Adrianna's Storm (6 page)

Coni stood in her greenhouse, well, that's what the girls thought it was. It was actually where she practiced her magick. What little she had left. When her last sister had died three years ago, the power they once had diminished. It was time to pass the torch to the girls. Time for their family to be at full power once again.

Coni had been the youngest of the Blessed Five or the
draíochta cúig
as they were known in Ireland. It had been passed down through their family for generations. Five sisters, blessed with the elements from Mother Earth and Sun God. It usually skipped a generation and when Coni's daughter had given birth to the five daughters, the whole family had known what that meant.

Coni had wanted her daughter to teach the girls about their heritage, but Helen, their mother, had refused. She told Coni she wanted her girls to have a 'normal' life and not deal in witchcraft. Coni knew that regardless of whether the girls knew or not, the day would come when they would receive the blessing.

That day was fast approaching. It was written that when the youngest turned twenty-one, at midnight on her birthday, they would be blessed by the god and goddess. Coni also worried about an unseen force that was looking to harm the girls. She knew she was getting older and she had to teach them all she knew in a short time. When she lost her daughter and son-in-law in the crash and the girls had come to live with her, their grief was so palpable she had put all that on hold.

She had slyly taught a few incantations to them through lullabies and stories at bedtime, when their mother was around. When the girls had come and spent the summer with her, she had taught them so much more. Then her daughter had found out when one of the girls had done a spell and made her barbies dance at home. Coni had been forbidden to show them more. Then when the girls had lost their parents, she had continued their teachings.

When the older girls had begun to try to use their powers to get revenge on some bullies, Coni knew the time had come to place a spell on them to wipe the memories of witchcraft from their minds until they reached adulthood. Now was the time to reverse that spell. She hoped they were up for it. She was overjoyed with the fact that the god and goddess had somehow arranged for the girls to spend more time in the glen so she could begin their teachings. She closed her eyes and prayed to them now that Sheela would stay as well.

All the girls needed to be together for what was to come. In receiving their powers, they would need to physically join hands, but then they would need to be there to support each other. She felt she would have the hardest time convincing Adrianna of this as she was the self-appointed caretaker to the girls and very protective.

She hoped the Guardians would arrive soon. She had sent for them a month ago and knew the Council was sending them. They would be needed sooner than she thought, if her visions were anything to go by. She closed her eyes and raised her hands to the goddess. She prayed for the god and goddess to protect her girls, especially Ari, as she would have the first challenge.

Coni then began to make up some potions she hoped would help when the time came. She always believed in being prepared. Then she went back to the pool house to check on the girls and to prepare the guest rooms. They would be arriving soon.

Ari left that afternoon with a list of the liquor, well, drinks the girls all wanted. Also knowing what Sheela wanted, she had everything in hand to pick up the necessities. Climbing into her rental car, she drove down the lane. She thought about the upcoming party and keeping an open mind about meeting a guy. Her sisters had made her promise and she had, reluctantly.

She pulled up to the liquor store and went inside. She grabbed bottle after bottle—feeling like an alcoholic—as she piled them in her cart. She was the only one in the store and the clerk seemed to be watching her. When she was finished, she headed to the checkout and asked the clerk for a box. Then when the clerk saw one box wouldn't do, he got her a second one and smiled at her, leering at her chest.

She paid for her purchase and told the clerk she would be back for the other box when a strong pair of arms grabbed up the box. She turned and was stunned for the second time in a couple of days by the sheer beauty of the man standing there with her box. He too was over six foot and from what she could see, he had muscles everywhere.

He cleared his throat. "I can help you with this?" he asked with a deep voice and a smirk.

She realized she had been caught checking him out and blushed. "Thank you. I'm parked just outside." It took her a few seconds to see she was still standing there staring at him. She shrugged and turned to walk out, knowing he was following her.

