by Tamie Dearen
He jumped as the car door opened, tearing him out of his trance. Concentrating to slow his labored breathing, he forced his clenched fists to relax.
“I guess we’re here.” Thankfully, Laurie sounded unperturbed that they’d ridden in silence for much of the trip.
He followed her out of the car and walked beside her into the restaurant. As he placed a guiding hand on the small of her back, he steeled himself for the spark that came from touching her.
I don’t remember it being like this before. It’s obviously been way too long since I went on a date.
Laurie was completely annoyed with herself. Her body was sending crazy charged sensations everywhere, and all Finn had done was touch her back. It wasn’t even her bare back, mind you. The zing transferred through the outer dress material, a satin lining, and a spandex thigh-and-midsection girdle she’d spent twenty minutes squeezing into.
His deep voice rumbled, “Reservation for Finn Anderson, party of four.”
The hostess, a twenty-something, wearing a too-short-in-Laurie’s-opinion dress, turned a bright shade of pink, gushing, “Yes, Mr. Anderson. Right this way. Your table is waiting.”
Laurie kept a keen eye on Finn’s gaze, impressed when it didn’t drop down to the girl’s swaying hips as she weaved her way through the swanky restaurant. It wasn’t the kind of place Laurie frequented. She might’ve gone with the Knights after Steph married Branson. The billionaire could easily afford it, but they seldom ate out anywhere. Being blind, Branson felt more comfortable eating at home, where the noise didn’t distract from the conversations.
As they took their seats, Miss Wiggle-Butt leaned over Finn to slide a business card into his hand. “I saw you on the cover of Now Magazine. I’m your biggest fan, you know. My name and number are on this card, Mr. Anderson. If there’s anything you need, tonight or any other time…” She fluttered thick, fake lashes at him. “Anything at all, just call me.”
Laurie waved her fingers in front of the girl’s face. “Hello! Are you blind? Or am I invisible? Do you see me sitting right here?”
She blinked wide green eyes at Laurie, as if she’d appeared out of nowhere. Her mouth opened, and an “Oh!” came out before her fingers covered it.
“It’s hard to believe you missed all this, in a bright red dress.” Laurie flitted her hand up and down, indicating her ample body.
“Uh… I’m sorry…”
Finn’s eyes crinkled in the corners as he stifled a laugh. Showing pity for the shaken girl, he read from the card. “Marla? Is that your name?”
“Y-yes.” Marla backed a few steps away from Laurie.
“Marla, could you do me one big favor.”
“W-what?” Her eyes shifted back and forth between Finn and Laurie.
That’s right. You’d better not be flirting with my boyfriend while I’m sitting at the table. Uhmm… my temporary boyfriend.
“Would you bring us an extra chair?”
“Yes, Mr. Anderson. Right away.” She scampered away like a mouse surprised by the light.
“I suppose that’s a common hazard of being rich and famous,” Laurie said.
“Don’t forget incredibly good-looking.” Finn laughed as if his description wasn’t accurate. “I’m actually only famous in certain circles. Cole and Jarrett are the faces of Phantom Enterprises, so they attract most of the attention. I’m more in the background, mostly developing video games, so I’m more likely to have young guys fawning all over me.”
“You’re saying I could take you to a nightclub with me and use you for bait?”
“Ha! Only if you like nerdy guys who spend all day sitting in front of their computers.”
“I’ll take a nerdy guy over a jock, any day.”
From his narrowed eyes, the note of bitterness that crept into her voice hadn’t escaped his attention.
“Did you have a bad experience with an athlete? Ex-boyfriend perhaps?”
The man hadn’t become a billionaire by accident—he was as sharp as he was irritating. He’d come amazingly close to the truth with a minimum of clues.
“Nope,” she answered honestly, nothing to clue him to the fact that her father was the athlete in question. Before he could follow up with another question, she asked, “Who’s the fifth chair for?”
“Lucy Felder… the most beautiful girl you’ve ever laid eyes on.”
