Finn (9 page)

“Why do you call him Hero?” Anxiety sends my pulse racing.

“Because he saved my husband’s life. When they were in the Marines, they were involved in a roadside bomb. If it weren’t for Finn, who knows what would have happened?” Her eyes glass over, and she looks to the side, wiping her cheek.

Images of Simon flash in my head, and I suck in a deep breath.

Safety, safety, safety
runs through my mind. Reese grabs my hand, and Ember catches the reaction.

“I’m sorry.” Her voice is shaky. “That was so insensitive! I’m a complete idiot.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m at peace with my brother’s death. He died protecting our country. But hearing survivor stories is always a clutch for me.”

“Well, your guy has a great story. He’s my Hero.”

My guy? Hero?

“Jesus, I can’t wait to meet him,” Reese mutters, drinking her champagne.

“You will tonight. He’s dreamy!” Ember practically sings. “And he’s a bit smitten.”

“Smitten?” I repeat.

“It’s a private joke between Robbie and me. But Finn’s definitely smitten.”

“I can argue that you’re probably crazy. We’ve been on one date, which included my niece and was interrupted by my ex,” I tell her, and Reese starts to giggle.

“Maybe so,” Ember breaks into a wide grin, “but we’ve been waiting for it and it happened.”

“What happened?” I question, scared of her reply.

“The minute he saw you in the park, he lost his breath. Then at the funeral, he couldn’t take his eyes off you. When we came to see Blade at the park with Robbie, he was a nervous wreck. Some people wouldn’t notice, but I did. He was there for a glimpse of you. One-hundred percent, he’s smitten.”

“You’re drunk.” I swallow my drink in one gulp.

“Nope, wait until he sees you tonight. He’s going to flip his lid. You look like a vixen. Robbie told me Finn’s getting the disease.”

“Disease? That sounds horrible!” Reese scrunches her nose and refills our glasses.

“Disease is the term they use for ‘falling hard’. Apparently, it happens to the men… and there’s proof if you look at Robbie’s side of the group. Tripp, Max, and Finn make fun of us.”

I try to ask more, but we pull up in front of the venue, and our door is opened hastily. Bodyguard man helps us all out, and we stand together to take a few photos for the local paper. As we walk up to the door, Robbie comes barreling out and grabs Ember in his arms. She starts to giggle and gives him a short kiss.

Reese and I walk around them and head in. I don’t get ten feet inside when a familiar heat sears through me.

Reese stops and mutters, “Holy fuck.”

Finn is at the security line in a full tux, and he’s watching me like a hawk. His eyes rake up and down my body, leaving a burn on every inch of exposed skin. My thighs flex, my stomach clenches, and my heart races. He moves to the front of the line and motions to me. Once the security wand is passed over my body and my purse is checked, he’s waiting.

I have a second of uncertainty. Should I hug him? Lean in for a kiss on the cheek? What’s appropriate?

“Hey,” I say nervously.

He doesn’t hide his traveling gaze. Then he surprises me by tugging me to him and laying a quick kiss on my lips. Too quickly, he pulls back and cups my cheek. The look of intensity swimming in his eyes is enough to send the butterflies swarming into overdrive. If he wasn’t holding me close, I’d surely be falling.

“You look sensational. Jesus, I’m going to have my hands full tonight.”

“Aren’t you working?”

“Yes, but I had a talk with my boss, who you know is Robbie’s dad. He’s agreed that once the band starts, we’re off duty.”

“Is there really a need for security at a charity event?”

“Never can be too careful.”

A feminine throat clears behind us, and I turn to catch Reese watching closely.

Instead of stepping back, I nudge into him. As if it’s a natural move, he tucks me under his arm and extends his hand to her. “Finn Black.”

“Reese Traynor. Nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.” She gives me a sly grin and winks.

Could she be more obvious?

“You have, huh? That’s nice to hear.” He tightens his arm around me and runs his mouth along my hairline. “Hopefully all good.”

I look up to see him eyeing me with appreciation, and I realize he didn’t even give her a second glance. This has never happened to me before. Reese is a very pretty woman, with long golden blond hair, deep brown eyes, and a body to kill for. Guys always ogle her. I’m used to it, but he didn’t even flinch. His eyes are pinned to mine.

“It’s all good,” I whisper for only him to hear.

