I take a deep breath and wipe the palms of my hands on my jeans. “I want to date your sister.”

Everyone’s quiet for a moment, and then they glance at each other.

“That’s it?” Shawn asks.

“Yeah. That’s what I came here to talk about.”

“Given that she’s not here, I assume you haven’t talked with her about it,” Keegan says.

“I spoke with her this morning. I’m taking her out on Thursday. But, damn it, you’re my family. I don’t want to do something you hate.”

“If we told you that we didn’t want you to do this, would you call it off?” Kane asks.

“Yes. I wouldn’t like it, but I would.”

Maeve grins and rubs her little, round belly. “It’s about damn time, Cam.”

“I thought you’d be sixty and still pining away for her,” Keegan agrees.

“Wait, you’re okay with this?”

“You’re both adults,” Kane says. “And you’re the best mate I’ve ever had. If it’s my sister that you want, who are we to say no? As long as you treat her the way she should be treated, we’ve no problem with it, Cam.”

“There’s been something brewing between you two for a long while,” Shawn adds. “We’ve all seen it, watched it. She snaps at you more than she smiles at you, and that’s telling.”

“How romantic,” I mutter and pull my hand down my face. “Damn you all. I was nervous.”

“You should be,” Keegan replies. “Because if you fuck this up, we’ll kill you and make it look like an accident.”

They all smile at me.

“She was hurt once before,” I reply slowly, measuring my words. “Because she was with a man who didn’t love her. Who didn’t appreciate her and didn’t give a shit about anything but himself. That’s not who I am.”

“It isn’t, no,” Kane says.

“I don’t know where it will go, to be honest with you. But, damn it, I want to try. I want to spend time with her, indulge her, spoil her a bit. I know that she has all of you, but she deserves to know what it feels like to be with someone who’s crazy about her.”

“You’re right,” Maeve says and stands to wrap her arms around me, kissing my cheek. “She does. And I’m glad that you finally realized that you’re the man to do it.”

“I’ve known for a while, but it wasn’t the right time. It is now. Damn it, I don’t want to stay away from her anymore.”

“Then don’t,” Kane says simply and claps his hand on my shoulder. “She’s not fragile. She’s a good woman, and it’s a lucky man you are if she’s decided to give you her attention.”