Finally Finn (Los Rancheros #4)

by Brandace Morrow

  “Aiden knew how I felt, my dad knew, everyone knew except her until I blew up one night. She wanted me to cover with her parents so that she could spend the night with him. It was our senior prom and I couldn’t take it anymore.

  “She smiled, so pretty. And she said that I was her best friend, her first friend, and nothing would change that. Then she said that she had had a crush on Aiden forever.” Batty swallows so loud I can hear the sound over the frogs and crickets.

  “Broke my fucking heart. Aiden was so wrapped up in her he couldn’t see straight. She wanted to be a singer, and since we lived so close to Los Angeles, he would take her to auditions when he wasn’t in school. Then when no one would sign her, he started his own fucking record label. That’s just how he is. All consuming. Always. So she finally had a record contract, but no one was playing the song. So he signed more kids, up and coming bands from all over. Kids no one else would listen to.

  “Annie had a great voice, but it was more old school than anything on the radio. Now you have Lana Del Ray and Meghan Trainor, but that wasn’t hot at the time.

  “When her parents wanted to move back to the city and sell the house, Annie didn’t want to go. She loved the lakes. So Aiden bought the house with every dollar he had and some of mine. They got married at the back of the property. There’s a cabin right next to the lake and they spent their honeymoon there.

  “I never stopped being her friend, but she didn’t want anything more from me. I took what she offered, because anything less wasn’t bearable. I had girlfriends, but would watch her. She didn’t care, she was happy for me. I couldn’t feel that happiness for her. She had never even kissed me and I was so jealous I could barely be around them at all.” Batty sighs and shakes his head. I’ve barely breathed, not moving a muscle since he started for fear that he would realize I was there and stop talking.

  “I got trashed one night. Drunk enough to kiss Annie.” He laughs without humor. “It was horrible. I had been dreaming about her forever, but that kiss was not what it was supposed to be. I thought heaven would open up and angels sing. I realized about seven years too late that she wasn’t for me. She cried, and told me she was pregnant.

  “It didn’t hurt as bad as I thought, you know? Before the kiss it would have killed me. After it was an ache, but I was happy for them.” Batty sniffs.

  “They had been trying to get pregnant for a long time, probably two years. She had abnormal bleeding that they thought was because she had been on the pill for so long, but she was all about the life here, organic everything, no doctors, only herbal shit, the whole thing. When she found out she was pregnant, it was a relief for all of us. She would cry every time she would get a period, and I wasn’t supposed to know that shit but Aiden and I had gotten closer and I was still Annie’s best friend. She would get depressed every time.

  “She went to a midwife, and when the tests came back, they were abnormal. She was sent to the hospital, they did more tests and found out at the same time that she was pregnant with twins, and had cervical cancer.” Batty breathes a deep breath out of his mouth.

  “It didn’t take five minutes for Aiden to ask for an abortion and hysterectomy, and Annie to say she didn’t want any treatment until after the babies were born. They fought constantly. Finally, Aiden flew in specialists that said they could start treatment after the first trimester, but the cancer was severe. Everyone recommended an immediate hysterectomy.

  “She was put on bed rest, then bed rest at the hospital because she would just start bleeding. Annie knew she was choosing her babies’ lives over her own, but she didn’t care about that. They always came first.

  “There was a chance the babies would be miscarried or come early so she spent a lot of time at the pediatric oncology unit. That was her favorite place to be. Aiden couldn’t take her there, so I did. Those kids gave her the courage, I think. She couldn’t wait to have the babies and start treatment because those little kids were doing it.

  “Hannah and Bridgette were born too early. Annie almost bled out. It was a fucking mess. She had the hysterectomy, and started chemo almost immediately afterwards, but . . .” he trails off and watches the moon.

  “Aiden wouldn’t leave her, ever. Wouldn’t go see his kids. They were so tiny and on monitors that helped them breathe and everything. He didn’t go to work anymore, so I did that.”

  “Where did you work before?” I chance asking. He’s been talking for a long, long time. He snorts and my eyebrows rise in surprise.

