by Celya Bowers
“I don’t lose.”
“Just because Judge Carter is a friend of yours doesn’t mean you can sway an entire jury.”
“It won’t go to trial. He’ll want to settle.”
“Harry, go home. You’re not thinking rationally.”
Harry started at him for a long minute. “I can’t go home.”
“Why not?” Ted stared back at his friend. So the rumors were true. The wife had sent him packing.
“Hannah threw me out last night. She had seen the article before I could even tell her what happened. She told me I had one week to get at least some of our money back. We have less than a million left.”
Ted shook his head. With the economy being as volatile as it was, everyone was looking for the deal to get them out of the hole. Harry’s situation was worse than most stock speculators. As part of his divorce settlement from his first marriage, Harry had lost most of his assets. He was also still paying alimony and child support to his first wife. “Your wife could always get a job.”
Harry threw his hands up in the air. “She’s not going to do that. I made such a stink about her measly $250,000-a-year job as an attorney, she refuses to go back to work now.”
“I understand your predicament, but you know Finn isn’t going to settle out of court and I wouldn’t condone it anyway. If anything, you should go after the other broker.”
“Well, I would if I could find him.”
“Vanished?”
“Into thin air.”
* * *
A few hours later, Finn picked up his private line, hoping it was Kayleigh and getting his hopes dashed. It was Ted. Finn wasn’t quite ready to have a conversation with him about Kayleigh. “Hi, Ted.” Thank goodness, he had a full schedule of clients. “Sorry, I can’t meet you today, I’m swamped.”
“You know you could have told me,” Ted said calmly.
“Told you what?” Kayleigh hadn’t mentioned speaking to him lately, Finn thought.
“Harry was just here.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “Yeah, I had to drop him as a client. He’s nuts over that deal. He’s pissed because he lost money.”
“He wants to sue you.”
He was expecting that. “I know you’re his lawyer. What’s the next step?”
“I told him not to pursue it. Even if we weren’t friends and you weren’t dating Kayleigh, I’d still tell him the same thing. Stupidity isn’t a reason to sue someone. He made the mistake, not anyone else.”
There it was. Ted slipped it in so casually. “If you weren’t dating Kayleigh.” Ted was the master of subtlety. The call was about him dating Kayleigh, not Harry. “So you don’t mind us dating?” He’d thought Ted would be raising the roof right now.
“Mind, hell, why do you think I sent her to you? Yeah, you’re good at your job, but you also need someone that gives you a reason for living. Kayleigh is that person for you. And I wanted someone who would be there for her. Not just in the physical sense, but in the emotional sense. Her parents were great, but now they’re gone and I won’t be here forever.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me?” Finn felt like an idiot. One of his nearest and dearest friends set him up on a blind date. “How could you do this to me?”
“Do what?” Ted laughed. “All I did was introduce you to a potential client. The rest was all you, Finn.”
Perhaps Ted was right. But still it burned his hide that Ted could be that devious and he hadn’t seen it.
“Now don’t go getting your boxers in a twist,” Ted joked. “I knew you guys would be great together, and apparently I haven’t lost my touch. If I had told either of you that I wanted to get you together, it would been a no-go. This way, all I did was introduce you and you guys took it from there.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better about it. You could have warned me about her stubborn streak.”
“I figured you could handle anything she threw at you. How’s she feeling? Preston says she’s doing pretty well so far.”
“You knew?”
“Yes, her doctor is a member of my club. Of course, I knew. It wasn’t my place to tell you.”
He hadn’t expected Ted to apologize for not telling him. No use crying over spilled emergency room visits. “I have to ask you. How did you become her godfather?”
“That, my friend, is a forty-year-old story. Let’s just say, her parents were very close to me. So how are things going? Any plans for Easter?”
“Do you have her bugged or something?”
“Finn, I’ve known you for ten years, right?”
“So.”
“So I know you and your family are close. Right now you and your sister are the only ones in Texas, but I do know that if it’s possible, the Callahans will be together on a holiday. I figured you’re either flying to Virginia or you’re going to Beth’s for Easter. Which is it?”
Was he really that predictable? “Actually, I’m planning on taking Kayleigh to the coast for Easter. I want her to meet Monica and Tucker. My parents are coming here for Memorial Day. I had to talk her into that one.”
“Wow, you’re already asking her about Memorial Day? I’m impressed. Does Kayleigh know you’re flying to California next weekend?”
“I want it to be a surprise,” Finn admitted.
“Oh, it will be a surprise,” Ted said.
CHAPTER 21
“Finn, you have lost your mind,” Kayleigh said once they arrived at the Arlington Municipal Airport. “I’m not getting on that little bitty plane.” She crossed her arms and yawned as she spoke to him.
Finn now realized that Ted was the devil. He knew she had some kind of problem with flying and didn’t tell him. “Baby, I promise it’s going to be fine. My friend Tucker is flying the plane. He’s been flying for years and has never crashed a plane.”
She looked at the small plane, shaking her head. “How many people can ride on that thing?”
He laughed. This was going to be a lot harder than he imagined. “Six can ride comfortably. Tucker lives here, but his wife lives on the coast near the beach. He flies all the time. This is his plane.”
