Always My Girl (The Shaughnessy Brothers)

by Samantha Chase

  “You going to be okay?” she asked.

  “I don’t really have a choice, do I?” The anger from earlier was gone and in its place was quiet acceptance. It wasn’t unusual for him to hug Anna, but it was normally in a playful manner. This quiet, intimate embrace was new. Different.

  And yet not in a bad way.

  “Come on. We should get back up to the house. The rehearsal for the ceremony is in a couple of hours, and then we have the dinner with everyone.”

  He sighed and released her reluctantly. “I guess I’m going to be relegated to sleeping on the couch now, aren’t I?”

  Anna chuckled. “I’m sure you can share a room with Bobby.”

  His laughter matched hers. “Thanks, but I think I’ll take my chances with the couch. Your brother would probably smother me in my sleep.”

  “He’s not quite that bad.”

  Quinn knew a token defense when he heard one. “You have to say that. He’s your brother.”

  “It’s only for a couple of nights. It won’t be so bad.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” he said and took her hand in his and together they walked back up to the house.

  * * *

  The sun was setting, and everyone was milling about, laughing and smiling. The rehearsal had gone smoothly, and now everyone was enjoying an amazing seafood buffet Hugh’s resort had catered. Anna couldn’t remember the last time she had seen such an incredible display of food.

  As she mingled with everyone, her eyes kept straying to Quinn. At that moment, he was standing and talking with Zoe’s friend Kathy. Anna had met all the girls earlier, and Kathy had shared that she was three months pregnant. Her husband hadn’t come with her, though, due to a work conflict. Pausing, she discreetly watched as Quinn’s smile faltered slightly; no doubt he was now finding out all his flirting was for nothing—married woman, baby on the way. He said something and smiled before walking away.

  “If you don’t watch where you’re walking, you’ll end up in the pool.”

  She looked up and found her brother frowning at her. “I was watching where I was going,” she said pleasantly even though she was annoyed Bobby had clearly caught her watching Quinn.

  “Seriously, Anna, move on. The guy is not worth it.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Bobby sighed loudly. “Okay, you’re far too intelligent to pretend you’re not. You were staring at Shaughnessy, and if I noticed it, I’m sure everyone else did too. You need to stop.”

  Anna felt tension and anger begin to rise in her but she managed to hold her tongue.

  “Look, I’m not saying this to be a jerk or anything. I’m saying it because I love you and I don’t like seeing you get hurt. Quinn’s not the kind of guy you want to get involved with, and trust me when I say he’s not the right guy for you.”

  “And you know this how?” she asked, hoping she sounded bored rather than defensive.

  “You’ve known him almost your entire life. Has he ever even hinted he’s interested in you?” He paused but didn’t let her answer. “He’s a serial dater, Anna. He goes out with a girl once or twice, sleeps with her, and then moves on. You wouldn’t be any different. You’d just be one of many. I don’t want to see that happen to you. You deserve better.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Look, let’s not go there tonight, okay? It’s Aidan and Zoe’s party and I don’t want to ruin it. Stop hovering and go socialize a little bit.”

  “Yeah, well…if any of Zoe’s friends were single, it would be a lot more fun to socialize. This is basically just a family event.” He sighed dramatically. “So my options were either come over here and play the big-brother card or go and kick Quinn’s ass.”

  “Bobby—”

  “I know, I know. Hugh already talked to me.”

  “About what?”

  “It’s nothing.” He grabbed Anna and pulled her into his embrace and gave her a loud, smacking kiss on her head. “Behave yourself and go find someone else to get all moon-eyed over.”

  “Yikes,” she chuckled. “Leave me alone.”

  “No can do. You’re my baby sister and this is my job.”

  “You’re killing me.”

  “Like I said…my job.”

  “You need to find something else to do, or I’ll tell Mom you’re bothering me.”

  He laughed a little harder. “Eventually you’ll have to stop using that as your go-to defense. You’re getting too old for it.”

