Sasha’s mouth twisted. “You’re the best brother a guy could have. I know I’ve been a pain. It wasn’t on purpose.”
Finn felt his throat tighten. “Most of the time it was.”
Sasha laughed. “Maybe fifty percent.” His humor faded. “You did a good job with us. Mom and Dad would be proud. I have a plan. You can stop worrying about me.”
“That’s not going to happen, but I’m ready to let you go.”
They moved toward each other at the same time. There was some back slapping and a brief hug. About as much emotion as either of them were comfortable with. Then Sasha put the money in his pocket, waved and walked away.
Finn had come to Fool’s Gold to force his brothers to return home. He’d believed the only place they belonged was in college or in South Salmon. He’d been wrong on all counts. Neither brother was coming home, and oddly enough, he was just fine with that.
DAKOTA ARRIVED at work the next morning with a burning need for coffee and a promise to herself that she would tell Finn about the baby before sundown. Or maybe by the end of the week.
She wasn’t trying to be a coward or even keep the information from him. It was just that she was so happy. She wanted to stay happy for a little longer. She wanted to have her fantasies about the future and pretend everything was going to work out fine. She wanted to imagine a house with a big tree in the yard and two children playing together and Finn beside her.
Because as much as she wanted this baby, she also wanted to be with that baby’s father. The big surprise wasn’t that she had fallen in love with him, it was that it had taken her so long to figure it out.
She walked toward the temporary production offices and was surprised to see large trucks pulled up in front of them. As she approached, she saw guys in T-shirts carrying boxes and furniture into the trucks. If she didn’t know better, she would say everyone was leaving.
She saw Karen, one of the production assistants, sitting at a table in the middle of the sidewalk.
“What’s going on?” Dakota asked as she approached. “Why are you working out here?”
Karen looked up at her. Her eyes were swollen and red, as if she’d been crying. “It’s over. The show’s canceled.” She sniffed. “We were shut down late last night. Geoff called me from the airport. He’s already back in L.A.”
“Canceled? How can they do that? We’re not even through this cycle. Who wins?”
“No one,” Karen told her flatly. “No one cares. The numbers suck. We started out okay but then plummeted in the third week. It’s a disaster.”
Dakota was having trouble taking in the information. “What happens to the contestants?”
“They go home.”
“What happens to you?”
Tears filled Karen’s eyes. “I work for Geoff. Right now that’s not a good thing. I have a lot of friends in the business and they’ll help me. I need to get work with another company or producer.” She sighed. “I have savings. This sort of thing happens all the time, so if you’re going to survive, you have to be prepared to deal with weeks of unemployment. But it’s not fun and I know people are wondering if I knew. I didn’t. But nobody gives a crap about that.”
“I’m sorry,” Dakota said, feeling awkward. She didn’t know what else to say. She didn’t understand how so much money could be put into a show and then the show simply canceled within a few short weeks.
“If you need a recommendation or if I can help in any way, please let me know,” Dakota told her.
“Thanks.” She glanced at her watch. “You’d better get into your office. If you have anything personal, I’d get it in the next five or ten minutes. Your part of the office is going to be dismantled by nine.”
“Okay. I will.” Dakota stood there awkwardly for a few seconds, but Karen returned her attention to her work and didn’t look up again.
As Dakota walked toward her small corner of the production office, she pulled out her cell phone and left a message for the mayor. She had a feeling that word had already spread all over town. She looked around at the cameras being loaded onto trucks and people getting in cars and driving away. The TV show had tried to take over the town. She had a feeling that in a matter of hours, it would seem as if it had never been there. Maybe that was just the nature of the business. It was all an illusion and nothing ever lasted.
BY NOON, Dakota was back in her old office, ready to tackle the curriculum planning for which she’d been hired. She’d had a quick meeting with Raoul Moreno and, as he put it, a game plan. She let him call her schedule a game plan for two reasons. First, because he was a former NFL quarterback and sports terms made him feel happy. Second, because he signed her paycheck.
Before his summer camp had been transformed into a temporary elementary school, his dream had been to open a facility for kids in middle school. The emphasis would be on math and science. They would come for three or four weeks at a time, have extensive study in either math or science and, in theory, return to their regular schools enthused about what they could accomplish. As the elementary school would need the camp for at least two years, they had ample time to develop their program.
Montana arrived at the office exactly at two. She had a leash in one hand and pushed the stroller with the other. Buddy, the intense and worried labradoodle, kept pace with the stroller. Every few seconds he looked at Hannah, as if making sure she was all right.
“I can’t decide if Buddy would make a good dad if he were human,” Montana said, “or if he would be on Prozac half the time.”
“He’s a pretty good-looking guy,” Dakota said, rising and coming around her desk. “He’d probably discover women and forget to pick up his kids from day care.”
Montana bent down and patted the dog. “Don’t you listen to her, Buddy. I know better. I know you’d never forget to pick up your children from day care. Who’s that handsome puppy? We’ll ignore my mean sister.”
