by Vivian Arend
Finn’s arms were possessive in a way that made it clear he was proud to have her there with him.
That they were together.
Alan straightened, dipping his chin toward her and Finn before returning his attention to the bastard on the far side of the table.
“Obviously, there will be consequences. But when we spoke privately a few minutes ago, Brandon agreed that he will not press charges for the incident that caused him to be accidentally injured if you will not get the police involved regarding his actions, including horse thievery and sabotage.”
Finn stroked his hand over her thigh, soothing her. It took everything in her to not shout at Brandon a little longer.
What she did manage was a fairly reasonable tone as she directed a question at the lawyer. “And those consequences you mentioned?”
Because hiding the body was on her list.
Alan met her gaze. “Brandon will get a very small monthly stipend from his father’s estate under the condition that he never contact any of you again. If he breaks that rule, or interferes in your lives in anyway, he will lose all future income and at that time will be charged with every crime we can lay at his feet, which I promise will involve jail time.”
Zach cleared his throat, his expression not so cool and collected as she’d come to expect from the man. He was as pissed as she was. “So he gets a reward for having tried to ruin us.”
“There are reasons,” Alan said blandly.
At that comment, Finn straightened slightly. He leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “That means we’ll get the real story soon. Stop sharpening your knives—I think Alan has a plan in our favour.”
Karen glanced at Zach. The man had leaned back in his chair and was now eyeing Brandon as if he were an interesting bug on a pin. No more fury. As if the strong prairie wind outside had wiped it clean.
“We need your approval before this is a done deal.” Alan met her gaze straight on. “Are you willing to trust me?”
Clearly Finn and Zach did, so as hard as it was to let her urge for more punishment go, she nodded.
“I’d suggest Mr. Travers avoid accidentally crossing paths with us. I’m sure your justice would be thorough.” She stared the man in his pasty white face and let her anger shine bright. “Mine would be quick.”
“Bloodthirsty woman,” Finn whispered again. He tightened the arm around her waist and eased back enough to let the heat of his body wrap around her.
“I’ll be back.” Alan escorted a limping Brandon to the door. Zach rose to his feet to accompany them.
The instant they left the room, Finn had her turned, hand controlling her nape as he stared into her eyes with amusement. “You are one seriously sexy hellion. I’m tempted to haul you into the bedroom right now and fuck you boneless.”
“He hurt you,” Karen said firmly. “He deserves to suffer.”
“Hmmm, there we go again. Bloodthirsty looks good on you.” Finn covered her mouth with his own before she could laugh, and then fire and heat rushed them.
Bedroom? If she didn’t know they’d have returning company in a few minutes, she’d have taken him right there in the kitchen.
The kiss would have to be enough for now. Possessive and wildly intimate, he stroked his tongue along hers and set her nerve endings tingling. She thrust her fingers into his hair and pressed their torsos together.
“Jeez, guys. Give me a break.” Zach said as he came back in, amusement in his teasing tone. “I’d tell you to get a room, but Alan is just sending off the Asshole Achievement Winner of the Decade and then he’ll be back.”
Finn separated them slowly. “We will finish this. Soon.”
“Definitely,” Karen agreed before sliding off his lap and retaking her own chair. Without a blush, she met Zach’s laughing eyes. What burned between her and Finn was undeniable. “So. This whole ‘operating outside the law’ is part and parcel for you guys?”
Finn shook his head even as he pulled her chair closer to tangle their fingers together more easily. As if willing to give her some distance, but only so much. “Usually we’re very legal-minded. Alan, you’ve got some explaining to do.” He turned to the door as Alan returned to the kitchen.
Lawyer man leaned back on the counter and folded his arms over his chest in a surprisingly relaxed pose considering everything that had just happened. He looked the three of them over before nodding firmly. “I suppose I do. And then we need to talk about you, young lady.”
His gaze settled on her.
Yeah. That’s what Karen had figured. At some point, the shit had to hit the fan.
Only Finn was smiling, and Zach’s eyes had widened, and the tension seemed to fade from everyone else, only to pool in her toes.
She lifted her chin and braced.
It had never been boring. The time spent with Bruce and the ensuing years of lessons had meant Finn was kept on his toes, but this night had been one bizarre twist after the other.
Still, when he glanced at Zach, his best friend waited patiently, a broad smile on his face and absolute chill in his body language. No concern from that quarter.
Of course, the man was hell at the poker table…
Taking charge of the room as if it were his office, Alan got their attention then dove in.
“I’ll put you out of your misery quickly and get this list out of the way. First, the challenge is off. You no longer have to have the ranch up and running by Thanksgiving, although I still plan to bring my family out to be your first guests, whenever you feel is a reasonable time-frame to open.” Alan held up a hand to stop Zach’s sputtering. “Whether you want to go double time or not is up to you. At this point, you’ve already satisfied the conditions of Bruce’s challenge. If I may?”
He pulled a long envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Karen. “Would you read this, please?”
