by Lucy Gage
Her face scrunched. “How does your girlfriend feel about you screwing the innkeeper?”
“What the hell are you talking about? First of all, Ness is a friend and my business partner. Her fiancé was the photographer showing that night. Second of all, I’m not screwing anyone at the moment, but even if I were, it’d be none of your damn concern. You lost that right when you fucked Barrett.”
At the mention of his name, Kelsey flinched. “Thanks for the reminder.” Her hand rubbed circles on her belly.
“Let me guess, if I ask when you last saw him, you’ll lie, but the truth is that you ran into him around the time of that show.”
“No, Reid. I told you, this is your baby.”
“Bullshit. Do I need to ask Sadie? She’s your best friend. Maybe she’ll tell me the truth. I sure as hell won’t let you lie and tell people it’s mine. You’re not fucking up my chances with Fin again, do you hear me?”
I turned to leave, and she said, “Wait.”
“What?”
“Fine. The baby is Barrett’s.” She sighed. “I went to that show with a co-worker, and I saw you there with that woman. I was jealous, and when I ran into Barrett a few days later, I did something stupid.”
“And now you’re pregnant.” She nodded, and I sighed. “You have to get over this. We’ve been done for years. No matter what, it’s never happening again. Ever.”
Kelsey ran her tongue over her teeth, a sign that she didn’t like what I had to say. “Fine.”
“Stop trying. You’re making a fool of yourself, and it won’t work.” As I walked away, I said, “And tell Barrett. He deserves to know.”
When I returned to the patio, I was shaking my head.
“Everything okay?” Gabe asked.
“You ready to hit the pub and drink some beer? Because I need a break from the worst part of my past.” Across the flagstone, I looked at Kelsey.
“Sounds good to me. Can you go ask the front desk for the passcode? Finley said she could give us one so that we could be back after eleven. I don’t want to stay out too late, but we’re a little old for curfews.”
“Sure,” I said, dreading what she might say to the crap she heard from Kelsey. Again. Jesus.
At the front desk, Fin was typing something into the computer. “Can I help you with anything?” she asked. When she looked up, she smiled, but it seemed forced.
“Um, Gabe said you’d give us a passcode to use tonight for the security system?”
“Of course. Tell him I’ll text it in about an hour. I need to set up a temporary code. Is that it?”
“Ah, no.” Fin looked at me expectantly, in that way a concierge might act toward a clueless guest. “Look, what you heard earlier…”
“I didn’t hear anything. We respect our guests’ privacy. If that’s all, I need to call my security company to authorize a temporary code.” She turned to leave.
“Fin.” When she spun around, her brows rose. “Please let me explain this time.”
She sighed. “Fine. Come see me later.”
Given everything, all our history—hers with Kelsey’s obnoxious behavior and my lack of transparency, mine with bad endings—it was all I could ask. Now that I knew she’d still speak to me, I wasn’t sure I could stand to wait until we came home later. Sitting around the pub for the bachelor party would be an exercise in patience.
.
The bachelor party ended up being beer, pub food better than any I’d ever had—Stef’s chef was a genius for stuffing things with cheese and frying it—and some great company. Oh, and a private exotic dance show with a couple Stef knew who did some sexy, contemporary routine with a boudoir flair. No stripping, but damn, it was about as close to live porn as you could get without watching actual naked people having sex.
Turned out, a few of our old soccer buddies couldn’t afford the trip to London, either, so Ry had been making me feel like an ass for no reason. This was the real bachelor party, and the journey to London was for the Harry Potter geeks to see that stage production.
Ryan made up for his lousy joke by concluding the festivities for Gabe and me a little earlier. He told me that, once we left, a stripper would be there. I guess Ry didn’t want to disappoint the other guys, but he’d promised Sadie no naked women for Gabe. And he thought I’d prefer reconnecting with Fin to watching a skin show. He was right.
Once I’d entered the passcode, I kicked off my shoes and tiptoed toward the back hallway. At Fin’s door, I inhaled deeply and then knocked three times. After what felt like hours, but was probably only a minute, I heard the lock turn, and the oak swung inward.
“You came,” she said.
“You can’t possibly think I wouldn’t have.” She shrugged. “Can I come in?” Fin nodded and let me pass, then she shut the door behind us. She twisted the lock, and I took that as a positive sign.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” she asked.
“Ah, I could use some water. I rarely drink these days, and that was some tasty, quality, high-octane beer.”
Once again, she threw her head back in that laugh which made my heart soar. “Jerry will be glad to hear you say that. He brewed this batch just for the wedding.” She filled a glass with water from her fridge.
“Did he? How’d that happen?” She handed me the water and then went into how Gabe had joked about the idea of a wedding brew, and Jerry had run with it. He’d loved the concept and had been considering it for a while.
“So, we were the guinea pigs, huh?”
Fin nodded, smiling. We both laughed for a moment, and then she sobered quickly. I followed suit. “You had something to tell me.”
“Right,” I said as I exhaled. And then I confessed the entire truth—what had happened with Barrett and Kelsey all those years ago, why I didn’t want to admit that in Destin, how Kelsey was playing her again earlier and attempting to lie for the sake of hurting Fin.
