Callaghan Brothers Guide: The Official Guide to the Callaghan Brothers Series (5 page)

• Kane (35) lives at the family cabin in the mountains.
  
• Jake (33) lives at the Pub with wife Taryn (29), who also helps out at the Pub, and daughter Riley (turns 1).
  
• Michael (31) is a doctor.  He lives at the Pub and works at the hospital under special agreement.
  
• Ian (29) lives and works at the Pub.
  
• Sean (27) lives at the Pub and runs the family garage in town.
  
• Shane (27) lives at the Pub and assumes responsibility of the family legal matters and real estate holdings.
  
• Kieran (25) lives at the Pub and takes over running the BodyWorks fitness center in town.
  
• Lexi (25) is living at her grandmother’s cottage on the outskirts of Pine Ridge with her son Patrick (turns 1) and is working on getting the newest location of the Celtic Goddess in Pine Ridge up and running while under Michael Callaghan’s treatment program.
  
• Aidan Harrison (27), CEO of Celtic Goddess franchise, has moved up to Pine Ridge to open the newest location of the Celtic Goddess.
  
• Maggie (30) is living in her family farmhouse and picking up odd jobs.
   
  

• Kane (36) lives at the family cabin in the mountains.
  
• Jake (34) lives at the Pub with wife Taryn (30), who also helps out at the Pub, and daughter Riley (turns 2).
  
• Michael (32) now lives with his wife Maggie (31) and their son Ryan (turns 1) at Maggie’s family farm and works at the hospital (occasionally).
  
• Ian (30) lives with his wife Lexi (26) and their son Patrick (turns 2) at Lexi’s grandmother’s cottage.  Ian works at the Pub; Lexi is the master chef at the Celtic Goddess.
  
• Sean (28) runs the family garage and has moved into an apartment above it.
  
• Shane (28) lives at the Pub and takes care of the family legal matters and real estate holdings.
  
• Kieran (26) lives at the Pub and runs the BodyWorks fitness center in town.
  
• Aidan Harrison (28), CEO of Celtic Goddess franchise, lives in Pine Ridge.
  
• Rebecca (30) is travelling with Sisters of Mercy in the jungles of Africa
  

• Kane (37) lives at the family cabin with his wife Rebecca (31) in the mountains.
  
• Jake (35) lives at the Pub with wife Taryn (31), who also helps out at the Pub, and daughter Riley (turns 3).
  
• Michael (33) lives with his wife Maggie (32) and their son Ryan (turns 2) at Maggie’s family farm and works at the hospital (occasionally).
  
• Ian (31) lives with his wife Lexi (27) and their son Patrick (turns 3) and daughter Kate (turns 1) at Lexi’s grandmother’s cottage.  Ian works at the Pub; Lexi is the master chef at the Celtic Goddess.
  
• Sean (29) lives with his wife Nicki (25) in an apartment above the family garage he runs.
  
• Shane (29) lives at the Pub and takes care of the family legal matters and real estate holdings.
  
• Kieran (27) lives at the Pub and runs the BodyWorks fitness center in town.
  
• Aidan Harrison (29), CEO of Celtic Goddess franchise, lives in Pine Ridge.
  

• Kane (38) lives at the family cabin with his wife Rebecca (32) in the mountains with their daughter Aislinn.
  
• Jake (36) lives at the Pub with wife Taryn (32), who also helps out at the Pub, and daughter Riley (turns 4) and son Rory (turns 1).
  
• Michael (34) lives with his wife Maggie (33) and their son Ryan (turns 3) at Maggie’s family farm and works at the hospital (occasionally).
  
• Ian (32) lives with his wife Lexi (28) and their son Patrick (turns 4) and daughter Kate (turns 2) at Lexi’s grandmother’s cottage.  Ian works at the Pub; Lexi is the master chef at the Celtic Goddess.
  
• Sean (30) lives with his wife Nicki (26) and daughter Meghan (turns 1) in an apartment above the family garage he runs.
  
