by KB Winters
I smiled up at him. “He really is.”
“What you do here, Lyss. It’s incredible. I can’t believe the transformation in him in just the few weeks since he was brought in.”
I nodded and looked down at Peanut’s peaceful face. “It’s worth it, for moments like this. I’ll know that Peanut will have a good home for the rest of his life and never know the terror or pain from his past.”
“Damn straight. I just wish I could get my hands on the piece of shit who hurt him.”
“You and me both.”
Finn shifted the bags to one hand and pulled his phone from his pocket. “You wanna cab it back to the hotel?”
“Sounds good.” I stroked Peanut’s smooth fur. “I didn’t really think about this before, but I guess we’ll have to go get my car tonight so that I can drive down with him to your place and drop him off. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t be a fan of the motorcycle…”
“Shit. I didn’t even think about that. You sure you don’t mind? I could see about renting a car or something.”
I shook my head. “Don’t be ridiculous. You drove all the way up here to help me. The least I can do is drive him down.”
“All right. I’ll call a car for now though.”
He paced off a few steps and called a cab to come pick us up at the shelter. When he came back, Peanut was stirring. Finn laughed as the puppy yawned wide. “I think he’ll be good for business. People will come into the shop just to hang with him.”
“Probably.” I laughed. “He’ll be a big hit. On top of that, he’ll be the perfect chick magnet.”
Finn frowned over at me. “Lyss…”
“Sorry,” I said, flapping a hand through the air. “Forget I said that.”
“Lyss, I’m not looking for something else right now.”
I dared to look up into his eyes. “What do you mean, something else?”
“I mean that I’m not interested in seeing anyone besides you.” His fingers tipped my chin up. “Come home with me, Alyssa. Stay with me for the rest of the weekend. Not for Peanut. Stay for me.”
The dark rims of his grey eyes stole my breath. “Finn…”
“Give it a chance, Lyss. I’m not running away this time.”
My heart swelled. “Okay.”
He leaned in closer, a hint of a smile tugging at his insatiable lips. “I really want to kiss you right now. Think Claudia in there would flip her shit?”
I smiled. “Probably.”
“Guess what? I don’t care.”
He wrapped a hand around my face, his fingers getting lost in my hair, and dragged my lips to his in a kiss hot enough that the entire staff would be talking about it. But, as my eyes slid closed, I didn’t even care.
****
“You ready?”
I nearly laughed at Finn’s question. After everything that transpired in the past few days, I was feeling damn near bulletproof. Everything was so much clearer in hindsight. I’d managed to escape the clutches of a dead-end relationship that was only ever going to bring me heartache and longing for something more. The guilt over running my business and to constantly explain and justify my actions and priorities was just…gone! I was free and ready to move into the new season in my life.
Then there was the man standing beside me, one finger hovering over the elevator button. Our past was still there, lurking under the surface, and I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy, snap-of-the-fingers to launch into something new, but the spark of hope that died a long time ago was suddenly there again, burning a little brighter with each passing hour.
Especially after the explosive passion that had poured from us back in my hotel room. My body was still tingling with leftover sensations from the way Finn had made love to me.
I glanced over at him, letting my eyes linger on his broad chest for a moment before moving to meet his eyes. I smiled and gave him a brief nod. “I’m ready.”
He leaned over and dropped a kiss to my lips. “It’ll be all right.”
“I know.” I nodded. “Then we can get Peanut to his new home.”
Finn smiled and jabbed the button to call an elevator. Seconds later, a soft ding jolted us into action. He ushered me into the elevator and I immediately reached out and pressed the button for the penthouse and entered the six-digit security code—hoping Rafe hadn’t changed it yet. The light flickered green and the doors slid closed.
“The penthouse?” Finn sputtered once we started going up.
“Yeah?”
He shook his head. “Damn…”
I reached for his hand. “Trust me, it’s not worth the hype.”
