21
BREE
Blood rushed through my head so hard and fast I almost couldn’t hear a word Finn said. I didn’t dare lift my head. Heat flooded my cheeks, but I stayed buried in the curve of Finn’s neck. His chest rumbled with his words, and the officer–I’d heard that part at least–answered.
Oh god. We’d been caught by the police. Would he make me get out of the car? What was the punishment for making out like this? I’d never done anything even remotely scandalous before.
Finn’s hand rubbed up and down my spine in slow, soothing strokes. Long minutes passed, then the sound of tires on gravel pushed through my panic.
“He’s gone.” Finn kissed the back of my neck. “It’s okay, Bree.”
No. No it wasn’t okay, but I lifted my head to look at him. “Do you think he recognized me?”
“No.” Finn shook his head. “I had you covered, and he didn’t see your face. Even if he did, I doubt he’d mention it to anyone. Henders is a bit on the conservative side. Not much of a gossip.”
I should be relieved, but stark terror obliterated any chance at finding peace until I’d put my clothes back on and gave Finn his jacket. An embarrassed laugh tightened my throat. “I’m sorry.”
Finn grinned and tweaked my chin, chuckling along with me. “Don’t be sorry. But we should probably head back. He’ll keep an eye on the area now that we’ve been spotted.”
“Are you coming to the pub?” Hope bloomed in my chest. It was the middle of the day, and I had no excuse to get him into my apartment. Just being here with him was enough, but if he had a chance to sneak into my apartment, I wouldn’t say no.
“Would that I could, love.” He checked his watch and groaned, running a hand down his face. “I’m on schedule to cook at the fire house tonight. They’re stretched thin and need the extra hands.”
“You’re a good man, Finn.” I loved saying his name. Loved seeing his eyes light up every time I said it, then went dark with desire when I kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you later.” I moved to the front seat while Finn climbed out of the back and crossed to his truck.
My pulse kicked up a second time as the enormity of what had just happened hit. I’d been one look away from becoming the laughingstock of the entire town. I blew out a slow, calming breath and used the mirror to fix my hair.
Finn pulled away, honking his horn and waving as he passed. I returned the wave but didn’t immediately follow. I needed a minute to compose myself after the near miss. A smile tugged loose. Finn was a good guy. He’d gone out of his way to take me somewhere to be close to Mom. He’d wanted me to feel that connection that I’d missed for so long.
Leave this place as soon as you can, Bree.How many times had she told me that? At least a hundred in the few short years of memories I possessed. She’d always felt hemmed in by the town and their gossip.
Mom was the reason I begged Nana Maeve to send me to boarding school. And poor Nana. She’d been at a loss for how to help me except to give me what I asked for.
Had I made the right call all those years ago? I’d missed out on so much. So many years with Nana that I’d never get back.
“You can’t go back.” I cranked the engine and pulled away from the parking lot and onto the road. Dust billowed behind me, and I focused forward. That was all I could do now. Look ahead and decide what kind of future I wanted. I wanted my three men. That was easy enough to realize. I’d fallen hard and fast for all three of them, but there was no way to make it work. The town would never allow it.
Fuck it. Guess I’d better resign myself to spending the rest of my life alone. Or at least unmarried.
My phone rang, the shrill sound startling me out of my reverie. I swiped the screen without looking away from the road. “Hello?”
“Bree, it’s Declan.”
I smiled despite the shitty revelation crawling through my veins. “Hey, Declan.” Did he hear the sultry note in my voice?
“Sorry to call, but we’re in a bit of a tight spot here.” My stomach dropped at the tightness in his voice. He continued before I could ask any questions. “A pipe in the cellar burst, and the cellar is flooding. Ronan is on a supply run and won’t be back for an hour, and the plumber is dealing with a similar situationacross town. He’ll come once that job’s done. I’m doing what I can to mitigate the situation, but I could use some help.”
“I’m on my way. Give me an hour.” I pressed harder on the accelerator, and the car lurched forward.
Declan ended the call, and I sped down the road as fast as safely possible, arriving at the pub exactly an hour later.
Benny, our regular chef, stood behind the bar looking frazzled as he cooked and served. He pointed a spatula toward the door in the back. “He’s in the cellar still. I’d help him, but…”
“I got it, Benny. Thanks.” He was a much better cook than me, and I’d rather slog through water than man the stove and the bar. I raced downstairs, my feet sliding on the wooden steps, until I hit the water at the bottom with a splash. “Fuck, that’s cold.” I shivered and scanned the room.
Declan held a stack of boxes so tall he could barely see over them. Water sloshed around our ankles, making little eddies and ripples when he walked toward me. “Salvage what you can from the lower shelves. I’ve patched the pipe. Not sure how long it’ll hold.” He jerked his chin toward a pipe running through the floor joists that doubled at the cellar’s rafters.
“Got it.” I moved out of his way and dove toward the shelf housing our most expensive whiskey. It wouldn’t take long for the boxes to start falling apart, and we’d be forced to throw it all away if the water made it to the bottles. Declan’s steps pounded up and then over my head. I grabbed as many boxes as I can handle by myself and hauled them to the steps. Declan took them from me, spun on his heel, and carried them to the bar. We repeated the pattern a few more times, until the bottom whiskey shelf was empty and I’d moved on to the tequila.
