Jake’s mouth dropped open. Finn continued, “I don’t pretend to know her—I let her show herself to me. I see her—and I’ll never not see her. You think she’s great because she’s won an Olympic medal, well, let me try to make this clear for you: she’s not great because she has an Olympic medal, she’s great because she loves this sport, and she loves people and that’s what makes her a champion. You’d do well to remember that.”
Jake adjusted his jacket, pulling his collar up as if to ward off Finn’s words. His lips twisted as if he wanted to saysomething but couldn’t get the words out. Then he exhaled through his nose like Finn had said something stupid.
“You’re passionate,” he mused. “I’ve always known that. Fiery. But fire burns out. And Sam—she was raised inmyworld. Sheknowswhat it takes to stay on top.” He paused. “Do you?”
Finn shook his head. “I knew you’d throw that card down. And I’m not afraid of you. And Sam—you’re still missing the point. You may have trained her to win, in a world that you think is yours, but she was always going to win—with or without you.”
Jake’s jaw tightened, just a fraction. Finn pushed his hands down into his jacket pockets. His stomach churned. Standing up to Jake like this hadn’t been on his to-do list. A flicker of movement nearby made him look around. Jake turned to see what he was looking at Sam. Just a few feet away.
Finn pressed his lips together.This was awkward. Sam’s eyes were trained on him, her forehead creased.Shit, Jake is her father. And she hadn’t moved a muscle since he’d spotted her. He willed her to understand that he needed to do this, to stand up to Jake for once and for all, otherwise he’d never be his own man. But he wished she’d give him some indication that she was on his side. The knot in his stomach tightened as his hands clenched into fists deep in his pockets. Then he drew a breath and, keeping his head high, nodded at Jake once. Jake nodded back, with a hint of respect to it. Then Finn walked away without waiting for Jake’s dismissal. The snow started again. It swirled around them, descending like huge duck down feathers. He blinked as they landed on his face, cold and wet. Shaking, Finn moved toward Sam. She didn’t move toward him but kept her eyes on her father as he turned on his heel and walked away into the watching crowd.
Then, as if she’d snapped out of a spell, she was before him, making his heart pound and his breath shallow. What had he just done? That was her father! The man who’d raised her, and he’d basically told him to get lost. Shit. She was going to hate him for this.
She touched his arm, grasping a handful of his jacket. “You okay?”
Finn gazed into her face, surprised to see concern and worry written all over it. He shrugged, trying to play it off that it was her father he’d just gone toe-to-toe with, and that he was terrified. “Guess we’ll find out when he tries to have me assassinated.”
She gave a small smile, her brows relaxed. “He wouldn’t.”
“Oh, I’d say he has the contacts.”
“Without a doubt,” Sam said softly. “Finn?”
“Sam?”
She searched his face for a moment, and his mind went blank.Please let her be okay with what I said.He held himself steady, his chest contracting hard, as she brushed a strand of hair back from her face. His hand twitched to move, to touch her, to hold her and tell her that he’d meant it—every word—even if it ruined everything between them, because it was the truth. And he had to stand by his word.
Without a whisper, she reached for his hand, lacing her fingers through his.
The tension in his chest loosened.
“I heard everything,” she said. “And you were right.”
“About what?” His throat was tight.
“About me. About why I love the sport. About who I am.”
She tightened her grip on his hand, then lifted it to her lips to press a gentle, deliberate kiss to his fingers. “Thank you.”
His breath caught; his voice was rough when he spoke. “You never have to thank me for seeing you.”
“I know.” Sam shrugged, a smile spreading across her face. “It drives me crazy that I didn’t know it sooner.” Then she stepped into his arms. The tension and tightness flowed out of Finn’s body as she held him. There was a quiet certainty in her movements, her arms wrapped around his body even more closely. Her body steady, warm and comforting, like the first rays of sun after a snowstorm. Her heart was against his, and he couldn’t tell whose pulse was hammering like crazy. Pressing his cheek against her hair, he gave a shuddering sigh. For the first time, in a very long time, he didn’t feel like he had to fight for his place, because Sam was here, holding space for him.
Sam raised her face, a glimmer of wickedness in her smile. “Fancy celebrating my win with me?”
Laughing, he kissed her nose. “As long as you wear something special.”
Snorting, Sam gently thumped his chest. “You dirty-minded … well, what exactly do you have in mind?”
“You … and your medal.” Finn leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “And nothing else.”
Sam gasped but leaned against him, letting him knowwith her whole body that he’d said all the right words. “Now that I can do.”
“If you two don’t get a room you’ll melt the snow, and then what!” Maya’s voice came from directly behind Sam. She smirked and flicked the snow from her face. “I heard that, by the way. And I’m all for it, just so you know. But can you do it later—after we open this email from Montalier?” She held her phone out to Sam as the snow came down harder.
24
Sam