She was mulling it over in her mind, probably thinking of a million ways to say no, but to his joy, she relented. “Okay. Besides, Padre isn’t that far.”
He was going to have to tell her the truth. “Well, actually, we’re not going to Padre.” He helped her out of the truck and they headed toward the building.
“Corpus?”
“Not exactly.” He opened the door and they walked inside. “Tucker’s waiting in the lounge.”
“Where exactly are we going, Finn?”
“California.” He noticed Tucker standing in front of the vending machines and pointing at his watch.
Finn nodding, acknowledging they were tardy. They were only about five minutes late due to a wreck on the highway, but Tucker was an ex-marine. Punctuality was his thing.
“I’m not going to get on a plane at seven o’clock in the morning with some stranger.”
Finn sighed. He just wanted to surprise her, but this was what he got for trying romance.
“Someone mentioned a stranger?” Tucker asked, joining them.
Kayleigh looked up at Tucker’s large, athletic frame and gasped. “You must be Tucker.”
“I must.” He stuck out his hand and shook Kayleigh’s hand. “You must be Kayleigh. I’ve heard a lot about you, but I didn’t hear you were afraid to fly.”
Kayleigh got her back up instantly. “I’m not afraid to fly. I just don’t like small planes. They look unsafe.”
Tucker winked at Finn. This was Tucker’s area of expertise; he could make anyone feel safe on a plane. He took Kayleigh by the hand, leading her out of the building to the hangar where his plane stood ready. “I’ll give you a tour of the plane. You’ll find I have taken every safety precaution. I’m a licensed pilot.”
Finn hoped this would be enough for Kayleigh. He should have talked this over with her. This was the last t
ime he’d try to be romantic.
Once they entered the plane and stepped inside, Kayleigh gave her okay without him going through all the specifications of the Cessna.
She sat down, belted herself in and plastered a smile on her face. “Okay, I’m ready.” She took a deep breath. In and out, in and out; finally, she started to calm down.
Finn knew she was doing this just for him. Tucker grinned at her. “Okay, just give me about thirty minutes to go through my last checklist then we’ll be California-bound.” He walked to the cockpit and took his seat behind the wheel.
Finn took his seat next to her and buckled his seatbelt. “Okay, what changed? You just finished saying you weren’t going to go and now you’re on the plane.”
“I changed my mind because you do so much for me without asking a million questions. I know Tucker’s your friend, so he has to be all right. Besides, both Manny and Harley have all your information. If I turn up missing, they know where to start looking.”
Tucker laughed. “I like her. You always did have good taste, man.” Finn looked at Kayleigh, devouring how sexy she looked. How many women would have agreed to getting up this early on a day she didn’t have to go to work or school without complaining? Yes, he liked her too. In fact, he was on the way to loving her.
* * *
Kayleigh woke just in time see the ocean. They were landing near the beach! “Finn, look, it’s the beach.”
He yawned and stretched. “Yeah, Pacific Beach has a private landing strip. That’s where Tucker keeps his plane when he’s here. You’ll like the town. It’s like one big beach.”
“How many times have you been here?”
“A few times. I come here to decompress. Tucker has a beach house, and that’s where we’re staying. Monica lives in their house.”
She lowered her voice, not wanting Tucker to hear her question. “Why do they have a beach house and a house in the same city?”
“Because my wife entertains a lot of government people from the nearby Navy base. She’s like a PR person for the military. Since I’m a jarhead, and it’s mostly Navy folks there, I found it better that I stay at the beach house,” Tucker answered. “I don’t mind you asking.”
“Sorry if it seemed like I was being nosy. Just curious. As pretty as the water looked, I’m sure the house is gorgeous.”
Finn joined in the conversation. “Yes, it’s beautiful. I’ve thought about buying a place here, but I can’t make up my mind.”
They landed and Tucker said his good-byes to them as they waited for a rental car.
Kayleigh walked around the small airport while Finn took care of the car. “Wow, this is amazing.” She glanced at the beach. The water was so blue, and the sand looked so inviting. She yawned. First, she needed a nap, and then she wanted to go walk on the beach.
Finn walked up to her with a set of keys in his hand. “So what do you think so far?”
“I think it’s gorgeous. I love the smell of the beach.”
He grabbed her hand and they headed for the lot. “It’s a Mustang.”
Kayleigh laughed. She couldn’t see Finn in a small car. “Why didn’t you get something bigger?”
“I like this car. Not enough to buy one, but it’s okay every now and then.” They stopped in front of a red convertible. “Here we are.” He opened the passenger door for her.
Once he was seated behind the steering wheel, Kayleigh reminded him that she didn’t bring any clothes with her, per his instructions. “So what am I supposed to do for clothes?”
He smiled, and started the car. “Listen to that engine purr.”
She would never understand why some men went nuts over eight cylinders. “Finn, what about my clothes?”
“All taken care of. Monica knows a personal shopper, and she picked up a few things for you.”
“And what about you?”
“I thought I’d run around the house naked.” He pulled into traffic. “I’m getting clothes, too.” He cleared his throat. “I know you’re probably tired, so how about some lunch, then we’ll take a nap.”
