Feeling like she was betraying her sister by not saying anything, Addie stepped into the house and shut the door behind her. She needed to figure out when she and Halle could tell Victoria together. So far they'd procrastinated with it. "Hey. Ready for some movies? I stopped by the Redbox before I came."
"Sure." Lucia grabbed Addie's hand and led her into the living room.
Victoria came in, putting her earrings in. "Thanks for coming."
"You look great." Addie nodded at Victoria's grey dress. "It flatters your shape."
Her sister beamed. "Thanks for that, too. We should be back in two hours."
"We'll be fine. I'll make sure the girls go to bed on time." And make sure she talked to Lucia about the boyfriend situation. Maybe that would help her guilt lessen a little at not telling her sister about it.
Nick walked out of the kitchen, wearing upscale jeans and a button down blue shirt. It looked good on him, brought out the blue in his eyes. Addie was glad that her sister found someone who truly cared about her. "Hey, Addie."
"Hey." She waved them out the door. "We're going to watch chick flicks and eat ice cream before they have to be in bed."
When the door shut behind them and Addie locked it, she went back into the living room. Helena was on the couch, Kindle in hand. "You planning on watching the movie with us?"
Helena blinked up at Addie, eyes finally focusing. "What?"
"The movie," Addie laughed, "are you going to watch it?"
"What is it?" Helena set her Kindle down on the armrest.
"The Proposal." Addie popped the DVD in the player. "Lucia, make the ice cream while I get it started."
"On it." Lucia disappeared into the kitchen and Addie heard her getting the bowls down.
"How's school going?" Addie sat beside Helena. She figured Helena wasn't having the same issues as Lucia, but last year Helena was bullied a lot. She wanted to make sure everything was okay with her, too.
"Good." Helena pulled her dark hair into a pony-tail. "No more bullying, if that's what you’re worried about."
"You were always too smart for me." Addie hugged her close. She wanted what was best for them, for the girls to have a full and happy life. She worried about what effect their dead beat dad had on them. At least Nick had stepped up to the plate and was great with them.
Lucia returned from the kitchen with the ice cream bowls and passed them out. Once she was on the couch with them, Addie turned The Proposal on. It was one of her and the girls' favorites, so she knew it was a good pick for tonight. Addie was hoping that the movie would take her mind off of Finn for a little bit. She wasn't sure that was even possible.
She watched Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock's amazing chemistry on the TV and wondered, did she and Finn have that chemistry? They sniped at each other enough, and there was fire in the bedroom. So yeah, they had that chemistry, but not the desire to commit to a relationship or anything more than a few flings. Doubts began to creep into the back of her mind, but she shoved them down, deep down, not wanting to examine them. What he'd said about the women dying, about his tattoo being carved into their stomachs, freaked her out. She knew he didn't do it, but who had a grudge against him that full of hatred? Who wanted to hurt him by hurting other women? By killing them and burning a building to the ground?
His past was mostly a mystery to her, as were his family and friends other than the guys on the fire department. What did she really know about him, other than the fact that two of his sisters lived here? She knew he was in the military once, and his best friend had died overseas, but that was literally all she knew about him. Addie was a private person by nature, so she understood the reasoning, the need to keep certain parts of yourself away from other people. God knows she didn't share her life with the men she normally slept with.
This thing with Finn was something different. She wasn't sure how to classify it, exactly.
“Are you going to eat your ice cream?” Lucia nudged Addie's shoulder.
Addie glanced down at the bowl of uneaten ice cream. It was her favorite, Triple Chocolate, so she should've finished the bowl off by now. She picked up the spoon and took a bite so the girls wouldn't worry about her. “I was distracted by Mr. Reynolds.”
The girls laughed. By the time the second movie, Ever After, was over, Nick and Victoria returned. Nick stayed the night most nights, although he hadn't officially moved in yet.
“Thanks, Addie.” Victoria's face was flushed.
