by Lowe, Fiona
She quickly gathered her stuff and stacked it on a side table.
Dana turned away from Sean and spoke to Bridey. “Oh, have you made your cake decision already? I thought we might have coffee and a browse together.”
Bridey appreciated Dana’s interest but the thought of more wedding talk combined with the possibility of Kathleen finding out, suddenly intensified her headache and the one person she needed to be interested in the wedding wasn’t returning her emails and texts. “I need some fresh air. I think I’ll go for a swim before spending some time with Mom.”
“Another time then. Esther’s doing a potluck supper tonight and I thought we could serve ourselves from seven. Kathleen’s very welcome.”
Her father sighed. “You know she won’t come.”
Dana’s chin tilted up sharply. “I know no such thing. Bridey, it would be great if you could encourage her to come. I’ve texted Finn but I haven’t heard back.”
“I think my son might be otherwise occupied.”
Bridey heard her father’s tone and did a double take. “What has he said?”
“To me? Nothing at all. This is Finn we’re talking about. I’m just saying he’s a man sharing a two-roomed cabin with a leggy blonde. He’d have to be made of stone not to be somewhat occupied.”
“But he didn’t want Annika at the cabin. In fact he tried to get Mom to— Oh.” Bridey smiled as realization dawned. Finn always kept his private life very, very private and she might have just stumbled onto a bargaining chip to get her brother to start attending some family gatherings. “Dana, I’m pretty sure Finn will be there tonight and I’ll do my best to bring Kathleen.”
She let herself out, enjoying the feel of the soft, warm grass tickling her bare feet as she walked down toward the beach. Her father’s words kept turning over in her mind and she decided she might just kayak over to the island as she did from time to time. Of course while she was there, she’d have to call into the cabin and say hello, because not to do so would be plain rude.
Lost in her scheming, she didn’t hear anything other than her own thoughts so when a pair of arms covered in blond hair grabbed her around the waist and swung her up and off the ground, she screamed. It took less than five seconds for her to recognize the strong hands with their neatly trimmed nails and for her brain to decode the familiar earthy scent tinged with a slight tang of oil.
She squealed with sheer joy. “Hank.”
Holding her tightly, he let her feet touch the ground and then he spun her around in his arms, never losing contact. Behind his dark-rimmed glasses he looked bone-tired, but his honey-brown eyes smiled down at her. “Bridey.”
His lips brushed hers lightly, making her body sing, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, needing to feel his strength against her skin. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
His fingers gently rubbed her neck. “I hitched a ride on the helicopter along with some gear for Finn.”
She gave a tiny jump of delight and kissed him hard before catching his hand and pulling him toward the tree house. “Our vacation starts now and we’re starting it horizontal.”
He laughed and tugged her back toward him, while at the same time glancing around the wide expanse of grass as if he was looking for someone. “Where is everybody?”
“Around. Out. I don’t know. Does it matter?” She’d missed him so much and all she wanted to do was strip him bare, touch him all over, hold him and make wild and unrestrained love. Right now. She counter-tugged but Hank had stopped walking, his feet wide apart and firmly planted on the grass.
“We’re not having sex in the tree house during daylight hours and risking scarring Logan for life.” He slid his palms against her cheeks and traced the jet lines of her brow with his thumbs. “Before we do anything, I should go meet your parents.”
She shook her head, not wanting to share him with anyone. “Later.”
He matched her head shake with one of his own. “No, now. I’m a guest in their house.”
Her frustration built. She hadn’t seen him in two weeks and their phone calls had been short, and now his unfamiliar air of distraction had her on edge. “You’re not a guest. You’re not an employee. You’re my fiancé.”
A muscle in his cheek twitched and an intransigent look entered his eyes. “Actually, I’m all three.”
“Hank, please.” They had this argument every time he arrived at the lake or her father’s house in Chicago. Usually, she kissed him until he smiled, but today unease scuttled through her, underlining the fact she’d proposed to him. She’d driven the marriage carriage right up to his door. “You’re marrying me, not my father.”
“That doesn’t negate common courtesy, Bridey. I should make my presence known to them seeing as I’m here for the weekend.”
Her loop-the-loop of excitement violently crash-landed into a landfill of disappointment. “Just the weekend?” She couldn’t stop the moan in her voice. “No, it has to be longer. For once I’ve got the whole family together and you’re supposed to be here with me too. We’ve got wedding decisions to make, like the venue.” Her voice rose as the long to-do list scrolled in her head. “And Monday is the cutoff date for the Newberry Library, which I love but it’s probably going to be too small. The InterContinental is tempting but Mom’s pushing for the Museum of Contemporary Art and—”
He kissed her quickly on the mouth and then said in his calm and quiet way, “It’s all going to be fine. We’ve got an entire weekend.”
Breathing deeply, she absorbed the serenity he always gave her and laid her head on his shoulder. “So we’ve got until Monday morning.”
He pressed his lips to her hair. “Sunday afternoon.”
