Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Careful not to drop the box tucked under my arm, I lean over and press the doorbell for Savannah’s house then immediately type in my access code to enter her front door.
Liam has our security systems all set up so that each of us has a specific code that we can use to access each other’s properties.
Of course, we can turn those codes off for our own places, but I don’t know if any of us ever have.
But the doorbell is more of a notification, not something I ring and then wait for her to come to the door.
When she and her ex-husband first got married, I always—and I mean always—waited until they came to the door.
You do not make that mistake twice with newlyweds.
But over the years, it went from occasionally being Shane answering the door, to rarely, to never.
About six months before Shane ended up leaving my sister and filing for divorce, Savannah was crying when she answered the door.
She told me I didn’t need to wait for her to answer because it was always going to be just her, so I should just ring and then enter.
I really hate seeing my sisters cry, and I really wanted to ream Shane for being so absent, but Savannah made me promise not to intervene.
How does one intervene with a ghost, anyway?
Vivian’s first husband was the same way and never really connected with our family, nor made it a priority.
Their marriage ended when he was murdered, but he had failed his marriage vows long before his death, and that discovery was just as hard as dealing with his actual death.
I stopped trying to have a relationship with Shane a long time ago.
He seemed to have a chip on his shoulder about how close we all are as siblings, and instead of trying to make his own space in our circle, he just walked away—long before he quite literally walked away from my sister and their marriage.
They are officially divorced, and he is catastrophically failing his duties as a father when it comes to their three daughters, but my brothers and I will do everything in our power to make sure they have strong male role models as positive influences in their lives.
Instead of just the gaping hole that Shane left behind.
Although that decision might have ended up being the best thing he ever did for Savannah, outside of having their three girls together. Savannah is now in a loving and genuine relationship … and I may need to go back to waiting for them to come to the door, at least once they move in together.
I really like Theo, but she’s still my sister.
“Savy, it’s Ryan. Where you at, girl?” I call out in their foyer but don’t see anyone around. I hear voices coming from the back of the house and make my way there, until I turn the corner and run into something—or should I say someone.
“Omph! I’m so sorry!” A soft voice comes from much lower than the boxed humidifier I am carrying in my arms. At six-three, I’m not the tallest Callahan brother, but I’m not a short guy.
“No, no, I’m sorry, I—” I lower the box and pause.
It’s her.
The striking brunette from the wedding that my eyes kept following, regardless of how many times I tried to ignore that she was clearly there with a date, until he spun her around the dance floor and she disappeared like Cinderella at the ball.
“Hi.” That’s the best line I’ve got right now? Come on, man.
“Hi. I don’t think we’ve officially met, but I guess this qualifies.
” She extends her hand as she continues, “I’m Harlow.
I work with Walker, and as of last week, am also a proud member of your sisters’ book club.
” She grins and it lights up her entire face.
Harlow is maybe five-foot-four or five, with dark brown-almost-black hair, pulled back in a high ponytail.
She’s wearing jeans and a light blue short-sleeved top, and some sort of wedged slip-on shoe that may be giving her some additional height.
Regardless of her footwear, she barely clears my shoulders.
A curvy beautiful stunner, with rich dark brown eyes and plump full lips.
And I’m still just standing here holding the box like a bump on a log.
What she said registers with me and my brain comes back online—fucking finally—but not before I give my head a soft shake to pull myself together.
“Hi. Oh, I said that already. I’m Ryan, one of Sav and Viv’s brothers.
” I balance the humidifier against my hip with one hand while I shake her hand with my free one.
The moment her skin touches mine, the oddest sensation scatters up my arm from the point of contact.
I’ve never experienced something like that before.
Harlow’s eyes go wide ever so briefly before she pulls her hand back.
“Nice to officially meet you, Ryan. Do you need a hand?” This tiny thing thinks she’s going to give me a hand.
Damn, she’s cute.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m good. I just have to watch where I’m going.” I nod to the box in my hands. “My niece Olivia is having some issues with her allergies, and Sav wondered if we had any humidifiers at the pharmacy.”
“Are you a pharmacist?” She scrunches her eyebrows in confusion as she leads me back toward the kitchen.
“No, but I do work at the hospital. I’m the Chief Financial Officer at Forrest Falls Hospital.”
“Oh, right. Viv mentioned that. But Savannah didn’t mention anything about Olivia not feeling well. She should have told me.” Harlow scans the outdoor patio where it looks like the rest of their book club is gathered.