  “I was a bouncer at a club.” He looks over with a smile and waits for my reaction.

  “Shut the fuck up!” I yell, pushing his shoulder, just for effect.

  “Yeah, I was dirt poor and living with my dad.”

  “Hey, some things don’t change.” I smile. He smirks and throws an arm around my shoulders.

  “I didn’t know how to do shit when I got into the office. Aiden just signed over full rights to me to act as CEO, and that’s never changed. They found out the cancer had spread to Annie’s lymph nodes. She didn’t last long, but she made me promise to take care of the kids. Aiden still hadn’t seen them. My dad had food brought to her hospital room three times a day. He only took a shower because the nurses would kick him out if he was unclean with her lowered immune system.

  “She died in September, just as all of the leaves were changing, and we buried her next to the cabin they got married at. Aiden moved in there and hadn’t left for six years, until my dad got sick. I took the girls home when they left the hospital, to Aiden and Annie’s house, and they’ve lived here ever since.”

  “So how do you go to the hospitals on Sundays?”

  “Aiden started watching the kids on the weekend to give me and dad a break when they started getting more self-sufficient. He still can’t take them for more than a few days at a time. They look just like Annie, especially now.”

  “And the angel?” He sighs and rubs his hand down my arm absently.

  “I met Ali through Deklan Thomas at a fundraiser and decided to get it done. Aiden actually went with me and got the same thing. He’s not okay.”

  “All the more reason for the kids to know how to swim,” I say quietly.

  “Agreed. I should have been on top of that. I work so much . . .”

  “You’re gonna have to figure out how to delegate or something, because all I’ve done is housework and take care of them since I’ve been here and haven’t been able to do much else.”

  “You’ve been great. Sorry I jumped in the lake.” I giggle, picturing him going in with his suit.

  “Did you lose your cell phone?”

  “Yeah, I have to get a new one tomorrow.” We watch the sky starting to get brighter. “Or today, I guess.”

  “We should go in. The kids are going to be up soon. When do you leave?” Batty stands and offers his hand to pull me up.

  “After they get dropped off at school. The flight isn’t bad, though. I’ll try to get back soon.”

  “Alright.”

  “Are you going to be okay here with them?” he asks as he shoulders the bag and we walk back into the house in our towels. My legs are stiff from the cool water and workout. Given a few more hours, I doubt I’ll be able to walk.

  “I’m fine. I’ll take them down this weekend to go to the hospital again if you’re okay with it. The at home visits are going to be a problem, though.” I follow Batty back to the master bathroom and drop my towel when he does.

  “I’ll figure that out. My dad’s doing better, he just can’t move a lot. I don’t like leaving him alone at the hospital,” Batty says, turning on the water and walking into the shower. I follow close behind him and hug his cold back to my front.

  “I know. You’re a good son,” I say quietly, thinking about my parents and cringing. “Sorry about scratching your angel.” I change the subject quickly.

  Batty turns in my arms and puts my head under the water. “It was hot.” He kisses my lips. “And intense.” He kisses my nose. �
��And probably necessary.” He kisses my forehead then steps back to pour shampoo into his hands.

  Finnigan Brennick giving me a head massage is probably one of the most erotic things I’ve ever experienced. My toes curl and goose bumps break out on my body.

  “There’s one thing you need to get before I can get back on a plane, baby.” I wipe my face and open my eyes, changing places with him so that he can wet his hair.

  “Okay.” Batty looks down at me with stubble on his chin, his hair slicked back and water running down his face. He takes my breath away.

  “I was in love with a woman who didn’t love me back for a long time. I’ve taken care of her kids. I’ve gone to the hospital to volunteer where she did. I work my brother’s business. You are the only thing in my life that I do for me. You’re my rainbow in a black and white world, and I fucking love that. I love what we have.”

  “Me too,” I whisper, going on my toes to give him a kiss.

  “Aunt Sadie?” One of the girls knocks on the door as I drop down on my heels.

  “Yeah, I’m coming.” It’s the start of a new day.

