“Well?” Finn said after they’d driven for a while.
They were at a stoplight, and she glanced over at him. “You were right—this time.”
“YES!” Finn said, raising his fist in the air.
“No need to gloat about it,” she said, trying to disguise her laughter.
“Just say it one more time. Finn was right. C’mon. Let’s hear it.”
“NO!”
He chuckled. “That’s ok. Every time I see you drive up in the bigger one, I’ll know.”
Ignoring him, she said, “So, what happens next?”
“We wheel and deal with Rick on the trade, and in a day or two, you’ll be driving your new car!”
She scrunched up her nose. “I’m not much of a wheeler and dealer.”
“No worries. I’ll handle it.”
She’d lost her will to argue because, once again, Finn was just looking out for her. “Thank you,” she said softly. “I owe you one.” Actually, she owed him a lot more than one.
As always, Finn blew it off. “No problem. I don’t mind helping, and besides, I want you to get the best deal.”
An hour later, they drove out of the parking lot with the signed papers for her new SUV, which she would take delivery of the next day.
“I’ll come with you to pick it up,” Finn offered as they drove away.
She shook her head. “You’ve already done enough. Besides, I’ll just be driving it home. The hard part is already done.”
“We should celebrate,” he said suddenly.
“Celebrate?”
“Yeah. Let’s go out to dinner. I’m starved, aren’t you?”
She’d shared meals with him plenty of times, but it had usually been at her house, and the food had come in a box or a bag. They’d never gone to a restaurant and celebrated anything just the two of them. But him asking her to dinner now sounded suspiciously like…a date.
“I could eat, but…”
“But what?”
“Why don’t we just grab a pizza and take it home?”
Finn cleared his throat. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think that you didn’t want to be seen with me.”
“What? That’s ridiculous.” But was he right? Why was it ok that she went out with Will? Oh, that’s right. Because Will wasn’t Blake’s BEST FRIEND.
“It’s just dinner. But hey, if you don’t want to…”
I have to stop falling for the reverse-psychology thing. “Ok, fine. We’ll go out to dinner.”
Finn raised his fist in the air again. “Yes! I’m on fire tonight!”
Harper had to laugh that time, not just at him, but at herself too. She was being a bit ridiculous. This was Finn, after all. The guy who looked out for her, who only wanted the best for her, who would never do anything to hurt her.
She never stopped to consider that she might be the one to hurt him instead.
Chapter 7
After discussing various restaurant options, Harper and Finn decided to go to the same pub that she’d met Will at a couple of weeks ago. The pub was busy as usual, and they were seated at a cramped two-person booth at the back of the restaurant. Harper would have preferred a larger booth as Finn’s legs were so long they snaked around hers beneath the table.
“So, what are you having?” he asked, perusing the menu.
Now that they were there with the tantalizing smells of fried food and beer in the air, Harper realized how hungry she was.
“Fish and chips and a beer,” she said decidedly, closing her menu.
“Sounds good. Me too,” Finn said.
When the waitress arrived, Finn ordered for both of them. After the waitress had walked away, Harper said, “I could have ordered my own, you know.”
Crossing his thick arms over his chest, he said, “What’s with you lately?”
Uh-oh. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“I think you do.”
“Enlighten me,” she said, borrowing his phrase from earlier.
“You’ve been exceptionally feisty. Argumentative even. Every time I try to help you with something, you balk at it. It’s almost like you don’t want me around.”
How do I handle this? But she was saved from having to reply when she caught a glimpse of two men heading toward their table. Two gorgeous men who looked an awful lot like…
“Finn? Is that really you?” Connor teased, slapping his brother hard on the back.
“Of course it’s me, you idiot. What are you two doing here?”
“Is that any way to talk to your favorite brother?”
“Hey, I thought I was the favorite brother,” Liam piped up from behind Connor.
Harper smiled, amused and intrigued by the dynamics between the three O’Brien brothers. She sat back, content to watch how it all played out.
“Hey, Harper,” Connor said. “Don’t tell me you agreed to go out with this guy!”
And just like that, her smile faded, and she stiffened. “I…we…”
“I was just helping the lady pick out a new car, and we were hungry,” Finn interjected.
“I was gonna say—she’s way too good for you!”
Liam clamped a hand on Connor’s shoulder and said, “Ok, dude. Let’s go and let them enjoy their meal.” And then, focusing in on Finn, he said, “We were just up at the bar when we saw you come in.”
“Well, why don’t you two go back to the bar before someone takes your seats?” Finn suggested, all traces of humor gone.
Ignoring him, Connor turned to Harper and said, “How’s your friend Julia?”
Harper tried to hide her surprise when she replied, “She’s good.”
“Tell her I said hello.”
“I will,” Harper said.
And with that, Liam forcibly turned Connor around and shoved him back toward the bar.
“That was interesting,” Harper said.
“That’s one word for it,” Finn replied, shaking his head.
“I think it’s nice that you and your brothers are so close.”
“Too close sometimes. I can’t move an inch without them seeing it.”
They stopped talking when the waitress reappeared with their food, and for a while, they ate heartily.