“Presley,” my dad’s deep voice startles me, and I turn to see him and Johnny coming our way.

Following them is a group of people I don’t recognize except for Ember and Robbie. I stiffen and try to move away, but Finn doesn’t let me budge.

“Looks like we can get this out of the way all at once.”

“Do you know them?”

“That’s the Hayes and my parents with them.”

My chest tightens and stomach lurches. Once again, I try unsuccessfully to move.

“Stop trying to get away.” Finn’s voice is smooth and calm, completely opposite of the way I’m feeling.

Reese watches in amusement, giggling until she starts to shake. I give her an evil glare, which only makes her louder.

Dad reaches us first but only a second before the rest of the crowd. He eyes my closeness with Finn and fights a grin. Then Johnny steps up, giving me a kiss on the cheek, and pats Finn on the back in greeting.

My eyes grow wide with confusion. The two times he met Russell, he was gruff and bored, most of the time less than welcoming. But with Finn, he’s friendly? I don’t have time to internalize because a stunning couple, who are no doubt Finn’s parents, step into our view.

I freeze. My lungs stop working, and I squeeze hard on his waist to find air. I’ve never had a ‘meet the parents’ moment. He feels me tense, runs his free hand up my arm, and gently guides my face to him.

“Breathe,” he says calmly.

When I don’t, he turns us away and wraps me in a hug, forcing me to suck in a deep breath and inhale him. I immediately sink into his arms and take a few deep breaths. He chuckles in my hair and kisses my scalp.

Then the humiliation hits! I’m such an idiot!

I crush into him and twist us both to face what seems like a hundred faces.

“Hi,” I squeak, focusing on the woman standing before me with a glimmer in her eyes, which are the exact same shade of blue as Finn’s.

She looks between the two of us with appreciation and steps close. Her hand goes to mine, which she grasps gently.

“I’m Evelyn Black.”

“Hi, I’m Presley Chambers.”

“I know. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Finn hisses behind me, “Really, Ember?”

My eyes fly to Ember, who has blotches forming on her chest and neck. She opens her mouth, but Evelyn speaks first, ignoring Finn’s comment.

“Presley, this is my husband, Tim.”

Finn’s dad steps to me and gives Finn an approving look while shaking my hand. The next few seconds are a blur as I meet Jenna and James Hayes and learn my family was already introduced.

I’m still solid against Finn when I hear a crackling then a muted male voice in his earpiece.

“Shit, we gotta head to the unloading dock,” he tells Robbie. “There’s an unscheduled delivery, and the event planner is wrapped up with the catering manager.”

In a rush, he runs his lips over my temple again, places me next to my dad, and gives a chin jerk. Then he’s gone, Robbie on his heels.

Instantly, I miss the warmth of his body, but smile widely and link my arm through my dad’s. “You look dapper, Dad.”

He rolls his eyes, and the group laughs.

“You’ll learn my little girl has a knack for strange words,” he tells the crowd.

“Dapper is hardly a vernacular faux pas.”

This earns a strangled giggle from Ember, who hangs her head.

“Of course not, sweetie. Let’s go mingle a bit then find the bar.” Dad pats my hands and motions for Johnny and Reese to come along.

“Jeff, we’d love it if you guys would join our table,” Evelyn states hopefully.

He looks at me questioningly, and I give an approving nod.

“Evelyn, we’d love to. Give us a bit and we’ll find you.”

She shifts to Tim’s side and waves as we walk into the large ballroom. Once we’re far enough away, Dad stops, spins to me, and Johnny joins him at my side. He waves down the passing waiter and hands each of us a glass of wine.

“We approve,” is all he says as he clinks his glass to mine before taking a sip.

“I do, too,” Reese agrees and lifts her glass to her mouth. “Time to get out of safety territory. This guy is not in the safety universe.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourselves.” I ignore her last statement.

“I saw it. Hell, anyone in a fifty-yard radius saw it. He’s into you, completely into you, and not in an ‘I want to hook up’ way.” Johnny turns serious. “It’s still early, but from what I can tell, he’s solid. Good job, good friends, parents seems stable. I’m on board.”

“Me too. His eyes started to catch fire when he saw you walk in. I felt the heat across the room. He almost combusted waiting for you to get through security,” Reese points out.

