'Tis the Season for Love: A Charity Box Set
Page 43
"Want to join?" he asks innocently, as if he's inviting me to a seminar and not to share a meal with him. A meal that will undoubtedly include conversation and laughter. My heart rate ticks up at the thought. "You know, so I'm not the third wheel."
Right, a bucket of cold water to the face. "Sure."
He smiles and it's like sunshine, his whole face radiating warmth, and a kindness that is so open and genuine, it causes me to stare. How is it fair that men, just random men out in the world, look like that in the morning and I look like...well, me? I’m not unfortunate looking but I’m nothing to write home about either. I’m the cute girl-next-door, every guy’s favorite wingwoman, and an enthusiastic giver of relationship advice to all the men I know. Basically, I live in a perpetual friend-zone.
"Are you excited about your move to Edinburgh? Nervous?"
I nod again, words clearly failing me this morning. Taking a moment to collect my thoughts, I stall by drinking more coffee. "I'm really excited," I admit, hoping I'm not gushing. "To be honest, I worry Lachlan offered me the job because I'm Sierra's best friend and not—"
Finn holds up a hand, stopping me. "He didn't. He hired you because you're qualified and a good fit for the position. Plus, knowing you, he thinks you would be a good fit for the office culture as well. Lachlan keeps business as business and very rarely mixes it with anything personal. I'm the same way. If he didn't think you were the right choice, he wouldn't have offered you the job. Unless you were Sierra," he jokes and I crack a smile, knowing Sierra's family was desperate for her to accept a position at the family company, even though she had no interest. "But that's just because he misses her."
I nod.
"So, now you're going to have to play surrogate sister and cousin in addition to your new role."
He says the words playfully enough, and I manage to laugh them away, but inside my stomach sinks. A strange coldness sweeps through my limbs and disappointment clogs my throat. Surrogate sister and cousin? Does no one see me as anything more than Sierra's filler with the competency to do the job? It was always hard growing up in my town, with three older brothers who everyone knew. Dating was nearly impossible, which is one of the reasons why I was so grateful for my experience at ASU. At least I got to go out and be a normal college kid. But, oh God, what if Finn and Sierra's brothers treat me the same way in Scotland? Warning everyone away from me? I'm going to be single forever.
"Don't worry." Finn chuckles, accurately reading my expression. "We won't be so tough on you. I mean, you'll be allowed to have chaperoned dates and whatnot."
I lift an eyebrow at the comment, and he releases another easy laugh, his blue eyes flashing with amusement. But after a beat, they darken, a flicker of something else sparking around the edges of his irises.
"Are you dating anyone?" he asks seriously, his gaze bold and unwavering as it scans my face.
I shake my head, averting my gaze as I gulp more coffee. My dating life is literally a joke. I haven't had a steady boyfriend since my junior year of college, and that turned out to be a disaster. I sigh into my mug. This summer, none of the guys would even look at me. Okay, that's a lie. They looked at me with one of those knowing expressions that said, "We can look but we can't touch." And then their eyes darted around to see if any of my brothers were nearby or if anyone caught them staring at the Kanes' kid sister.
It was awful. And pathetic.
I haven't had sex in six months, and I'm starting to grow fearful that I'm re-virginizing.
Is that even possible?
"Dais?" Finn asks, pulling me from the depressing path my thoughts are traveling down.
"No, I’m not. Are you?" I ask with a boldness I don’t feel, glancing up in time to catch a smirk bounce off Finn’s lips.
"No one serious,” he comments and my stomach flip-flops.
What the heck does that mean? That he’s dating lots of women? Or just a handful but only casually? Ugh, why do I care so much? I already know that he fits into the player category. Sierra has told me countless stories about the relationship troubles Finn and her brother, Lachlan, find themselves in. Even knowing the truth, I still look at him and see someone else. Definitely not the player I should be wary of.
“So, are you ready for the move?” he asks again after a beat of silence.