“I thought it was curious that Connor asked about Julia,” Harper said, happy to steer the conversation away from herself.
“I’m not surprised. Connor likes all the ladies, if you know what I mean.”
“So you’ve said. What about Liam? Does he have a girlfriend?”
Finn’s head shot up. “Why? You interested?”
Harper set her glass down so hard that beer sloshed over the side. “NO! I was just making conversation.”
“See. Feisty and argumentative. Just like I said.”
“Well, you keep…”
“What?”
Keep making me wonder what it would be like to kiss you. And I don’t want to wonder that. I want to go back to when I didn’t wonder about that at all! “Teasing me,” she blurted out, settling for a partial truth.
Finn raised his thick eyebrows and grinned. “Like I said earlier, what’s wrong with a little teasing?”
Nothing, if it could actually lead somewhere. But it can’t. That would be disrespectful to Blake, and in a word, it’s just WRONG.
The waitress interrupted again to bring their bill and clear their plates. “Is there anything else I can get you?” she asked.
“I think we’re good. We good?” Finn asked.
Nodding, Harper said, “We’re good.” But it felt like they were both alluding to something else.
After arguing over splitting the bill (she was victorious that time), they said a quick goodbye to Finn’s brothers and left the restaurant. Connor had barely looked up since he was deep in conversation with a busty brunette who was sitting beside him. But Liam smiled and waved, seemingly content to sit there and nurse his beer.
Since it was a short drive back to her house, Harper assumed she’d be able to avoid any deep discus
sions with Finn, but she assumed wrong.
“So, other than my teasing, is there anything else that’s bothering you?” Finn asked.
She sighed. If she didn’t give him something, he would keep at her until she did. Pulling into her driveway, she kept the car idling but turned to face him.
“Since you’re not going to let this go—I feel like I depend on you too much. And while I appreciate your…helpfulness, I think I should start doing more things on my own. You know, like car shopping, and snow blowing, and lawnmowing, and…”
Finn threw up his hands. “Ok, I get it. You never seemed to mind having my help before, though, so what’s changed?”
Me. That’s what’s changed. I’m starting to feel things that I shouldn’t be feeling…
“Harper?”
“I don’t know. I guess because it’s going on two years now, and I’m ready to forge a new path. On my own.”
He studied her for a few seconds before stating, “And I’m standing in your way.”
His expression was unreadable, partly because it was dark but also because he’d withdrawn some. And now she felt guilty for a different reason. Reaching out, she laid her hand atop his clenched fist. It was twenty degrees outside, but his hand was toasty warm, and she gave it a squeeze.
“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. It’s just that you’ve given me so much, and I can’t keep taking from you. It isn’t…right.”
Finn sighed and then closed his free hand over hers, essentially trapping it there. “Everything I’ve done, I’ve done freely. For you, for Blake, and for me.”
She met his eyes then, and it was impossible to look away.
“You make me out to be this unselfish do-gooder, but some of it has been for me, Harper. Can you understand that?”
And then he slid his hand up her arm and cupped her cheek—her traitorous cheek, which leaned right into his warm, calloused palm like it belonged there. They were silent for a long moment while Harper wondered what more to say. What could she say? Maybe Finn needed her as much as she needed him, to stay connected to Blake, the man they’d both loved.
“I think so,” she ventured.
Finn was gently caressing her cheek with the pad of his thumb, and while he meant it to be comforting, it was having a different effect. Yet she didn’t pull away.
“I don’t want to crowd you, though, so I’ll try to back off a little. If that’s what you really want.”
He’d leaned forward so that she saw the various shades of blue in his eyes, the stubble on his jaw, the straight line of his nose. She caught a whiff of his scent again, but this time, she picked up a distinctly musky, male smell too. She wondered if he was as warm as she was and if it was for the same reason.
She half-shook, half-nodded her head, indicating that she wasn’t sure what she wanted. Observing him at this proximity made it difficult to think.
Finn chuckled, the sound of it as warm as his palm on her cheek. And then he inched forward, and while maintaining eye contact, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. If she wasn’t mistaken, he lingered there for a few seconds longer than necessary. He’d kissed her forehead before, and she knew it was a friendly gesture, but why did it feel different tonight? She could still feel the imprint of his lips after he’d pulled away.
“I’m glad we had this talk. I think we understand each other a little better now, don’t you?”
Yes. No. Hell if I know! “Um-hum,” she mumbled.
Finn sat back in his seat, and she removed her hand from his, breaking all contact. “So, I guess I’ll see you later,” he said and started to get out of the car.
“Finn. Wait.” She wasn’t sure what she was going to say until she said it. “I can still call you, right? If I have a question about something?”
Smiling broadly, he said, “Harper, you can call me anytime.” And with that, he unfolded himself from her car, hopped into his truck, and drove away.
Harper’s fingers hovered over his name as she debated whether to call. She’d just picked up her shiny new SUV, and she wanted to show it to someone. She would have called Julia, but she was going out with her sorority sisters. After all, it was a Friday night, and most people probably had plans. But the thought of going home to an empty house (except for Daisy) sounded daunting, so she pressed down on the call button and waited for him to answer.
