by Zoe York
Regardless of being on the losing team, the other players seemed to be having fun. Especially Mac. She was their main force to be reckoned with, and she put everything she had into the game. Willow, though not as competitive as her younger sister, was smiling more often than not, her and Finn’s gazes locking more times than he could count.
Christ, he couldn’t wait until this stupid game was over. He’d corner Dick, give him back the money, and then he needed to find Willow. No more tiptoeing around the facts. He’d been afraid of damaging her and her daddy’s relationship, but he was more concerned about their relationship. That was his top priority. And now, after having seen father and daughter in action, seeing how the man belittled her, made her constantly feel less than, he wasn’t sure what he’d been trying to protect in the first place.
After Finn came clean about why he’d left and about the money, he’d tell her of their plans to stay. That everything was already in line, and they only had to make a quick trip back to finalize some things and then they’d be home. Back in Havenbrook for good.
“Finn, you’re up!” Ty called.
Time for their team’s last play. Finn slipped on a helmet and took a few practice swings. It’d been a long time since he’d played, but it was like riding a bike. He, Drew, and the rest of their friends had spent hours down here when they’d been younger. Trying like hell to stay out of trouble. Hadn’t always worked.
“Go easy, will you?” Nola said as she passed him, having just scored another run.
He smiled at her. “Now where’s the fun in that?”
With narrowed eyes, she said, “Dammit, Finn, I mean it. Knowing him, he’ll find a way to fuck up the opening.”
He couldn’t argue with that based on what Dick had tried already, but he also couldn’t say he gave a damn. Irresponsible when the bar hung on the line? Maybe. Probably. But this was about so much more than just a game. This was about Finn showing Mayor Haven that he wasn’t going to roll over for him anymore. That the older man didn’t get to push people around, didn’t get to have his way simply because he ruled the town that was his namesake.
The bases were loaded, and Dick stood in the outfield, looking as pissed as ever. Since the Havens were considered the home team, they still had another inning, but unless Babe Ruth materialized to play for their team, they were going down. There was no way they could come back from an eight-run lead.
First pitch was a swing and a strike. He shook it off and looked over at Willow, who guarded first base. The side of her lips quirked up, and that was all he needed.
On the second pitch, his bat connected with the ball, sending it flying in Dick’s direction. Finn took off, sailing past Willow and straight to second, but not before brushing her hand with his as he went.
One thing he hadn’t counted on was Mac’s dedication to covering her father’s shortcomings—at least, when it came to sports. She scrabbled for the ball as Finn rounded third and headed for home, and the crowd went wild. Finn pumped his legs harder, hoping she’d send it to the pitcher and buy him enough time to get home. Except the catcher stood right behind home plate, watching the sky as if awaiting a throw, and Finn did the only thing he could. He slid home, closing his eyes and praying he’d get there a millisecond before the ball.
He came to a stop as the mitt connected with his foot.
“Safe!” the umpire yelled.
Finn didn’t even have time to enjoy the call before Dick was shuffling into the infield, his voice loud enough to be heard over the crowd.
“That’s a bullshit call, Vern, and you know it!” he shouted, his hands gesturing wildly toward where Finn stood, wiping sand from his pants.
“The only call I could make, Mayor. He was safe.”
“Bunch of horseshit. I saw it with my own eyes, and he was clearly out!”
“Saw it all the way back in left field, did ya?” Finn asked.
As if Finn hadn’t even spoken, Dick continued, “I thought you were on our side.”
“Can’t be on anyone’s side, I’m afraid. That’d be a conflict of interest as an ump.”
Dick’s belly-aching had drawn a crowd, many of the onlookers shifting closer to be able to hear exactly what was going on. The rest of Dick’s team looked embarrassed, especially Willow. She’d taken a couple steps closer, but she still stood near first base, biting on one of her nails as she looked on.
“Conflict of interest?” Dick shouted. “I’ll tell you what a conflict of interest is. It’s him”—he shoved a meaty finger in Finn’s direction—“playin’ this game like he’s part of Havenbrook. He’s not even a real member of this community. What’s he done anyway? You forget about the half-dozen times he egged your place, Vern? Or when he took out all those mailboxes on Main Street? Or when he got hauled in for spray-paintin’ the road signs?”
The ump shrugged. “Don’t really see how that’s got anything to do with baseball. Besides, he was just a kid then. You need to let the past lie. Lighten up, Richard.”
That settled it. Vern was getting a year’s worth of beer on Finn’s dime.
Vern’s casual dismissal of the mayor only seemed to enrage Dick more. His face reddened even further—which, to be honest, Finn hadn’t thought possible. His fists were clenched at his sides, and he kept darting his gaze to the bystanders, all of whom were now gawking at their mayor.
He gestured wildly in Finn’s direction, his voice a barked command. “He’s not even a real member of this community. He might be bringin’ a business to the square, but y’all’d do well to remember exactly what that business is. There’ll be drinkin’ and partyin’ goin’ on till all hours of the night, all thanks to him. Exactly what we fought for years to keep out of our quiet little town. Shouldn’t be a surprise, though, given where he came from. Where they all came from.” He glared at Finn and his team, who now stood behind him, supportive even in their silence. Dick looked him up and down, a sneer marring his face. “Just ’cause you were born here doesn’t mean you belong.”