He gave a dry laugh. “Yeah, I’m sure it’s a real dive.”
The elevator locked into place and the doors opened into the private hallway. I led the way, still holding Finn’s hand, and fished my keyring from my purse. I unlocked the three security locks and pushed the door open. A wave of anxiety and fear hit me as I crossed the threshold. The foyer was empty and quiet as a mausoleum. I cocked my ear, hoping to hear Rafe approaching before he could pop out of nowhere and catch me off guard. It would be even better if he wasn’t home. I couldn’t hear anything but the gentle breeze from the heating vents. With all the glass, they were constantly working overtime to keep the space temperature controlled. A precise 72 degrees. Just the way Rafe wanted it.
Ugh. Why did it take me so damn long to see what I was becoming?
“Come on. I think it’s empty.”
Finn let my hand go as I moved further into the chic apartment. Neither one of us said anything as I led the way up the stairs, down the hallway, and into the master bedroom. There were still no signs of Rafe and I was beginning to relax. I didn’t have much in the apartment, other than clothing items and toiletries. It was a “bring your toothbrush” kind of move. Rafe had specific design tastes and hired an extremely overpriced interior designer to arrange every detail of the house. There hadn’t been room for any of my art, furniture, or knick-knacks. I had a few pieces in a storage shed down in the basement of the building. Other than that, everything I wanted was in the massive walk-in closet. So, I started there.
I flicked on the lights and looked over my shoulder to see where Finn was. He was lingering at the door of the bedroom. “Did you hear something?” I asked him, panic fluttering in my chest.
He shook his head and slid his hands into his pockets. “No, we’re good. You need help? I can go wrap dishes or something if you want?”
I shook my head. “This is it.”
“Oh.”
I tilted my head. Why wouldn’t he come into the room? “What’s up?”
“Nothing.” Finn shook his head and then finally took a few steps into the master bedroom. “Let’s get going. You got a suitcase?”
I went into the closet and Finn whistled low under his breath. “Holy shit, Lyss. This fuckin’ closet is bigger than the house I grew up in.”
It wasn’t an exaggeration. When we dated a few years back, I’d gone home with him once to meet his mother. She still lived in the tiny little house on the back corner of some ranch property of a family friend. Since Finn’s father left when he was just starting school, Finn, his sister, and their mother had been forced to rely on the generosity of their friends and family to get by. Especially when their mom started drinking and couldn’t hold down a job for more than a few months at a time.
A shiver of guilt wound down my spine. “Like I said, it’s not really worth the trade-off. Now, come on, I have a luggage set over here.”
Finn made another comment about my luxury Louis Vuitton luggage. It’d set Rafe back the price of a midsize sedan. A purchase he could make without blinking an eye, but would financially wreck a man like Finn.
Not that I cared.
“Can you grab all the things on the hangers over there?” I asked, pointing Finn in the opposite direction. I wasn’t going to apologize for having nice things. Besides, it wasn’t like I’d even asked Rafe for the luggage set. Or really any of the nice thi
ngs he’d bought me over the past two years. It was never about the stuff he could buy me. I wasn’t in the relationship for the money. It had merely been a perk on my way to something stable and safe.
Which, ironically, turned out to be the most dangerous relationship I’d ever been in. Literally and figuratively.
I sighed and hauled open every drawer of one dresser and started chucking the contents into the open suitcase at my feet. It wasn’t the time to go through everything with Rafe. Or Finn. I could wonder what if all day. Not when I was on a countdown timer. I needed to get my stuff and get as far away from the penthouse as possible. I’d worry about my frayed emotions and thoughts later.
Finn was far more careful with my belongings than I was. I caught a glimpse of him over my shoulder as I moved to the next stack of drawers that had once been mine. He moved with precision but even from across the room, I could see the tender care he was using with my pricey collection of cocktail dresses and evening gowns as he arranged them into thick garment bags.
