The Devaney Brothers: Michael and Patrick. Sherryl Woods

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