“Look—” she started.
Finn rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I know. Be safe. Don’t kill your brother. Wear clean underwear."
“I love you,” she said, pushing the words so they got out before she lost her nerve.
Finn went quiet. That wasn’t encouraging, but she’d already started. There was no point in stopping now.
“All right...” she stammered. “Yeah, okay, that was sudden and awkward but...”
“No,” he said. “It’s just... you know. Got a little whiplash going from ‘You’re freaking me out,’ to...” He paused and looked at her. “Well. You know.”
She sighed and regrouped. “Remember the day you brought me the Tootsie Rolls?”
“Yeah.” Finn laughed lightly. “You remember that?”
She nodded, feeling the tears threatening as the memories rushed through her. Man, cry once, and suddenly it’s Niagara Falls. She bit the inside of her cheek, pushed back the weepy, and kept going.
“Since that day,” she said, “I have loved you. I loved you when we were growing up, I loved you when you left, and I loved you while you were gone. I tried not to, lots of times I wished I didn’t, but I did. And, God help me, I still do.”
Finn opened his mouth, but didn’t say anything. Great. The one man with an answer for everything, and she’d rendered him mute with her looooooooooove. She wanted to roll her eyes and make a joke, push all this back to the depths she’d kept it hidden in all these years, but she didn’t.
She was a grown-up, damnit, and she was going to act like one.
“I just wanted it said,” she added quickly. “I don’t know when you’re going to disappear again. I don’t know if you’re going to send Joe back with whatever you get and take off...”
Something flashed on Finn’s face. She gasped and hit his shoulder.
“Oh, my God, you were gonna send Joe back and take off?”
Finn huffed. “All right. Yeah, I thought about it, okay? Tessa, every minute we’re together, it’s just...” He sighed and met her eyes. “It’s only gonna make things harder.”
Tessa wanted really badly to slug him one, but she didn’t. She was a grown-up. Instead, she crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at him.
“You know what? I take it back. I don’t love you. You’re stupid.”
Finn nodded, his expression hard. Tessa sighed. Grown-up. Be a grown-up.
“Oh, crap,” she whined. “I don’t mean that. I mean, yeah, you’re stupid, but I still...”
Finn reached up and put his hand on her face, his thumb caressing her cheek as he pressed his forehead to hers.
“Five tomatoes for a dollar,” he said softly, his voice laced with an irony she could detect but didn’t fully understand.
She pulled her head back. “What the hell is that supposed to—?”
He kissed her softly, one hand cradling her face as the other wrapped around her waist, pulling her to him with gentle need. He stopped, took a breath, then kissed her again, this time with force and desire and nothing held back. Tessa stopped thinking, stopped worrying, just let herself fall into the kiss and the zing, because damnit, she needed some zing. She’d earned herself some zing.
A moment later, when they broke the kiss, she rested her hands on the back of his neck and breathed in deep.
“You come back to me tonight,” she said, “or I swear I will hunt you down like the dog you are.”
A horn blared from the street. Tessa laughed. Finn closed his eyes and cursed.
“I really hate that guy,” he said.
“No, you don’t,” Tessa said.
He looked at her, his eyes crinkling at the edges as he smiled. “I’ll be back,” he said.
“You’d better,” she whispered.
Tessa watched him leave, and in that moment, she understood the zing. She understood that it was rare, and precious, and she finally understood why she’d never been able to re-create it with anyone else. Because Finn was The One. He was her Soul Mate, he was her Destiny, he was all those things she’d never wanted to believe in because they were all dorky as hell. But she was tired of fighting off what she didn’t want. The time had finally come for her to start fighting for what she wanted, and if that meant she had to fight Finn to keep the zing ...
Well, then. So be it.
***
Sosie McGovern stood on Uncle Matt and Aunt Grace’s porch, staring at the doorbell.
Just do it, she thought. Just tell them and if Izzy gets mad, Izzy gets mad.