Addie winked at her. “Enjoy yourself?” When Victoria laughed, Addie smiled. “Good. We watched the movies, the girls were good of course. I'm going to get home so I can feed Harlow.”
“Okay. Be careful,” Victoria told her.
As she headed home, Addie knew Victoria worried about her family driving after the wreck involving Helena at the beginning of the summer. Victoria was a little bit more paranoid now, but Addie took it in stride. She understood why it was that she did that. Once home, she fed Harlow, who meowed incessantly as soon as she walked inside the apartment. After that, she changed into yoga pants and a t-shirt and wondered what to eat. It's not like she was going to cook or anything. There were some frozen dinners in the freezer, so she decided on that. Simple and easy, with no dishes to clean up afterward.
Harlow snuggled up in the bed with her, and while Addie loved her snuggling companion, she kind of wished that Finn was there. Wished he was in the bed with her. Not just for sex, but to talk to. To laugh with. She wasn't sure what was coming over her but she knew she didn't like it.
§ §
The kids in her third grade class were insane the next day. Addie sat behind her desk, listening to them giggle and whisper before telling them to be quiet for the third time. She was already aggravated since she hadn't heard from Finn, but she'd be damned if she was going to contact him after his rebuff yesterday morning.
She finally stood and held up a hand. By the serious expression on her face, the kids quieted down. It was near the end of the day and she knew they wanted to leave, but they still had one more test to take. “Okay, kids. It's time for your spelling test. We have to get this done before you leave. It won't take long. If I see any cell phones out, you'll receive a zero on the test,” she reminded them.
Several of the students groaned before putting up their phones.
She had them write their names on the paper—if there was ever something that truly frustrated her, it was getting a nameless test back—and then had them number it down. As she called each word out, she waited a few moments before calling out the next one. A few of the kids rushed and sat impatiently while she waited on the ones who were more careful. Each kid had a different learning style, different way of doing things and she loved learning how to make their minds and hearts grow.
When the test was finished, she gathered up their papers just in time for the end-of-the-day bell. Chaos erupted as kids jumped up with their bags in hand, yelling 'bye' to her as they ran out of the classroom. She took a deep breath and exhaled as she sat behind her desk, ready to grade the papers.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Finn
He met the detective outside of the station. Detective Krakowski was a little older than him, with sharp brown eyes and thick brown hair. "Thanks for meeting me."
"No problem. The chief told me you had a connection, your tattoo, to the fires? And that you were getting harassing phone calls and texts?" Krakowski brought out a little notepad and a pen.
"Yeah. It started a few weeks ago, but I brushed it off. At first I thought someone had the wrong number, but the second time they called they spoke. The voice was raspy, like they used a voice modifier. I can show you the texts." Finn pulled up the unknown number's text.
Krakowski's eyes narrowed on the screen. "Seems like someone has a grudge against you."
Finn repeated what he'd told the Chief about leaving the Marines on good terms. "I can't think of anyone off hand that would hate me this much."
"Someone does, but it doesn't mean
that you know them. In a stalker's messed up mind, you don't have to actually speak with them to form that fascination." Krakowski closed the notepad. "I have your number. I can do a little digging, see what I come up with. Don't leave town."
Finn nodded. It wasn't like he had plans to leave Sanctuary Bay. Not now. He did have something to do, so he headed toward the elementary school.
He stared through the little window in the door, watching Addie as she sat behind her desk. Kids rushed down the halls behind him, eager to be home. He was eager to talk to Addie, to apologize for being such an ass. He'd wanted to apologize in person, because she deserved it. Sending a text would've been too cowardly.
He knocked gently on the door, a part of him hoping she didn't hear him so he'd have an excuse to leave, but she called for him to come in without looking up. He walked in, shutting the door softly behind him. She wore a dress that covered her cleavage and went to her knees, but his imagination filled in what was underneath. Shaking his head, he forced himself to focus. He'd come here to apologize, not jump her.
