My Kind of Christmas

king of badasses until his Black Hawk crash and Jilly.
    “Lighten up, kid,” he said. “No one accused you of anything.”
    “Really? Really? Because it sounded like you were pretty goddamn judgmental in there....”
    “Nah, we were pretty Riordan,” Colin said. “Take it easy, Paddy.”
    “I’m telling you, she’s a good person! She’s smart enough and mature enough to make a decision and I wouldn’t—”
    “Hey, slow down, Paddy. Riordans have a lot of rough edges, missed a lot of training growing up, but there was never a Riordan man who didn’t take special care where women were concerned.” Then he grinned. “Even, you know, the kind of naughty ones…”
    “She’s not naughty!” he nearly shouted.
    Colin put up his hands. “Hey, I wasn’t talking about the little Sheridan niece, pal. My thoughts drifted more toward Luke’s taste for pole dancers.”
    “He always said it was you who favored—”
    “We treat women right,” Colin said, cutting off his younger brother. “We Riordans don’t have a lot of sterling qualities, but we’re good to women. And our friends. And, in tough times, to our brothers. Ready to settle down now?”
    “She’s good people, Colin,” Patrick said. “I don’t want either of you saying one negative thing about Angie.”
    “Patrick, man, no one would. But you have to tell her she’s been outted. You wouldn’t want word to get around to Jack and have her broadsided.”
    “I’ll take care of her.”
    “Of course you will. You probably don’t have to be told this, but she’s a little…tender.”
    And with that, Patrick dropped his chin, looking down. He couldn’t help feeling the weight of that. God knew he didn’t want that to be the case—he wanted her to be as tough as she talked. That way he could leave her when he had to without feeling like a piece of shit.
    “It’s okay, buddy,” Colin said. “You can’t always help who gets your attention. At least she’s over twenty-one.”
    “Then why the reaction?” Patrick demanded.
    “Because, kid—you have complications right now. ‘Commitments,’ as you call them. Just let me know if you need someone at your back.”
    Patrick was quiet for a minute. “Thanks.”
    “Want dinner here tonight? I’m cooking for my little farmer.”
    “Sorry, I can’t.”
    Colin studied him for a long moment. “Of course you can’t,” he finally said.
    * * *
    The Riordan men weren’t known for sensitivity, though they did stick together. In fact, they could be rolling in the dust fighting one minute and the next backing one another up. Patrick, being the youngest, had never had great conflict with any of them. It was Luke and Colin who fought the most. Then it was Luke and Sean. Then it was Sean and Colin. There were times it was Luke or Colin and Aiden. But no one could stay mad at Paddy.
    He’d had about enough of being called kid, however.
    So, the old boys—Luke and Colin—had mellowed out beyond anything Paddy had expected. He was convinced it was their women. Two of the scrappiest Riordans got two of the best women—Shelby and Jilly. Nothing wrong with Sean’s Franci or Aiden’s Erin, either, but the latter two women hadn’t had nearly as much challenge in taming their men.
    Colin was right in what he said to Patrick—Angie was tender, even though she tried to appear worldly and brave. He should probably break things off before he added to her struggle with her family, with her uncle. They were going to part ways eventually, anyway. Probably better if it happened sooner than later. But he couldn’t even think about it. Patrick hadn’t had the kind of experience he’d shared with Angie with another woman in so long he couldn’t… Oh, hell, he was pretty sure he’d never had that kind of experience with a woman, and he was not without experience.
    Once home, he got his stir-fry ready—chopped and marinated so that all that was left was to throw it in the pan. Then he settled in to call Marie.
    “Hullo?” she said thickly.
    Oh, please, he prayed. Let it be a cold.
    “How are you today, Marie?”
    She sniffed and snuffled. “Oh, Paddy,” she said, crying. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I let myself have a bad day—I think I lost my mind a little bit.”
    “What happened, honey?”
    “It was so crazy. My mom was watching Daniel so I could do a little Christmas shopping at the mall. It was crowded, it was festive, lots of lights and music and…I was feeling so