“Is she really pregnant?” Fin asked. “Because she looks far less so than Anna did at six-months along.”
“Did Anna have a baby recently?”
“Not yet. She’s due in a little under a month. I’ve tried to get her to take it easy, but she insists on working until the doctor won’t let her.”
“As far as I know, Kelsey is pregnant, but I haven’t seen her belly, so I can’t say for sure. But she admitted to me that Barrett is the father.”
“The same guy?” I confirmed with a nod. “Interesting.”
I huffed a laugh. “Sure. Let’s call it that.” Fin smiled, but it morphed into biting her lip. “What are you thinking?”
She scooted closer to me on the sofa a few inches at a time. “I’m thinking that I invited you here for another reason earlier, but I’m glad we talked. I needed to hear it all from you, Reid.”
“I wish I’d told you before.”
Fin held my face in her hands. “Can you promise me that there isn’t anyone else?”
“There hasn’t been anyone serious since Destin.”
“No?”
“No,” I whispered. “I couldn’t. I still wanted you. Only you, Fin.”
“Can I tell you a secret?” Her lips feathered close to mine, brushing as she spoke against my flesh.
“What’s that?” My hand skimmed her side until I held her breast in my palm again, the way I had that afternoon.
“I couldn’t be serious about anyone, either. I kept comparing them to you. And you know what happened?”
“No.” The beat of my heart accelerated again.
“Not one of them came close.”
“Were there lots?” I asked as I nipped at her lip.
“No. Only a handful and even fewer who made it to my bed. None who had a real chance.”
“Same.” I gulped. “Fin? Do you think we can try this again?”
“Why don’t you get started? We’ll see if we’re capable.”
With a chuckle, I kissed her neck. “I don’t question
if we’re capable. Just if we’re willing.”
She pushed me to my back and straddled my waist. “I’m willing if you are.”
As I pulled her hips toward my pelvis, I said, “What do you think?”
Her mouth crashed into mine, and after several minutes of groping, undulation, and soul-deep kisses, she replied, “It’s been far too long. That’s what I think.” Then she consumed me again.
I couldn’t agree more.
We spent the next couple hours reliving some of our favorite highlights from Destin. Only this time around, my confidence surged quicker than I would have expected.
One thing was certain, the years apart had not diminished our chemistry. In fact, they’d improved my stamina to the benefit of us both, even if my recovery time had increased. I don’t think either of us minded the change.
Because we had limited time together, our appetite was insatiable, though, our energy levels were not quite so robust. Sometime around 2 a.m., we crashed in a pile of sweaty, entangled limbs, sated and exhausted. I’d never been happier, except for that first night we made love in Destin.
Not wanting to make things awkward for Fin when wedding festivities began, around 4 a.m. I kissed her shoulder and whispered, “I’ll see you later.”
“You don’t have to go,” she murmured as she caught my hand and tugged me closer. It wasn’t as if I wanted to leave her—on the contrary, I lamented the fact that this wasn’t another vacation when we could stay in bed for hours or days, sometimes even eating naked.
“This is your business, and I respect that. We’ll have more time later,” I promised, nuzzling her neck.
“Stay,” Fin breathed. She dragged my mouth to hers and devoured me. After years of being without her, wishing for another chance at this, the urge to make her mine overtook me again. I gave into it without a second thought.
Her legs wrapped around my waist, and as the friction built, hands wandering and urging, I suddenly found myself inside her once more, best intentions be damned. We both moaned and sighed.
Lost in the moment, loving the connection, the sensation, the heat, before I could clear my head enough to recognize reality, Fin responded to my movements. In minutes, we reached the pinnacle, and as soon as she went over the precipice, I followed.
Instantly, I understood—too late—what we’d done.
Panting heavily, I propped myself on my forearms and caressed her cheeks with my thumbs. Kissing her gently, I said, “Fin, we forgot a condom.”
“I assume you’re as clean as ever,” she replied with a cheeky grin. “I’m still on the pill. And I’ve never done this with anyone but you.”
In response, I kissed her hard. “Does that mean you’re willing to give this another shot?”
Her chest contracted. “Ah, I don’t know?”
Floored, I moved so that I laid beside her and asked, “What does that mean?”
“It means that I’m not sure.”
“About me? Or us?” I knew it was pathetic, but I had this mad hope that she’d be reminded of what we’d once shared and want to jump into full-fledged couple status immediately. Stupid and unrealistic, but I’d been holding a damn torch for more than six years.
“Don’t take it that way. Before you leave here, I will have a solid answer. But I need to focus on the job, or else Sadie and Gabe won’t get the day they paid big bucks to have.”
“And that’s all it is?”
“Of course.”
“You don’t believe Kelsey?”
Fin cupped my cheek and let the sheet fall so that her bust was exposed. “Whose bed are you in, Reid?”
“Yours.”
“That’s right, mine. I’m not intimidated by her any longer, and I know she lies all the time. If you say it’s not true, then I believe you. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here right now.” Her other hand reached for me. “We still have time…”
“Yes,” I sighed. “Does that mean…”
“I want you again, Reid. Make love to me? Please? We have to steal the moments while we can.”