She nibbled on her lip and sighed. Izzy wasn’t going to be just mad. She was going to be furious. Telling this secret was a very serious breach of the best friend code, and Izzy would probably never speak to Sosie again. But last night, when Sosie had told her mother some of the basics without revealing any specifics, her mother had said that a real friend does what’s right, even if it means losing a friend. And it wasn’t right to let Izzy get into trouble over this when Sosie could get her some help. And who better to help Izzy than Uncle Matt?
No one. That’s who.
Sosie had been worried about Izzy ever since that day in the bathroom, when they discovered that Izzy’s mom had been killed by a nut job. What if that pyro-psycho found Izzy and hurt her? Sosie would never be able to forgive herself for keeping quiet.
So, okay, she thought as she raised her finger to hit the button. Just do it.
She pulled her hand down. She couldn’t. It wasn’t right. Maybe what she needed to do was talk to Izzy, convince Izzy to tell Uncle Matt. That made sense. And it wouldn’t break the code, and she wouldn’t lose her best friend...
The porch fight switched on, and a moment later Aunt Grace pulled the door open.
“I thought I heard someone out here,” Aunt Grace said, her smile fading as she looked at Sosie. “Sosie? Baby? What’s wrong?”
Sosie sighed, felt her chin start to quiver. She didn’t know what to do. She just didn’t know what to do. She didn’t want a psycho-pyro to kill her best friend, but she didn’t want to lose her best friend, either.
“I don’t know what to do,” she squeaked at her aunt.
Aunt Grace reached out and put her arm around Sosie’s shoulder. “You come on in and I’ll get you some cookies, okay? And then you can tell me all about it.”
Sosie smiled, and let her aunt guide her inside, comforted by the familiar scent of gardenias in her Aunt Grace’s perfume.
Chapter Nineteen
Finn leaned forward and glanced up to the nondescript two-story concrete box of an office building they were staking out. Tarpey’s office was on the second floor, three in from the back. The light was still on. He glanced at the clock in the dash.
6:01. He’d been in the car with his brother less than ten minutes. And it felt like forever. He seriously couldn’t believe glaciers hadn’t formed and melted back into the ocean in just the time he’d been sitting in this car. And the longer he just sat, staring at the building, the more he thought of Tessa and how much he wanted to get back to her.
Which wasn’t good. There was a world of hurt waiting there, and now that she’d lain her little confession at his feet, he knew he didn’t have only his hurt to worry about. He took a deep breath and decided to focus on the task at hand.
“So, why isn’t Tarpey’s office at the fire station?” Finn asked.
Joe shrugged. “There’s barely enough room there for the truck and the guys on call. Town puts him up here, but there are grumblings that they’re gonna build a new fire station sometime in the next few years. Which will be great, because the electrical setup in that place is old as hell. I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes up—” Joe shrugged off Finn’s look. “What? You don’t want an answer, don’t ask the question.”
“You’re right,” Finn said, leaning back against the headrest and closing his eyes. “Wake me up when Tarpey comes out.”
“No,” Joe said. “Why do you get to sleep?”
Finn opened his eyes. “Fine. You wanna sleep, you sleep. I�
��ll keep an eye out for Tarpey.”
“Okay.” Joe leaned his head back, closed his eyes for a second, then raised his head again. “I can’t sleep. You sure you know what you’re doing?”
Finn sighed. “Did I give you a plan?”
“Yeah,” Joe bit out reluctantly.
“Then what’s the plan?”
Joe paused for a moment, then said, “I tell the guard that I need to return this to Matt.” He held up the manila envelope. “And that I’m just gonna shove it under the door.”
“Check that out, folks. He can be taught.”
“Yeah, that’s fine for getting upstairs, but how are we gonna get into his office? I don’t have a key.”
Finn rubbed his thumb and index finger over his brow, trying to keep the brother-induced headache at bay. “We don’t need a key.”
“What are you gonna do, bust the door down?”
Finn stared at him for a moment, then declined to answer on the basis that that was the stupidest fucking question he’d ever been asked. Instead, he jerked his chin to indicate the building.
“You know the guard?”