"Oh. Well, yeah, I'm excited for the move to Scotland. There's honestly nothing holding me here except my brothers, and it seems like they're all moving in new directions with their lives, too. I can't wait to dive into the role and learn as much as I can, and I'm incredibly grateful to your family for the opportunity. Sierra tells me Aaron is a great mentor and will invest a lot of time in developing my skills.”
Finn nods. "Yeah. Aaron will teach you a lot. And you know, if you need anything, I'll be there, too, although our day-to-day won't overlap much."
"Thank you."
A stifled silence stretches between us, each of us sipping our coffee and watching the other curiously. I'm relieved when the door to the kitchen swings open.
"Hey, y'all." Carter strides inside, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"I like that you don't live here anymore, and yet you're here all the time," I joke.
He snatches the creamer from next to my elbow and slides onto the stool next to mine. "Quit it. I'm only here so much because y'all are here, and I wanna spend as much time with you as I can before you move to another country." His words are teasing, but I hear the truth underlining them, and it causes a pang to explode in my chest. Out of all of my brothers, I'm the closest to Carter. In a lot of ways, he raised me, and saying goodbye to him is going to be more difficult than I anticipated.
"You and Taylor will come visit me when you can, right?" The desperate edge to my tone is hard to hide, and I see Finn shift in my peripheral vision, leaning forward on the island.
"Of course, Dais.” Carter grins, his signature smirk back in place. "I'm here so early because it's Christmas Eve, and you know what that means."
"Decorating the tree," I say softly, loving that my brothers have kept Mom's holiday traditions alive for me all these years.
"Exactly. Taylor will be here in a few. She's still perfecting her eggnog and mulled wine recipes. We'll get everything set up so we can start after lunch."
"Your girlfriend is seriously trying to get everyone drunk,” I point out.
Finn chuckles, his eyebrows lifting. He glances at Carter for confirmation.
"It's true,” Carter chuckles. “This is her first family holiday with a lot of people. It's usually just her and her parents. She's really committed to her role as bartender.”
“It was self-appointed. But I like it.” I add as Finn and Carter laugh. Grinning at them, I wrap my hands around my coffee mug. I’m happy my brothers are all here this Christmas. It's comforting to be in a full house again after the past few months of quiet as my brothers' lives all moved in different directions. I know the move to Scotland is going to be good for me, but it still hurts in a bittersweet way to know absolutely everything is changing.
"Me too." Carter squeezes my shoulder before standing from the bar stool. "You going to lunch with Den and Sierra?" he asks Finn.
"Yeah," Finn confirms. "You going to tag along, Daisy?"
Tag along. That's my new identifier. Still, I give a weak nod. Of course I am. I'm not going to miss any opportunity I can to bask in the presence of Finn Anderson, even if it's just lunch. Even if it's only for this week. Even if he never has morning coffee with me again.
Sigh. I really need to get a life.
Lucky for me, a new one awaits in just a few more weeks.
"Really. Raf's?" I raise my eyebrows at Denver as I slide into the booth across from him and Sierra.
He shrugs. "I miss it here."
Sierra smiles at him sweetly, as if there's no other place in the world she'd rather be eating at than the hole-in-the-wall bar and grill my entire family frequents. For every single occasion. Always and forever. We’re loyal like that.
Raf's, not so much.
"Just order a burger, fries, and a beer," I tell him, patting the top of his hand. A spark sizzles under my fingertips as electricity jolts up my arm at the contact. I feel him turn his head toward me, and he flips his hand over, squeezing my fingertips playfully.
"Thanks for the tip, love." He closes his menu and leans back in the booth, releasing my fingers.
Sierra begins to tell us about the different venues Denver and she visited today, as I sit still as a statue, quiet as a mute, wondering why the hell the most innocent and simple expressions or actions from Finn garner such a strong response from me?
It's like he can affect me just by being in the room.
Is this a normal crush? Or is it something more?
"Daisy, would you like a burger and fries and a pint, too?" Finn asks, interrupting my thoughts.
