She dropped her head, eyes closed.‘Samantha was very clear on that, said it had to be in my name only, not Red’s.Like she knew…’
When she opened her eyes again, they were clearer than Finn had seen in weeks.
‘But here I am, at fifty-one,’ she said, lifting her chin.‘And Samantha is right.I am the manager, and I’m hiring more staff.That if I want to take a holiday, I will.If I want to spend two weeks making leather belts, I will.And if I want to create a workshop in my back shed at home, and paint the kitchen yellow, while blasting Dolly Parton while I do it, I will.’
Brodie gave her a pained side glance.‘Dolly who?’
‘Behave, you.’Lydia playfully swatted at him.‘And when we leave here, you’re gonna pack your bag and move in home with me, young man.Just like we always talked about.I can finally give you that spare room so you can be with family.And you’ve always been like a son to me.So I’m giving you a home, Brodie Cross.Because I’ve got no one else, just you…’
Brodie sat back, his eyes wide and glassy.‘What’s the catch?’
Finn nodded at the kid for asking, it’s what he’d do, because things rarely came for free.Especially after what he’d just been through with his mentor.
‘You’re not going back into the yards, not while I’m running them.’
‘But it’s my job.’Brodie winced through the pain as he sat higher in his chair.
‘Not anymore.You’re getting promoted.’She reached over, even if she flinched, to grab his good hand, like a queen giving out royal decrees.‘You’ve got a head for numbers.You smashed that word puzzle book of Finn’s in record time.’
‘Really?’Finn raised his eyebrows at the kid.
Brodie shrugged, holding up the book, covered in doodles.
‘I’ll have to get you a new one, then.’And for the right reasons, too.
‘Brodie might be busy, because he’ll be learning the family business.You’re not that kid in the gutter anymore, Brodie.So no more ripped jeans and boots with the soles hanging off.You deserve better.You always have.And I’m sorry I let Red stop me from doing anything sooner.’
‘It’s okay, I didn’t mind the yards.’
‘You’ll still be at the yards, my boy, but learning the office, working your way to running the auctions, which I know you’ll be good at.And I know you love the auctions.There’s a lot more to the place than shovelling dung all day, and it’s time you take that next step.’
The grin on Brodie’s face said it all.The kid was speechless, with his eyes glistening like all of his Christmases had come at once.
And for an uneducated kid like Brodie, who never thought he’d get far in life, beyond being a low-hand in the stockyards, he deserved it.
But then Lydia turned to Finn, and the fire in her eyes hadn’t faded.
Was it too late to bolt for the door?
‘You’re a good man, Finn Wilde.But you live like you’re waiting for something to disappear.’
‘Excuse me?’
Lydia folded her hands neat as a pin over her lap.‘Your house looks like you’re still in prison, like you’re expecting to be sent away again.But you’ve well and truly earned your place in this town.You don’t need to have Craig and Stone give you thatinwith the locals anymore, because everyone already respects you.So move in properly, will ya.Buy yourself a couch.A table.Hell, get a rug.And some coffee mugs without cracks in them, and a coffee machine where it’s impossible for you to make coffee that tastes like—’
‘Mud?’Instantly thinking of Taryn.That pang of everything about her hitting his chest, because they still hadn’t talked.
‘Yeah.’Lydia’s eyes narrowed at Finn.‘You like her, don’t you?’
‘Who?’Finn wiped a hand over his scruffy chin that hadn’t seen a razor in days.
‘The woman who makes your stance loosen a little.Who gives you that tiny spark in your eyes, like that smile is going to happen, but doesn’t.And you know why?’She arched an eyebrow at him.‘Because you’re not letting Taryn in.Or anyone else, really.’
His mouth opened, but her finger wagged at him, effectively cutting him off.
‘Where is she?I heard Taryn came back, and talked down the lynch mob in the pub.Is that true?’
Finn nodded.It’s where he’d last kissed her, when he wouldn’t let words get in the way.