Joe nodded. “Yeah. Gerard.”
Finn gave a slow blink. “Gerard? The security guard’s name is Gerard?”
“Yeah,” Joe said. “And when we talk to him, speak up. He’s a little hard of hearing.”
Finn had to laugh at that one. “The security guard is deaf?”
Joe let out a rough sigh. “He’s not deaf. He’s hard of hearing.”
Finn shook his head. “It’s amazing this town hasn’t been robbed blind.”
“No, it’s not. Because regular people live here. Regular people don’t rob each other blind.”
“It’s fucking Mayberry, is what it is,” Finn grumbled.
“Then leave,” Joe said.
“Planning on it.”
“When?”
Finn shot his brother a dark look. “When I’m ready.”
Joe stared at the building and blinked. “Shit.”
Finn glanced up. “What?”
Joe motioned up toward Tarpey’s window. It was dark. “Did you see him leave the building?”
Finn took a deep breath and resisted the urge to knock his brother out. “No. Is his car here?”
Joe leaned forward and scanned the lot. “Don’t see it.” “Oh, for Christ’s sake.” Finn yanked at his door handle and jumped out of the car. “You were supposed to be watching, idiot.”
He heard the other door slam, followed by Joe’s footsteps catching up to him.
“You think you can handle Gerald the deaf guard on your own, or do you need me to hold your hand?” Finn asked.
“It’s Gerard,” Joe corrected.
Finn took a deep breath, pulled on a casual expression, and pushed into the lobby of the building, praying to God to give him the strength not to kill his brother before they got what they came for.
Afterward, though, all bets were off.
***
Tessa sat on her sofa, staring at the ceiling. Wallace sat by her side, his head resting on her knee, while she petted him absently.
I loved you when we were growing up, I loved you when you left, and I loved you while you were gone.
“Oh, God.” She cringed, put her hand over her eyes. How was she ever going to face him again? What had she been thinking?
But most of all, why the hell didn’t he say it back? And worse, when he did say something, it didn’t make any sense. Five tomatoes for a dollar? What the hell was that supposed to mean?
She raised her head and looked at Wallace. “What’s up with men?” she asked. “He loves me. I know he does.” She paused. “I think he does. He might.” She nibbled her lip. “He does. He has to. If he doesn’t, I’ll kill him.”
Quit worrying. He’s crazy about you. He’s just a big, dumb ass about it.
Tessa blinked. That was a male voice. In her head. She didn’t typically have male voices in her head. She looked at the dog, who just stared back at her, blinking his eyes and looking all puppy dog.
“Great,” she said. “To top it all off, I’m losing my mind.” The front door burst open, and Wallace simply rolled on his side, exposing his belly for scratching. “Some watchdog,” she said as Izzy blew into the living room, followed by Margie and...
Holy shit.
Tessa hopped up off the sofa, sending Wallace flying with a small yap.
“Vickie!” She ran and threw herself into Vickie’s arms. “When did you get back? We’ve been looking for you. I need to talk to you about some things.”
“Vickie’s been in Margie’s basement all week,” Izzy said, a bright smile on her face. “I’m plan B.”
Tessa looked from her sister to Margie to Vickie, then back to Izzy.
“So you knew where she was the whole time?” she asked. “And what’s plan B?”
“No, I just found out,” Izzy said. “And I don’t really know what plan B is.”
“Plan B basically starts and ends with telling Izzy,” Margie said, heading into the kitchen. “Where’s your liquor? Still in the cabinet over the fridge?”
“What’s left of it, anyway,” Izzy said, just loud enough for Tessa to hear. Tessa shot her a look and they shared a smile.
“Come on in,” Tessa said, motioning toward the sofa. Izzy sat next to Vickie, and Tessa took the rocking chair. Margie came back with two drinks, handing one to Vickie, and then paused as she was about to settle herself in the easy chair, completing the circle.
“I’m sorry, Tessa. Sometimes I forget you’re of age. Would you like something?”
Tessa shook her head. “No, I just wanna know what’s going on.”