I look up sharply, exhaling a deep breath when I notice Mindy, our server, waiting by the end of our booth, a pen poised above a small notepad.
"Yes, thanks. A burger and fries, please. And a Coke." I tell Mindy and she nods, jotting down my order.
"You really liked The Mackey House that much?" Den asks Sierra, his eyebrows dipping over his dark eyes.
"Yes, why? You didn’t like it?"
"I thought you were going to say Ford Plantation?"
"What? No, it’s for such a big guest list. Which one did you like?"
Finn shifts next to me, nudging me with his elbow. Looking up at him, his warm eyes meet mine. "I'm glad you didn't tell me Sisi's news. She was so excited to tell me herself; it's better I didn't have to pretend to be surprised, even though I had an inkling."
"You're welcome." I grin back.
"You know if they marry here, we'll all be flying out together."
"I hope I can make it," I say, biting back my smile and attempting to school my features.
"Why wouldn't you?" Finn asks seriously, his mouth a hard line.
"I'll only have been with my new company a few months. Do you think my boss will give me the time off?"
He laughs, the sound rich and full as he shakes his head at me. “Remind me to never play poker with you,” he says seriously, the change of topic confusing me. Under the table, his large palm squeezes my thigh, and I jump from the touch. But in the next breath, his hand is gone, and I wonder if I imagined the entire thing.
Mindy drops off our burgers, and Finn takes a massive bite of his, groaning. "This is quite good, mate," he comments to Denver and I smirk, happy at how easily he fits into my surroundings.
Happy that he's here for Christmas.
The remainder of lunch continues without a hitch.
Sort of.
Denver and Sierra keep the conversation going, often glancing at each other and getting lost in their own moments, which would be uncomfortable if it wasn't so damn sweet. Finn tosses out comments every now and then, witty one-liners causing Sierra to giggle and my brother to grin. Sort of.
And I remain a ball of energy, nearly too nervous to eat.
What the heck is wrong with me? I've never reacted this way around a man. I've never been one to shy away from anything, always preferring to speak my mind and tell it like it is. I mean, I grew up with three older brothers. If I didn't make myself heard, I would have been drowned out.
But with Finn sitting beside me, the heat from his jean-clad thigh seeping into my skin, I feel off-balance. Why can’t I just admit that I’m interested in him and ask him out for coffee? Or a drink?
Is it because he's Sierra's cousin?
Is it because we're going to be working together next month, and I shouldn't blur those lines? Or is it because he's just way, and I mean lightyears, out of my league?
"You okay?" his low voice rumbles against my ear, sending a full-blown shiver throughout my body.
"Hmm? Sure," I answer, trying to smile up at him.
His brow is pulled tight, his blue eyes shadowed with concern. "You sure? You don't seem like yourself."
I blush. How is it he already has me pegged? That he knows what I seem like? "I'm fine."
He nods, turning his attention toward the table, but I feel him shift his weight closer to me, and the action causes an irrational grin to appear on my face.
Across from me, Den squints, giving me a look. My smile drops and I glare back for a beat until he averts his gaze. Then I pick up a French fry and chew it slowly, my appetite gone.
When lunch finally ends, I'm so relieved I practically flee Raf's.
Denver and Sierra decide to pop into one more local venue for a look around, and they take off, with Denver shooting me one more glance over his shoulder. This time, I avoid his gaze, knowing if he meets my eyes, he'll see through me in a second and know I'm fighting something for Finlay.
"Dais, wait up." Finn jogs after me in the parking lot as I walk toward my car.
"Sorry. I wasn't sure if you wanted to check out the venue with Sierra?" I ask, as Finn's eyebrows furrow deeper over the brilliant blue of his eyes. He wears an almost-confused smile, letting me know he doesn't know how to read me in this moment.
Which is fine, being as I don't know how to sort myself out either.
"No, that's all right. Can I catch a ride back with you?" He asks.