Willow gasped, drawing Finn’s attention to her. In the time her daddy’d been throwing his tantrum, she’d walked closer and now stood just on the other side of her father. “Daddy!” she snapped. “I can’t believe you just said that.”
“I don’t have time for this nonsense from you, Will.”
Willow’s eyes narrowed the smallest bit. It was a tiny tell, really. One only Finn probably noticed, but he knew what it meant. He’d been on the receiving end of it enough times to know she’d reached her breaking point, and her daddy’d just shoved her over it.
She squared her shoulders and stepped up to her father, something Finn hadn’t ever see her do before. “Considering you’re the one who interrupted the game for this nonsense, I believe you do have the time.”
Dick’s eyebrows shot up, his mouth dropping open. “Excuse me, young lady? I’ll not have you talkin’ to me—”
“And I’m not gonna stand by and listen to you disparage one of our own. Finn grew up here, same as me. Same as you.”
“He’s nothin’ like us! He’s—”
“Opening a business that’ll help Havenbrook thrive. A business you might not be fond of, but one this town desperately needs. We are bleeding residents, and any new businesses that’ll help prevent that are a benefit to Havenbrook. He has as much right to be here as any one of us.” Willow crossed her arms and stared at her father. “Stop being such a sore loser about it all.”
Murmurs of agreement spread through the crowd as a hurricane of emotions flooded Finn. His chest swelled with pride over Willow finally standing up to her father. And doing so for him? Well, he didn’t want to pour gasoline on an already raging fire, but he desperately wanted to stride over to her, take her in his arms, and kiss the living daylights out of her. Right there, in front of everyone.
Except it turned out he didn’t need to walk to her at all. Instead, she took cautious steps toward him, her eyes full of a thousand questions. He hoped he answered them all as he watched
her step up to him. She hooked her finger through his, her lips quirking up at the side a moment before she pressed up on tiptoes to brush her lips across his.
As the whole town watched on.
A few gasps went off, but he stopped hearing them after a moment. How could he pay attention to anything else when Willow’s mouth was on his? He reached up and wrapped his fingers around her nape, bringing them closer. She might’ve started this kiss, but he sure as hell was going to finish it.
With his friends at his back, Willow in his arms, and the entire town paying witness to her very public declaration, Dick’s check burned a hole in his pocket. Where earlier Finn had been dead set on shoveling a heaping pile of humility into the mayor’s lap, now he just wanted to be with Willow. And as much as he loved this bit of PDA, what he really wanted to do to her wasn’t fit for public consumption. He wanted to spend an hour kissing every freckle and birthmark on her body. Wanted to spend all night between her thighs, showing her over and over again how much he loved her. Wanted to tell her everything so they could finally start the rest of their lives together.
Tonight couldn’t get here fast enough.
At the start of the day, Willow certainly hadn’t intended to make her feelings for Finn quite so…known. Or make them known quite so loudly or so publicly. Yes, she’d made the decision to stop hiding her relationship with Finn. It was childish and stupid, and she was done with that. But she’d assumed it’d get around like everything did in Havenbrook: someone would see them together, laughing or talking or walking a little too close for friendly acquaintances, and so-and-so would tell someone else, and pretty soon it’d spread like wildfire.
Hadn’t happened exactly like that.
But, hell, she’d been so damn mad at her daddy, she hadn’t stopped to think. A fact which her sisters hadn’t let her forget since they’d dragged their asses away from the baseball diamond—losers for the first time ever.
Willow, her sisters, and their gran had escaped to Rory’s house since it was closest to the square, their momma staying behind to try to calm down their father. Like that’d ever happen.
“Tell me somethin’, Will,” Rory said, pouring four glasses of lemonade. “Did you wake up this mornin’ and think, ‘What can I do to royally piss off Daddy?’”
Willow rolled her eyes as Gran snorted.
“Lay off her, Rory,” Mac said.
“I’m serious. What in heaven’s name coerced you into behavin’ that way?”
Because, of course, her older sister would think Willow had been the one out of line. While she and Rory had had fun the couple of times they’d gone out since their understanding, their shared secrets tying them together in a way they hadn’t been before, apparently it was too much to ask for an entire personality transplant for her sister.
“He was acting like a spoiled child,” Willow said, struggling to keep her voice level. “I simply spoke up about it.”
“I wish I’d had my phone with me.” Mac smiled, her eyes sparkling. “Nat would’ve loved to see video of that. She hasn’t responded to my text yet, but I hope you’re prepared for her.”
“As prepared as I’ll ever be,” Willow mumbled before taking a sip of her drink.
“I just…” Rory shook her head, perfectly manicured nails—despite the afternoon playing softball—tapping the side of her glass. “Don’t you think there were better ways to handle that? Instead of tellin’ Daddy off in front of the whole town, embarrassing him and our whole family, then makin’ a spectacle of yourself with Finn?”
“The only one in the family who needed to be embarrassed was Daddy,” Mac said, her temper showing in the reddening of her cheeks.