Izzy sighed and rolled her eyes. “This is where she’s gonna try to send me upstairs.”
Tessa looked at Izzy. “Why would I do that?”
“I’m too young. I’m too impressionable. My virgin ears. Etcetera.”
“No way,” Tessa said. “You started this whole thing, you’re gonna stay and help me finish it.”
Surprise washed over Izzy’s face. “Really? You’re not gonna try to protect me from all the harsh reality blah blah blah?”
Tessa reached over and squeezed Izzy’s hand. “Baby doll, you are my harsh reality.”
Izzy smiled, and her posture straightened. “Really?”
Tessa returned the smile and sat back. “Really.”
“Cool.”
“Besides, I’m assuming Lucy and Ethel here have already told you more than I know.”
Vickie and Margie exchanged guilty glances.
“Yeah,” Izzy said, the pride coming off her in waves. “They did.”
“Well, then, we’re all in,” Tessa said, turning her focus on the older ladies. “Let’s dish, girls.”
***
Finn knelt down, his ear to the door as his trusty lock pick worked its magic. Two clicks down, working on the third...
“Aren’t you done yet?” Joe said in a stage whisper.
Finn sighed, pulled the lock pick out, jiggled the door handle to reset the pins.
“There isn’t any video surveillance, right?” Finn said in his regular voice.
“Right.”
“We’ve established the floor is completely deserted, right?”
“Right.”
“And Bernard is half deaf, right?”
“Gerard.”
Finn shot Joe a harsh look.
Joe sighed. “Right.”
“So relax and shut up so I can pick the fucking lock, okay?”
Joe grumbled something but went quiet. Finn put his ear to the door and started over.
Click. Click. He felt around, pushed the pick a bit to the left, then the right...
Click.
He stood up, turned the knob, and pushed into Matt Tarpey’s office. It was dark and small and...
“Christ!” Finn yelled as he stumbled over something in the dark. “What the—”
“It’s his office golf-putter thing,” Joe whispered. �
��And be quiet!”
“Why?” Finn asked, kicking the putter thing back against the wall. “The guard is deaf.”
“Hard of hearing,” Joe said. “He’s got an aid.”
“Oh, well, in that case...” Finn grumbled. Joe walked over to Tarpey’s desk and motioned to Finn. Finn pulled out his baby Maglite and tossed it to Joe, who caught it and flicked it on in one swift motion.
“The pictures aren’t here,” Joe said, sweeping the light over the clean desktop.
“Well, then, maybe he put them away. Where would he put them?”
“I don’t know,” Joe said. “I’ve never rummaged through the man’s office before.”
“Well, get cracking,” Finn said, walking toward the filing cabinet in the corner. “You take the desk, I’ll do this.”
Finn pulled on the top drawer, and it opened easily. The fire chief didn’t even lock his cabinet. Fucking Mayberry.
“Hand me the flashlight,” Finn said.
“I’m using it,” Joe said.
“Fine.” Finn pulled up the shades, letting in some of the light from outside, and started riffling through the files.
“Here’s what I don’t understand,” Joe said. “How is it that after everything you did and disappearing for ten years, she’s still even talking to you, let alone letting you stay at her place?”
“It’s my irresistible charm,” Finn said. “And I told you I’m not talking about her with you.”
Joe slammed one side drawer and opened another. “Fine, don’t talk. Listen. Should be a shiny new experience for you.”
Finn let out a curse under his breath and shut the top filing drawer. “I’ll give you a shiny new experience,” he muttered.
“Go for it,” Joe said.
Finn turned and looked at his brother. “Don’t tempt me. I’ve been dying to knock that sanctimony off your face since the day I got back in town.”
Joe straightened, shutting the second drawer with his knee.
“Go for it,” Joe said.
Finn stared at his brother. “You gotta be kidding me. You wanna fight now? Here? No. Find the goddamn pictures. Then we can go out to the parking lot and I’ll happily kick your ass all the way back to Tessa’s.”
The Comeback Kiss Page 20