The phone rang four times before he said, “Harper?”
“Yes. Hi, Will.” And suddenly, she felt nervous.
“Hi. How’s it going?”
“Good. How are you?”
Will chuckled. “I’ll be better in about ten minutes, when I get off work.”
“Oh, crap! I’m sorry. It’s after five, so I just assumed...”
“No worries. I’m just wrapping up a few things before I leave.”
“Well, I was just calling to see if you wanted to meet up for a drink or something.” I am SO bad at this!
“Sure. Although I have plans with some friends later, so I’ll have to cut out early.”
She hadn’t counted on that. She’d been hoping that they could spend some more time getting to know each other. But it had been last-minute notice, so what did she expect? “We can do it some other time if you’d rather.”
“No, no. It’s fine. I’d like to see you. Where do you want to meet?”
“How about the Clarkston Tap?”
“Great. I’ll meet you there in about fifteen minutes.”
Harper arrived first, and because the parking lot was already filling up, she went inside to get a table. She had never been there before, but Blake had been there many times. He and his friends (including Finn) used to stop there for a drink after playing basketball on Friday nights. The thought of it made her uncomfortable for a moment, but she shook it off. It was impossible to avoid all the places that Blake had been to.
She’d just sat down at a high-top table for two when Will walked in the door, shaking the snow off the shoulders of his wool coat. And there, peeking out from his collar, was the Burberry scarf. His reddish-brown hair was tousled from the wind, and his cheeks were a bit pink, but she thought he looked kind of—cute, sweet, non-threatening? Oh no! That had been Finn’s term. She was still trying to think of a good descriptor for Will when he rushed up to the table and sat down.
“Good to see you,” he said with a warm smile.
“You too,” she replied and was pleasantly surprised at how quickly she’d responded.
“I looked for your car in the parking lot, but I didn’t see it.”
“That’s because I got a new one.” She turned and pointed out the window at her clean, white car, knowing that it wouldn’t stay that way for long. The weather forecast was calling for three to six inches of snow overnight, and the snow was already coming down heavier than when she’d first arrived.
“Congratulations! Looks nice,” Will said as he shrugged off his coat and hung it over the chair.
“Thanks. It’s a lot larger than I was looking for, but Finn…” Oops! Isn’t it a dating faux pas to mention another man’s name when you’re on a date? If so, I just blew it!
“Finn. He’s the guy that I met at the restaurant a couple weeks ago, right?”
“Right. Well, anyway, he helped me pick it out. So, what’s new with you?”
The waitress came over to take their drink orders, which gave Harper a few minutes to regroup. I wonder if there’s a dating manual I can buy at A New Chapter?
“And for you, ma’am?” the waitress was saying.
Ma’am? Really? Do I look that old? “I’ll have a Bud Light,” Harper replied, shooting the waitress a watered-down smile. No tip for you, missy!
“Did I mention I was going on a ski trip this weekend?” Will said, picking up the thread of their conversation.
“No, you didn’t.”
“I go every year with a group of college friends, although this year, most of them will be bringing their wives or girlfriends.”
Harper wondered briefly why
he hadn’t asked her to go, but then she realized that they hardly knew each other. Of course he wouldn’t ask her, and even if he had, she didn’t know how to ski.
“I thought about asking you to come, but I figured it was too soon.”
“Oh. Well, it wouldn’t have worked anyway since I have a few photo shoots scheduled for this weekend.”
The waitress returned with their drinks and quickly set them down before hurrying off to the next table. Harper had just taken a drink of beer when someone tapped her on the shoulder. Startled, she turned around and quickly swallowed before sputtering, “Nina. Hi!”
“I’m surprised to see you here,” Nina said, eyeing Will over Harper’s shoulder.
“Yes, well… Nina, this is Will. Will, Nina, my…”
“Sister-in-law,” Nina finished, extending her hand to Will across the table.
Will exchanged a concerned glance with Harper, but he quickly recovered and shook Nina’s hand. “Good to meet you.”
When an awkward silence descended over the table, Harper did what she usually did in uncomfortable situations. She covered it up with nervous chatter.
“I got a new car yesterday. Well, I picked it up today. But anyway, I thought I would show Will. Did I mention that Will is Julia’s cousin? You know Julia, my assistant? I’m sure you’ve met her before. So, how’ve you been?”
Nina studied her closely in that dissecting way she had that Harper had always found disconcerting. Even after knowing Nina for all these years, she was still unable to get a clear read on her sister-in-law. Does she like me? Does she hate me? Does she simply tolerate me? These were questions she’d pondered when Blake had been alive, but seeing Nina now, she still wondered.
“I’m good. Just meeting some friends for a drink. Will I see you next week for Blake’s birthday dinner?”
Will coughed into his napkin while Harper gave Nina a tight smile. “Yes, of course.”
And then, looking past Harper, Nina said, “Oh, my friends just came in. See you later.”
Harper noticed that Nina hadn’t said goodbye to Will, but what did she expect? Nina had probably been surprised to see her out with another man, and maybe a little miffed too. She’d probably react the same way toward any man who wasn’t her brother.
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