting your heart broken.”

She frowned at him. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“You know what I mean. I thought for sure you’d be over your crush by now, but you aren’t, are you?”

“I was barely a teenager when you first brought Michael home. He was gorgeous. Naturally I was intrigued by him,” she said, ignoring the fact that none of those feelings had gone away. She was still very much attracted to Michael, something her big brother definitely didn’t need to have confirmed. Maybe it was time to turn the tables, put him on the hot seat. “Now let’s talk about your love life—or should I say your lack of one.”

His scowl deepened. “Nothing to discuss,” he said tightly.

“Oh, really? Then that fling with what’s-her-name is really over?” she pressed, in part because she knew of someone else who was ready and willing to take on Bryan, if he’d finally wised up.

“It wasn’t a fling,” he said defensively. “And you know her name. It’s Debra.”

“Short for dim-witted,” Kelly muttered. “You know, for an intelligent man who has a degree in psychology, you have exceptionally lousy taste in women.”

“Thank you for sharing your opinion,” her brother retorted. “Next time you feel so inclined, bite your tongue.”

She grinned at him. “Advice you should consider following when it comes to Friday night.”

Bryan sighed heavily, picked up his jacket and headed out without saying another word.

Now it was Kelly’s turn to sigh. She should have kept her mouth shut about Friday, because if she knew her brother at all—and she did—he was on his way straight to Michael’s, probably to warn him to behave or get his teeth knocked down his throat.

Kelly considered calling Michael to warn him, but why bother? Bryan was a great guy, but he definitely leaned more toward intellectual pursuits than physical prowess. Michael could probably use a good laugh. He might be in a wheelchair, but she had a feeling he could still take her brother in a fight. Maybe it would do both of them good for Michael to remember that.

* * *

Michael was watching the Celtics game on TV and cursing the fact that there wasn’t a beer in the place, when the doorbell rang. Since he’d all but banished his brothers from stopping by uninvited, he figured he shouldn’t just tell his visitor that the door was unlocked. He wheeled across the room and found Bryan on his doorstep, a scowl firmly in place and a six-pack in his hand.

“Talk about your mixed messages,” Michael said, moving aside to let his friend in.

Bryan stared at him blankly. “What?”

“Hey, you’re the psychologist,” Michael reminded him. “Shouldn’t you understand that arriving with a frown on your face and a peace offering in your hand could be a bit confusing?”

“Was I frowning? Sorry,” Bryan said, though the apology sounded halfhearted.

Michael studied him curiously. The Bryan he’d once known had always been upbeat, always able to put a positive spin on things. He could spot the silver linings on the cloudiest days. It was a trait that probably contributed to his skill as a psychologist. Clearly, something had to be weighing mighty heavily on him to put this scowl on his face.

“Something on your mind?” Michael probed cautiously.

“You could say that.”

“Why don’t you pour a couple of those beers and tell me all about it?” Michael suggested. Listening to somebody else’s problems for a change would be good for him, he decided. It might make him forget his own.

While Bryan headed for the kitchen, Michael went back in the living room and muted the sound on the TV. He didn’t have to listen to the game, but he wasn’t going to skip it. Basketball was the one thing he’d missed when he was off in various godforsaken locations. Of course, he’d also missed playing it, but for now he’d have to settle for the vicarious thrills of watching a good game on TV.

Bryan returned, handed Michael his beer, then sank down on the sofa, still looking worried.

“Woman problems?” Michael asked.

“Not the way you mean. It’s Kelly.”

Now it was Michael’s turn to frown. “Has something happened to your sister? She was here this afternoon, and she seemed perfectly fine.”

“Yeah, well, since then, she’s apparently lost her mind.”

Michael stared at him. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“This whole cockamamy scheme that the two of you should spend time together,” Bryan explained. “Whose idea was it?”

“Hers,” Michael said at once, still not seeing why Bryan was making such a big deal out of it. “What’s wrong? It’s not as if we’re dating—though, frankly, it would be none of your business if we were.”

Bryan snorted. “Yeah, that’s what she said, too.”

“Well, then, what’s the problem?”

“I don’t like it, that’s the problem,” Bryan said, regarding him defiantly. “Therapy’s one thing. This—whatever this is—is something else entirely. Kelly’s no match for you. She’s been in Boston her whole life. She’s dated some, but the men were nothing like you.”

“Which makes her what? Naive? Stupid?”

Bryan’s scowl deepened. “Of course not.”

“Glad to know you’re smart enough to see that. But if Kelly’s not the problem, then I must be,” Michael concluded. “Do you figure I’m some sort of macho, sex-starved male who can’t keep his hormones in check?”

His friend flushed a dull red. “No, but you are experienced.”

Michael couldn’t deny that. “Maybe so, but I would never take advantage of your sister,” he said flatly. “After all the time we spent together, you ought to know me better than that.”

“I suppose, but it’s been a lot of years since you and I hung out, Michael. You could have changed,” Bryan said defensively.

“I haven’t,” Michael said, meeting his gaze evenly.

Bryan nodded slowly. “I’ll take your word, then, that you won’t take advantage of her.”

“Thank you.” He slanted a look at Bryan. “So, does she have any idea you’re over here warning me off?”

“Probably,” Bryan said.

Michael regarded him with amusement. “And you got out of the house in one piece? Amazing. You must be quicker than I remembered.”

