Finn (40 page)

I gasp in shock at the sight in front of me. Candles illuminate the room and lead a path to the king-sized bed, which has been pulled back with a rose laying across one pillow. In the corner is the same service cart Finn wheeled in earlier, but the bottle of champagne is now open and two flutes are filled with the bubbles floating to the top. Raspberries sit at the bottom of each glass.

“How?” I spin to see Finn leaning against the door with his hands in his pockets, watching me. He licks his lips seductively and tilts his head to the side, undressing me with his eyes.

“I have my ways.”

“It’s wonderful.”

“No, you’re wonderful. Your beauty leaves me breathless.”

“Finn.” I hide my face. He’s been at my side all night, whispering compliments and kissing along my neckline so that I blushed uncontrollably.

He pushes off of the door and walks by me to the cart. Handing me a glass of champagne, he circles my waist with his free hand and pulls me close.

His expression turns serious, and he lays his forehead against mine. “Thank you for loving me. I’ve never taken the time to understand your perspective until tonight. When you walked away from me, I was crushed, but knew I’d find you and fight like hell to get you back.

“But I get it now. If you were shot, or worse, I’d never recover. I’m sorry it took me so long to see your point. ”

“It’s okay. I’m going to be stronger.”

“But you don’t have to be. I’ll request a permanent office job if it means you sleep easier at night.”

Alarms ring in my ears, and I take a wobbly step back. “What?”

“You heard me.”

“You save children, you stop bank robbers, you leap buildings in a single bound… you can’t give that up.”

“For you, I can and will do anything.”

“The man I fell in love with is a hero. He fights with all his heart to do the right thing. I’d never tell him to stop being himself.”

Relief flashes on his face, and he tags me to him, kissing me quick and spinning me so my back is to his front.

“We have so much to talk about.”

“Yes, we do, but most of it can come later. The only thing I need to know tonight is if we’re moving to Virginia.”

His body goes solid, and he drops his head to my neck, inhaling deeply. “We?” he asks, speaking into my skin.

“We. I’m not into the long distance relationship thing. Virginia winters may suck, but I figure you’ll make it up to me.”

“You’d leave?”

“I’d do anything for you.”

He crushes me against him and mumbles under his breath until I’m wheezing.

“Baby, I can’t breathe.”

He bends and picks me up, one arm under my legs, and positions me against him. Both champagne flutes fall to the ground.

“Put me down. You can’t lift me. You’re still recovering.”

He stops walking and twists, eyeing the window and the bed.

“We can be creative, but I am fucking you against that window tonight. The bed, the sofa, the floor, everywhere that will make up for the last few weeks. When we’re done, we’re going to sink into the bed and rest until we go again. You understand?”

“Oh yeah, Hero… You’re on.”

Finn

“F
inn, there’s someone here to see you.” Our receptionist’s voice buzzes through my office speaker. I’m not expecting anyone, but Presley mentioned lunch today, so maybe she’s here to surprise me.

It’s been two weeks since our reconciliation, and I haven’t taken a minute with her for granted. The only time we’re apart is when I’m at work or school. Otherwise, we’ve taken every opportunity to make up for time lost during our break-up.

I think back to before everything went to shit, and I went to Baton Rouge. That morning, crawling into bed with her and feeling that our bond was so strong, nothing could go wrong. But I didn’t have a clue. Now, there’s a noticeable difference in Presley’s behavior, a lightness to her that wasn’t there before.

Everything about her now is magnified. Her smile is brighter, her laugh is richer, and her devotion is deeper. From the time I wake up with her in my arms until the time I fall asleep the same way, I feel her love all the way to my soul.

The first week, she asked me to join her at her Support Group. I was nervous, scared of her regressing, but I was wrong. The minute we walked in, I knew she’d found a place to connect with people who had the same circumstances as she did. It was unlike anything I could have imagined. In my head, we were walking into a room filled with sadness and heartache, but I was dead wrong. Instead, these people were full of life and laughter. They enjoyed sharing their stories and remembering their loved ones with memories that maybe would be mundane to others, but to them, they were bittersweet.

I learned that night, Presley was not only well-respected, but also well-admired. Several of the men looked at her with hunger in their eyes when we walked through the door. My possessive instincts kicked in immediately. Before she could introduce me to anyone, I slid her to the side and kissed her deeply, one hand threaded through her hair and the other on her ass, holding her close. When I broke away, her lips were swollen and pink, her eyes hazy. She gave me a knowing grin but didn’t say anything.

Other than the meetings, we’ve kept to ourselves. Family and friends have begged us to join them, but we’ve been able to dodge all requests and stay secluded.

“Sorry, I should have said there are two someones here to see you,” the receptionist corrects herself. “And one of them is about to jump out of her skin to get to you.”

Whitney…

I shut down my computer and head to the front. I round the corner and see Jeff first, reading a plaque on the wall. There’s a high-pitched squeal, and I brace myself in time to catch the flash of purple jumping at me.

“Finn!” Her little arms clutch around my neck.

“Hey there.” I spin us around and listen to her giggles.

“Surprise! Me and grandpa came to surprise you.”

“It’s a great surprise.”

“Winnie, I’m not sure Finn should be lifting you. Remember he was hurt.” Jeff looks at me worriedly.