• Shane (30) lives at the Pub and takes care of the family legal matters and real estate holdings.
  
• Kieran (28) lives at the Pub and runs the BodyWorks fitness center in town.
  
• Aidan Harrison (30), CEO of Celtic Goddess franchise, lives in Pine Ridge.
  
• Mary O’Rourke (31) lives in Birch Falls and runs her flower shop.
  

• Kane (39) lives at family cabin with his wife Rebecca (33) in the mountains with their daughter Aislinn (turns 2).
  
• Jake (37) lives at the Pub with wife Taryn (33), who also helps out at the Pub, and daughter Riley (turns 5) and son Rory (turns 2).
  
• Michael (35) lives with his wife Maggie (34) and their son Ryan (turns 4) at Maggie’s family farm and works at the hospital (occasionally).
  
• Ian (34) lives with his wife Lexi (30) and their son Patrick (turns 5) and daughter Kate (turns 3) at Lexi’s grandmother’s cottage.  Ian works at the Pub; Lexi is the master chef at the Celtic Goddess.
  
• Sean (31) lives with his wife Nicki (27) and daughter Meghan (turns 2) in an apartment above the family garage he runs.
  
• Shane (31) and wife Lacie live in a modest house in Pine Ridge.  Shane takes care of the family legal matters and real estate holdings and Lacie is a Kindergarten teacher at Pine Ridge Elementary School.
  
• Kieran (29) lives with his wife Faith (29) and Matt (15) at Faith’s cottage and runs the BodyWorks fitness center in town.
  
• Aidan Harrison (31), CEO of Celtic Goddess franchise, lives in Pine Ridge.
  
• Mary O’Rourke (32) lives in Birch Falls and runs her flower shop.
  

E
ach male in the Callaghan family sports a tattoo on the left bicep.  It is a rite of passage (and a family tradition) to get inked at the age of 18.  The Callaghan family crest consists of a jeweled dagger piercing a Celtic knot.  In the center is an additional, personalized symbol that identifies their unique abilities.

The Callaghan brides also have the option of adopting the crest of their husbands, adorned with a perfect rose.

Note:  You won’t find Kane’s, Jake’s, or Ian’s tats in any of the first eight books.

1. Kane
   (financial analyst) has a scythe, like the one carried by the grim reaper.
   
2. Jake
   (Pub owner) has a Celtic cross.
   
3. Michael
   (doctor) has a Caduceus, the traditional symbol of medicine.  It features two snakes winding around a winged staff.
   
4. Ian
   (computer specialist) has the schematic of a digital microchip.
   
5. Sean
   (mechanic) has a Da Vinci-like mechanical device to symbolize his affinity for machines.
   
6. Shane
   (lawyer) has the scales of justice.
   
7. Kieran
   (fitness trainer and MMA enthusiast) has a dragon, a nod to his love of martial arts and discipline
   

E
veryone knows the vehicle a man (or woman) drives can provide useful insight into their personalities.  The Callaghans are no exception.

• Jack – Black Infinity
  
• Kane – Black H2 (Hummer)
  
• Jake - Black Expedition
  
• Michael - Black Jag
  
• Ian – Back Land Rover
  
• Sean – Custom Built Black ’67 Mustang Shelby GT500 Eleanor
  
• Shane – Black Lexus
  
• Kieran – Black Porsche
  
• Aidan - Dark Green Mercedes sedan + Black Mercedes GL63 AMG SUV
  
• Rebecca - Silver Prius
  
• Lacie - Silvery blue VW Passat
  
• Mary – Deep Auburn Jeep Grand Cherokee
  

S
ome of you wanted to know what is in Brian McCain’s Virgin Slayer.  I’ll tell you, but you have to promise to use this McCain family secret recipe only for good, never evil.

WARNING:  Use caution.  Deceptively sweet, light, and fruity, this one sneaks up on you.