“Finn?” She'd finally looked up at him. “What are you doing here? Did you text me?”
“No,” he said before she could look for her phone. “I wanted to talk to you in person.”
“Oh.” Her brows rose as she sat back in the chair. Her hair was up in a pony-tail, showing off her shoulders and neck. He wanted to press a kiss there, badly.
“I wanted to apologize for the other morning. I acted like a jerk, all because you were being nice to me, and I'm sorry.” He sat on the edge of the desk.
“Okay.” She shrugged. “You were under a lot of stress, and I was pushing. Have you found out anything about the fire and your tattoo? Or the creepy stalker calls?"
Her change of subject left him reeling for a second. “Um, only that the beach house fire from a few weeks ago was connected. No one was hurt but my tattoo was carved into the coffee table of the house.”
“Finn, that's horrible.” Addie stood and came around the desk.
“I know. I just don't know what to do about it. Or who is behind it.” Some of the tension in his body dissolved when she wrapped her arms around his waist.
“You'll figure it out.” Her voice rang with belief in him.
“How do you know that?” Finn pulled back to look at her. “You've only known me for a month or two, and we've barely spoken about things that really matter.”
“You could change that.” She stepped away from him.
He resisted reaching out for her, then stopped. Why was he resisting the way she made him feel? “Addie, come here.” He took her hand and he pulled her back to him. “You're right. We can both change that.”
“True.” Her lips lifted in a smile. “I hold back, too. I'm bad about it. I do it to keep from getting hurt, to keep people from getting close, other than my family. I have a feeling you do the same thing. I'm not asking you to spill your guts and tell me every dirty detail about you, but I would like to eventually know the things that matter.”
Finn ran a hand up and down her back. “I'll try to do that. Try to share those things with you, eventually. I'm just not ready.”
“I can handle that. But don't run off from me just because I ask you a question. You should be able tell by now that if you don't want to talk about something, I'll drop it. I won't nag you until you tell me.” She moved to grab her purse. “Are you coming to my place or do you have somewhere you need to be?”
“I have the day off. I need to make some final calls to some of my military buddies, but I'll meet you at your apartment,” Finn told her. He wasn't sure exactly what just happened, or what he'd agreed to. Was all the talk about sharing pieces of themselves a front for talking about if they were in a relationship or not? Addie didn't seem like the kind of girl that played games with that type of thing. She usually said what she meant, with no twisting of words or hidden meanings. That's one of the things he liked most about her.
“Okay. I'll see you then.” She leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
He followed her out to the parking lot, watching the way she moved, then went for his truck. He could start on the phone calls now and be done in an hour. His first call was to his Sergeant-Major, Jack.
“Yeah?” Jack's gravelly voice came over the line.
Something akin to homesickness washed over Finn. Back in the Marines his life had been routine, he knew what he was doing every minute of the day and as the weeks went by. It was structured, orderly. But he couldn't stay there after Isaac died. “Sergeant-Major, it's Finn Thompson.”
“How's civilian life treating you, Staff Sergeant?” Jack cleared his throat. “And none of the ranking nonsense, you're out of the life now.”
“That's the thing, you know you're never really out of it.” Finn talked small talk for a minute, listened to Jack talk about what was going on lately. Then he said, “Listen, has anything weird been going on out there? Maybe something that has to do with me or Isaac?”
“What's up, boy? You in some kind of trouble?” Jack's voice deepened in concern. He'd always treated the boys underneath him like they were his sons.
Finn took a deep breath. He still sat in the school parking lot and would need to start driving before someone reported him for being creepy. “I'm a fireman out in Sanctuary Bay on the east coast. Recently we've had some fires and two murders. Me and Isaac's tattoo was carved into the women's stomachs at the most recent fire and in the coffee table of a beach house fire a few weeks ago.”
“That's some strange events,” Jack stated.