“Why, are you a doctor?”
“Actually, I am.” She grins again, and I should just put my foot right into my mouth at this point.
Smooth one, Callahan. Real smooth.
“Technically, I am a Senior Clinical Forensic Psychiatrist and Behavioral Analyst, but to get to that point, I needed my MD first.” She locates Savannah and tilts her head toward the door. “I’m going to touch base with your sister and see if she needs me to look at Olivia.”
“I’m sure she’s okay. Sav said that her seasonal allergies have been acting up since we got back from Texas and thought it might help to put a new humidifier in her room. I don’t think she’s actually sick.”
Harlow hums and gives me a small nod but still steps out to the patio. I set the humidifier box on the counter as Savannah comes back in with Harlow.
“Hey, Ryan! Sorry, I didn’t hear the doorbell, but oh, good, they had one in stock! You’re the best. We have one somewhere, but I couldn’t find it, and it’s probably nasty from being in storage. Or I’m losing my damn mind, anything is possible!”
Harlow reaches over and touches Savannah’s arm, gently squeezing it before letting it go. “You are not losing your mind. Everyone misplaces things every once in a while, it’s perfectly normal.”
Alarm bells ring. “Are things still getting misplaced?” I ask both of them.
Savannah waves her hand away, dismissing my concern.
“It’s nothing, Ryan. I’ve just been a bit forgetful lately and not always able to find things around the house.
It’s probably just residual stuff from when Shane officially moved out.
We only need humidifiers when someone is sick, so odds are Shane had put it somewhere or maybe even took it with him.
Who knows.” She’s downplaying this, but I won’t embarrass her by pushing, not in front of her friend.
Theo mentioned this months ago—I thought that was resolved when the security system went through some update, and everything has been clean since.
But I will be following up with her and Vivian, who is thick as thieves with Savannah and will tell me the truth if something is going on or if it really isn’t a big deal.
The Callahan siblings are mighty in number and connection—but that’s not accidental.
All of us are intentional with our relationships, and that includes keeping each other up to speed about our other siblings.
It’s not like gossiping, although it can feel like that at times, it’s more like assessing the situation.
To some, it may be odd how close we all are, but it’s how Mama raised us, and I think it’s wonderful.
Unless the girls get involved in our dating lives, then it’s less fantastic, but if a woman can’t hang with my sisters, then I don’t really want to waste my time investing in a relationship that doesn’t have a future when having my siblings in my life is a non-negotiable for me.
Our dad likes to tell the story of how we looked like a little army when we would play in the yard, but Mama would correct him that we were our own little cavalry—and just like that, The Callahan Cavalry had a nickname that would still be following us decades later.
We have each other’s backs no matter what, and sometimes, the biggest barrier turns out to just be our own egos or being willing to ask when we need help from our siblings. But when we do ask, we show up for one another, without question and without hesitation.
“Is Olivia home tonight or is she with her father?” Harlow asks Savannah, who grimaces at the question.
“She’s supposed to be with her father, actually, but he cancelled—again.
” She rolls her eyes and shakes her head in disgust. I’m right there with her, though.
Shane hasn’t made those girls a priority, and that is so far from okay.
I make a mental note to talk to my brothers about picking up the slack.
Savannah’s daughters shouldn’t suffer because their dad is a selfish moron.
“She’s downstairs in the theater room with her sisters.” Savannah points to the door that leads to their basement.
“I’m just going to pop down and make sure it’s just allergies, just to be safe.” Harlow’s statement could be interpreted as a question by her tone, and she doesn’t move from the kitchen until Savannah responds.
“That would be great, actually, and I do think it’s just allergies, but better safe than sorry. I’ll walk down with you,” Savannah offers.
“I can show her the way, if you’re hosting.” I tilt my head to her patio where a group of women are seated around her outdoor dining table.
“I can find her, I’m sure,” Harlow insists.
“I don’t doubt that, but I would like to say hello to my nieces.” And apologize for their dipshit douche canoe for a father dropping the ball again.
“Oh, okay, that works,” Harlow squeaks, and I immediately smile at the noise.
She’s not only beautiful, she’s also charming in a completely unintentional way.
As I follow her down the stairs, I have to bite my lip to hold back the groan at the view of this fascinating creature in front of me.
Who is this woman? And is she still with the guy that was her date to Viv’s wedding?
And if she is … how serious are they—or do I still have a shot?