“Very funny.”

“Look, I admire the fact that you care about what happens to your sister, but I swear to you that I’m not a threat. I’ll say it one more time—this whole pub visit is strictly professional. She thinks it will help the therapy if I can put my trust in her.”

Bryan rolled his eyes. “And you bought that hogwash?”

Something in his reaction sent a little chill of apprehension down Michael’s back. He regarded Bryan with a narrowed gaze. “You think she has another agenda?”

“She might not even be aware of it herself, but, yes, I think she has another agenda.” He leveled a warning look at Michael. “And so help me, if you take her up on it and break her heart, I’ll make you regret it.”

“Whoa!” Michael protested, reeling from the possibility that Bryan viewed his own sister as the one who couldn’t be entirely trusted to exercise good judgment. “It’s a long way from spending one evening in a pub with family to breaking your sister’s heart. Trust me, that is not a road I intend to go down.”

“As long as you’re clear on the consequences,” Bryan said flatly.

“Very clear. Are you clear on the fact that I’m not the least bit interested in getting involved with anyone these days? Fixing my own life is pretty much an all-consuming task.”

“Okay, then,” Bryan said, clearly relieved. “Now turn the sound up on the game, while I get us another beer.”

Michael stared after him as he left the room. Bryan’s little wake-up call hadn’t exactly scared him. He could handle an irate Bryan. But the memory of the way he’d felt when Kelly had her hands all over him gave him pause. He was suddenly far less confident about whether he could handle Kelly, if she really did have something other than therapy on her mind.

* * *

Michael was still feeling a little leery about Kelly’s intentions when they got to Ryan’s Place on Friday night. Fortunately, with nearly a dozen members of his own family and the O’Briens around, it was easy enough to put some distance between himself and Kelly.

When the boisterous crowd got to be too much for him, he made his way to the bar where Ryan was trying to keep up with the orders. Michael couldn’t hide his grin at how natural his big brother looked pouring ales and Irish whisky and joking with the customers.

“This place suits you,” he told Ryan, when his brother finally turned his attention to him.

“You like it, then?” Ryan asked.

“There’s a warm, comfortable feel to it I haven’t run across since a vacation in Ireland a few years back.”

“Then I’ve done it right,” Ryan said, obviously pleased. “And having you and Sean in here couldn’t make me happier. For a long time, I thought I could be content just to have this place with its crowd of regulars. Then Maggie came along and made me see what I was missing.” He nodded toward the crowd across the room. “The O’Briens are special. I didn’t trust all that love they shower on everyone at first, but it’s the real thing.”

Michael nodded. “I can see that. Not five seconds after we met, Nell O’Brien fussed over me as if I were one of her own brood.”

“You are now,” Ryan said simply. His expression turned thoughtful. “You know, if you wanted to invite your foster family here sometime, it would be fine with me. I’d like to get to know them. I never stayed with any of mine long enough to get attached. Sean had better luck, but he doesn’t see them much anymore. Of all of us, I think you’re the one who came closest to finding a real home.”

Michael tried to imagine the Havilceks here and, surprisingly, found that he could. “Maybe I will,” he said. “One of these days. I haven’t told them I’m back in Boston.”

Ryan regarded him with shock. “Why not?”

Michael tried out the same explanation he’d used on Kelly to see if it sounded any better now. “I wanted to sort things out for myself. My foster mom is great, but she’d take over and try to fix things.” He grinned. “The girls are no better. I had measles when I was maybe eight or nine and they just about nursed me into a mental institution with all their hovering. I couldn’t think straight. Even a cold was enough to bring out all their Florence Nightingale tendencies.” He tapped his still-useless leg. “Just imagine the frenzy they’d go into over this.”

“Would that be so awful?” Ryan asked, an unmistakable trace of envy in his voice.

Michael sighed. He’d learned only a little of what his big brother had gone through in foster care, but he knew their experiences were vastly different. He could understand why Ryan might not get how Michael would chafe under all that attention. “Trust me, it’s better this way. They’d be hurt if I refused to move in with one of them.”

“Will they be any less hurt when they find out you’ve been hiding out from them for months?”

“Not months,” Michael insisted. “Another week or two, just till I see if my prognosis improves at all.”

Ryan nodded. “Okay, then, I’ll back off for now.” He glanced across the room. “I was a little surprised to see Kelly and her brother with you tonight.”

Michael shook his head, thinking about how complicated this simple outing had turned out to be. “Kelly’s here because she thinks therapy will go more smoothly if I start to trust her.”

“And Bryan?”

“He’s here because he’s afraid I’m going to make a move on Kelly,” Michael admitted dryly.

Ryan barely contained a chuckle. “And do you intend to make a move on her? You could do a lot worse, you know.”

Michael turned and studied Kelly. She was a beautiful woman, no question about it. And there were definitely some sparks between them. Even so, he shook his head. “Too complicated.”

“Because you and Bryan are friends?”

“No, because she’s my best shot at getting out of this wheelchair. I don’t intend to do anything that might distract from that.”

Ryan’s gaze narrowed. “There are a lot of therapists in Boston, you know. Maggie’s still got her copy of that list she made. A new therapist could uncomplicate things.”

“I’ve made my peace with having Kelly underfoot. I don’t want to start over,” Michael said flatly.

“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.