Dakota laughed. “I’m sorry, Buddy. I was teasing.” She picked up Hannah and pulled her close. “How’s my girl?”
Montana straightened. “She was great. She’s eating much better. I swear I can see her growing. I can’t say I love poopy diapers, but I’m getting good at them.”
“I really appreciate you looking after her,” Dakota said. “Now that I’m back here, I should be able to bring her to work with me at least three days a week. So I’m not going to need as much day care. Mom’s going to take her one of those days and I’ve had about five calls from different women in town wanting her the other day.”
“It must be nice to be popular.”
“It’s not me. It’s Hannah. She’s more popular than any of us.”
Montana sat on the edge of the desk. “I don’t think I could do what you do.”
“Plan curriculum?”
“Have a baby by myself.” Montana’s gaze dropped to her sister’s stomach. “Make that two babies.”
“It wasn’t planned,” Dakota admitted, telling herself not to panic at the thought of being a single mom to two young children. “I’ll admit I’m scared, but I’m not going to think about that. Both children are a blessing.”
“What is Finn?”
A good question and one she couldn’t answer.
“I love him,” Dakota said quietly and shrugged. “I know it’s stupid, but I couldn’t help myself. I just…” She smiled. “He’s the one.”
“Wow. You found him.”
“I’m not saying it was an intelligent choice.”
“It could work out,” Montana told her.
“I appreciate your loyalty, but do you really believe that?”
“He could surprise you.”
Dakota gave her a skeptical look. “He’s made it clear that he wants his old life back. With his brothers moving on, he’s finally free. I know he cares about me, but that’s not the same as love or taking on more responsibility.”
“So you’re not going to ask?”
“I’m not going to make myself crazy wishing for
something that might never happen.”
Montana started to speak, then stopped. “Tell me what I can do to help.”
“What were you going to say?”
Her sister shifted. “That you’re giving up without trying. If you love him, if he’s the one, shouldn’t you at least try to make things work? Fight for him? Only he hasn’t said no yet, because you haven’t told him. So there’s no fight to be had.”
“I’ll tell him. I’m waiting because I know what’s going to happen and I don’t want to ruin what we have. Trust me. When Finn finds out I’m pregnant, there will be burning skid marks on the road.”
“If you say so.”
The conversation wasn’t going the way Dakota had intended, and she found herself annoyed. She told herself that this wasn’t Montana’s fault. She didn’t understand. Wanting something didn’t make it happen.
“You need to give him the chance to surprise you,” Montana murmured. “Maybe he will.”
Dakota nodded because she didn’t want to fight, but she knew the truth was very different.
THAT NIGHT Dakota felt restless. She couldn’t forget her argument with her sister, and she couldn’t ignore the voice in her head saying that she was hiding rather than being honest. That both she and Finn deserved better.
When she let him in that night, she had a marinara sauce simmering and soft music playing. Hannah had already drifted off for her dinnertime nap.
“Hey,” Finn said, as he walked into her small house. “How was your first day away from TV? Do you miss the excitement of working in the entertainment industry?”
He smiled as he spoke, his blue eyes crinkling slightly. He was tall and handsome and strong. He was someone she could lean on.
Maybe she’d never fallen in love before because she hadn’t found the right guy. There had always been a nagging sense of something missing. With Finn, she felt full…complete.
If only.
She waited until he closed the front door, then stepped into his arms. As she wrapped her arms around him, she drew his head down so she could kiss him. Telling him how she felt was a one-way road to disaster, but showing him… That might be different.
She pressed her mouth against his, letting all the frustration, the love, the worry, spill into her kiss. He held on tight, as if sensing she needed to be close. He kissed her back, his tongue tangling with hers, his body surging close.
Hunger flared to life, but it was about so much more than sex. It was about him and what they could have together.
Wordlessly, she reached for his hand and tugged him through the living room, down the hall and into her bedroom. With the door open, they could easily hear Hannah if she cried.
Once in the dimness of her bedroom, she turned to him. There were questions in his eyes, but he didn’t ask anything. Apparently he knew she needed more than conversation.
He put his hands on the hem of her T-shirt and pulled it over her head. She unfastened her bra. When she was naked to the waist, he bent down and drew her already tight nipple into his mouth. He used his hand to tease her other breast.
His mouth was warm. His tongue aroused her, flicking the tip over her nipple. With each deep tug, she felt herself swelling and readying. Only it wasn’t enough. She wanted more than this. She wanted all of him, on top of her, filling her, taking her. She needed him. She needed the connection.
Again, he read her mind. He reached for the button on her jeans. She undid it for him, then pushed down her clothes. Immediately he slipped his hand between her legs. She was already wet. With his thumb, he found her center. As he rubbed that sensitive knot of flesh, he pushed two fingers inside of her.
Sensations assaulted her. From his mouth at her breasts to his hand stroking, massaging, pushing. He went in deeper, finding all the places that made her gasp. Even though she hung on to him, her legs began to tremble. She was having trouble staying upright. But she didn’t want him to stop. She didn’t want anything to distract him from the way he made her feel.