What a fucking understatement. “The only people who really saw the tattoos were in the Marines. Maybe some girls we hung out with when we would go off base. I'm just trying to figure this mess out. See if someone has a grudge against me and is taking it out on innocent people.”
“I'll get an unofficial investigation going over here, talk to the unit and find out who all has left the Marines and moved close to you or even people who've taken vacation out there. We'll find out who the bastard is.”
Relief relaxed his shoulders. Sergeant-Major kept his word and worked doggedly until the task was finished to his standards. And his standards were high. “Thanks, sir.”
“I'll get back to you.”
As he hung up Finn pulled onto the main highway and headed toward Addie's. He called a few of his other contacts as he drove, but all had the same confusion the Sergeant-Major did. It was frustrating, but Finn hadn't really thought he'd find answers immediately. He'd just hoped for a miracle. When he reached Addie's, he knocked.
She opened the door and his gaze raked over her. With all the chaos churning around him, she was his lighthouse, his port in the storm to keep him grounded. He wasn't sure when he'd begun to feel that way, but it hit him with a force that almost knocked him off his feet.
“You okay?” Addie moved to the side to let him in.
“Mostly.” Finn dipped his head down and kissed her, pulling her close after she shut the door. He didn't want to jump her as soon as he came over, he felt like he owed her more of an apology or something, but he couldn't resist a taste of her. After a minute, when he felt the desire simmering on the surface, he lifted his head and took a breath. It could get out of control in a hurry.
“Wow.” Addie bit her lip.
Finn clenched his teeth, reminding himself that he wasn't going to push her onto her bed. That he wanted to spend some time with her, making sure everything was really okay between them. Women didn't just forgive that easily, there was always a catch.
“We can order some take out if you want.” Addie bent down to pet Harlow, who wound around her ankles, purring.
“How about I cook?” Finn leaned against the kitchen counter. “I make a great chicken spaghetti.”
Her eyes sparkled. “You want to cook me dinner? That's not too domestic for you?”
He knew the real question. It wasn't too relationship-like for him? His heart pounded in his chest, but he said, “No. Besides, you're
going to die of a heart attack if you keep eating take-out every night.”
“Hey, I eat at my parent's once in a while.” She put her hands on her hips. Her mock rage was adorable and damn if he didn't want to kiss her nose.
“Doesn't count.” He grinned. “I know the recipe by heart. Ready to go to the store?”
Addie glanced down at her athletic shorts and t-shirt, then shrugged. “Sure. Let's go.”
They climbed into his truck and he drove toward the store.
“Since you've met my family, when will I get to meet yours?” Addie turned to look at him.
By the tone of her voice, he knew she was teasing but it still sent a shock running through him. He wasn't sure that was something he wanted. Meeting Kelsey would be okay, but Jenna? She was a trouble all her own. Maybe he could arrange something with Kelsey.
“Relax, Finn. I'm joking. If you don't want me to meet them, it's cool.” Addie smiled at him. “Seriously. You look like I stunned you with a Taser.”
Finn laughed softly. “It shocked me for a minute. It's just that one of my sisters is bat shit insane, and the other is really sweet. I'd prefer for you to meet one, but not the other.”
“I can handle bat shit insane,” Addie told him.
“Not this one.” Finn sent her a quick glance. “You probably could, but I'm not ready for that yet.”
Her laughter sounded through the cab of the truck and it echoed into his bones. He was sliding and not sure he could stop it. Even if he wanted to.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Addie
Something had changed in their pseudo-relationship. She couldn't quite say what it was, but she could feel the tenuous link between them. When he'd left this morning she'd been confused, and a little hurt, even though she figured it was about everything that was going on. Then he'd apologized to her, and she fell right back into him. It's not like she could help it. He was addicting.
She watched him walk in front of her for a second before running to catch up as he passed through the door to the store. It was fairly busy, since everyone was swinging by after work. People lined the aisles and more than one person had a disgruntled look on their face when they got blocked on an aisle.
Taking the Heat Page 11