And as I eased between her thighs again, my heart opened with the optimism that we’d make this official before I returned to California.
After, when I was fully dressed and ready to leave—I’d learned in Destin that at least one of us had to be clothed to ensure departure—I said, “Tell me tomorrow night.”
“What’s tomorrow night?” she asked as she ran her hands up my chest.
My eyes fluttered closed, and I swallowed. “Ry insisted we celebrate my birthday with a party before I head back. Will you come?”
“Definitely. And I promise I’ll have an answer then.”
I smiled broadly, and as I crept back to my room, I thought, God, I love that woman. Even if her heart wasn’t all-in again, mine already was.
Though I woke for brunch exhausted, my night with Fin had been well worth every extra cup of coffee to get me through Gabe’s wedding day. If Sadie’s mother noticed that I yawned a few times and muttered about it to her daughters, I didn’t care. Both Gabe and Ryan teased me when they caught my irrepressible smile, and making my best friend happy was what mattered.
Despite the planned ceremony organization, Kelsey tried to pull some foolishness about me walking her down the aisle to her seat. The stunt rolled off my back, and I escorted a bunch of other people for good measure just to prove to her that I wouldn’t play her games. During the reception, she repeatedly touched me—she’d wrangled a seat beside mine—but I redirected her to someone or something else every time.
Fin—who excelled at her wedding planner role—didn’t seem to be affected by it, and Kelsey probably hated that.
Later, Sadie apologized for her best friend, but I told her not to worry about it. Her smile widened, and she said, “Gabe was right. It’s like the old Reid is back. We missed you.” Her hug told me I’d made her day even better.
Apparently, I hadn’t been happy for a while.
Neither Fin nor I had time to do more than wave or offer secret glances, but I looked forward to the end of the festivities.
When the time finally arrived, we barely had enough energy to enjoy one passionate excursion.
The next morning, unlike the day before, I waited until the last minute to sneak up to my room. I’d head back to California soon, and we didn’t have many more hours before that would happen.
The post-wedding breakfast skipped along smoothly. I thought for sure I’d get a chance to see Fin for a little while once the formal activities were done. But then I got an urgent call from my partner.
“Hey, you. What’s up?”
On the other end, Ness sounded panicked. “Did you file the legal paperwork?”
It seemed like an odd question. “Of course I did. That was done a couple months ago. Why?”
“I can’t find it.” From three thousand miles away, her voice faltered.
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s not in my files, Reid.”
“I’m sure I have a copy in my safe at the house. Can you wait until I get back?”
“Later today?”
“Uh, no. Late tomorrow.”
“Shit.” She sighed heavily. “Any chance you can come sooner? The investors need a copy of the legal documents, and that’s the one item I don’t have. They expected it first thing after the holiday. If we don’t deliver…”
“It’ll be okay. I’ll switch my flight to an earlier time if necessary. But can you keep looking? Maybe you accidentally placed it in another file. Comb through everything. See if you can find the one you already have.”
“Is there some reason you can’t leave?”
“Honestly? Yes. But if I need to push my departure ahead, I will. Do me the favor of looking again, though.”
“Okay. I will. But, Reid, this could make or break us. These guys made it clear that they have expectations.”
“I know. We won’t fail. I promise.” When I
ended the call, I felt a hand on my elbow.
“Everything okay?” Fin asked.
A grin tugged at my lips. On the one hand, I was happy to see her in this secluded corner. On the other, my business could go up in smoke. “Um, yes. Drama at home.”
“With your parents?”
“No. California home. Business stuff.”
Realization dawned on her face. “Oh. Home. Across the country. I completely forgot about that.”
I swallowed hard. “Don’t tell me that you’ve changed your mind.”
She squeezed my hand. “I didn’t tell you my decision, so how can you know if it changed?”
Quirking a smile, I said, “Good point. But don’t let the distance influence you. Please. At least assume it could work.”
“Reid,” Fin replied as she touched my cheek, “stop over-thinking everything. Go. Enjoy your family time. We’ll see each other again later.”
“You’re still coming to the party, right?”
“I told you I’d give you an answer tonight, didn’t I?”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s what I’ll do.” Her lips brushed mine. “I have a lot to do if I’m taking the night off. I’ll talk to you later.” With that, she disappeared, but a nagging feeling haunted me the rest of the day. By the time we left for the wedding party ferry ride and a trip to Fort Ticonderoga, it had bothered me to the point of distraction. One way or another, it felt as if something bad was about to happen. But what?
When I glanced at my watch for the twentieth time in the past hour, Kovac leaned toward me and patted my hand.
“She’ll be here, Reid.”
I nodded and forced a smile, but my heart didn’t believe him. He’d only said something similar a dozen other moments this evening. Since his first assurance, we’d eaten dinner later than planned, consumed a chocolate cake with raspberry filling that I was sure tasted delicious if I could bear to eat any, and were now listening to a local band who’d likely make it big soon. Nothing much registered. Nearing midnight, with no sign of Fin, I was ready to call it a night.
