Shit, why had he thought Addie having guys to look after her was a good thing? "Nothing's going on."
The brothers' stares didn't relent and sweat beaded on Finn's back. Christ, were they going to challenge him right here? He didn't feel like getting into a fight with guys he was beginning to respect.
"She's special. Don't hurt her or we'll kick your ass," Nick said and Luke nodded with him.
"Yeah, okay." Finn picked the dumbbells up, his signal that he was done talking. He almost sighed in relief when the brothers turned away and went back to work.
After the gym, he dropped by his sisters', praying that Jenna would be there so he could talk with her. He knocked on the door.
Jenna opened the door, saw him, and slammed it in his face.
He reached for the knob since he didn't hear her lock the door. It opened and he stepped through, only to have Jenna try to push him back out the door.
"I don't want to talk to you." She reached up to slap him and he caught her wrist.
"What the hell is your problem? I came to visit Kelsey." He let that sink in until her arm went limp.
"You're not here to lecture me?" Her green eyes watched him closely.
"No." He lied, stepping around her and shutting the door behind him. "I don't care what you do."
A flash of hurt surfaced in her eyes before she drowned it out with indifference. "Fine." She left him standing in the foyer, returning to the living room.
He followed her, saw Kelsey sitting on the couch with wide eyes. It seemed Jenna's behavior shocked her still. It didn't him, expecting Jenna to be wild and crazy kept him from going insane. "Hey, Kelsey. I wanted to drop by and see if you needed anything else done? I noticed the paint on the house needs a touch up."
"Thanks, Finn. That'd be nice." Kelsey nodded.
He could tell she knew what he was really here for. Kelsey didn't have to be here for this, but he knew she wouldn't leave him to deal with Jenna by himself.
Jenna plopped down next to Kelsey and took the drink from her hands to take a sip.
Finn shook his head, hating that his youngest sister was such a spoiled brat. He wasn't sure what happened to make her that way, as she was spoiled the same amount as the rest of them. She just saw what she wanted and took it, damn the consequences or the damage done to everyone else. Kelsey wouldn't stand up to her, preferring to just let her have her way.
He had to figure out how to talk to Jenna without getting her guard up. There really wasn't a way to do that so he just said, "I hear you're seeing a doctor now."
Jenna shot Kelsey a dark look. "You told him."
"No, she didn't," Finn said, protecting Kelsey, who shot him a grateful look. "We live in a small town where most of the people have known each other for most of their lives. Did you think I wouldn't find out?"
Her careless shrug ignited his temper. "Damn it, Jenna. He had a wife."
"So. He didn't love her."
He stopped walking, stared at her in disbelief. "Are you serious? He didn't love her, so it was okay to just ruin their marriage? How are you that damn stupid?"
"I'm not stupid!" Jenna shot off the couch. "He chose me."
Finn made himself stay where he was. Shaking her wouldn't get his point across. "He chose you? Do you think he's going to be faithful to you? You weren't the only one he slept with." He'd found that out by asking around. "The man is a womanizer, do you really think he's not going to sleep around on you?"
Tears welled up in Jenna's eyes. "He said he loves me. That I'm different, and that I'm all he needs to be happy. He's going to buy us a house and let me move in with him. He's going to marry me."
"Jesus, Jenna. Just..." Finn couldn't believe she believed the man. His sister may be spoiled but she wasn't normally that stupid. His hands fell to his sides and he cast Kelsey a confused look when Jenna ran out of the living room. A few seconds later, the door to her room slammed.
"She's lost it," Kelsey said.
Finn sank down onto the couch. "How can she really think that he'd change his ways?"
"I don't know. I've met him once, and he was a slimy pervert."
"Here?" Finn hated to think the bastard came into this house.
"No," she said, "it was at a restaurant. Jenna went to the bathroom and he hit on me the whole time. When I tried to warn her, she told me I was jealous and wanted him for myself."
Finn heard the undercurrent of pain in her voice. "I know you don't think you'll ever fall in love again, but Isaac wouldn't want you to be lonely for the rest of your life."