  “And yet it works like a charm,” she teased and gave him a wink before walking away.

  Bobby was right—about all of it. She was getting too old to play the tattletale card, and she really did need to get over her stupid crush on Quinn. It wasn’t healthy and it wasn’t getting her anywhere. Looking around the yard, she saw everything she wanted: love, happiness, and a family. She envied what Aidan and Zoe had—more than she cared to admit. And if she kept on pining away for a man who was never going to be anything more than a friend to her, she was never going to have this for herself.

  “A girl can dream,” she said softly before walking over and joining her parents who were sitting with Ian and Martha.

  * * *

  “It’s been very entertaining watching you,” Riley Shaughnessy said with a cocky grin.

  Quinn glared at him over his beer. “And why is that?”

  “Well, it was impressive watching you strike out with all the bridesmaids. Really. I think it has to be some sort of Shaughnessy record. Epic, really.”

  “Shut up.”

  “I guess you missed the memo saying they were all married,” Riley said with a wicked grin.

  “Oh, and you knew this ahead of time?” Quinn snapped.

  Riley nodded. “Oh yeah. I got the low-down from Aidan weeks ago. I’m surprised you didn’t bother to inquire about it.”

  “Yeah, well…some of us genuinely have real work to do and don’t have time to think about asking in advance if there are any potential hookups.”

  Riley’s smile faltered a little. “So now I don’t work?”

  “Shit, Ry, don’t start this again.”

  “No, come on. Tell me how it is I don’t have a real job. Please,” he said sarcastically.

  Quinn sighed loudly. “I’m not doing this here, okay? I don’t know what your deal’s been for the last six months or so, but trust me when I say we all wish you’d get over it. No one’s doubting you or your job or your career, talent, or whatever.”

  “Your comment a minute ago says otherwise.”

  “Look, you come over here and start mocking me and I’m not supposed to mock back? Seriously? What the hell?”

  “Okay, fine. Let’s just drop it.” Riley looked around the yard and then gave a low wolf whistle. “Look at little Anna Hannigan. She’s grown up all kinds of nice, hasn’t she?” he said with a grin. “Hard to believe she’s the same tomboy who used to come around and play ball with you.”

  If Quinn had thought he was angry with his brother a minute ago, it was nothing compared to now.

  “I know I saw her at Dad’s birthday party, but I don’t remember her looking so…hot,” Riley said. “And when did she get so curvy?”

  It wasn’t until Riley went to step toward Anna that Quinn reached out and grabbed him. “Stay away from Anna,” he said, his tone so low it was a near growl.

  Riley arched a brow at him. “Is there a problem?”

  “Right now? Specifically? You.”

  Riley chuckled. “I don’t think so. I find it interesting how you’ve spent a large portion of the night hitting on married women—”

  “I didn’t know they were married!”

  “Whatever. But you spent a large portion of the night hitting on them when you’ve clearly got a thing for our little Anna.”

  Quinn released him immediately. “I d
on’t have a thing for her…or anyone. You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

  “Um, I think I do,” Riley teased. “Wow, I can’t believe I didn’t put it together sooner. Dad’s birthday party, tonight… It all makes sense now.”

  “Ry,” Quinn warned.

  “So what’s the problem? Why are you wasting your time hitting on married bridesmaids?”

  “I already told you, I didn’t know—”

  “No one cares,” Riley interrupted. “Why waste your time when you’ve got a thing for Anna? She’s had a crush on you since forever.”

  “What? What the hell are you talking about?”

  “Oh, dude, come on! How could you not know?”

  “Anna and I are friends. That’s it,” Quinn said defensively.

  Riley shook his head. “So delusional. Seriously, we all know it. She’s been crushing hard on you for years. How could you not have noticed? You can’t possibly be that oblivious.”

  Quinn didn’t know what to say. Hadn’t Anna accused him of the same thing a few hours ago where his father and his family were concerned? Was it possible he had missed out on the fact that Anna had feelings for him too?