“You actually want to take a nap with me?” She’d thought he’d want to hit the ground running.
“I only want to be with you. If you don’t want to go anywhere that’s totally fine with me, but we do have to go to Tucker’s tonight for steaks.”
She nodded, nestling against the comfortable leather seat. “Okay,” she mumbled. She was trying her hardest to stay awake, but she was losing the battle. “Finn?”
“Yes?”
“Can we skip lunch?”
“Are you all right?”
“I’m just tired. I guess this morning drained me. After a nap, I’ll be ready to roll.”
“I’m sure there’s something I can fix at the beach house.”
Kayleigh didn’t hear his reply. Anything else he said was lost to sleep.
* * *
After they arrived at the beach house, Finn carried her upstairs and placed her in the bed. She never woke during the whole thing. He replayed the events of this morning in his head, and realized although she got on the plane, she was still nervous and the nervous energy had drained her.
No more surprises. From now on, he’d have to make sure he talked things over with her. Where had this caring Finn come from? He opened the refrigerator and laughed as he saw Monica’s handiwork. There was enough food for at least a week, and they were only staying two days. He pulled out the ingredients for a sandwich.
After he ate lunch, he watched TV while Kayleigh slept. After about three hours, he went upstairs to check on her. She was still asleep and looked like she could sleep a lot longer. He pulled out his cell phone and called Tucker.
“I’m surprised you guys are still breathing,” he teased. “You did remember to let her rest between lovemaking sessions, right?”
“She was kind of tired. So she’s resting.”
Tucker wasn’t surprised. “Yeah, I got a vibe from her that something wasn’t right. It’s not cancer, but it’s something that can be very serious.”
“How do you do that?”
“I wish I knew. I’ve been able to do that all my life. Like Monica, the first time I laid eyes on her, I knew she was going to be my wife. We’re total opposites, I met her when I was in the marines, and she was into art and fashion. I just know. I can usually tell when someone is sick. I can feel what they’re feeling. Sometimes it’s like I’m on the set of a movie and can see the people acting out a scene. You guys are going to be just fine. When she wakes, you guys can come over. Don’t worry about the hour.”
“You freak me out doing that. That was why I was calling, to tell you she was still asleep.”
“It’s all good, Finn.”
Finn ended the call and went upstairs. He’d known Tucker over ten years. Tucker had been able to read his thoughts—not all his thoughts, but it still freaked him out. What did Tucker mean about Finn and Kayleigh being all right?
He entered the room and Kayleigh was sound asleep. He slipped off his shoes and slid into bed with her. She instantly snuggled against him.
“What time is it?” she asked, not opening her eyes.
He kissed her on the forehead. “Don’t worry.” They hadn’t made love since her hospital scare. At first, his concern for her health blocked out every horny notion he had possessed. Now, however, he was noticing that he missed the intimacy very much. Finn pulled her closer to him and soon his eyes fluttered closed.
* * *
“Finn, maybe you should call Monica and Tucker before we just barge in?” Kayleigh fussed with her clothes for about the millionth time.
They were standing on Tucker and Monica’s doorstep and he’d just rang the doorbell for the second time. It was almost eight o’clock, still early by California standards.
He looked at Kayleigh. She looked refreshed. After about a six-hour nap and a hot shower, she had dressed in sandals and a sundress that stopped right above her knees. “It’s still early, Kayleigh.” He pul
led her into his arms and kissed her. “If you don’t want to do this, we don’t have to.” He wrapped his arms around her and touched his lips to hers. It was just getting good when Monica opened the door.
“I thought I heard horny teenagers at the front door,” Monica said, laughing. “Finn, it’s nice to see you let go.” She motioned them inside.
Finn shook his head at Monica’s bluntness. He kissed her on the cheek. “It’s nice to see you again, too, Monica. Where’s Tucker?”
She shrugged. “On the patio, grilling or pretending to grill. Go on outside.” She nodded over her shoulder.
Because Finn was holding Kayleigh’s hand, he felt her nervousness. He leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “It’s going to be fine, but you’ve got to relax.”
She nodded and took a deep breath.
He knew Tucker and Monica could be overwhelming to the average person. Monica stood over six feet, as did her husband. Monica wasn’t known for holding her tongue.
“Finn, why don’t you go do the man thing with Tucker, and Kayleigh and I will go have a glass of relaxation before we join you guys?”
It was a question, but not really. Monica saw a problem and she solved it in her style. Before he could say anything to refute the exotic beauty’s question, command, or request, Monica had taken Kayleigh by the hand and they were halfway to the bar.
He was going to follow them, but Monica squashed that thought real quick. “No, go outside. How am I supposed to know how good a lover you are if you’re in the room?”
Finn was outdone, and he knew it. So he walked through the large kitchen and out onto the patio. Tucker was sitting in one of the sun chairs facing the pool, drinking a beer. Finn grabbed a beer out of the small refrigerator under the stainless steel grill and took a seat.
“I guess Monica is doing her thing, huh?” Tucker took a drink. “You knew she was going to grill Kayleigh. I told her to take it easy, but you know how much good that’s going to do.”