Kelsey sucked in a deep breath, nodding to keep the tears at bay. "I know. I just can't think of someone else right now. I miss him so much."
"I saw your painting of him the other day. It was amazing." Finn smiled at her, trying to get her to smile back. "I know he sees it and thinks so, too."
Kelsey's mouth quirked up. "He loved all of my paintings. When Mom and Dad wanted me to focus on something else, he was the one who convinced them that this was it for me. What I wanted to do for the rest of my life."
"Yeah, he talked about your paintings all the time, even showed off the drawings you sent him to everybody that had eyes. He even showed a camel once." Finn's chest constricted when he talked about his best friend, but seeing the love in Kelsey's eyes, the happiness at remembering Isaac, had him ignoring it. "He would want you to be happy, remember him with happy memories."
Kelsey nodded, her hands fiddling with the necklace Isaac had given her before he died.
"A friend invited me to go on vacation with them in Virginia Beach next weekend." He didn't know why he brought it up.
"That's nice." She watched his expression. "Why is that not nice?"
Finn shrugged.
"Finn. What is it?"
"There's this girl," he saw Kelsey's eyes light up. "Not like that. She's annoying and stubborn. She's wild, like Mia was."
"That doesn't mean she's not a good person. Mia always reminded me of Jenna."
"She's not like that, but she does like having a good time. I met her in a bar." Finn pointed out.
"You were in the same bar, does that make you wild and crazy?" Kelsey countered.
"But I'm me."
Kelsey laughed at his reasoning. "And she's her. That doesn't mean she's like Mia, Finn. That just means that she doesn't mind going out and having a good time."
Finn's mouth twisted. "Maybe. But it doesn't matter, I'm not looking for anything right now."
Kelsey got up on her knees, her hands going to the sides of Finn's face. "Isaac wouldn't want you to live like this either. He'd want you to be happy and in love. Don't make yourself miserable because you think you should've died instead of him."
Chapter Thirteen
Addie
All her bags were packed and she was actually excited about going to Virginia Beach. Finn would be there and she wanted some one on one time to try and figure him out. After dropping off Harlow at Victoria's, she headed toward Gemma's. They were heading down there together in a rented SUV. The weather was perfect, a little hot but a good breeze kept Addie cool enough. She pulled in behind Gemma's car and saw the SUV parked on the street. Thank God it looked roomy enough to fit all of them without having to sit on top of each other.
Finn was putting his bags in the back of the SUV. Addie stopped for a minute, watching his movements. His hands moved deftly, confidently, and she suddenly wanted them on her body. For a second she forgot all the reason she didn't want to sleep with him and just wanted him.
He glanced over his shoulder, the dark green t-shirt brightening the green in his eyes. "Want me to get those?"
Addie blinked, her fantasy evaporating. "No, I've got it." She started toward the SUV again. Finn ignored her protest and took the bags from her. Instead of fighting with him, she watched him lift her bags into the back, the bottom of his shirt sliding up to reveal his abs. A tattoo snaked up his left side and Addie wanted to know where it led in his pants.
Seeing him in just
a pair of swimming shorts, walking out of the water and dripping wet, was going to make her ovaries explode. She just knew it.
"Addie, did you bring snacks?" Gemma walked out of the house carrying a cooler. "I've got drinks."
Addie held up the bag Finn didn't take. "Right here. Cheetos, Slim Jims, you name it. We'll be set for our drive."
"Good." Carter shut the door to Gemma's house and locked it.
It wasn't lost on Addie that he now had a key, but she didn't say anything. That was between them.
Finn shut the back of the SUV whenever he finished and stepped away from it. He wore a pair of khaki shorts with his t-shirt, flip flops, and sunglasses perched on the top of his head. Addie wondered how long the ride would seem with him in the backseat with her. She had no doubt the lovebirds would want to sit up front together.
"Let's get this going. Ride's going to be long anyway." Carter slid into the front seat and started the SUV.