  He shook his head. No. It was impossible. If Anna had feelings for him that were beyond friendship, he would have known. They spent too much time together and he knew everything about her; he knew what she was thinking even before she did. There was no way Anna saw him as anything more than a friend.

  Looking across the yard, he spotted her. She was wearing a nearly nude-colored dress that hugged her like a second skin. He couldn’t help but frown. For years, Anna had favored jeans and T-shirts. Ever since she left the pub and started working in real estate, she was changing. And he didn’t like it. Her clothes…her hair… Clearly he hadn’t been paying attention because the woman walking around the yard right now bore little resemblance to the girl he’d grown up with.

  In some ways she was the same, but he was beginning to feel like he was losing her—like she was slipping away. And he wouldn’t be able to tolerate that.

  Anna Hannigan was beginning to make him crazy in ways he’d never fully imagined, and if he didn’t get a grip on it soon, Quinn wasn’t sure what would happen.

  “From the look on your face, I can see this may be brand-new information to you,” Riley said from beside him, humor lacing his tone. He clapped a hand on Quinn’s shoulder. “Just remember this, big brother—she’s a beautiful woman and she’s only going to sit around and wait for your dumb ass for so long.”

  Quinn wanted to argue, but he didn’t know what to say. Up until today, he had never even imagined the possibility of him and Anna being anything more than friends. But after the whole bikini incident and now seeing her in that dress…well, he wasn’t so sure he’d be able to think of anything but.

  But the thought of losing her as his best friend? He wasn’t sure he could handle it.

  “Fine, stay there and think, Romeo,” Riley said with a smile. “I’m going to go over and get reacquainted with the lovely Anna.”

  It would have been easy to grab his brother by the scruff of his neck and haul him back, but what was the use? There was no way he was going to make a scene in the middle of the party. And knowing Riley, his bodyguard would be all over Quinn in the blink of an eye and that would really ruin the party.

  With nothing else to do, Quinn walked over and got himself another beer and sat in the corner.

  * * *

  Anna couldn’t sleep. The whole night had been a bit weird. Everything suddenly felt different, and for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why. Well, that wasn’t completely true—Quinn’s behavior was the real reason why. She just wasn’t sure what to do about it.

  Watching him flirt with Zoe’s friends bothered her. But then again, it always bothered her to watch him hit on anything in a skirt. It was almost comical when he realized none of them were single. It seemed like he didn’t know what to do with himself—other than glare at Anna.

  She was getting pretty tired of Quinn’s glare. Like it wasn’t bad enough he didn’t want her, was never going to see her as anything other than a friend…did he have to give her the kind of look that was pretty much killing her self-confidence too?

  It was late and everyone had already gone to bed, but Anna knew she would only make herself crazy if she tried to force herself to go to sleep. Kicking the blankets off, she stood and decided to go and get some fresh air. Deciding to forgo a change of clothes, she quietly padded out of her room in her oversized T-shirt, down the stairs, and out to the back patio and the pool.

  It was so peaceful and the sky was full of stars. There were a couple of small lights on around the pool to help her keep from tripping. At the water’s edge, Anna crouched down until she was sitting on the concrete and then lowered her feet into the water. The pool was heated and the water felt good and she let out a small hum of delight. With her palms flat on the ground and her feet slowly swaying in the water, Anna threw her head back and sighed, finally feeling the tension leaving her body.

  “It’s a little late for a swim, isn’t it?”

  Dammit. Refusing to move or open her eyes, Anna forced herself to stay put. “I don’t plan on swimming. I’m just dunking my feet.” Even without looking, she could feel Quinn lowering himself down beside her. The slight splash as his own feet hit the water confirmed it.

  “Fine. It’s a little late for dunking your feet, isn’t it?” he asked and then added, “Why aren’t you asleep? It’s late.”

  Anna shrugged, her head still thrown back, eyes closed. “Just couldn’t sleep.”

  Quinn made a noncommittal sound beside her.

  “What about you? What are you still doing up?”

