Three Minutes to Happiness (16 page)

Finn put down his fork. “Seriously?”

She met his gaze. “Yeah.”

A slow smile brought out the dimple in his cheek.

Chapter Seventeen

“I feel absolutely ridiculous.” Val clutched her coat around her, wishing she’d seen sense. The car was warm, and the costume swirled around her ankles but the slits either side cut indecently high, revealing a flash of leg whenever she moved. She’d added heavy flesh colored tights, but still worried that maybe she looked a bit tarty. The smooth white fabric of the dress didn’t do her chest any favors either. She should have thought about the chill in the air that transformed her nipples to bullets. But she hadn’t. She’d just stared at Finn channeling Han Solo in a white shirt open to almost his waist. The tight fitting pants, belt and holster. And agreed.

Her ears itched. “My ears are really hot, and I don’t think I can hear anything much.”

Finn’s lips moved.

“Very funny.”

“You look great.” His hand left the steering wheel and landed on her thigh. “Even the danish pastries look great.” He winked. “I might feel like a nibble later.”

Val patted the circles of hair around her ears. “What a hairstyle. I feel sort of...well...underdressed. I hope your mother....”

“You can zap her with your blaster,” Finn teased. “Anyway, I wouldn’t worry, there are bound to be way more revealing costumes out there. My sister Amy is over, and last year she went as Wonder Woman. At least I think that’s what she was. She had to stand in front of the fire all night to keep warm.” They turned a corner, into a narrow street edged with shops. “This is Brookbridge. It’s not much, but it’s home.” There were a few locals out on the streets but not many. They passed a supermarket, and as a small boy pointed at the car, Val suddenly wished she’d left her wig off until they got there.

They stopped at traffic lights. A group of teenagers on the sidewalk stared. “This is embarrassing.”

“Could be worse. We could be Wookie and Ewok.”

The lights changed. “True.”

The party was in full swing when they arrived. The front door was open, and people seemed to be everywhere. “Finn!” Dracula waved from across the room, and floated over, his cape billowing behind him. “You made it.” His fangs almost popped out when he smiled. “Darned teeth.” The stranger pressed them back into place with a long black-painted fingernail. “Princess.” He bowed low.

“Dad, this is Val. Val, my dad, Dermot.”

“Come on in. Let me get your coat.” The fingernails on his outstretched hands wiggled. “You better take it off, God knows how women manage with these things. I can’t even pick up a beer in them.”

Val slipped off her coat. Finn took it from her. “I’ll hang it up. Be back in a minute.”

Dermot smiled. “Let’s get you a drink.”

By the time Finn rejoined them, Val was clutching an earthenware goblet of mulled wine, and surrounded by people, all of whom seemed to have the surname Logan. She’d been introduced to so many, it was impossible to keep the names straight in her head, but at least she seemed to have got his brothers’ straight. There was Matthew, as tall as Finn and just as good looking, who made a very dashing pirate, with his pirate queen, April, at his side. Nick, who had explained that he was Brookbridge’s resident vet, and despite his mother’s suggestion he dress as a dog, wore a tight green suit and clutched a bow and arrow. And Amy. She’d obviously learned from last year. No Wonder Woman this year. Instead, she was swathed head to toe in fake fur, with a pair of floppy ears atop her hennaed hair. “I almost gave Ma a heart attack when I told her I was coming as a bunny girl,” she’d teased when they met.

Val liked them all instantly.

“So everyone made it,” Finn said to his brothers and sisters. “Except Adam, and I guess he’s excused.”

“He’s coming for Christmas,” Amy said. “I wish he didn’t live so far away.”

“Our brother Adam lives in New York,” Matthew explained. “We don’t get to see him often, although I caught up with him a while ago when I was on a business trip.”

“How’s he doing?” Finn asked.

A look passed between the brothers. There was obviously more to Finn’s question than a casual inquiry.

“He’s...” Matthew frowned. “He’s still hung up on Stacey. When I arrived he confessed he had tickets to her concert so we went. He didn’t want her to know he was there, so we left straight after.”

“Still?” Amy crossed her arms. “I wish he’d just...” She smiled apologetically at Val. “I’m sorry, we’re being rude. It’s just we don’t get to see each other apart from Ma’s parties, there’s a lot to catch up on.”

