Who was he kidding? Ever since last night he had been floating amid the clouds due to his date with Delilah. Everything had worked out seamlessly. He had enlisted Nick for the food and the waiter. His brother had helped him out immensely, and because of it, Mac had confided in him the identity of his special date. Nick had been surprised and happy for him. He’d promised not to spill the beans to their brothers. Mac just wanted to enjoy the relationship for a while before it became a buzzed about topic in his family. There was no telling where things were going between him and Delilah.
What if everyone made a big fuss about it and things took a bad turn? Or what if Delilah only wanted to go out with him a few times? He had been in relationships before where the women had turned out not to be who he thought they were. Anything could happen, good or bad. Relationships were unpredictable by their very nature.
Mac parked his truck outside Sully’s Tavern and rushed inside. He immediately spotted his brothers sitting at their usual table and made a bee-line for them. There was one seat open for him at the end of the table. An empty plate and a tankard sat there waiting for him. He sat down in the last open chair with Ryder and Remy on either side of him.
“Hey!” Brandon said. “We were wondering what was taking you so long to get here.”
“Last brother here pays the tab,” Ryder teased.
All the brothers chuckled. The tab was always split evenly between the brothers although they always joked one another about the bill.
“I was making a delivery of some chairs. It’s amazing how my orders are really starting to take off,” Mac said, pride oozing from his voice. “If this momentum lasts I might really make a living at this.”
Ryder put his arm around him. “We’re proud of you, bro. You’re incredibly talented. Woodworks is really causing quite a buzz here in town.”
Blue held up his tankard of beer. “Here’s to Mac. May all of his dreams come true with Woodworks.” All of the brothers leaned in and clinked glasses.
Mac leaned forward and placed his hands on the table. “So, guys. Parker managed to track down Mrs. Worther. She’s in New Hampshire and I’m driving up tomorrow to see her. I’m hoping she can remember something more about Callie.”
“Wow,” Nick said. “I’d love to take the ride with you. My memories of Mrs. Worther are such good ones.”
“Hey. Me too,” Wyatt said. “She was our guardian angel.”
“Count me in,” Brandon said. “Without her where would we all be?”
“I think we all want to come,” Remy said. “The gallery is closed tomorrow so I don’t have anything on my plate if we drive up and stay the night.”
“So…are we all in?” Blue asked, looking around the table.
Each Donahue brother nodded their heads. Mac grinned. He’d thought a few of his brothers might join him, but he’d had no idea that they would be a caravan of seven making the trip to Hanover, New Hampshire. It was awesome, he realized. All seven of them reuniting with the woman who had steered them toward Maggie and Alec Donahue.
“How was your date?” Nick asked just as Mac began pouring himself some frothy ale.
Mac sent Nick a pointed look that urged him to keep his mouth shut.
“Date? What date?” Blue asked, whipping his head between Nick and Mac.
Blue and Ryder looked at each other, their faces lit up with curiosity. Five pairs of eyes swung in Mac’s direction. Nick hung his head in a guilty fashion.
“Hmm. Holding out on us, are you?” Remy asked, his eyebrows raised.
“Thanks, Nick,” Mac muttered. “What part of keep it to yourself don’t you understand?”
Nick shrugged and mumbled an apology. “I forgot.”
“Hey! No secrets in the Donahue family,” Brandon said.
Wyatt leaned forward in his chair and propped his elbows on the table. “Fess up, Mac, or we’ll never stop pestering you about it.”
“Can I at least get something to eat first? It’s better to discuss this on a full stomach,” Mac suggested. He hadn’t eaten since this morning and his stomach was rumbling like a storm on the horizon. A chorus of groans rose up at the table.
“I took out Delilah,” Mac grumbled. “Are you satisfied?
“Delilah who?” Blue asked, his hazel eyes wide.
Ryder jabbed him in the side. “How many women named Delilah do you know?”
“Oh. I see,” Blue drawled. “The same Delilah you swore you would never go out with, huh?”
“Give him a break,” Remy said. “He’s allowed to change his mind.”
Blue rolled his eyes. “You could have at least told me. Sarah would have done cartwheels on our front lawn if she heard that news.”