“Oh, I see.” Willow straightened, her shoulders nearly up to her ears at how rigid she stood. “Speaking up when Daddy’s saying disparaging things about our residents—who were standin’ right there—and then kissin’ my—” Well. She’d been about to say boyfriend, but they hadn’t exactly had that conversation. And could someone who was leaving in a few days’ or weeks’ time even be someone’s boyfriend? Forcing that thought away, she swallowed and set down her glass. “Look. It already happened. Can’t do anythin’ to change it, and to tell you the truth, I wouldn’t want to. Daddy had every bit of that talking-to comin’ to him after how he spoke.”
“Well, I don’t know about—”
“She’s right, Rory,” Gran said, lifting a brow when all three girls turned to stare at her, mouths agape. “What? ’Bout time one of you stood up to my jackass son and put him in his place. Was startin’ to think I might not live to see the day, especially after Nat left. And to be honest, I’m a little surprised it came from Will first, but I’m damn glad about it.” She placed her hand over Willow’s on the counter and winked. “Didn’t I tell you gettin’ up to no good would be fun?”
There was a brief bout of silence between the four women, then Mac raised her glass and tapped it against their grandmother’s. “Amen, Gran.”
For a moment, Willow stared at her grandmother, mischief sparkling in her eyes. She thought back to all the times her gran had told her things like that, encouraging her to be a little wild. To have a little fun. Let loose just a tiny bit and see what happened. Had she been encouraging it the whole time? Had she also been doing the same thing to Willow’s sisters? Of that, she wasn’t sure, but one thing was for certain: she was glad she’d finally listened. Standing up to her Daddy had given her a high she’d never before experienced.
Of course, she knew, sure as she knew the sun would set, that her daddy wouldn’t allow her to have the last word. And that conversation, when it came, would be hell on earth.
After Willow, her sisters, and Gran had finished their lemonade and impromptu chat, they’d headed back toward the square since the fireworks would be going off soon.
When they arrived in the center of town, everyone scattered, Gran going off to find their momma, Rory to wrangle her kids, and Mac to get some free beer. Willow followed her sister’s trail as she strode toward the far side of the square where Finn, Nola, and Drew had set up a little stand outside. The inside space wasn’t quite ready for customers yet, but they’d agreed to host this when Willow had approached them about it. When she’d had the idea, she’d figured it’d be a win-win for them and the town—bringing customers to Finn’s bar while enticing the residents to stay in the square a little longer, maybe spend some money at neighboring businesses.
She’d been right. The line to their counter stretched halfway across the square. Her heart slowed, warmth sweeping through her body as she stood back and just watched. Finn chatted with a few residents as he served beer, a smile spreading across his face as he nodded to someone. Lord, he was handsome. And kind. And giving. And he was hers. For as long as he was in town, he was hers. It wasn’t what she wanted—because what she wanted was everything with him: the white picket fence and two-point-five kids and happily ever after—but it was what she’d been given.
And she was going to take every little bit of it she could.
“See nothing’s changed with you.” Her daddy stood next to her, his gaze fixed where hers had just been.
Looked like the fireworks were starting early.
Willow snapped her spine straight and tightened her jaw. Gave herself a minute to calm down before she did something horrible like tell her daddy to go to hell.
Ignoring the underlying dig her daddy sent her way, she tipped her chin in Finn’s direction. “They got us a good turnout. The parade’s always busy, but once it’s done, half the crowd leaves the square. We got lucky Finn, Drew, and Nola agreed to open up their business to entice the residents to hang around. I’ve spoken with some of the other business owners, and their sales are up thirty percent from last year. That’s—”
Her daddy tsked, shaking his head. “Just as blind as ever.”
Biting her tongue was getting harder than ever, especially after she’d had a taste of letting loose. “I’m not sure what that’s supposed to mean. I hav
en’t been blind to what they could bring to Havenbrook. You have.”
So much for diplomacy and tact. But, hell, he just got her so damn mad. And she was done. She was finally, finally done. Especially today—a day she worked her ass off on for the majority of the year, not to even get a good damn job from the mayor? She’d had just about enough of that, of giving herself to people and things that didn’t give a damn about her. That just took and took and took—
“You ever ask him why he ran off so fast in the first place?”
The question was so out of the blue, Willow could only stare at her father for a moment. It’d crossed her mind, of course. Had been the single most frequent question that’d arisen while Finn had been gone. She’d been close to asking him that night in the tree house, then he’d kissed her, and, well, she’d lost her nerve.
“No,” she said. “I don’t really see how it has any bearing on the present.”
Her father chuckled under his breath and shook his head. Even though the residents of Havenbrook surrounded them, no one paid them any mind. They were off to the side, tucked against a building, while everyone else gathered around the center of the square, the majority of the people clustered over by Finn’s bar.
“Well, can’t say I didn’t try to stop this from happening. Tried not to let you get played for a fool, but you just kept goin’ straight for it, didn’t you?”
She blew out an exasperated sigh, wanting desperately for her daddy to just get to the point so she could go over and congratulate Finn on his win—both on the baseball diamond and with their soft opening. “What are you talkin’ about?”