She looked spooked, and rightly so considering Alan’s earlier pointed comment about her, but she went ahead. Glancing over the words quickly before reading in a clear, firm voice.
“Once again, I can picture you boys, and the thought makes me smile. Of course, right now you’re probably cursing me a little, but you’ll see reason in a minute.
* * *
I wrote up three letters this time, but I bet you’re reading this one. The second was a letter congratulating you on completing the challenge (I know you could do it if you had to). The third was commiserating that you hadn’t, and to be honest, I didn’t put any effort into that note because it was a one in a hundred chance that you’d fail.
* * *
Does it make it easier if I say this challenge wasn’t for you?
* * *
I know my son. After all the chances I gave him, he’s probably been making your life hell since I died, demanding “what he deserves.” Which is a swift kick in the pants, but at this point he’s made his choices and it’s hard to change when he doesn’t think there’s a need.
* * *
Now that he’s got steady money on the line, he should leave you alone. If he doesn’t, he loses that portion of his easy life. I hope he’ll make the smart decision this go-round.
* * *
Alan will tell you the rest of the details, but know that I’m proud of you. I’m counting on you to use your inheritance to build up your community, not just enjoy the easy life.
* * *
Raise a glass for me, boys. You’re my arrows shot into the future. Make them count.”
Karen folded the paper back up slowly. “The challenge wasn’t for Finn and Zach. It was for…Brandon?”
Alan nodded as he took back the envelope. “That’s why I brought him here when we started. He knew exactly what was going on and what you were dealing with. If he’d left you alone and you’d succeeded, he would have gotten a settlement as well, but twice as big. Now, he should be out of your hair, and mine, hopefully forever.” Alan made a face as he met Finn’s gaze. “I’m sorry about the accident, though, and that stupid incident with the gun. Tota
lly out of character for the man.”
“It was an accident,” Finn acknowledged, hoping to keep Karen from flaring into protective mode again. “I agree. Brandon was not his usual wishy-washy self. No way you could have known, and frankly, if we go forward without ever having to see him again, I’m good with it.”
Zach leaned forward. “To clarify—the challenge was to see if Brandon would be an inferring asshole. He was, and we have proof, so the deadline is over.”
“Correct.”
Zach shook his head. “Wild.”
“Next detail,” Alan continued. “You will find that your holdings have now doubled as the side funds drop into the corporate accounts.”
Holy hell. Finn and Zach gaped at each other. “That part is real?”
Alan nodded. “Now that we’re fairly certain Brandon will never be an issue, Bruce felt it appropriate to expand your control.”
Karen looked confused, so Finn went for the simplest explanation. “The corporation has different branches. Bruce just added one we didn’t know about, which increases the value by a lot.”
“Wow. Okay.”
“We’ll go over that in more detail later.” Alan’s attention turned fully on Karen. “I haven’t had the pleasure of a formal introduction.”
Alan’s comment made her blink. Finn cleared his throat. “Karen, this is Alan, our touchstone in the world of mysterious finance and all things from beyond the grave. Alan, this is Karen Coleman.”
She held out her hand.
Alan shook it briefly then dipped his chin. “So. You’re here, listening to this entire conversation, which I assume means you’re involved in more than simply shooting Brandon. Thank you for that, by the way. I’ve had dreams about shooting the bastard myself.”
Karen’s lips twitched. “You’re welcome?”
The expression in Alan’s eyes warned Finn a split second too late to leap in.
“Karen. What are your intentions regarding Finn?”
For fuck’s sake.
She opened and shut her mouth a couple of times before narrowing her gaze. “Don’t know how that’s any of your business.”
“Humour me. Would you say you’re in a long-term relationship with Mr. Marlette?”
Finn eased forward in his chair. “In the interest of not scaring my woman off just when we’ve made some progress, yes, we’re together. Get on with it.”
Alan grinned as he reached into his pocket. “Good thing I came prepared.”
He held another white envelope toward Karen
She eyed it as if it were a snake. “Do I even want to know? Dead or not, this mentor of yours seems to enjoy meddling in people’s lives.”
“It’ll be okay. Take the envelope.” The reassurance came from Zach. All trace of his grin was gone, just a big-brotherly concern and comfort offered as he tilted his head toward the letter. “If it’s something terrible, Finn’s got your back. Which means I’ve got your back as well. Just like you had ours.”
He really was the best friend a man could have.
Finn waited in silence as Karen turned her gaze on him. Her mouth quirked. “Never a dull moment, buttercup.”
Her smile lasted until she unfolded the message and a slim slip of paper floated toward the floor. She caught it in midair and glanced at the face.
She froze, shock painting her features.
She blinked.
A second later she grabbed for the letter and lifted it, reading rapidly.
The three men sat in silence. Finn wasn’t sure if this would be the start of something wonderful or if she would grab her shotgun and use it on Alan.
Karen shook her head. “This doesn’t happen to people.”
“I assure you, Ms. Coleman, it’s real,” Alan said. “Do you have any questions?”