Addie went around and got in the back. Once Gemma and Finn were in, Carter pulled away from the house. "Autumn and Caleb are coming up tomorrow. Autumn had something to do with her mom, and asked Caleb to ride with her so she wouldn't be alone."
Finn shifted in the seat and even though there was a space between them, it felt like he was right next to her. The car was suddenly too hot and small for Addie. With him less than a foot away, legs stretched out and an arm slung over the back of the seat, she found it hard to breathe. His fingers grazed the back of her neck before he snatched them away.
He shot her a glance she couldn't read before pulling his arm back. She thought she saw desire that mirrored her own flash in his eyes, but he looked out the window before she could be sure.
Carter soon got on the interstate and Addie mentally prepared herself for hours of torture. Normally she loved road trips, had all kinds of fun games or things to talk about, but Finn was throwing her mind and body into a frenzy. There was no way she could think straight while he was so close to her.
She took out her cell and texted Halle to see what was up. She didn't have to wait long for an answer.
Halle: Nothing, waiting on Nick and Victoria to get to Mom and Dad's.
Addie: They're not upset I'm not there?
Halle: No, and why are you texting me when you have a hot firefighter sitting next to you?
Addie stifled her laughter as she put the phone up. Halle wasn't going to help distract her from Finn, she was pushing her to him.
Finn glanced over at her laugh, brows furrowed. She winked at him and couldn't hold back a smile at his confusion. He looked adorable like that.
"My sister is already at the condo with her family," Carter told them. "Her husband will be grilling dinner by the time we get there. Steaks, vegetables, salad."
Addie's stomach rumbled at the thought of such good food waiting on them after their car ride. She'd only brought snacks and looked forward to a good meal. "I can't wait."
Carter laughed at her obvious eagerness to eat and Gemma turned to look at her. "You have to leave some for us, you know."
"Yeah, yeah. I will."
The further they drove, the more aware of Finn Addie became. He sat still, but she could sense the tension in his body, waited for him to say something. She loved the sound of his voice. It was her mission this weekend to bring the Finn out that gave her the kitten that night. There had to be a way to get to him that didn't bring out his asshole side. As she snuck glances at him, she thought about that night. Not just the mind blowing kiss, but how he'd acted. Unsure of himself, but sweet. She wanted to bring that side out this weekend and see if she could get him to have a good time. He looked like he could use one.
Maybe she could also figure out what made him so sad. That haunting look in his eyes when they first met kept going around in her mind. The way he'd brushed his fingers over that one tattoo.
He probably wouldn't tell her about it, and she really didn't need to know, did she? That would be going too deep, too relationship like. All she needed to do was make sure he enjoyed himself.
She snuck another glance at him and started when she met his intense eyes. His eyes darkened and the car shrunk around her. Her nipples hardened as his gaze traveled down, caressing her with just a look. She stared at his lips and thought about the kiss again. He'd woken in her a desire for more than okay sex. More than great sex. She had a feeling that going to bed with him would be almost too much for her to handle and wanted to see if she was right.
His gaze returned to hers and when his lips twitched, she had to hold back from jumping him in the backseat of her friend's rental car. A flash of heat went through her body and pooled in the place she wanted him most.
For once, Addie turned away from a man that wanted her, and stared out the window. She didn't know if playing with fire this time was worth it. Maybe the burn would scar her.
A few hours later Addie was happy when they stopped at a burger place off of the interstate to grab some lunch and stretch their legs. She breathed in air that didn't smell like Finn, didn't heat her blood, and walked around a bit before following the others inside.
Finn still didn't speak unless it was to order his food or if he and Carter were talking. Her pride stung a little that he wouldn't talk to her, not like the night they kissed, like he was purposefully putting her at arms length. Didn't he know that by doing that, he created a challenge for her? That he was daring her to break through those walls he erected?
When they finished eating they piled in the SUV and started the rest of their ride. Addie joked around with Gemma and Carter, determined to have a good time even if Finn was aloof. It rained hard about thirty minutes before they arrived, so when they stepped out of the vehicle in the condo's driveway, the ground was soaked.