Admiration swam in his deep blue orbs, and Laurie felt a pang of jealousy. How would it feel to have Finn Anderson think something like that about me? Not that I believe looks are that important, but still…
“I can’t wait to meet her.” She did her best to smooth the strangled sound out of her voice.
“Here she is!” Finn beamed as he bounced to his feet, his hands outstretched. “Come here, beautiful!”
“Hiya, Finnster.” A tall woman with shoulder-length strawberry-blond hair held a carrier as Finn extracted the baby from it. “Don’t wake her up. I just fed her, so I’m hoping she’ll sleep through dinner.” She kissed Finn on the cheek and turned to Laurie. “Forgive my brother’s rudeness. I’m Katie Felder.”
“Nice to meet you, Katie.”
“She’s already used to my rudeness,” Finn added.
“Mum’s coming. She stopped at the ladies’ room.”
Expecting a handshake, Laurie rose as Katie approached, but got wrapped in a smothering hug, instead.
“Sorry about that.” Katie chuckled, when Laurie awkwardly patted her back. “I’m afraid our family hugs everybody all the time.”
“Not so.” Finn bent to place a gentle kiss on his niece’s forehead, a move that made Laurie’s heart swell inside her chest. “I tried to hug you after I ran that marathon a month ago, and you ran away, squealing.”
“Okay, so I draw the line at being drenched in my brother’s disgusting sweat.” Katie slid into the chair beside Laurie’s.
“Admit it… you’re just a wimpy girl, afraid of a little extra-salty perspiration.” Finn sat down, cradling Lucy in his arms, like a pro.
“Don’t even start with me, Finn. You can’t call me wimpy after that backpacking trip I went on with you, where I didn’t get to shower for a week.”
Laurie loved the way the two bickered, like any other siblings. Katie obviously didn’t cut him any slack because of his CF, as demonstrated by her non-reaction when he referred to cystic fibrosis increasing the salt content in his sweat.
Finn wrinkled his nose at Katie. “Yeah, you were a little ripe.”
“And you smelled like an entire men’s locker room, but I was still willing to hike with you.” Katie took a drink from her water glass.
“As I recall, you made me stay behind you the second half of the week. Plus, you were twenty at the time. You’ve gotten a lot wimpier since then.”
“How did you do your treatments in the wilderness?” Laurie wondered aloud. “You must’ve had a ton of stuff to carry. Surely you couldn’t run all that equipment on batteries.”
Katie’s gaze riveted on Laurie. “How do you know about all that? Finn told me you guys haven’t even been on a date.” She moved her glare to her brother. “What are you trying to pull?”
Finn lifted his free hand. “You remember I told you about Bran’s stepdaughter, Ellie? The one with CF? Laurie was her nanny.”
“For years,” Laurie added, in confirmation. “I love her like she’s my own daughter.”
“Is that so?” Katie’s expression was a bit too smug for Laurie’s comfort. “Next, you’ll be telling me she sings and plays the piano.”
“I do,” Laurie answered, wondering why it mattered.
When she saw both of them staring at her with slack jaws, she quickly clarified. “I have a so-so voice, but I took piano lessons from the time I was six years old. I really miss having a piano—I never get to play anymore.”
Katie was grinning from ear to ear. “I’m sure Finn will let you play his Steinway grand.”
It was Laurie’s turn to stare at Finn. “You have a Steinway?�
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His mouth moved, but his words seemed to be stuck.
Katie answered for him, “He not only has one, but he plays beautifully. He almost majored in music at Julliard, but decided to go the computer route, instead.”
“Wow.” Laurie couldn’t hide her shock. Of all things, she never would’ve imagined him being musical.
“Such an interesting turn of events…” Katie drummed her fingers on the table.
“Don’t read anything into this, Katie. Like I told you, we’re not a thing.”
“Uh-huh,” Katie said, unconvincingly, as she scanned toward the entrance. “Wonder what’s keeping Mum so long? You think she fell in?”
Determined to convince Katie of their true relationship, Laurie tapped on her arm. “Really. Finn and I don’t even like each other.”
“I can totally understand why you don’t like Finnster.”
“Hey!” he objected, with a laugh.
