Maureen Child - Desiring the Reilly Brothers (Spotlight)

T en thousand bucks is a lot of money, Brian Reilly said and, grabbing his beer, leaned back against the scarred, red Naugahyde bench seat.

Dont make plans, his brother Aidan added quickly as he snatched a tortilla chip from the wooden bowl set in the middle of the table. You dont get it all, remember.

Yeah, Connor added. You have us to share it with.

And me, Liam said with a smile, to guide you.

Dont I know it. Brian grinned at his brothers. Liam, the oldest by three years, looked completely at home, sitting in the dimly lit barroom. Not so unusual, unless you took into account the fact that Liam was a priest. But first and foremost, he was a Reilly. And the Reilly brothers were a unit. Now and always.

As the word unit shot through his brain, Brian turned his gaze on the other two men at the table with him. It was like looking into a mirrortwice. The Reilly triplets. Aidan, Brian and Connor. Named alphabetically in order of their appearances, the three of them had been standing together since the moment they took their first steps.

Theyd even joined the Marine Corps together, doing their time in boot camp in stoic solidarity. Theyd always been there for each otherto give moral support or a kick in the asswhichever was required at the time.

Now, they were meeting to celebrate a windfall.

Their great-uncle Patrick, himself the last surviving brother of a set of triplets, had died, and having no other relations, hed left ten thousand dollars to the Reilly triplets. Now all they had to do was figure out how to split the money.

I say we split it four ways, Connor said, shooting Liam a glance. Reillysall for one and one for all.

Liam grinned. Id like to say no thanks, he admitted. But, since the church really needs a new roof, Ill just say, I like how Connor thinks.

Twenty-five hundred wont buy you a new roof, Aidan said. Wont buy much of anything for any of us, really.

Ive been thinking about that, too, Liam said and looked at each of his brothers. Why not have a contest? Winner take all?

Brian felt the zing of competition and knew his brothers felt it, too. Nothing they liked better than competing. Especially against each other. But the quiet smile on Liams face warned him that he wasnt going to like what was coming next. Sure, Liam was a priest, but being a Reilly first, made him tricky. What kind of contest? Brian asked.

Liam smiled. Worried?

Hell no, Aidan put in. The day a Reilly backs off a challenge is the day when

when hes six feet under, Connor finished for him. Whatve you got in mind, Liam?

Their older brother smiled again. You guys are always talking about commitment and sacrifice, right?

Brian glanced at his brothers before nodding. Hell yes. Were Marines. Were all about sacrifice. Commitment.

Ooh-rah! Connor and Aidan hooted and highfived each other.

Yeah? Liam leaned back and shifted his gaze between the three other men at the table. But the fact is, you guys know zip about either.

Aidan and Connor blustered, but it was Brian who shut them up with a wave of his hand. Excuse me?

Oh, Im willing to acknowledge your military commitment. God knows I spend enough time praying for the three of you. His gaze drifted from one to the other of the triplets. But this is something different. Harder.

Harder than going into battle? Connor took a sip of his beer and leaned back. Please.

Anything you can come up with, we can take, Aidan said.

Damn straight, Brian added.

Glad to hear it. Liam leaned his elbows on the tabletop and gazed from one triplet to the next as he lowered his voice. Because thisll separate the Marines from the boys. He paused for effect, then said, No sex for ninety days.

Silence dropped down on the table like a rock tossed from heaven.

Come on, Connor said, shooting his siblings a look of wild panic.

No way. Ninety days? Aidan looked horrified.

Brian listened to the others, but kept his mouth shut, watching his older brother while he waited for the other shoe to drop. He didnt have long.

Im only talking about three months, Liam said, that wily smile on his face again. Too hard for you guys? Ive made that commitment for life.

Aidan shuddered.

Thats nuts. Connor shook his head.

Whats the matter? Liam challenged. Too scared to try?

Who the hell wants to try? Aidan added.

Three months with no sex? Impossible. Brian glared at Liam.

Youre probably right, the oldest brother said and smiled as he took another long drink of beer. Setting the bottle down onto the tabletop, he cradled it between his palms and said with a shrug, Youd never make it anyway. None of you. Women have been after you guys since junior high. No way could you last three months.

Didnt say we couldnt, Connor muttered.

Didnt say we would, either, Aidan pointed out, just so no one would misunderstand.

Sure, I understand, Liam said, shooting each of them a look. What youre saying is, that clearly, a priest is way tougher than any Marine.

There was no way they were going to be able to live with that statement. In a matter of a few seconds, Liam had his deal and the triplets had signed on to the biggest challenge of their lives.

How theyd been sucked into the rest of it, Brian wasnt able to figure out, even days later. But he was pretty sure that Liam had missed his calling. He should have been a car salesman, not a priest.

No sex for ninety days, Brian said, his gaze shifting to each of his brothers in turn. The other two Reilly triplets didnt look any happier about this than he did. But damned if he could see a way out of it without the three of them coming off looking like wusses. Loser forfeits his share to the whole.

And if you all lose, Liam added cheerfully, my church gets the money for a new roof.

We wont lose, Brian assured him. Not that he was looking forward to a short spate of celibacy, but now that he was in the competition, he was in it to win. Reillys didnt lose well.

Glad to hear it, Liam said. Then you wont mind the penalty phase.

What penalty? Brian eyed his older brother warily.

Liam grinned.

Youve been planning this, havent you? Connor demanded, leaning his forearms on the table.

Lets say Ive given it some thought.

Quite a bit, obviously, Aidan mused.

Liam nodded. The church does need a new roof, remember.

Uh-huh. Brian glared at him. But this isnt just about a roof, is it? This is about torturing us.

Hey, Liam said with a crooked grin. Im the oldest. Thats my job.

Always were damn good at it, Connor murmured.

Thank you. Now, Liam said, enjoying himself far too much, onto the penalty phase. And Im especially proud of this, by the way. Remember last year, when Captain Gallagher lost that round of golf to Aidan?