Addie stepped carefully so she wouldn't slip, and stretched her arms above her head. Gemma stood beside her and slipped an arm around her waist.
"We are going to have so much fun." Gemma laid her head against Addie's. "I was really nervous about meeting his sister by myself."
"She's going to love you." Addie whispered to her as a woman flew down the stairs and wrapped Carter in a hug. She had beautiful caramel skin and light brown eyes that eyed Gemma curiously.
"Gemma, this is my sister, Sasha." Carter moved to stand beside Gemma. "Gemma, Sasha."
Sasha smiled, showing perfect white teeth, and hooked an arm through Gemma's. "I'm anxious to get to know the girl that stole my brother's heart. And her friend." Sasha nodded Addie over and hooked her arm through hers. "Leave the men to get the bags, we'll talk inside."
Addie grinned at Gemma. She didn't think Gemma was going to have a problem. When she glanced over her shoulder, Finn was watching her walk away, face expressionless.
The condo was two-story with hardwood floors and a charming living room. The kitchen was done in sky blue with white cabinets, and Addie knew Victoria would've loved to get her hands on this place. Through the glass doors that led to the back porch, Addie saw a tall man at the grill and a boy standing next to him. She guessed that was Sasha's husband and her son, Trent. From the looks of things, the dad was teaching the son to grill. Addie wondered if her dad sometimes wished he'd had a son to teach those things.
Now he had Nick, and by blood, Luke. He'd always liked the boys, and now Nick was practically his son-in-law.
"Sasha, this is Addie." Gemma interrupted her thoughts. "She teaches at the elementary school with me."
"It's nice to meet you." Sasha poured them each a glass of lemonade.
"Thank you for inviting us." Addie took the glass Sasha held out and sipped.
"I don't get to see Carter very much and he's talked about Gemma for a while, so it was easy to invite her. I thought she'd be more comfortable with some friends here, too, since meeting the boyfriend's family can be scary." Sasha smiled over at Gemma. "I haven't heard Carter talk about a girl like this before, and I love you already."
Gemma beamed. "He's an amazing man."
Addie resisted rolling her
eyes. Gemma had fallen hard.
"Trent and Zach are grilling the steaks now, and I already made the veggie packs that they're doing, too. And the salad's made, so all you need to do is settle in. There's six rooms upstairs and you can pick whichever isn't taken."
They heard the front door open.
"I've got the bags." Carter called out. "We'll carry them upstairs and you can pick the rooms."
"Go ahead, pick a room." Sasha shooed them out of the kitchen.
Addie sent Gemma a subtle thumbs up before they reached Carter and Finn. She walked up the staircase first, Finn a step behind her. After looking in the first three rooms, one being the bunk room for the kids, she found one that faced the ocean.
"Is it cool if I claim this one?" She looked at the others over her shoulder.
"Cool with us," Carter spoke up.
"Awesome." She stepped into the coral and grey decorated room and instantly loved the vibe of it. She'd definitely be able to relax here for the weekend.
"Here's your stuff."
Goose bumps formed on the back of her neck at his husky tone. She turned and smiled at him. "Thanks." He stood among her bags, which now sat on the floor, and she quirked a brow at him.
"Yeah, okay." He ran a hand through his short blonde hair and his eyes raked over her again.
Then he left, leaving her wishing he'd stayed and wanting his hands on her.
Chapter Fourteen
Finn
He left Addie standing in her room, his hands shaking. What the hell was wrong with him? His self control was close to shattering and it was all because of the woman who'd stood before him a few moments ago. The way she moved, the way she smelled, battered at the walls he'd built. Jesus, the weekend wasn't such a good idea anymore.
He picked a room, set his stuff down, and went to the bathroom. Turning the faucet on, he splashed his face with ice cold water. What he really needed was an ice cold shower, but dinner was almost ready. His mother was big on manners, and he wouldn’t make the others wait to eat because he couldn't handle himself.
Taking the Heat Page 7