“But…” Katie looked pointedly at her brother. “What’s not to like about Laurie?”
Finn’s face turned the color of Laurie’s dress. “Katie, you promised to help.”
“Yes, I did.” She ran her finger through the moisture on the outside of her water glass. “But that was before I actually met her.”
“What do you mean?” Laurie’s pulse picked up its pace. Was Katie going to blow their cover in front of Finn’s mother?
Katie reached out to pat her hand. “I’m only teasing, Laurie. Believe me, Finn deserves it.”
Before Laurie could respond, the hostess returned with the extra chair. Katie lifted the empty carrier from the floor and settled it on the chair.
“Thank you, Marla.” Laurie tried to make up for having intimidated the young girl, who escaped quickly, giving her a wide berth.
“There she is.” Katie waved toward Susan, who strutted between the tables, draped in a gorgeous dress with a vivid pink and black floral print.
“She loves to make a statement,” Finn commented, clearly amused by her choice of apparel.
Susan waved back and started their direction but stopped to chat with a couple at another table.
“Who’s she’s talking to?” asked Finn.
Katie shrugged. “Beats me. You know how Mum is. She knows everybody.”
Susan gave them each a hug before continuing to their table in the back. “Laurie!”
She moved around the table and Laurie stood to greet her. Before she could speak, Susan’s arms wrapped around her, squeezing so hard Laurie felt like a boa constrictor’s prey. At last, her death grip loosened and the air rushed back into Laurie’s lungs.
“I didn’t hug you earlier, love,” Susan told her, as if it were a heinous crime. “Finn forbids me to hug the employees in his building.” Her eyebrows danced a mischievous jig. “But outside the building, they’re fair game.”
Balancing the baby in one arm, Finn stood to receive his hug. “No need to break my neck, Mum. We’ve only been apart for a few hours.”
“Sorry I was gone so long, but that loo was the bees knees.”
“What did she say?” Laurie asked.
“She means it was the best bathroom ever,” Katie explained.
“So many soaps and lotions to choose from—I had to try them all.” Susan stretched her wrist under Katie’s nose. “This one has a lovely ginger and mint flavor.”
“Nice,” said Katie.
Susan eyed Laurie. “Your dress is simply smashing. I love red.”
“Thank you,” Laurie replied, thinking it was a similar shade to Susan’s hair.
“Who was that couple you were taking to?” asked Katie.
“Bill and Kelly Moore,” said Susan. “We only just met. Had to stop and admire his lovely bowtie. It came from a shop near here. Isn’t that jolly lucky? I’m going to pick one up for your father tomorrow.”
“Does Dad need another bowtie?” Finn asked.
“Maybe not. But a man can never have too many ties, like a woman can’t have too much chocolate.”
Susan didn’t slow her diatribe when the waiter arrived to pass out the menus, simply working him into the ongoing conversation. He struggled to give his description of the daily specials, finally jumping on a brief lull when Susan took a breath.
Laurie enjoyed the rapid, friendly banter, grateful none of the attention was aimed at her. But after giving their dinner orders, Susan soothed her throat—which must’ve been getting raw from overuse—with a swallow of water, then set her glass down and gazed expectantly at Laurie.
“I’m so glad to finally meet you, love. We want you to know you’re a welcome addition to our family.”
“Please excuse my mother, Laurie. She’s insane.” Finn narrowed his eyes at Susan. “This is why I didn’t want to introduce Laurie to my family. I told you we just started dating.”
“It’s true, Mum,” Katie affirmed. “They don’t even know each other well. For instance, Finn didn’t realize Laurie was an accomplished pianist until tonight.”
“Katie…” Finn growled a warning.
Susan gasped, her face alight with pleasure. “A pianist? How marvelous.”
“I’m not that great,” Laurie corrected, embarrassed after learning how talented Finn was.
“I’m sure you’re being modest, Laurie.” Susan clapped her hands together and a let dreamy expression wash over her face. “How perfect! I bet you love playing his Steinway.”
“She’s never played it,” Katie asserted. “He hasn’t even invited her to his place.”
