Powerful. Empowering. And sobering.
She’d never been in a relationship she’d labeled abusive. Then again, that wasn’t entirely true.
Richard was never physically abusive, but emotionally manipulative. Lies. Betrayal. That counted. She trusted him. Because he knew the business. She was new. But if you couldn’t trust your partner to have your back, keep you safe and just be there for you, what would you call it?
Not a relationship.
Oh God, she thought. She was going down a rabbit hole faster than a mouse on crack. Who was she to think she was a bag of chips and all that? To be here. To play the role of a strong, capable woman. Especially with the secrets she was holding on to.
And Finn, he had her back even now. Even though she knew he suspected she wasn’t telling him everything.
Would he still stick around when he found out Luke was his son?
“Lainey, over here.”
The voice yanked her out of her maudlin thoughts. She blinked, scanned the room and spotted Joy, Naomi, Isabelle and Autumn gathered near a dessert table, sipping something bubbly out of glass flutes.
Lainey smiled and walked toward them.
“Glad you could make it,” Autumn greeted her, pulling her into a quick hug. She wore a deep burgundy wrap dress with her camera bag over her shoulder.
“This is amazing.” Lainey gladly accepted a flute from a passing server. Another came by with a tray of mixed hors d’hoeuvres.
“Oh, try the butternut squash tartlets with caramelized onion and thyme,” exclaimed Isabelle. “They’re to die for.”
Lainey reached for one, inhaling the tantalizing scents. “What else do we have?”
The young server smiled and pointed. “We’ve got puff pastry pinwheels filled with goat cheese, sun-dried tomato and basil, and Mia’s signature fig and brie bites in phyllo.”
“Mia’s outdone herself tonight,” said Naomi. “The shelter’s such an important cause.”
Lainey nodded. She remembered Naomi’s story. She had shared bits and pieces when they all came over. A friend’s murder. A life on the run. A stalker who hunted her, hurt her. Naomi survived. She found the courage to move on, start over, and somehow still find the love of her life. The Hallmark Channel couldn’t have had a happier ending. The cherry on top was that Naomi was getting her degree in counseling with a focus on empowering women.
The women chatted for a few more minutes before Tessa and Dani joined them. “Emelia is sick and not coming tonight, so Titus is staying home with her,” said Dani. She glanced around the room. “Tessa, you’ve outdone yourself again.”
Tessa blushed and shrugged. “Hey, when you’ve got it, you’ve got it.”
Lainey had heard all about Tessa’s event-planning skills, and they weren’t lying. This event was skillfully put together.
A slender, blond-haired woman approached. “Is everything okay here?”
“Mia!” Autumn called out. “Lainey, this is Mia Whitmore.”
“Everything is delicious,” Lainey said.
Mia smiled and spent a few minutes talking to them, her eyes flicking subtly past them toward the far wall.
Lainey followed her gaze.
Finn.
He was standing with Caleb, Will and several other men she didn’t recognize but had a feeling they were all part of the Brotherhood. He looked relaxed, but the moment he saw her,something shifted in his stance. He nodded to Caleb and started walking her way.
Lainey’s pulse fluttered.
Caleb followed a step behind.
Mia’s brow furrowed for a quick second. “Excuse me. I better check and see if everything is okay.” She scurried off.
