Bottom Line: Callaghan Brothers, Book 8 by Abbie Zanders

number of women who would have been thrilled to be on his arm, but taking one to such a high-profile event might send the wrong message.  It was far easier to negotiate a business deal and keep the misunderstandings to a minimum.
    Which is what had him going to Tommy’s in the first place.
    “Okay, Aidan.  Spill it.  Everything.  I want details .” 
    Aidan was reminded of a much younger version of Lexi, the eighteen-year old girl who’d just been told by Aidan’s father that he would be personally taking her under his broad wing and sponsoring her culinary education.  Her cheeks were pink with excitement, her eyes bright. 
    “There’s not much to tell.  I met someone.  She’s nice.  I’m seeing her again on Saturday.”
    Lexi smacked him.  “I want details , Aidan, not vague generalizations like ‘she’s nice’.  Geez!  What’s her name? How’d you meet?”
    “Her name is Mary.  And I met her at Tommy’s Place.”
    Some of Lexi’s excitement faded as she imagined the type of woman that typically came on to men in bars.
    “It’s not what you think,” Aidan said quickly, his eyes twinkling as he sensed Lexi’s thoughts.  He knew how her mind worked, sometimes better than she did.  “She wasn’t drunk.  I was.  And she shut me down when I hit on her.”
    “But... you’re going on a date with her?” Lexi asked, confused.
    Nodding, Aidan explained how Mary had taken his keys in the parking lot and drove him back to her place.
    “I like her already,” Lexi murmured, but then her features hardened.  “But what the hell were you thinking, Aidan?  Don’t you know I’d be lost if anything ever happened to you?”
    He shrugged.  “You’ve got Ian now, and Patrick, and Katie - ”
    Lexi’s amber eyes glowed with fire.  “Aidan Harrison, you did not just insinuate that I no longer need you.  Because you know that is just not true.”
    “It is true, Lex,” he sighed.  Yeah, he knew she cared for him, and they had a history.  But things were different now.  She had a family, and responsibilities that no longer included him.  Maybe it was selfish of him, but he missed the fact he was no longer the one looking out for her.  Aidan needed that.  It was in his nature to dominate, to care for, to protect.  It was part of who he was, ingrained into every last fiber of his being.
    “And I’m happy for you,” he continued when she opened her mouth to refute him.  “I really am.  This is the way things were meant to be, and not even I am arrogant enough to second-guess Fate.”
    Lexi sat back, biting her bottom lip.  For years, he and Lexi were inseparable.  His father had paired them together, and Aidan had assumed the role of friend, caretaker, protector, and business partner.  While they remained close and still worked together, many of those other roles had been reassigned to her husband and in-laws. 
    “I love you, Aidan.  I always will.”
    He smiled at her and laced his fingers through hers.  “I know that, Lex.  And I love you.  My blood’s your blood, yeah?”
    It was a running joke between them.  Prior to Michael Callaghan’s revolutionary treatment, Lexi’s rare blood disease had required many transfusions over the years, and Aidan had been the primary donor in all of them.
    “Yeah,” she agreed, blowing out a breath.  “Now quit trying to distract me and get back to your woman.  Come on.  Dish.”
    ”She’s not my woman,” he corrected, but something deep inside him protested as he said the words.  His rational mind, the one that put his net worth in the nine-figure mark, said it wasn’t possible to make those kinds of assumptions on such limited data. 
    “But she is something.  She lives in Birch Falls, has a big yellow Lab named Max that thinks he’s human, and works in a flower shop.  Conlan O’Leary thinks very highly of her, too,” he added, almost as an afterthought.
    “He does, huh?” Lexi mused.  “Well, far be it from me