“Yep, he and Dee adopted me when I was four years old. My dad was Seamus’s brother, but both my parents and my two older brothers died in a house fire. Growing up with all my cousins, they pretty much became like brothers to me. Kieran and I have always been very close. He and Rory are classic older-brother types, always trying to shelter me from anything and everything.”
“I’ve met Rory—he comes into the flower shop a lot. I met Kane there once, too. Is Kane not the protective older-brother type as well?”
“Not like Rory and Kieran. Those two protect me from imaginary danger, and from anything fun.” Casey sipped her wine with a distant smile, as if she was remembering something from long ago. “Kane treats me more like an adult, thankfully. He and Kieran may be twins, but they couldn’t possibly be more different.”
“They do seem really different,” Fiona mused, basing her observations on the little time she’d spent around them. “Kieran seems more serious.”
“Oh, he is. At least now he is—a few years ago, not so much.” Casey settled down in a chair at the breakfast bar. Fiona leaned against the counter, facing her and sipping a bit more wine.
“Well, I’m glad he is now. I can’t date anyone who isn’t an on-the-straight-and-narrow adult, not when I’ve got a child to care for,” Fiona said, hoping Kieran fit that description.
“So you are dating?” Casey raised her brows.
“Oh, um…” Fiona felt stinging crimson creeping up her cheeks. “To be honest, I have no idea what we are.”
“Well, Kieran obviously wants to be dating, but what do you want?” Casey asked after a pause.
Fiona smiled and shook her head. “I want to be happy. That’s all.”
—
“K, come spar with me,” Rory called as Kieran walked past the cage he was standing in. Kane was stepping out of the cage at the same moment, his face covered in sweat. As always, Ace sat at the entrance, waiting.
“Thought you were busy training mini-me,” Kieran gave Kane a gentle jab in his upper arm as he walked past.
Kane shot him an irritated glare as he grabbed his water bottle off the ground where he’d left it. “Shut up and get your ass in the cage. I could use the break.”
“And I could use a little change of scenery,” Rory said ironically, since switching between the twins wouldn’t make much of a difference at all. “Let’s go.”
“It’s the weekend, bro,” Kieran said to Rory, a hint of a smile edging the corner of his lips as Rory rolled his eyes. “You’re not my boss right now, better say please.”
“Well, if you’re scared of getting your ass handed to you, then never mind.”
“Oh, yeah?” Kieran started wrapping his hands and wrists. “All right, I’ll go, but only so I can teach you who’s the best.”
“You can try.” Rory chuckled as Kieran entered the practice octagon.
Kieran put his hands up, fisting them slowly as he moved around Rory. Rory echoed his movements, looking eager despite his sweaty appearance.
“Regular bout, but no hits to the face. One round. Good?” Rory asked.
Kieran nodded, squaring his shoulders and making a quick move in, delivering a jab to Rory’s abdomen moments later.
“You’re as fast as always, K.” Rory grunted before rushing him. They locked in a clinch, and Kieran pummeled Rory’s stomach in an attempt to break free.
Rory pushed backward, landing an uppercut right below Kieran’s chin, and Kieran exhaled in one loud oomph. He rubbed his jaw as he sidestepped around the ring, circling Rory. A wicked smile on Rory’s face followed as the duo continued to grapple, delivering blows, hooks, and sweeps until Kieran found himself sprawled on his back with Rory’s knee almost crushing his throat.
“Tap out, K,” Rory advised. Smacking the mat underneath him, Kieran admitted defeat and Rory stood up, leaving his brother coughing on the ground. Rubbing his chest and throat with his hand, Kieran sat up.
“Fuck, Rory. Haven’t lost your touch, I see.” Kieran administered a rare compliment.
“I could say the same thing to you.” Rory sipped from a bottle of water. “Have you thought about getting back into the game?”
“That window’s closed, don’t you think?” Kieran rubbed his throat again, knowing he would probably have some bruising tomorrow.
“Because of prison? There are tons of fighters who’ve been picked up a few times, some who’ve even done long stretches. You were on your way to being one of the best before. Well, that’s not entirely true. I was always better than you.” Rory was being lighthearted for once.