Wild Chance (Wild Irish Universe)(2)

“You may have grown up, but you’re still Kiki to me.” Aedan winked. “And congrats on the wedding, I really wish I could have been here.”

“It wasn’t like I could have sent you an invite.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“One day, Cal, you’re going to have to sit me down and tell me what happened,” Keira said, softly. “We’ve missed you around here. And having you gone affected all of us. No matter what Killian says now, he loves you. His gruff is just man-talk for I miss you.”

“No, it’s man-talk for I’m pissed.” Killian countered.

“Whatever, at this point.” Kiera’s frown returned. “Like I said, we all missed you.”

Aedan nodded. “I will explain soon.” He promised. “Do I get to meet Mr. Wallace?”

“If you stick around long enough,” Killian said.

Aedan’s back went up with that comment. He was barely home, and this guy was raking on his last god-damn nerve. He meant to tear a strip off Killian’s ass, but Keira must have sensed his agitation. She looped her arm with his and led him to the bar.

“You’re limping.” Kiera craned her neck as if to look at his feet. “Are you hurt?”

“You could say that. Can I have a beer?” Aedan changed the subject. He didn’t feel like telling the story of how he lost half his leg yet. He’d leave the pity party for another time when he didn’t feel like punching Killian Collins into the stratosphere.

“Yeah. Sure.” Kiera hurried behind the bar. She pried the cap off an ice-cold bottle and set it before him. When he tried to pay, she frowned at him and crossed her arms at her chest. “Put that away, Aedan Callahan. You’re family.”

“Um…”

“Don’t make me tell you again.”

“Kiki…”

He remembered that tilt in her head was her way of silently saying, do not test me today, Aedan Fionn Callahan. You will lose.

“Yes ma’am.”

She crinkled her nose at him while laughing softly. “So, how you been?”

He sat around, sipping and speaking with Kiera. The heat of Killian’s glare never left him. Aedan ignored it and focused on Kiera’s face, her laughter, her warmth.

When he’d left Baltimore, he honestly didn’t believe anyone would miss him. He was stunned when in basic training, he was called into his commander’s office. Aedan hadn’t been in trouble. Baltimore P.D thought he had been missing. He did send a message back letting them know he was fine and not dead in a ditch somewhere. But, it seemed Killian didn’t take too kindly to that.

Aedan would not apologize for escaping when he could. Killian would have to put on his big girl panties and deal.

“Listen.” Aedan took another sip of his beer before setting the bottle back on the counter. “Thanks for the beer. I should get going.”

“Going? Where?”

“I just got off a nine hour flight,” Aedan said. “I only want to go to my apartment, shower, maybe get some sleep.”

“Oh! So, you are staying?”

Aedan nodded. “If I can find work.”

“Well, I guess you’re staying then.” Keira said. “You can work here.”

“Don’t you think you should talk to the others first?” Aedan asked, jerking his head in Killian’s direction. “I’m pretty sure there will be quite a few of them who won’t be pleased I’m back.”

“The others won’t mind.” Kiera’s determined gaze bore into him. “And just because Killian has a stick up his ass doesn’t mean he isn’t happy to see you. He thought of you as a brother when we were kids. Give him some time.”

“What would I do here, anyway?”

“You can be our handyman.” Keira wiggled her brows suggestively at him. “Besides, all the other eye candies in this place are taken. The ladies require fresh meat—er, I mean, new faces.”

“Eye candy?” Aedan laughed. He laughed so hard he snorted. “Me? No, you don’t understand. I’ve been called a lot of things over the years, most of which cannot be said in the presence of a lady. I assure you, eye candy was never one.”

“There’s a first time for everything.”

“I don’t know what to say.” Aedan rubbed the back of his neck. “I mean—”

Kiera extended a hand to him. “Say yes already.”

“Kiki.”

She tilted her head at him, hand still outstretched.

“Yes.” Aedan ignored her hand but reached across the bar to kiss her cheek.

“You can start Monday night.”

“Thank you.” Aedan told her. “But it’s only for a little while until I can find a job in my field. I don’t want to impose on your kindness longer than I have to.”

Kiera rolled her eyes. “What’s your field?”

“I’m a mechanical engineer. I figured since I was in the military I might as well have a backup plan if anything happened and I had to leave.”

“Wow! Good looks and brains!” Keira giggled. “You’ll see. With credentials like that, a good woman is gonna scoop you up like that!” She snapped her fingers before his eyes.