He looked so much like the man at the airport. What was his name? Oh yeah, Reilly. This man had dark hair, as well, except it was cut short, military style. His eyes were a deep brown that could look straight through to the soul. She walked to her car and had her keys in her hand. She pushed the button that would pop the trunk and placed her box inside. He came up behind her and she had to step aside as he set his box inside the trunk as well. Then she watched as his strong hands shut the trunk. She turned to him and stuck out her hand.

"Thank you again for your help." She seemed to be saying that a lot lately, thank God it was to hunky-as-hell men.

He took her hand in his and she again felt a tingle. "My pleasure. You seem to either have an issue that you need help with or are going to have a party."

She laughed and he smiled at the sound. "I am having a party, actually my family is."

He nodded his understanding. "We have been invited to Calli's birthday, you must be one of the sisters."

Ari frowned. "How do you know my sister?" She hoped her jealousy wasn't showing. She didn't know why it offended her that her sister might already know this man.

"We don't know her actually, we know your grandmother, Coni. She is an old friend of our family," he answered.

She sighed silently in relief and then realized what he said. "We?"

"We meet again,
mo áilleacht
,
my beauty
,
" the deep voice from the airport washed over her.

She turned with her back to the trunk and looked between the two men. "How are you here, Reilly? Are you following me?"

Reilly looked hurt. "No, luv, it's pure luck I have found you again, or rather my brother found ya." He indicated the man who had helped her with the box.

She was shocked and pointed to the man. "
This
is your
brother
?"

The man bowed his head to her and said, "Lachlan Parsons at your service. I take it you have met Reilly?"

She kept darting her head between the two like she was watching a tennis match. She couldn't believe it. She had promised her sisters and Julie to keep an open mind to meet one man and she meets two?
Who did that?
What the hell was wrong with her
?

She came out of her thoughts to hear Lachlan telling Reilly that she was there to get the spirits for the party. Reilly nodded and asked if she was done. At her nod, he then turned to face the town.

"What about coming with us for some lunch then?" he invited with Lachlan taking her elbow.

"Um, okay," she said—throwing caution to the wind—and let them lead her to the little restaurant.

They entered O'Leary's, the little restaurant and Mrs. O'Leary saw Ari and exclaimed, "Child! You've come home then, wonderful! We have missed you so." She ran up and hugged Ari to her ample bosom.

"I missed you all, too. How is everyone?" The O'Leary's were a large clan; they had eight children.

"Oh, everyone is fine, just fine, thank you. You are home, of course, for Calli's celebration." It was then she noticed the two men behind Ari. "Ooh, and you brought a couple of special someone's with you this time? How nice!"

Ari glanced back at the two men who were grinning like idiots and shook her head. "Oh, no. We just met and they invited me to lunch." She saw the men frown down at her. So she did what any girl would do and stuck out her tongue. Then she turned back to Mrs. O'Leary as she called for them to follow her to her "special" booth.

As they approached the half circle booth, both men indicated she should sit first and then each slid in a side to bookend her. She felt both their muscular thighs rub against hers and her panties grew damp. They each rested an arm behind her as they ordered drinks from Mrs. O'Leary.

When Mrs. O'Leary walked away, Ari saw her run for the phone up front. Well, that did it, the whole town would know soon.
Great.
Just what she needed
. She couldn't wait to see her sisters and hear all their comments on the subject. She glanced on either side of her and noticed both men watched her. She felt self-conscious of her appearance and she hoped her hair was in place.

She cleared her throat and turned to Lachlan. "So, you are here to attend my sister's party then?" There were many people invited and she knew some of them came from far away.

"Yes, we did," he answered. "We decided a little vacation was in order so we came down a little early."

Reilly leaned forward. "We volunteer to help out in any way we can. All you have to do is point us in the right direction."

Ari smiled at him. "That is so nice of you both. I will let Mamo know. Where are you staying?"

The men exchanged a look and it was Lachlan who answered, "Close by. Your grandmother has our numbers, just let her know we are here."