  “The couch isn’t very comfortable,” he said, and Anna could tell without even looking that he was pouting.

  This time, she did open her eyes to look at him. “So that really happened, huh? I thought maybe you were still going to be sharing the room with your dad.”

  Now it was his turn to shrug. “Somehow, Zoe managed to move people around, and now Martha’s sharing a room with Darcy,” he muttered.

  “I didn’t think… I mean… I just thought…”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah, we all did. Shit.” He raked a hand through his hair. “It sort of took us all by surprise. I can’t believe he chose this weekend of all times to throw that bit of news at us.”

  “Maybe he thought it was safer this way.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked, brows furrowed.

  “You know, less chance of anyone arguing with him about it. No one’s going to pick a fight if Aidan and Zoe’s wedding is tomorrow.” She tilted her head back and sighed. “Although it might have been a whole lot less awkward if he and Martha had just stayed at Hugh’s resort or something.”

  “It would be awkward no matter what. I sure as hell don’t want to think about my father and Martha sleeping together. Even now it makes me want to stab pointy things into my brain.”

  Anna chuckled. “Don’t be such a baby.”

  “I’m not,” he snapped. “All I’m saying is maybe he could have waited for another time to drop his bombshell. You know, maybe have a little respect for the rest of us.”

  With a slight turn of her head, Anna gave him a stare. “Do you even hear yourself when you talk?”

  Quinn looked at her with utter confusion. “Of course I do. Why?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Quinn, your father is a grown man. He has the right to do what he wants—with whomever he wants. He’s been alone for a long time. Cut him some slack.”

  “Slack? Slack? What about me? Maybe if he had talked to me—or Aidan or Hugh or…anyone—things wouldn’t have been so weird earlier! We had to try and maneuver everyone around, and now I’m sleeping on the damn couch without a room of my own! Everyone else here has a bed to sleep i
n but me!”

  “But you… Wait. I’m confused. If your dad and Martha aren’t sharing a room, why are you sleeping on the couch?”

  “He pulled me aside earlier and wanted to talk to me about how I reacted when he and Martha arrived,” he said with a huff. “I’m pretty sure it would have ended with a birds-and-bees talk and I just couldn’t handle it. Plus, he snores.” He shook his head slowly. “And now I’m stuck in the living room, with no privacy, sleeping on a couch.”

  “I thought the couch pulled out into a sofa bed.”

  “Yeah, it does. And the mattress is about two inches thick and painful as hell to sleep on!”

  It was on the tip of her tongue to offer to switch places with him—it was the sort of thing she normally did—but she quickly opted not to. So she shrugged. “It’s only for the weekend. Maybe you should just sleep on the floor. You know, grab a sleeping bag and camp out sort of thing.”

  “What am I? Twelve?”

  “Sometimes.”

  “Ha-ha,” he deadpanned and then sighed loudly. “Seriously, Anna, the whole thing is just… I don’t know. It feels weird.”

  And right then and there, the old sympathy was back. Unable to help herself, she reached out and put a hand on his shoulder and gave a small, reassuring squeeze. “Of course it does. And you’re not wrong for the way you feel. It was always going to feel weird, Quinn. No matter when Ian started dating again, you and your siblings were always going to feel strange about it. It’s been a long time. You’ve only ever seen your father with your mom. But he’s finally getting out and socializing and having a life again. Don’t make him feel bad about it.”

  Quinn was silent for several minutes. “I know you’re right,” he said quietly. “I just don’t know how I’m supposed to act. I’m just… I feel…” He turned and looked at her. “Restless.”

  Boy oh boy, did she know that feeling well. It was exactly how she’d felt just thirty minutes earlier. A slight breeze blew and she shivered. Quinn moved closer and put his arm around her, and everything inside of Anna melted. If only he were hugging her as a lover rather than a friend. But that wasn’t going to change and she had to accept it. Maybe she even needed a reminder of it. So she did the one thing that would certainly do the trick.