She’d melt at his feet if he kept talking like that. “It complicates things, Fin.”
“Hell of a complication.” He leaned over and kissed her. Hot, demanding, and it left her aching when he eased back. “Go pack a bag, sweetheart.”
Chapter29
He followed her into the house and looked around. She wasn’t exactly a neat freak, but it was close. Fin guessed everything had its place. The artwork on her walls drew him. Studying each piece, he admired what she’d collected. She had a good eye.
Her Christmas tree was next to the window, and it was crammed full of decorations. Colored lights blinked on and off. Fin needed to get a tree up; he’d just not got around to it yet.
Moving to the big windows, he looked at the darkening sky. What had happened up on that mountain to Simon Linbar, and why did he feel the note was in some way involved now?
“Ready.”
She stood in her doorway, nervous, clutching the overnight case in two hands. Her eyes were wide, and the day was starting to show in the smudges beneath. He felt it again, that heavy thud in his chest as he looked at her. He wanted to protect her, hold her, kiss her senseless and any number of things. It was simple: Maggie Winter got to him. He just wasn’t sure yet what to do about it.
He moved to where she stood, took the bag, and then pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Let’s go then.”
She let out a breath, then preceded him out the door. As he loaded her bag in the back seat, a car pulled up behind his. He heard the little noise Maggie made as Piper and Bailey got out of the car.
“They love you, remember that.”
“I’m trying.” She stepped forward.
“I’m pretty pissed with you about now, Maggie.” Piper grabbed Maggs and hugged her close. “Holy crap, girl. I can’t believe you were shot up and didn’t tell us.”
“I’m sorry.” Her words were muffled in Pip’s shoulder. “Really, I am sorry.”
“Joe just told us; we were all at Mom’s having a meal.” Pip released her, and Maggie turned to face Bailey. They looked at each other for long, silent seconds.
She looked small and vulnerable, Fin thought, and considering she stood next to Bailey, who wasn’t overly big and had something about her that had always urged him to protect her, that was saying something.
“I didn’t want to hurt you. I didn’t want you worrying. I-I thought I could handle it and come home the same person who’d left, Bailey.” The words tumbled out of her mouth.
Fin watched as Bailey took a step closer.
“I’m sorry, Bailey. Really. I should have told you, should have told my family.”
“I wasn’t hurt for me when Joe told me, Maggs. I was hurt for how you suffered alone. Yes, I was angry you didn’t tell anyone, but only because you had no one to help you though what must have been hell.”
Maggie sniffed, and he knew tears would follow. Bailey wrapped her arms around her friend and held her gently. Fin’s eyes itched as the women cried together. More healing, he thought. Today had been a tough one for his girl.
“You going home with Fin tonight?” Pip didn’t pull any punches. If it needed to be said, she said it.
“She is. Now go home to your menfolk,” he said, waving them away.
“Wait till I tell the others,” Pip replied walking to her car.
“Oh no— ”
They were driving away before she could stop them.
“It’s done, now let’s go.”
Fin left Maggie alone with her thoughts on the short drive to his place. Once there, he let them in and moved into the living area to start a fire. The place was freezing, and while that didn’t normally bother him, it might Maggs.
“You going to take off your coat or just stand there looking like you’re going to make a run for it?”
