“You’re protesting too much, Fin. Sure giveaway that something’s gone down with our favorite redhead,” Luke said.
“Fuck all of you,” Fin snarled, walking away to grab the ball. “Don’t weave fantasies around me and Maggs.”
“Ah, so there is a we,” Jack said. Fin fired the ball at him and missed.
“They make a cute couple,” Joe said, making kissy noises that had Fin charging him.
“The team is here,” Luke said.
Fin was pissed off and unsettled before he started, which didn’t bode well for the game, but he’d hoped getting a good sweat on and some smack talk would work that out of him. In fact, it only increased when Miss Sarah fouled him for bad language.
“They swear!” He waved a hand at his teammates.
“But rarely do they mean it, Findlay Hudson. You, however, at this precise moment, do.” She gave him a sweet smile that had him wanting to breathe fire. “It’s important we stay true to our natures at all times, and you are a kind, sweet man, and never mean. Did you wake on the wrong side of the bed today, dear?”
“It was more who was sleeping in that bed that’s the issue,” Luke said so Fin could hear.
The entire game had stopped as she lectured him. The younger team watched avidly; most he knew, and some he’d hauled off his mountains for doing things they shouldn’t. All had also likely had a similar lecture from a Robbins sister at some stage in their lives, if the pity on their faces was any indication.
“Sorry I’m late!” Pip ran in the door. “I’ve been mopping up tears, you bastard.” She punched Fin hard in the gut, doubling him over and making everyone roar with laughter.
Well, hell.
Chapter34
She managed to avoid him for four days by going to stay with her family. She’d told Joan she was taking a few days off and to call her if anything came up at the gallery. It was running away, Maggs understood that, but she needed some time.
No one had asked why she’d decided to go home. Her mom had simply made up her bed, her dad had hugged her, and her brothers had given her a look but kept silent.
She’d ridden the land with her family and worked with them. It had been what she needed. Time to get her thoughts straight.
They asked more questions about England. She’d answered them, and that too had been good. She wasn’t hiding now; she told them the truth. It was freeing.
Yes, Fin was a nagging pain in her side, but she’d deal with that when she went back.
“You done hiding now?”
“What?”
Nash fell onto the sofa beside her. She was watching a program but had no clue what it was about, as her mind had been elsewhere.
“It has been nice having you here, little sister, but I know there’s a reason.”
“I need a reason to stay here?”
Fin had always reminded her most of Nash. Honorable, opinionated when required, but a man at the core. Good men, she added.
“Tigger, I know you, and you’re hiding out here. Plus,” he held out a hand as she opened her mouth to speak, “I saw Fin, and he asked me how you were.”
Maggs ignored the little kick to her heart.
“That’s what friends do; they ask after each other.”
“He looked sad, with dark smudges under his eyes.”
“Why all the worry for him now? You were suspicious of him before.”
Nash studied her, and Maggs fought the urge to squirm.