Ari nodded. They ordered lunch and talked about Ari's life, her job, and New York. The men told her they did consulting work all over. They owned their own security company and were based out of Wicklow on the coast right now. They were thinking about changing locations of their base, explaining to her that it could be anywhere they were.

Ari was fascinated by their work. These men had told her about being in the military, they had glossed over it, but she knew they had done their job well. She also knew the jobs they had in the military were serious, but she refrained from asking more about it. These men were smart and obviously were secure in their work and lives. She looked between the two of them and thought,
whom
would she choose
? Then thought laughingly to herself,
shame I can't have them both.

When they had finished lunch, she thanked Mrs. O'Leary and the men walked her to her car. There was a large SUV parked just down from it with rental plates on it, she suspected it was theirs. She took out her keys and turned to them both.

"Thank you for a lovely lunch. I had a good time."

Reilly stepped forward and said, "I had a great time as well, luv. Maybe we will see each other soon." Then he reached out, curled his hand around the back of her head, and pulled her forward for a kiss. He lightly pressed his lips to hers and slowly ran his tongue on the seam. He kissed her gently and softly, then pulled back and winked at her.

Reilly turned her around and there was Lachlan. "It was fun, sweet. See you soon." She was still stunned from Reilly's kiss when he placed both his hands on either side of her face and drew her in for a kiss. Unlike Reilly, Lachlan plundered her mouth, kissing her senseless and with intensity. Then he released her and helped her into her car.

As she drove off, she glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the two men watching her drive away. She wished she could go back and do all the sensual things that were going through her mind at that moment. Both men had kissed her. She couldn't believe it. There were multiple partner relationships in the glen, it was accepted there. They went as far back as the first arrivals. She had just never thought she might have that situation put in front of her. What was she going to do now?

Ari arrived back at the castle and Erin came out to greet her. "Well, well, it seems we took a long time to pick out a few bottles of whiskey," Erin said with a laugh.

Ari groaned. "You know already? Damn, I thought I could make it back before it got here. That woman, I swear, some things never change."

"Yeah, yeah, so get ready, cause we are all waiting in the kitchen for the deets," Erin warned as she grabbed the first box out of the trunk.

Ari rolled her eyes and got the second box out then walked inside. Sure enough, everyone was there, including her grandmother.
Let the inquisition begin
, she thought as she set the box down on the counter. She looked at them all sitting at the little table in the breakfast nook and her grandmother raised a brow.

She huffed out a breath. "Fine. I had lunch with two men. Brothers. Reilly and Lachlan Parsons. They were nice."

Her sisters started cheering and whooping while clapping their hands. "I see," her grandmother said.

They waited for her to say more and when she didn't, Calli spoke up. "And? Are they hot?"

Kira piped up with, "Are you going to see them again?"

"How did you meet them?" Erin asked.

Ari felt the beginning of a headache coming on. She opened her mouth to answer them and the doorbell rang. She smiled. "Saved by the bell."

She danced to the main entry, happy to have dodged that bullet for the time being and flung open the doors. There on the doorstep were the Parsons brothers. Her mouth hung open in shock.
What the hell were they doing here
?

Reilly stepped up to her and smiled. "We told you we would see you again soon, luv."

Lachlan reached out and put a finger under her chin. "Best to close this, don't want to catch flies."

"H-how? W-what?" Ari stuttered.

"Ah, there you are, boys. Welcome," her grandmother said from behind her.

She turned to her and said, "You knew they were coming here?"

"Of course,
A leanbh
,
I invited them here. They are staying with us," her grandmother said calmly as her sisters joined them in the foyer.

All she could do is look at her grandmother in shock. Then she spotted her sisters and rolled her eyes. They all introduced themselves and shook hands after their grandmother invited the men in. Then her grandmother told the boys to follow as she showed them to their rooms. Her sisters watched the men go up the stairs after their grandmother and then all three turned to her. She knew the time had come to answer their questions.
Damn
.