Adjust to personal preference (for me, 1 “part” was approximately ½ oz):

• 2 parts Sweet Revenge Liqueur (Wild Strawberry Sour Mash)
  
• 1 part Patron Citronge (Extra Fine Orange Liqueur)
  
• 1 part DeKuyper Peach Schnapps
  
• 2 parts Cruzan Coconut Rum
  
• 2 parts Pinnacle Whipped Cream Vodka
  
• 1 part Jacquin Apricot Flavored Brandy
  
• 1 part Vanilla syrup
  
• 2 parts pineapple juice
  
• 2 parts orange juice
  
• 2 parts ginger ale
  

Empty each ingredient into a metal cocktail shaker with 5-6 ice cubes (or crushed ice).  Shake until mixed and well-chilled.  Pour into a glass and top with a maraschino cherry.

Enjoy (slowly)!

I
close the lid on my notebook computer and lean back in my chair.  Nearly everyone is here.

Ian slips a drink in front of me, then joins the rest of his brothers already seated at the table.  The Pub isn’t due to open for another hour or so, so we have the place to ourselves and can talk freely.  I’m in a position many women dream of, surrounded by all of these wealthy, powerful, deadly men.  The air is thick with testosterone, yet I am not afraid, nor am I intimidated.  These are my boys.

I look skeptically at the drink, then at Ian’s mischievous grin.  “I am not drinking that.”

“Why not?” he asks innocently. 
Too
innocently.  Even though I know what he’s up to, I find myself still wanting to believe him. 

“It’s a Virgin Slayer, isn’t it?”  I look over at the bar and sure enough, there’s Brian McCain trying not to snicker and failing miserably.  Ian’s grin grows. 

“Seriously?  I
created
you guys.  You can’t pull anything over on me.”

“My bad,” Ian says, but he’s still grinning, so I know I have to stay on my toes.  I pull an unopened, frosty Coors Light from my bag.  Kane shoots me a look, a mixture of warning and pity, and I realize what I’ve just done:  I’ve unintentionally issued a challenge they can’t possibly resist.

“Give it here,” Sean says smoothly, reaching for my beer to open it.

“Not a chance, Slick.”  I pull my sleeve down over my palm and twist the top off myself.  Not very ladylike, perhaps, but hey, that’s me.

“Glass?” Shane offers, and with a flick of those long fingers, sends one my way across the polished tabletop.  It stops beside my laptop in perfect reaching distance.  I raise my eyebrow.  Like
I
don’t know about Michael’s undetectable (colorless, odorless, tasteless) additive coatings. 
Pffft.

“Nice try.”  I raise the bottle to my lips and take a sip.  My lips don’t immediately go numb and my vision is still clear, so I figure I’m good.

I think I hear Jake snort, but he covers it up by clearing his throat.  “So, Abbie.  How’s it going?”

“It’s going great,” I tell him truthfully.  “They love you.  They want more.”

“More?” Michael asks. 

“Yeah.”

They look around the table at each other.  “Who?  You’ve already written a book about each of us.”

“And me,” Aidan chimes in.

“Well, your dad, for one.”

Kieran shakes his head.  “Forget it.  A Callaghan man has only one
croie
in his lifetime, and mom was it.”  Murmurs of agreement ripple down the length of the table.

“Give me some credit, will you?  I want to write the story of him and your mother.  If he’ll talk to me, that is.  Where is he, anyway?”

“Where he always is on this day.”

I think of the date and it hits me.  “Oh, right.”  It’s Jack and Kathleen’s wedding anniversary.  Every year, Jack spends this day at the cemetery.  Her grave sits beneath a sprawling maple in the family plot, and her sons put a bench there so that Jack’s visits would be more comfortable.  He surrounds her tombstone with dozens of chrysanthemums (Kathleen’s favorite flower) and flips through the most current pics of each of their kids and grandkids on his cell phone, quietly bringing her up to date on each one.  My eyes start to tear up just thinking about it.  That interview will keep for another day.