My time was up.
I took one last look in the mirror and exhaled. Touching my own wrist, I confirmed my accelerated heart rate. My purple bruises were gone. With an attempt to calm my breathing, I took deep breaths as I walked slowly toward the door. Despite my effort at calm, by the time I reached the alarm panel, I was lightheaded.
Once the alarm was disarmed, I inhaled, exhaled, and opened the door.
Words were out of reach as Fin and I looked intently at one another.
The way Fin stared at me was as if he had the power to touch me without lifting a finger. He did. Under the focus of his sapphire orbs, my core twisted and my nipples beaded beneath the chiffon. For thefirst time in weeks, I saw his smile with his eyes on me. His face had healed. The black eye was gone. The intensity in his eyes made him even more handsome than I remembered.
My assessment of his granite features was cut short as his large hands came to my cheeks, pulling me toward him until our lips connected. Fin was stealing not only my words but also my breath. His kiss sizzled, bruising my lips.
Without breaking our connection, he walked us into the apartment, my feet following his lead as he closed the door behind him. His strong arm surrounded me, pulling me against him, smashing my breasts against his wide chest, and uniting our hips. With his other hand, he reached behind my head, twisting and tugging my hair, causing my face to tilt farther upward. Unapologetically, his tongue sought entrance. The taste of beer and the scent of sandalwood filled my senses as every nerve in my body was ignited. Like adding accelerant to dying embers, in Fin’s arms I was ablaze.
I reached up, fisting the lapels of his sports coat. Lifting myself onto my tiptoes, I pushed back, my tongue making its mark in this battle of wills. Fin spun us around until my shoulders collided with the door he’d just closed. I splayed my fingers of one hand over his rock-hard chest, feeling his heart beat in time with mine, fast and furious.
As our kiss continued, Fin reached for the skirt of the maxi dress, balling the material until he severed our connection with a scoff. “What the hell are you wearing? Does it ever end?” he asked, pulling back and scanning the dress.
My laugh joined his as I took a step back and spun a complete circle. The skirt of the maxi dress floated out.
“You’re beautiful, Vee.”
Taking a step closer, I lifted my fingers to his left cheek. “You’re healed.” My forehead furrowed. “How’s your shoulder?”
“I have no physical restrictions.”
My lips curled upward. “That’s good to hear.” I reached for his hand and tugged him into the living room. “Do you want anything?”
He took a seat on the sofa and pulled me onto his lap. “You. You’re all I want.”
The blue of his eyes was the color of a sun-soaked sea, sparkling with diamonds as he tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear and stared into my eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t return your calls or texts.”
“I’m sorry I never told you about Dad or the Coopers.”
“I watched you on the sidelines today.”
How could that possibly be true?
“You’re supposed to be watching the big guys, so they don’t plow you over.”
Fin’s grin quirked. “When I wasn’t on the field… when I could see you.” He continued running his fingers through my hair. “Vee, Reid may own the Coopers, but you’re the heart and soul. I’m glad I didn’t know who you were—back then. I’m glad I got to know you without the knowledge of who your dad is. It was a privilege not given to many.”
Pressing my lips together, I willed myself not to cry. “I’m happy we had that time, but I’m sad it upset you.”
Fin let out a long breath, dropping his hands to the sofa. “I was a kid. You were a kid.”
“We didn’t think we were kids at the time.”
“We didn’t.” He took my hand in his. “Those things I said, about my parents?—”
“Fin, I never thought or said any of those things.”
He pressed his lips together and nodded. “I know. I was hurt. Hurt people hurt people. It’s not a good thing, but it’s accurate.”
Looking down at my lap, I tried to get my thoughts in order. I looked up through veiled lashes. “Do you know what I remember about that Thanksgiving?”
He shook his head.
“I remember thinking that this was what a real family must be like.”