Tension filled her. Tension and pleasure and an unrelenting desire to be swept away into an ocean of satisfaction. She was getting closer and closer, so close that—
He stopped. She cried out her protest, not sure what was happening. Before she could say anything, he’d pushed her back onto the bed. She sat on the edge of the mattress, and then he was on his knees, parting her legs, replacing his thumb with his tongue. He kissed her intimately, even as he thrust his fingers back inside of her.
The feel of his tongue, his breath, the fullness was too much. She barely had time to register the pleasure when she was tumbling into her release. She cried out as her body shuddered.
The waves came again and again until she was limp. Then he was standing and fumbling with his clothes. As he sent his shirt, shoes, socks, jeans and boxers flying, she scrambled up a little higher on the bed. He joined her seconds later.
“Dakota,” he breathed, as he pushed into her.
She welcomed him, wrapping her legs around his hips and drawing him closer. Usually she closed her eyes, but this time she kept them open, watching him watch her. They were connected. She felt what he felt, knew his anticipation, experienced the tension. As he got closer, so did she. The need for more grew until there was nothing to do but come together.
She clung to him as he held on to her. The night closed around them until it seemed as if they had always been together and that they could never ever be apart.
I love you.
She thought the words but didn’t speak them. She knew once she said them, she would have to tell him the truth, and then those words would be a trap. A way to make him feel obligated.
If only.
The wish was like a prayer, sent out into the cosmos. Was having the one man she’d waited her whole life to find too much to ask?
Even as the question formed, she heard Hannah’s soft sigh and had her answer. She’d already been given so much. There was no way she could have it all.
She might not be able to keep Finn, but she would have his baby, and somehow, she would make that enough.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“YOU’RE KILLING ME,” Bill said, his voice surprisingly clear considering he was twelve hundred miles away. “We’re starting our busy season, Finn. You’ve got to get back here or you’ve got to cut me loose.”
“I know,” Finn said, clutching the cell phone. “Just give me another week.”
“To do what? You said the show was over. That your brothers were done with it. What more is there to do in that damn town?”
An excellent question, Finn thought. He should be jumping on the first plane back to Alaska. And he wasn’t. He kept having this feeling that there was more to do here.
“It’s that woman, isn’t it?”
“Dakota? Some of it is her.” He hadn’t meant to get involved. He didn’t want to get close to anyone. But there was something about her. Something that appealed to him. Walking away was going to be harder than he’d expected.
“Are you thinking about staying?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure of anything. Look, Bill, I know this is unfair. I know you’re working your ass off. Just give me a week. I’ll have an answer then.”
His friend sighed. “Fine. A week. But no longer. And you are going to seriously owe me.”
“I know. Whatever you want, it’s yours.”
Bill chuckled. “Like I believe that. Talk to you in a week. If you don’t call me, I’m selling your half of the business to the first person who offers me a nickel.”
“Fair enough.” Finn ended the call.
He stood on the tarmac of the Fool’s Gold airport and looked at the planes. He could make a life here, if that was what he wanted. The question was, did he? He’d been responsible for so damn long, and he’d told himself that when he got his brothers raised, he was done. He was only going to think about himself, do what he wanted.
Now that he was free, being alone wasn’t quite so appealing. He’d gotten used
to being part of the family. Part of something. Did he want to walk away from that? Did it have to be all or nothing?
“What did your partner say?” Hamilton asked.
Finn had mentioned having to phone Bill. “He’s not happy I’m still here. I told him I’d make a decision within the next week.”
Hamilton raised his bushy gray eyebrows. “You thinking about buying me out? I can have some papers drawn up.”
The old man offered him the business nearly every time he reported for work. The price was fair, and there was plenty of potential to grow. Finn had some ideas about scheduled shipping routes and passenger service. If he wanted to stay.
“I’ll let you know in the next week, as well.”
“What’s so special about the next seven days?” Hamilton asked. “You reading tea leaves or something?”
“Not yet. I need to figure some things out.”
Hamilton shook his head. “You young people today. Never wanting to make a decision. I know what’s keeping you here. It’s that girl in town. She seems pretty enough to me, but then what do I know? I’ve been married nearly forty years.” He grinned. “Take it from an old man. Marriage is a good way to go.”
Marriage? Is that what they were talking about? He knew in his head it was a logical next step, but the thought of it made him take a step back. Dakota had a daughter. Was he ready to be a father? Hadn’t he already done that with his brothers?
He supposed it came down to his feelings for Dakota. He knew he liked her. She had been an unexpected find in what could have been a terrible situation. She was supportive and caring. He liked watching her with Hannah. She was a good mother and a good friend. She would probably make a great wife. The thing was, he didn’t think he was looking for one.
“A week,” he repeated.
Hamilton raised his arm. “Fine by me. Take as long as you want. I think you like it here. I think you’re looking for an excuse to stay. If you were so hot to get back to Alaska, you’d already be gone. But then I’m just an old man.”
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