Susan’s mouth dropped open as she gaped at her son. “Why ever not?”
Finn shot Katie a dirty look before answering his mother. “We haven’t had the opportunity yet.”
“We’ll go tonight,” Susan announced with an air of finality. “It’s a shame for that beautiful piano to sit, unused.”
“I still play,” Finn defended, though his mother ignored him.
Laurie was quite certain she wouldn’t be able to swallow a bite of food if she was expected to play the piano after dinner. She’d had terrible stage fright at all her recitals. “I think I’d rather hear Finn play.”
“Then it’s settled,” said Katie. “We’ll all head over to Finn’s as soon as we finish eating, and he can serenade us.” She quickly grabbed her water glass and lifted it to her lips but didn’t succeed in camouflaging her grin.
“My dear sister.” Finn’s voice dripped sarcasm. “I believe there’s a phrase about payback you should keep in mind.”
His rebellious sister added, “And did Finn mention that Laurie was the nanny for Branson Knight’s stepdaughter? The one with CF?”
Susan gasped. “Are you having a laugh?”
“No, Mum. It’s true.”
“I can’t believe it.” Susan blinked her suddenly watery eyes at Laurie. “You’re like a dream come true.”
Finn looked like he wanted to crawl under the table, and Laurie was ready to join him. With his mom and sister ganging up on him, he didn’t stand a chance. Not only did Laurie find herself feeling sorry for him, but she also realized her fate for the night hung in the balance. She had to help Finn prove they weren’t compatible or, before the night was over, someone might be proposing… his mother.
Dinner was served, and Finn reluctantly allowed Katie to tuck Lucy into her carrier, teasing that she was taking his favorite niece away.
“She’s also his only niece,” Katie explained to Laurie. “I’ve got two boys, and my sister has three.”
“But maybe Finn will have daughters someday,” his mum hinted as she tasted her salmon and made an I’ve-died-and-gone-to-Heaven face. “Oh, this is delicious.”
He had to put a stop to her meddling. And as he feared, his sister was hurting his cause, rather than helping as she’d promised. He was surprised Laurie hadn’t already run screaming from the restaurant.
“Let me state, once again, for the record, what I’ve repeatedly told everyone in the family.” He scrunched the napkin in his lap, hating to be this
open in front of Laurie. “I’m never getting married, and I’m not having children.”
“Mum, would you pass the salt?” Katie’s gaze never left her plate.
“I mean it,” Finn said, frustrated when they ignored him.
“I’m sure you do,” Katie remarked as she sliced a piece of sirloin. “But you could change your mind.”
“I won’t,” he growled. “I can’t.”
“Why can’t you?” Laurie’s infinite brown eyes searched his, their sadness almost too much to bear.
“It’s no big deal.” Careful to pretend it wasn’t a raw subject, he hurried to explain. “It’s just the CF. I’ve always known I’d be infertile.”
“There’re ways around it.” Katie buttered a dinner roll and took a bite.
“Expensive ways, and they don’t always work,” Finn countered.
“I’m guessing you don’t really want to have kids,” Laurie said, as she pushed her food around on her plate. As demonstrated at lunch the previous day, she didn’t eat much when she was anxious. He had to find some way to turn this evening around so she could at least enjoy the food. He owed her that much.
“Excellent guess,” he replied, since it would be a lie to claim he had no such desire. He simply didn’t believe it was a good idea. “You see, Mum… Laurie and I barely know each other, and she already understands me better than my own family.”
Katie’s only comment was to lift her gaze to the ceiling, but his mother’s downturned lips told him he’d struck a chord with her.
“That’s what I thought,” Laurie said. “Otherwise, you’d be considering adoption.”
“I suggested adoption.” Katie pointed an accusing fork at him.
He was ready to detail all the reasons he couldn’t adopt. To explain why he would never saddle a woman he loved with a future as a widow and a single mother, when Laurie spoke again.
“There are so many kids out there with no one to love them, I plan to adopt as soon as I can. I’ll probably adopt kids with special needs. I’ve checked into it, and in some cases, they’ll let a single mom adopt, especially with older kids.”