She jerked back so fast she wrenched her neck and the pain intensified the moment she saw his resigned yet determined expression.
“Bridey, I was lucky to even get this weekend. The testing on the new number four went well but full production starts Monday. I have to be there at 7:00 a.m.” He kissed her on her eyebrow. “Don’t let that spoil the time we’ve got.”
He wrapped his arms around her again and his eyes darkened to burnished amber. “Come nightfall, when you and I are alone in the guest cottage, I promise I’ll make it up to you not only in the best way I know how, but how you like it best.”
Guest cottage. She almost sobbed. “Mom’s in the cottage.”
Hank paled. “And your room’s between your parents’ and your little brother’s.” He swung away from her. “Bridey, not only do I have to work with your brother and your father, I have to face them at breakfast.”
That was code for “you’re noisy” and “I’m not sleeping with you in a bedroom surrounded by your family.” Her plans for the perfect summer took another hit.
She heard the distinctive throb of the motorboat and saw Annika throw the rope toward the bollard and miss as Finn maneuvered the vessel parallel to the dock. She also saw his gaze on Annika’s behind as she fished the rope out of the water, and the smile he gave her when she finally got the rope in place.
Her big brother who hated vacationing at the lake had got lucky. Damn it, she was engaged and if anyone should be guaranteed to get lucky it was her. The moment Logan was safely tucked up in bed she and Hank had a date in the tree house.
* * *
Finn gripped the longneck bottle of beer and wondered if a Friday night could possibly go any slower. His plans for the evening had involved him and Annika in the spa bath with champagne
and watching the sunset before moving into his bed to do more than just sleep. He couldn’t quite believe that for three nights they’d only slept in his bed. They’d had sex on the air mattress, outside on the veranda, on a rug in the woods with the fresh scent of pine around them, and this morning, somewhere between coffee and toast, they’d had sex against the kitchen counter. But in bed they’d only talked and spooned. He wasn’t used to having a woman in his bed all night but surprisingly, he’d slept and slept well.
But his bed plans had been stymied the moment Bridey had met them on the dock. While he’d been pulling up the outboard, Annika hadn’t waited for him to help her out of the boat and she’d tripped and sprawled front-first onto the dock. Hank had helped her to her feet and Bridey had issued the dinner invitation on the spot. Annika, being Annika, had accepted immediately. That left Finn with the choice of spending time alone at the cabin, time with his mother who’d furiously declined the dinner invitation and had insisted on being “left alone to heal,” or time with the rest of his family. He’d chosen dinner as the lesser of the evils.
His father wandered over with a beer in one hand and a fistful of peanuts in the other. “I’m guessing Hank’s presence here tonight means things are under control with number four?”
“They’re improving. Monday will be the real test.”
“Everything else going smoothly?”
“Yes.” He studied his father’s summer-tanned face but couldn’t read it. “Do you want me to email you a full report before Monday?”
“No, thanks.” Sean took a pull on his beer. “Smooth is good. It means you can work summer hours.”
He heard Annika’s laughter from across the terrace and thought about all the many and varied ways they could while away Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday. “This weekend anyway. I’m not holding my breath about next week.”
Sean gave an understanding nod. “Seeing as you have time this weekend, how about you help me build a zip line?”
His response to the unexpected question was instant and automatic. “I don’t think so, Dad.”
If Sean had anticipated his refusal, he didn’t show it. “Hank’s offered.”
This didn’t surprise Finn in the least. “Of course he’s offered. It’s the sort of thing future sons-in-law do.”
Sean shrugged but the rolling motion said he didn’t agree. “Bridey thought Logan would enjoy the zip line as much as the two of you did when you were kids.”
“I’m sure he will.” It didn’t mean he had to be part of the build. Memories crowded him and he took a long pull of his beer. “It’s a shame Grandpa isn’t around to give you construction tips.” He started to move away but Sean’s reply stalled him.
“You might surprise yourself and enjoy it.”
“And pigs might fly.”
He made a beeline for Annika, but was thwarted by Hank, who wanted to update him on work, and then Esther rang a small dinner bell, asking everyone to be seated. Before he could reach Annika, Hank was pulling out a seat for her and Logan had snuck onto the chair next to hers. Bridey grabbed his arm so he missed rounding the table before Hank sat down on the other side of Annika.
Finn seated his sister and took the chair opposite Annika, as Dana sat next to him and Sean seated himself at the head of the table. Esther quietly removed the extra place setting that had been laid out for Kathleen and returned to the kitchen. At least one thing had gone his way this evening. He could be polite for an hour and survive the meal. Had Kathleen come, things would have been very different. Her presence and tart response to questions was the one thing that might have had him feeling almost sorry for his father.
Platters of food were passed up and down the long table as the family-style meal commenced, and for a minute or two all that could be heard was the scrape of serving spoons against china, and the murmured requests to pass particular dishes. The fish cakes were the most popular followed by the potato-and-cheese bake. Dana picked up her fork. “Did anyone see how enormous the moon was last night?”
