Running Wild (27 page)

“I did both in about ten, fifteen minutes.”

“With her small makeup kit in a tiny bathroom, Finn said,” Poppy chimed in. “With thugs looking for them.”

“Thus the quick job,” Mags told Cade. “Ordinarily I like to take a little more time than that.”

“Jesus, you did this in fifteen minutes? Do you have a portfolio?”

“Yeah.” She wasn’t sure why he’d care, but everyone was being really nice, so what the heck.

He proffered his hand across the back of the couch. “I’m Cade Gallari. I do—”

“Omigosh, I know you!” She shook her head along with his hand, trying her best not to squeal like a fangirl at meeting an honest-to-goodness famous documentary filmmaker. “Obviously, I don’t
know
you, know you. But I know your work. It’s
excellent
.” She turned to Ava. “This is your husband?”

“Yep. Isn’t he cute?”

Cade rolled his eyes but the look he gave his wife brimmed with love. Then he turned his attention back to her. “I’d like to talk to you about your work. Maybe I could give you a call this week?”

Yes, yes, yes!
“I’d like that,” she managed to say as if she wasn’t twirling in circles inside. “The only problem is my phone’s new to me, so I don’t have the number memorized yet.”

“Here,” Finn said, pulling his cell phone out of his pocket. “Take it off mine.” Cade produced his own and the three men wandered into the other room.

Mags stared at the other two women on the couch. “Wow,” she said and nudged Poppy, who sat next to her. “Are you married to a famous guy, too?”

“Nah.” The blonde laughed. “My husband’s a detective in the SPD. Our little girl still has the tail end of a cold, so he volunteered to stay home with her so I could come meet you. We’ll have a dinner at our place soon so you can meet him and Bella.”

“Poppy makes the best Stroganoff,” Jane said.

Mags was in a happy daze when she came out of the bathroom a short while later and found Finn lounging against the wall. “Having a good time?” he asked.

“Oh, God, Finn.” She walked into his arms and laid her head on his chest. “Everyone’s been so
nice
. They treat me like I’m some big deal.”

“You’re sure as hell
my
big deal. And I don’t think you appreciate how interesting you are.”

“Awww.” Pleasure suffused her. Yet at the same time— “I feel kind of guilty being so happy when my folks are stuck in protective custody.”

“Hey, the El Tigre government busted Munoz’s operation and are cleaning up the corruption in their police department. Your parents will soon be back doing what they do best—converting hearts and minds.”

“Yeah.” She smiled against his shirt. “And they promised to come visit during their next sabbatical. By then living in your place will be old hat.”

“Our place,” he corrected. “But I know it was hard to give up your apartment. You lived there a long time.”

“I admit it pinched a bit to leave it. But moving up here with you, Finn? I never knew this kind of happy even existed.”

“Me, either, darlin’.” He stroked his hand down the fall of her hair. “And you know what the best part is?”

“That we’re just gonna keep getting better and better?” He’d said that more than once—and she was a believer. Because she had faith in relationships now and both of them were prepared to work hard on theirs.

“Damn straight, darlin’.” He smiled down at her. “Better and better yet.”

* * * * *

If you enjoyed Finn and Mags’s story, be sure to check out the rest of the books in this series, available now from Susan Andersen and HQN Books!

CUTTING LOOSE (Jane and Dev’s story)
BENDING THE RULES (Poppy and Jase’s story)
PLAYING DIRTY (Ava and Cade’s story)