Finn was looking across the room. “Maybe we should talk about something else, Ma’s on her way over.”

It was easy to see where the Logan children got their good looks. The woman crossing the room to them smiled and touched the arms of people as she passed. Her dark hair was piled up in a loose arrangement with chopsticks through it, a few curling tendrils softening the look. She wore pale make-up and her mouth was painted scarlet to match her kimono.

When she reached them, she opened her arms wide, and enveloped Finn in a bone-breaking hug. After a moment, she pulled back and examined Finn. “I like this look on you.” Her mouth curved into a smile. “Way better than the banana suit.”

“Glad you approve, Ma. You look great too.” He touched Val’s arm, and she stepped closer. “I brought a princess too. This is Val.”

“Pleased to meet you, Val. I’m Ellie.” There was such warmth in her smile, Val felt instantly at ease. “I’m so glad Finn brought you. It’s about time he found himself a princess.” She glanced at Finn. “Have you known each other long?”

“Not very,” Val said. “I…”

“You’ll have to tell me all about it,” Ellie said. “Finn tells me absolutely nothing, you know. How did you meet?”

“Oh, Ma,” Finn protested.

“I was pitching for a commission from Finn’s company.”

“You’re an architect?”

“No, a photographer. Finn needed some pictures done.”

“So you—”

“Ma. Enough of the third degree.” Finn’s arm slid around Val’s waist. “The way we met isn’t important.”

“You can’t blame me for asking.” Ellie leaned close to Val. “You’re the first girl he’s brought home for years. It’s natural for a mother to want to get to know her son’s girlfriend better.” She looked at Finn, as though silently daring him to deny that Val was his girlfriend.

Finn laughed. “Oh, Ma. I can see there’s no way you’re just going to ease your way into this, is there? Okay, here’s the deal. Yes, Val is my girlfriend. We’ve been seeing each other for a while, and we’re very happy together. Enough?”

Ellie grinned. “Enough.” She winked. “For now, anyway.”

Someone called her name. She turned, and waved. “I better go circulate. Finn, Sorcha was asking if you’d arrived yet. You should go and say hello.” She patted Val’s arm. “I’ll see you later.”

After she had gone, Finn turned to Val. “I better go and find Sorcha. Steven is here too, somewhere, I’m sure he’d appreciate seeing a friendly face. Coming?”

Music swelled in the room, and around them, couples started to dance. There was a touch on her arm. “Val—can I have a quick word?” April said.

“Sure.” Val turned to Finn. “You go, I’ll see you in a minute, for a dance.”

Finn’s eyebrows rose. “I’m—”

“I know. You’re a terrible dancer. I’ll take my chances.”

Finn kissed her quickly on the mouth, then disappeared into the crowd.

“I wanted to ask you about photography,” April said. “We’re getting married next month, and I hadn’t even thought about getting a photographer.” She took Val’s arm. “Let’s go into the kitchen, I can’t hear anything over this.” The thump of bass increased, and the dancing became more frenetic. Matthew and Amy were waving their arms above their heads, and stamping on the ground as though they were pressing grapes or something. April smiled. “What they lack in finesse they make up for in enthusiasm.”

There was a large pot-bellied stove in the kitchen, with two comfortable armchairs nearby. “Ellie and Dermot spend most of their time in this room,” April said. “Especially in the winter.”

“I can see why—it’s cozy.” Val rearranged the cushion, placing it behind the curve of her back. “So, you’re getting married soon. There’s so much to do, isn’t there?” She thought back to her own wedding. The dress. The cake. The feeling that they would be together forever.

Val’s fingers tightened around her wineglass.

“There really is. You won’t believe how much.”

“I would. I’ve been there.”

April’s eyes widened. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry. Finn didn’t say you…”

“I was married. It didn’t work out. I’m divorced.”

“I’m sorry, that must have been hard.” There was no judgment in April’s frank gaze.

“It was a couple of years ago. I married very young. Looking back on it, it was a mistake. But at the time it seemed like a good idea.” She didn’t want to talk about her past any more. “Tell me about your wedding. I guess Ma is delighted.”