“It’s a blue moon.” Annika broke open a crusty dinner roll and spread it with butter.
“No it’s not. It’s white,” Logan corrected her with eight-year-old logic.
Most of the adults laughed but not Annika. Instead she met Logan’s serious gaze and proceeded to explain—in terms a young boy could understand—about moon cycles and why it was called a blue moon.
Hank, who was usually quiet at family gatherings, said, “My dad used to take us camping on a full moon. It was like trying to sleep with the light on.”
Logan’s head swung around to Hank. “Awesome. I’d love to sleep in a tent.”
Hank glanced up at Dana and Sean, his expression slightly cautious but mostly obliging and respectful. “Maybe we could if it was okay with your parents.”
Bridey stiffened in her chair. “We don’t have a tent, Hank.”
Annika leaned slightly in front of Logan and spoke directly to Hank. “I’ve got an air mattress and a sleeping bag. It’s a glorious night and if you can rustle up another bag, you guys could camp out on the island. I used to camp out with my brother.”
Finn shot her a look he hoped said, “What in the hell are you doing?” but if Annika saw it she chose to ignore it.
Sean took a second serving of the creamy potato bake. “We’ve got plenty of sleeping mats and bags in the storeroom.”
Logan’s face was a wreath of smiles. “Can I, Mom? Can I camp out with Hank on the island?”
A hint of a frown hovered on Dana’s forehead as her gaze moved between Hank and Bridey. “Are you sure you want to do this on your weekend, Hank?”
“Sure.” He nodded and a lock of blond hair fell over the rim of his glasses. “I’ve had my nose in a temperamental machine for two weeks so it’ll be great to spend a night out in the fresh air.” He put his hand on Logan’s shoulder. “What do you think, buddy? Do you want to sleep under the stars?”
Logan let out a whoop of delight.
Bridey choked on a mouthful of chicken and Finn hit her firmly on the back. “You okay, sis?”
Nodding, she gulped down some water as Hank’s hand reached across the table and covered hers. “Coming with us, Bridey? It’ll be fun.”
Finn saw the tight edges of his sister’s smile and he knew that Hank was in serious trouble for planning a campout on his first night back. If this camping expedition was taking place on the island then he’d make sure it was as far away from the cabin as possible so as not to disturb him and Annika. “Hank, there’s a pretty beach on the north side which would be perfect for a small fire and toasting s’mores.”
Bridey tapped the base of her wineglass with her finger as if she was tapping out a code for those who could decipher it. “It sounds like something out of the Boy Scout handbook. Seeing as us girls are lacking the right equipment, we’ll stay here and do girl stuff while all the boys go. Dad and Finn, you need to join in too.”
Traitor! Finn couldn’t believe that in her frustration with Hank, Bridey was taking him down with her. None of them was going to get any sex tonight. He immediately weighed in with, “I don’t think that’s—” but his words were drowned out by those of his father, Dana and Annika who readily agreed with the plan.
All eyes turned to him, including Annika’s penetrating blue-blue gaze that saw more than he thought he’d ever exposed. Normally, nothing would induce him to spend time with his father and little brother, let alone a night camping out. Normally, he’
d push back his chair, throw down his napkin and say, “No way,” but if he did that now it would leave him dealing with Annika. An Annika asking hard questions and he knew she wouldn’t be distracted by anything. Not even sex. He was not having that sort of conversation with her.
He swallowed a sigh. If he had to spend a night with Sean and Logan then at least he had Hank as a buffer. “I’ll bring the marshmallows.”
Chapter Eleven
“You do realize this is all your fault? We could have been crossing the lake right now, well on our way to having wild monkey sex but no, you had to mention camping.”
Annika smiled up at Finn who’d cornered her near the storeroom, and was now using his body against hers in the most divine extortion tactics she’d ever experienced. She fingered his collar. “Actually, it was Hank who mentioned camping.”
“I should have him fired.” He nuzzled her neck.
His breath caressed her skin, making her dizzy. “He’s family.”
He raised his head. “And you think family can’t be fired?”
His expression said “joking” but she caught a glimmer of buried steel in the depths of his eyes. Business always comes first. She grabbed the stark reminder and held on to it like a life preserver in a debris-strewn sea. The fun they had together, the amazing sex they shared—all of it was very, very temporary.
She kissed him hard and then forced herself to break the contact. “Go have fun.”
He made a grumbling sound and tried to kiss her.
She ducked and pressed her palms against his chest. “Go. Relive your childhood camping adventures with Sean and tell Logan all the silly stories about the fish that got away and—”
“I’ve never been camping with Sean in my life.”
The words cracked like a whip and tension shot along his jaw so tightly she wondered how he’d been able to speak. She’d noticed a similar strain tonight when Finn had been talking with his father, although it lessened when they’d spoken about the company. She doubted they were close and yet she’d seen Sean with Logan teaching him to dive and fish—doing the things fathers did with sons that built relationships. Had Finn’s parents’ divorce got in the way of that?