  Chapter 10

  FRIDAY

  In all of the commotion with Finn coming home, and the talk about his past, I never got to talk to him about letting the girls take riding lessons. We’ve talked on the phone a few times since then, but he’s been so relaxed I couldn’t do it.

  Now I’m waiting at a huge mansion for Sean to come out with two kids that resemble jumping beans. I know this is Deklan’s house and that he approved me being here, but I’m still nervous he’s going to come out of the house and have words.

  “Oh my God, that’s the most beautiful horse I’ve ever seen!” Hannah screams, making me jump. I turn to see a man riding toward us from a side road.

  Bridgette bounces on her toes like a bouncy ball. “I wanna go first. Can I please go first?”

  “No way, I saw it first. I’m riding first.”

  “No. I’m older.”

  “No. I’m closer.” I sigh and get between the girls.

  “Break it up. Look there’s another horse.” I watch Sean get off of the horse the size of a pony, but with braids in its hair.

  Sean holds out a hand to me and I shake it. “Sadie, it’s great to see you. These must be your two little moppets you’ve told me about. How are you lasses today?”

  “So excited!” Hannah says with big eyes and hands that are clutched together.

  “Perfect, then. This is my partner, Jonny. The horses are Cher and Donka. Which one of you is Bridgette?” Bridgette raises her hand enthusiastically.

  “Bridgette, it’s great to meet you. You’ll be going with Jonny here. Hannah, will come with me and we’ll start. Sadie, if you want to head to the backyard, you’ll be able to see everything but be in a bit of shade.”

  “Thanks, Sean,” I say as the men start talking about stirrups and feet placement. I sit on the back porch that is under an overhang, and shaded with ceiling fans. I watch intently as the girls ride back to the stable while the men hold the reins. They both wave to me, and I smile and wave back.

  I check emails between watching the kids for a while. When the door opens behind me, I turn to see none other than Ali Pierce holding a tray with a pitcher of lemonade.

  She smiles. “Hey, Sadie. Long time no see.” I smile back uncomfortably.

  “Yes. It’s been a few years. How are you, Ali?”

  “Perfect.”

  “And your family?” She sits back in her seat with a sigh while raising her glass. The beautiful sleeve tattoo of ocean waves, mountains and sky is bright against her tanned skin and black tank top.

  “They’re fantastic. My mom-in-law took the baby for lunch and Dek is working. I heard you’ve been pretty busy yourself.” I roll my eyes and check the girls again.

  “Yeah, with which part?”

  “Well, Finn Brennick’s kids for one, and what happened at the school. It’s all over YouTube.” I wave it away.

  “I’m more concerned with being linked to him than anything else.”

  “Why?”

  “Because of my reputation, and now being involved with the show that he created. It will make him look bad.” She grunts.

  “Well, if he was so worried it seems like he would have found someone else to watch them after it hit the news. He hasn’t done anything yet. How is it taking care of twins?”

  “It’s exhausting, but they’re pretty good now that they’ve decided to like me.” Ali laughs.

  “Which one didn’t like you?”

  “Hannah. They don’t look it, but they can be pretty scary if they try.” Ali laughs more, snorting at the end.

  “I bet. I can’t imagine watching two kids at your age. Had you met them before?”

  “No. I had no idea they existed until I had to pick them up from school.”

  “Hmm. Where’s the mom?” I take a deep breath.

  “He’s not their dad, he’s Uncle Finn. Their mom died.”

  “Ohhh,” she says, her eyes tracking the kids. “The angel?” I nod. “Huh. I always thought he was a widow or something.”

  “Yeah, me too. We had a little heart to heart the other night.”

  “Oh, I bet he loved that. He seems as tough as nails,” she says with a smile. I shrug with a grin.

  “I have my ways.” Ali throws her red hair back and laughs loudly, flashing her tongue ring, before holding out a ringed hand to high five.

  “You’re my kind of girl, Sadie. There’s just one question: Why don’t you have any ink?” I swallow and mess with the ends of my hair.

