Finn ran a hand over his head. He should say something, anything, but what? The words choked in his throat.
Fuck.You blew it, man.
But there were bigger issues than his bruised ego. Sabotage. Vandalism. Someone was targeting her project.
He was here for a reason, and reliving old memories wasn’t it. Stopping whoever was lurking in the shadows was.
Whatever Lainey was keeping from him, whether it had something to do with the break-ins, the kid, or both, he’d find out.
Because he wasn’t walking away. Not if she was in danger.
Finn parkedat the end of a large warehouse surrounded by mom-and-pop stores, all closed for the night.
He stepped through the front door of Lucky’s Bar and got hit with a blast of noise and scent. Citrus cleaner, whiskey, stale beer, and sizzling burgers. It was a lot to take in. But exactly what he needed to forget.
The place was packed. He weaved past the long wooden bar with TVs on mute at either end, dodging elbows and empty stools, and spotted Dex and Caleb at a back booth.
And surprise, surprise. Ryker Barlow was with them. He seldom saw Ryker even though he lived next door and worked for the Brotherhood. Mostly, he saw Dani alone or with the kids.
“Look who finally showed up,” Dex called out. “Thought you stood us up.”
Finn slipped into an open seat, acknowledging the men. They already were halfway through their beers.
“You guys are way ahead of me,” he said, just as a server came by. “Did you order food yet?”
“Enough for the table,” Caleb replied.
Finn glanced at Ryker. “So what brings you here on a weeknight? Dani kick you out?”
“Ha.” Ryker took a swig of beer and grinned. “Nah. It was self-preservation. She’s having a couple of moms over, planning something for school. One of them is that woman running the redevelopment project down the street from yours. I knew I’d only be in the way or hooked into dressing up as the Easter Bunny or worse.”
The guys cracked up.
A glass of beer was set in front of him, and the server placed platters of wings, sliders, and fries on the table.
“Expecting anyone else?” Finn quipped to no one as he took a sip of beer. The icy cold drink slid down his throat.Mmmm. Hoppy with the citrusy undertones he usually liked. He hoped it would settle him.
It didn’t.
Ryker reached for a slider and some fries. “Do you know her?”
Finn’s hand froze on the glass. “Who?”
“The woman running that project.”
He swallowed hard. “Lainey.”
Ryker blinked. “Yeah. That’s her. Her son Luke will be in Jack’s class.”
Finn leaned back in the booth, letting the weight of those words sink in.
Of course, she would be there. She had a kid. She had friends. She had a life beyond work. She was part of something. A world he knew nothing about. And him? He was just an old flame, if that, just passing through.
The thought hit him harder than it should have.
Conversation faded around him like white noise. Gazing around the packed bar, he watched the bartenders hauling ass and pouring drinks without missing a beat. Heard the constant clacking of pool balls and laughter, so playing a game was probably out of the question. Too crowded for a decent game. The jukebox was playing mournful country music about heartbreak and wrong turns. Perfect for his mood tonight.
He picked up his beer and took a long pull, trying to ease the ache in his heart while listening to the guys trash-talk each other. Something he usually liked to participate in. But tonight, his mind wouldn’t shut off.