I smiled sadly as I watched him. Something about the sight of him holding my fancy couture unleashed a ball of emotion I’d been clamping down since waking up in his arms that morning. Rafe and Finn were from two completely different worlds and as I watched the two worlds colliding, I couldn’t help but wonder which one I belonged in.
A loud slam startled me and I dropped the pair of jeans I was holding. I whirled toward the open door of the closet, my heart in my throat, and then dared a look at Finn. Every muscle in his body was tensed.
I drew in a breath. “Was that—”
I didn’t finish my question—the answer came before it could even leave my mouth.
Rafe’s voice bellowed up from the foot of the stairs, “Alyssa!”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Finn
Every muscled bunched and tensed at the sharp, bark of a command from the hall. How dare that mother fucker scream for her that way, especially after he’d put his hands on her. I squared my shoulders. He’d be lucky if he could get out of bed tomorrow.
“Finn!” Alyssa hissed at me. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop thinking it!”
I tensed my jaw and unclenched my hands. “I’m cool.”
She rolled her eyes. “You practically have murder written on your forehead right now. Stay here…”
“Like hell!”
Footsteps hit the stairs. “Alyssa, where the fuck are you?”
Alyssa moved for the door but I sidestepped her and blocked her path. She pushed at my back but I didn’t budge an inch. There was no way she was going to take this guy on. If he wanted to talk to her, he could dial it back about a hundred degrees and only after begging for her forgiveness would he be allowed to have an inch of wiggle room.
Rafe Wade rounded the corner into the master suite as I took one step from the closet. Alyssa pushed again, trying to squirm between my side and the doorway, but I glanced back at her, eyes flashing, and she stilled.
“Who the fuck are you?” Rafe growled, coming to a stop three yards ahead of me. He cocked his head slightly. Then a cold, cruel smile twisted on his lips. “You’re that grease monkey from the car show. What the hell are you doing in my house?”
“I’m here to see that Alyssa gets her stuff and an apology.”
Rafe cackled. “Oh, is that all? Well, let me tell you how this is going to play out, big boy…”
“Rafe! This does not have to be such a big deal,” Alyssa said, pushing past me.
“I agree completely,” Rafe said smoothly. “Call off your dog here and we can have a real conversation.”
Every muscle went tight. I was more than ready to launch myself at the piece of shit standing in front of me. I’d made plenty of mistakes in my lifetime. Picked the wrong fights, said the wrong thing to the wrong person, hell, I’d even gone out looking for it sometimes, but there were rules to this kind of thing. And rule number one was that under no circumstances was raising a hand against a woman ever acceptable. It was a lesson instilled in me from childhood, and I was happily prepared to teach Rafe Wade that critical lesson he’d obviously missed along the way.
“No, let me tell you how this is gonna play out, Rafe. She packs her things, and then we go. You don’t talk to her, curse at her, and you sure as hell don’t get to touch her. Ever again. Is that clear?”
Alyssa sighed behind me. “Finn…come on. Please…”
Rafe was still smiling, clearly amused by the struggle between Alyssa and me. A fact that angered me further. Why isn’t she letting me handle this? Doesn’t she know I can protect her?
“Rafe, I’m just here to get my stuff and then I’ll leave. You don’t need to make this a big thing.”
Rafe’s expression shifted and I watched as his cold eyes slipped to her neck and the lines at the corners of his mouth went taut as he spied the marks he’d left there. I wondered if Alyssa had deliberately tied her hair back so he could see them or if she’d only done that to keep her hair out of her face while she packed. Either way, the effect was powerful and Rafe’s cocky smile faded.
His eyes darted to mine and then back to Alyssa. “We need to talk.”
“No you don’t,” I interjected.
“Finn,” Alyssa said calmly, her hand resting on my forearm. “Just hang on. Okay?”
Okay? No, it most certainly wasn’t okay. What is she thinking? Why is she giving this guy more than two seconds of her time after what he did?