  “I haven’t found anything yet.” It sounds like more of a question than a statement.

  “Well, if you ever find a big enough reason to do it, come see me in L.A. I’d love to mess with some virgin skin.”

  “Isn’t your shop called skin something?” I ask to veer the topic away from needles in my body.

  “Shell Distortion. A lot of people find it relaxing. Kind of therapeutic in a way.”

  “Hmm.” I can’t imagine that. It just seems like it would feel like fifty needles burying ink into your body. “If I ever need a tattoo, you’ll be the first to know.”

  “Sweet. Now tell me about this new project you’re doing. Fandy seems excited about it.”

  “Well . . .”

  And that’s how I became friends with Ali, my first friend. Ever.

  Chapter 11

  FaceTime with Batty, phone calls, and we still haven’t discussed my slip with the L word. I know I’m a chicken shit, but I never even knew the thought was in my head before the words were slipping from my mouth. My damn filter was MIA. Hell of a time, too.

  I don’t even really know what I’m doing anymore. I thought I wanted it to be just physical, but then the girls happened. His house in suburbia happened. The whole package that I thought was Finnigan Brennick shattered one lake at a time.

  Now I care. I care about those kids and I know about his past. I can’t unknow, and the craziest part is I don’t want to. I want to know what he eats for breakfast and which chipped mug is his favorite in that old house.

  Do I want to take on two kids and a man at the age of twenty-two? No freaking clue. Now that I know the story behind his angel, a story I thought would seal the fate of me walking away, I want to pick up his pieces and hot glue them back together like a damn PTA project.

  Batty used to be the image of cold, callous and hot. Finn is caring, has a heart and, well, still fucking hot.

  “The press is two seconds away from putting it together that you’re watching my kids. It’s not going to improve your image to be connected to me right now,” I hear through the phone and push it harder between my shoulder and ear as I get frustrated.

  “What the fuck do you want me to do, Finnigan? You don’t want to be seen with me now. No, you know I get that. I can—”

  “Will you shut up for two seconds? I never said that. Don’t put words in my fucking mouth, Sadie.”

  �
�Finn, listen. You’re on the cover of TIME and I’m in Star for drug abuse. So—”

  My heart stops. I’m running and fumbling with the dropping phone as Finn yells in alarm, but the twenty foot hall takes three years off of my life before I burst into the living room. The girls are screaming so loud my eardrums just vibrate in pain, not registering an octave at all.

  “WHAT’S WRONG?!” My eyes scan their bodies as I yell over them, not seeing anything on their bodies, no blood, bones, tears, and no predators in the room. My body sways and I don’t know whether to jump over the couch or if I have time to run around the stacks of folded clothes I haven’t put away yet.

  “Oh my gosh, Aunt Sadie—”

  “You’re on TV!”

  “We saw you on the TV!”

  “You were singing and so pretty—”

  “Do you sing? Can you sing for us?”

  They keep going, but I collapse behind the sectional, in between the couch and dining room chair. Lying on my back, one hand on my heart, I bring the phone to my ear with the other.

  “What the fuck? I’m coming home. Sadie? Sadie? Are they—”

  “They’re fine. They’re fine,” I mumble. It’s silent for a moment before he explodes.

  “What do you mean they’re fine? Is someone bleeding? Are you being held at gunpoint?”

  “No. They saw me on TV, babe. Triple Threat promos have started.” The girls are still jumping up and down on the other side of the couch.

  “Are you . . . I . . . it’s a good thing I’m in the fucking hospital. Jesus Christ.” I can hear that he was just as scared as I was.

  “I know. I almost passed out.”

  “Where are you?”

  “On the floor behind the couch.” He laughs.

  “Babe. Now that that’s out of the way, stop with this putting yourself down shit. Do I need to remind you that I’m a bouncer with no education? Who cares if I’m on the cover of a magazine?” He clears his throat and I get the impression he’s uncomfortable. “Listen, there’s a reason I didn’t like Popper. I’m just a normal guy that helps out his brother—”