“It’s fine. I’ve been cleared to start working out next week. Light weights, so she falls into the under-fifty pounds.”

“Sorry to barge in like this, but I was hoping to chat with you without Presley. Normally, it would be a school day, but there’s some sort of teacher training,” he explains.

“No, this is great. You guys want to get some lunch? There’s a great place next door.”

He agrees, and I tell the receptionist I’ll be back soon.

We walk to the small café while Winnie talks non-stop about Christmas coming up in a few weeks. Once we’re seated and order, Jeff takes out his phone and headphones and gets Winnie set up with a game to keep her occupied. Then he looks at me with a seriousness I’ve seen before.

“I swear to God,” I raise my hands in the air, “I haven’t done anything to hurt her. I left her in the kitchen this morning, bent over her computer working on an article.”

“Such the smartass, huh?” He breaks in with a sarcastic smile. “I’m here for something else.”

“What’s that?”

“Well, first, I want to tell you congratulations on graduation. We’ll be at the party next weekend.”

“Presley told me you’d be there. I still have extra tickets if you want to come to the ceremony.” I wiggle my eyebrows, knowing his answer.

“Appreciate that. I sat through three high school and two college ceremonies. Plus, I have a lifetime of grandkids’ events. Think I’ll skip this one and have a cold beer waiting for you at the party.”

“Fair enough. I’d skip it, too, except my parents and Presley would freak.”

“Yep, think you’d better suck it up and deal.”

I nod in agreement.

“But I came here for another reason, a more important reason.”

I sit up straighter, the hairs on the back of my neck tingling.

He looks at Winnie, who’s engrossed in her game, then reaches in his pocket and hands me a small box.

I flip it open, and the tingling in my neck spreads throughout my body. Inside the box is a large sparkling diamond unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It outdoes any diamond I’ve looked at in the last two weeks. Well, actually the last two months, with the exception of the time Presley and I weren’t together.

“This is incredible.”

“It was my Lydia’s. Believe me, it wasn’t the first diamond I put on her finger, but it was the last. The first ring was a small thing, but it was all I could afford when we started out. I know it sounds cliché, but by our tenth anniversary, my career had taken off, and we had three children. I had a ring made for her with a diamond to represent each of the kids. She loved it and all it represented. When she died, we buried her with a replica and put the real one away.”

“It’s incredibly beautiful.”

“When Presley came home from Baton Rouge and was torn up, I found her in my closet one day, sitting in front of the open safe, staring at that ring while tears poured down her cheeks. She never said anything, but I knew what she was thinking.”

“Jesus.” My gut twists at the image and the reminder.

“I’m not trying to overstep my boundaries here, but I heard you’ve been looking at rings.”

“What the hell?” My head jerks to him. “How’d you know that?”

“It doesn’t matter, but have you found anything?”

It hits me; my parents are the only people who know my endless search for the perfect ring. “Not yet. Nothing stands out enough. Everything seems so commercial.”

“I agree. That’s how I felt all those years ago. The last thing I want to do is insult you, but if you’d like, this diamond is yours to give to Presley. The only thing I ask is that if in later years, you decide to do what I did, this stays in the family.”

A lump forms in my throat at the gesture, and I can picture the exact setting this diamond will go in. “I think she’d love this.”

“So, I figure you know my answer, but it’s still good manners to talk to me about this.” His tone goes deep as he squares his shoulders.

I snap the box closed and look him in the eye like a man. “Jeff, I’d like to marry Presley and spend the rest of my life worshipping her. It would mean a lot to have your blessing.”

My knees bounce as he eyes me intently. Then he bursts out laughing. “Damn! You know my answer, and you still look like a frightened puppy.”

I chuckle under my breath and shake my head.

“Finn, there’s no man on this earth deserving of my Presley, but considering how much you love each other, you’ll do.”

He gives me an approving glance as our food is served.

Now, I need to figure out the perfect way to get the ring on her finger.

“Did you hear me holler when they announced your name?” Presley threads her fingers through mine and puts my hand in her lap.

“Yeah, babe, I think the whole campus may have heard you.”

“Sorry, I was so excited. This is a big deal. Aren’t you proud of yourself? I’m proud of you. This is a huge accomplishment. I mean, I’m sure boot camp graduation was superior, considering the weeks of hell, but still.” She babbles endlessly, fidgeting as she goes from looking at me and then out the truck window.

“Presley? You okay?”

“Of course. Why?”

“No offense, but you haven’t shut up since we got into the truck. And not that I’m not appreciative, but you’ve told me how proud of me you are four times.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m super nervous.”

“About me graduating?”

“No, about your present.”

“You didn’t need to get me anything.”

“Can we stop somewhere private before going to your parents’?”

“Sure, where?”

“Pull over there.” She points to empty lot at the park entrance, and I pull in.

“You know, I saw you for the first time when I was seated in that gazebo over there. I just didn’t know it at the time.”

“Oh my God, it’s perfect. Come on!” Before I can argue, she jumps out of the truck and takes off running.

I catch up to her right when she reaches the bench and turns to me, her face bright pink from the freezing wind. The place is almost deserted since we had our first snow fall last night and the ground is frozen.

“Presley, it’s twenty-five degrees out here. What are we doing?” I hop from foot to foot and bundle her in my arms.