"Of course. But I have to make a few stops. I can drop you first if you—"
"I'll come along," he insists, gripping my elbow as he takes a step forward. I shuffle toward him for no reason other than he seems to have some kind of hold over me, some type of magnetism drawing me to him.
"Okay," I squeak out.
Finn opens my car door, and I slide behind the wheel, clenching my fingers into fists when I notice how my fingers are trembling.
Get it together, Daisy. It's not that serious.
"Where're we off to, love?" he asks, clicking in his seat belt next to me.
"I just need to pop into a few stores. Do you mind?" I glance over at him to find him staring back at me, his eyes dark and unreadable.
He blinks and his expression softens. "Not at all."
We drive the rest of the way in silence as Finn checks messages on his iPhone. Muttering under his breath, a bunch of Scottish slang I can't decipher falls from his mouth and causes me to smile.
"What're you laughing about?"
"You," I tell him truthfully. "I have no idea what you're going on and on about."
He chuckles then. "Don't mind me. Just need to sort out some mess before the holiday. I'll make a few calls while you run your errand, yeah?"
"Sure," I agree, parking my car and leaving the keys in the ignition. "I should only be a few minutes."
He waves me away, and I shut the car door. Stuffing my hands into my pockets, I jog into the tiny shop that has been around since the beginning of time to grab some last-minute Christmas items. I'm nearly to the back where I see several “first Christmas” ornaments that I’d like to pick up for my brothers' and their significant others when a display of stockings stops me.
Remembering the Christmas decorating we're going to do today, I quickly snatch one up, my hands gliding over the material of the stocking. Before I can chicken out, I ask the women behind the sewing machine to embroider, "Finn."
If he's going to be spending Christmas with my family, I should at least make him feel welcome, right?
Chapter 4
Our tree is massive, and the entire house smells like pine and Christmas and my childhood. I inhale, letting the scent settle in my chest. I love this time of year more than any other.
"Are we doing all the ornaments? Like, even the lame ones we made as kids?" Jax asks, lounging on the couch, an Xbox controller in his hand.
"Hell yeah, you are." Evi
e swats the controller out of his hand and tries to pull him up. "I loved how your tree looked in high school, with all your random arts and crafts projects on display." She beams at him, and he pulls her down on top of him.
"Oh my God, this is your handprint from when you were three!" Taylor exclaims, holding up an ornament that Carter must have made in nursery school.
He rolls his eyes and shakes his head, but still, he's grinning at her, his love for Taylor shining from his sea-foam green eyes.
"Just wait until the baby's born," Denver whispers to me and I laugh. He's right. If this is how all the women are now, cooing over Jax and Carter's childhood memories, it's only going to intensify when Sierra delivers in May.
"Did you find any wedding venues you like?" I ask.
Den runs a hand over his head, dropping into the chair next to mine. "We did. I just don't want Sierra to take on so much right now, you know? She should be resting, and instead she's working like crazy, thinking about doing a show before the baby arrives, and now planning a wedding. I worry about her." His gaze settles on Sierra and his expression tightens, his concern obvious.
I squeeze his forearm lightly until he looks back to me. "She's okay. She knows herself and how hard to push. You need to trust her."
"Yeah, I know,” he sighs. “Easier said than done."
I jab his shoulder and he offers me a rare smirk.
"Daisy Kane!" Taylor approaches me with two fancy glasses in hand, candy cane straws sticking out the tops.
"Oh no! What are they?”
"Salted caramel White Russians.” She sings, her blue eyes gleaming as she pushes a glass into my hand.
I take a sip and groan. "Taylor, this is so freaking good. Like, amazingly good.”
"I know, right?" She rocks forward, dropping her voice. "We’re doing peppermint espresso martinis next." I laugh and shake my head, but she just bounces on her toes, explaining, "We're the only two girls drinking. You need to be my partner-in-crime here."
"Trust me, you don't need to twist my arm to drink with you." My eyes cut to Finn when I say this and my laughter dies in my throat. Because Finn’s staring at me, his gaze serious and heady, all traces of his playful charm gone.