“Give me a minute.” She poked the letter at Finn. “What the hell?”
Bruce’s familiar script covered the page, the sight hitting Finn hard.
The message hit harder.
Sadly, I’m unable to greet you in person. I know you’re an amazing woman, though, because Finn would never get involved with anyone who wasn’t as smart, talented, and driven as himself.
* * *
Which isn’t always a good thing. That driven part. It means priorities sometimes get blurred. A good partner in a man’s life encourages him to take time to appreciate what’s important.
* * *
That doesn’t mean you get to ignore your dreams while convincing the stubborn ass to smell the roses. So this is yours. No guidelines, no expectations. If you leave tomorrow, this is still yours. Ironclad and irrevocable—Alan will make sure of that.
* * *
But I hope that you’ll stay, not only for Finn’s sake but your own. He’s a good man. I want the best for him, and since he picked you as a partner, that’s all the recommendation I need.
* * *
Welcome to the family,
Bruce
Finn barely finished reading when she laid the cheque across the letter.
He counted zeroes to make sure he wasn’t mistaken. That was a hell of a big number.
Karen’s breathing was slightly out of kilter. “What’s going on?”
It was impossible to sit two feet away from her when all he wanted was her in his arms. Finn gave in to temptation and scooped her back onto his lap, ignoring Zach’s chuckle and Alan’s outright laugh.
The fact she didn’t fight him said more about how unsettled she was than anything.
Finn stroked a hand up her back, petting and soothing even as happiness warmed inside him. His mentor’s blessing was a powerful thing, even postscript as it was.
He hurried to answer her question. “What’s going on is that it appears you have joined the ranks of Bruce’s select protégés. That comes with financial blessings. Congrats.”
She lifted a shaky finger to point at the cheque Zach was now examining. “That’s for a million dollars, Finn. I can’t take that. That’s…impossible.”
“Are you saying you don’t want it?” Alan eyed her sternly.
“I didn’t do anything for—” Karen screeched to a stop as she turned to Finn. “Do you need the money?”
“Nope,” he assured her. “Zach and I are good.”
Determination straightened her spine as Karen met Alan’s eyes. “I don’t want it. It’s not mine.”
“So you want me to give it to Brandon and—”
A very off-colour curse rang out before she clapped a hand over her mouth. She glared at Alan hard enough it should have lit his hair on fire. “You’d better be kidding.”
“Actually, I am.” Alan ducked to avoid the Kleenex box Zach launched at his head. “Just trying to lighten the mood. I mean, it’s only money. Give it away if you don’t want it.”
Her gaze narrowed. “Fine. Do your lawyer thing, then. We’ll give it to some charities.” Karen wrinkled her nose and turned to Finn. “The animal shelter that Lisa helped set up. It could probably use some money, right?”
“Yup.” Finn nodded.
She paused. “And the equine therapy school I was going to attend. They fund scholarships.”
The happiness inside was growing. “You can set up a few of those. Alan will help. There are ways to set them up where the income reinvests and keeps producing more money.”
A slow nod followed. Karen accepted the cheque back from Zach, shaking her head slightly as she stared at it again in disbelief. “Impossible.”
“You keep using that word. I don’t think it means what—” Finn found his mouth covered by her hand.
“Hush. You’re impossible.” She blew out a hard breath, as if trying to put out a candle all the way on the other side of the room. But when she raised her gaze to meet Alan’s, all confusion was gone. “Thank you. I don’t understand what’s going on, but I’ll accept this money and follow the advice Bruce gave the guys. We’ll use it to make our community better, although, God, I have no idea how to do this.”
Finn
pressed his lips to her temple, holding her tightly in his arms where she belonged.
It wasn’t about the money they had in their pockets. It was about moving into the future side by side. Building a future right here in Heart Falls.
Her fingers around his tightened. Connected.
Together. Finally.
24
With the challenge deadline gone, Finn and Zach both insisted they needed to slow down and get their lives back on an even keel.
“I have a lot of brew-pub beer to try before I get my place up and running next year.” Zach eyed the still-incomplete interior of the ranch house they’d relocated to after Alan left. “I probably should pick one of the cabins and finish it before the snow flies so I can live in it comfortably this winter.”
“You’re not fixing this place up?” Karen asked.
Finn slid in beside her, one strong hand coming to rest on her hip as he twisted her toward the tall windows facing the west. “Zach suggested, and I agreed, that we figure out the remodel for this house. Since we’re staying in Heart Falls for good, we need a home where we can have family over without bumping into each other. What do you think?”
Another bit of information tossed on top of her already overloaded brain. Yet Finn’s grip was firm, but not controlling, and his question was sincere.
She took a deep breath. What would spark joy?
The mountains outside were brightening with the morning sun, late summer green mixing with the golden shades of grasses and crops. Karen pictured living there full time, enjoying the view as the changing seasons brought fall colours before snow would blanket the entire landscape in pristine white.