April winced. “Actually, no. Don’t get me wrong. She’s lovely, and she is happy for me and Matthew, but she wants the whole big white wedding thing, and we don’t.” Her voice lowered. “I don’t know if Finn told you, but Matthew was engaged to my sister once, a long time ago, and neither of us want to reopen that particular can of worms. We live in London, and it makes sense for us to marry there instead of here. We had planned a registry office wedding, with just the two of us. Ma has worn us down though. We’ve compromised to an extent by agreeing to immediate family only, and a small gathering in a hotel afterwards. I just hadn’t thought about the photographs.” She frowned. “I don’t know any photographers and the wedding is in three weeks – I should have booked someone before now.” She chewed her lip. “I don’t suppose you could do them?”

Another commission
. Warmth filled Val from the inside out. “I’m sure I can. I’m leaving the country for a few days, but I can email you some samples of my work and prices in the morning.”

*****

“Who’s in charge of the music?” Finn asked Steven as yet another disco classic blared from the speakers.

“Your father, apparently.” Steven shook his head as though unable to believe what he was seeing. “They’re really going for it, aren’t they?”

Everywhere Finn looked, there were family and friends going all out shaking their stuff. Sorcha was dancing with her uncle. Both had their arms raised high over their heads as they stepped back and forth. “I think they’re doing one particular dance. Look, it seems to be step up, step back, step left… Ah no, Dad has gone right… There’s going to be an accident.”

“Is everyone here a Logan?” Steven was beginning to look nervous.

“No, only about half of them. The rest are neighbors and friends. They both have a lot of friends. Ma’s parties are always popular. Once she’s decided to have a party, she invites everyone she comes in contact with. As a result they’re always packed out.” He swallowed a mouthful of orange juice. Nodded at a familiar face. “Hi, Pat. Long time no see.”

The air-guitar playing guy shouted something in answer, but the music was so loud Finn couldn’t hear it.

“Pat is the postman,” he said to Steven.

“What?” Steven shouted. “I can’t…”

“Pat.” Finn pointed. “Postman.”

“Oh. Right.” Steven smiled obligingly, but still looked confused. He probably hadn’t heard. There was no point in shouting banalities at Steven again, so Finn gave up.

He scanned faces, looking for Val, then spotted her at the far corner of the room, near the door, deep in conversation with April.

“You brought Val?” Steven shouted.

“Yes.” Finn shouted back, waving his arm to catch her attention. She grinned, and started weaving through the gyrating masses to him.

Steven cupped his mouth and leaned close, as though the combination would make his words easier to hear. “So you’ve changed your opinion on monogamy?”

She looked unbelievably cute with the braids twisted into circles covering each ear. The thigh-high split revealed a flash of leg with every step. Her gaze didn’t waver from his for a second. They were in a room full of people, but no-one existed apart from Val.

The thought of being with any other woman was impossible. “I…”

“What?” Steven pushed his upturned palms up as if opening an invisible sash window.

Val was halfway across the room. Finn turned, cupped his mouth, leaned close to Steven, and bellowed, “I LOVE HER!”

Unfortunately, at exactly the same moment that the words left Finn’s mouth, Finn’s father decided that disco was dead, and ejected the CD. At the sudden lack of music, everyone stopped. Everything stopped. Except Finn’s words.

The collective intake of breath was audible. Ellie had tears in her eyes, and her hand over her mouth in the way she did when she saw something that affected her so much she couldn’t speak.

Val didn’t move. She didn’t smile, just stared at him.

Everyone was looking at him, waiting to hear what other gems would tumble from his lips. There was no going back now. Finn breathed in. “Well, it’s true, I do,” he said.

The room burst into life as everyone applauded. “I do,” he mouthed to Val, taking a step forward.

With a horrified gasp, Val spun away, and ran for the door.

*****

Val’s heart hammered. Her breathing was rapid, and raw panic flooded her with adrenaline. There were people everywhere. People staring, and stepping back as she pushed through the crowd into the relative safety of the hall. She had to get out of there. Couldn’t bear one more minute in this house. She jerked open the front door, and collided with a hard chest.

“Val…what?” Nick Logan grasped her upper arms, steadying her. He must have been outside—must have missed his brother’s declaration.

“I have to leave.” The words tumbled out. “I don’t have a car—I have to get out of here. Can you take me? Please?”

Nick’s gaze flicked from hers to a spot behind her shoulder. “Finn.”

Val shook her head. “No. I need to go, I…”

“Val.” Finn’s voice. She hadn’t been quick enough. He was there, and turning her into his arms. “We need to talk.”