She returned Rafe’s glance and nodded. “Five minutes. Then I pack and leave. Deal?”
Rafe nodded his head. I didn’t know why she wanted to talk to that shit stain, but figured it was some kind of truce.
Alyssa’s hand slid from my arm and she followed him out of the room. He turned and cast one last scowl at me and then they were both gone.
I hoped like hell she wasn’t about to take him back.
****
“What the hell was that all about?”
Alyssa reached up and tugged the hatch on her sporty little crossover closed. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t play innocent with me, Lyss,” I growled, folding my arms. “You know damn well what I’m talking about.”
She sighed and crossed her arms, mirroring my agitated posture. “I made a judgment call. I figured it would be better to just talk to him and get it out the way. I don’t want this to become some kind of war.”
“After what he did to you? He’s lucky I didn’t fuck him up right there in the middle of his damn palace.”
Alyssa flinched at the heat in my voice and I sucked in a deep breath, trying to slow myself down. “It’s over now. Can we just go? Please?” she asked, her request almost a sigh.
The anger pulsing through me drained away at the exhausted look in her eyes. Tiny lines framed her baby blues and I felt like a prick. It wasn’t my fight. If she wanted to handle it a certain way, who the hell was I to tell her differently? I reached for her and pulled her against me. She stepped forward into my arms but didn’t drop her own, so they ended up wedged between us. “I’m sorry, Lyss. I’m being an asshole. You’ve been through enough.” I dropped a quick kiss to the top of her head.
“It’s fine. I just want to go…”
I nodded and released her. “You want to go back to the hotel and drop all this off?”
“Yeah. Then we can go over to the shelter.”
“All right. Meet you at the hotel.”
I moved to pull the driver’s door open and she climbed inside. I waited, one hand on the door, and peered in at her. “You okay?”
She attempted a smile but I saw right through it. “I’m fine.”
“What did he say to you?”
“Finn…”
“What?”
Her eyes squeezed shut for a long moment. When they fluttered back open, a glossy sheen coated them. “It doesn’t matter anymore. All right?”
I hated the wall she was building between us. I knew the million reasons why she was, but it didn’t take away the stin
g of being pushed away just as I’d been getting close to her again.
“All right,” I said, flexing my jaw to keep from arguing. I backed up and closed the door and waited for her to start the engine and back out of the reserved space in the underground garage before I moved to go get back on my bike.
I watched her turn out onto the street and an all-too-familiar ache thumped in my chest. Old wounds were tearing open again and I knew it would only get more and more painful the closer I got to her. I’d somehow managed to patch myself up after three years away from her. We were never going to be together. It wasn’t in the cards. I knew that. I was walking myself into the middle of the fire, knowing I’d get burnt to hell, all the while screaming at myself to stop and turn back…
I grit my teeth and kicked a leg over the bike, slammed my helmet onto my head, and revved the engine.
It was insane.
It was reckless.
It was inevitable.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Alyssa
Two blocks down the road and the tears I’d so carefully held back finally broke loose. The exhaustion of the last few days slammed into me like an out of control train and all I wanted to do was go back to my hotel room, order up another bottle or two of wine and forget the whole damn thing.
Everything was a hot mess
Rafe. Finn. The past. The present.
The unknown future. It was all a fucking mess and I was suddenly too damn tired to clean it all up.
Sleeping with Finn was a mistake. Spending the entire weekend with him was a tragic lapse in judgment. One I couldn’t repeat. It didn’t matter how good it felt to wake up beside him or how fucktastically toe-curling the sex was. Even in the short amount of time since we’d stumbled out of bed, I could feel him getting closer. The way he held me, kissed me, protected me…
No. I couldn’t go there again. I knew better. I knew the truth. That underneath the warm smile, gentle touch, and sense of familiarity, Finn was a statue. He was hopelessly beautiful, but ultimately made of stone. He’d broken my heart once—I wasn’t going to hand the pieces back over to him.