And there it is… true approval from my family.

“I like him,” I admit. “But we’ve had one date, and it included a four-year old.”

Reese starts waving her hands. “And he put up with dipwad-ex Russell. Don’t screw this up by crawling in your head. He’s into you!”

At the mention of my ex, Johnny stiffens and Dad coughs.

“What?” Dad eyes me worriedly.

“No problem, Dad.” I explain what happened Wednesday night and how Russell finally left, uncomfortably.

“Good riddance. He was a tool,” Johnny says under his breath then lifts his hands to the air.

I follow his gaze and see Jenna and Evelyn motioning us to their large table, and my nerves start to fray. I can’t believe I’m about to have dinner with his parents. And he’s not even around!

Dad links his arm back through mine, and I let him lead me to the table. I look around for Finn but don’t find him anywhere. Instead, I see a bunch of guys in tuxes hovered in a corner, smiling at me warmly. One of them is the guy from the limo, who winks.

Suddenly, I’m flushed. I’m definitely in the hot seat tonight.

Finn

T
he scent of her perfume assaults me when I tilt my head to my shoulder and remove my ear bud, the exact place Presley laid her head tonight. The feeling of her tucked against me was so right, so normal.

The minute Tony texted me they had arrived, I made my way to the doors to see her and had to grip the wall when she exited the limo. Every part of her shined: the dress, the shoes, and the way her hair fell down in curly waves. I watched the three girls pose for a picture, and then Robbie bolted by me to get to Ember. I fought every instinct to follow him, but stayed back, trying to calm my nerves.

When our eyes met, all bets were off. There was a clawing urgency to be near her. The moment she was close enough, I tugged her to me, not able to wait any more. The small taste of her lips still lingers, leaving me craving for more.

Robbie pats me on the shoulder, letting me know we’re off for the night. The other guys have it taken care of. I follow him to the main dining room and stop when I see her. Presley is at one end of the table, motioning wildly, laughing loudly, and her lips are moving at warp speed. Mom, Jenna, Ember, and Reese are cackling.

The other end of the table is all the men, also smiling at her animated show. Dad looks at me briefly, gives me a chin jerk, and focuses back to the conversation.

I make a split-second decision that will put me in the spotlight. I could go the end of the table and join the guys, but my eyes are zoned in on Presley. As I approach, Robbie chuckles behind me, guessing my destination.

Presley gives a loud screech and raises her hands in the air, tears running down her cheeks, and I move to her quickly.

“What’s the comedy show?” I pull up a chair, getting as close to her as possible.

She looks at me with her eyes dancing in humor. “I was almost a ‘
Donnie and Marie’
.” She giggles and the whole table erupts.

“Again, what?”

Johnny gets out of his seat and comes to her other side. He mimics her earlier animated style, using dramatic hand movements to detail his story.

“Our mom loved musicians, enough that she thought her children should carry their names. I am the great Johnny Cash!” He pauses, and Presley claps lightly then lays a hand on his waist.

“Maybe Dad should tell the last bit.” She jerks her head at Jeff.

“By all means, carry on. I can’t compete with this show.” He waves for Johnny to continue.

“But then the story gets weird.” He speaks to the group in a hushed tone, and Presley leans into me. I take the opportunity to tuck her close, wishing I could lift her onto my lap.

Johnny looks between his father and Presley and gives a salute with his beer. “Simon was named after Paul Simon, who is a legend. He was the lucky one because Mom’s next grand plan was terrible. She and Dad had a deal—she named the boys and he the girls. When she found out I was a boy, she was convinced her third and final child would be a girl. That’s where the insane idea was born. She begged Dad to go along with the names Donnie and Marie. I am only Johnny because he stepped in, thank God.

“The way Mom told it, she used every trick in the book, but Dad refused to go along with her plan. His logic was that there was no guarantee they’d have a girl, and if they did, he couldn’t live with them being Donnie and Marie.”

“Oh, the shame,” Presley adds her own bit of commentary, which draws another round of laughter.

“My Lydia loved her music. There’s no doubt about it. She was so full of life, so compassionate, so incredibly beautiful on the inside and out. I consider myself a fortunate man that she passed along those traits to our kids.” Jeff eyes Presley and Johnny lovingly. “The twenty-two years we had, I was a lucky son of a bitch.”