“Obviously,” Autumn huffed. She breezed toward the kitchen, setting the food and drink on the table and grabbing plates.
A few minutes later, Naomi and Joy arrived carrying a chilled bottle of sparkling wine and a small pastry box with a gold bow.
“Chocolate tartlets and truffles,” said Joy, pressing the box into Lainey’s hands. “Chocolate solves all the world’s problems.”
“You girls are the best,” said Lainey. “Let’s grab the wine, tacos and chocolate and sit outside.”
They brought everything out to the patio. After the wine was poured, Joy held up her glass and looked at Lainey. “So, what are we toasting?”
Right. What could they toast? “How about”—she held her glass up—“to questionable life choices, good friends and … chocolate.”
“Hear, hear!” They clinked glasses and settled in.
Naomi gave Lainey a once-over and tilted her head. “Tell us what happened.”
Lainey poured herself another splash of wine and placed a taco on her plate, trying to give herself time to answer. “Some guy showed up in my office today representing Hartwell Redevelopment Group, real slick, tried to intimidate me.”
The room went still.
Joy frowned. “Never heard of them.”
“Neither had I,” Lainey replied. “But I’ve dealt with the type before. Developers who swoop in with backroom deals so they can take a project over. Smile while they’re doing it, like they’re your best friend. Until you find out they’re slime buckets and you’re screwed.”
“Ouch,” exclaimed Naomi. “Was Finn there?”
Lainey let out a breath. “Not physically. He saw it on the feed. Boy, was he pissed when he walked into the room.”
Autumn exchanged knowing glances with Joy and Naomi. “You do realize that the man’s got it bad for you.”
“No, he doesn’t.” Lainey shook her head in disbelief. “He’s just doing his job.”
“Oh, please,” Joy said, pulling a truffle from the box. The rich smell of cocoa drifted between them. “He’s not only doing his job but also hovering like a man who doesn’t want anyone near you.”
Autumn smiled. “I wouldn’t mind a Finn Ryder hovering over me.”
Lainey blinked, caught off guard. She shifted in her seat. Was it possible she missed the signs? Lord knew he’d turned into a fine specimen of a man. He was loyal to a fault. Dependable and kind.
And … no. Nope, not going there tonight. Not to the place where he was the father of her son.
Oh God. She couldn’t deal with that tonight. She took a long sip of wine. The bubbles tickled her throat.
“Well,” she said, voice low, “at this point in my life, I don’t trust anyone to keep me safe. I know the Brotherhood has done so much with the cameras and extra security, but can they really keep me safe? Keep my family safe?”
Naomi leaned forward with a serious expression. “Yes, they can.”
Lainey looked at her. “How can you be so certain?”
“I’ve seen what they’re capable of,” Naomi replied softly. “I’ve lived it. These are all ex-military guys, trained in protection, surveillance, threat response. More than that, they don’t give up and they don’t walk away. They stay. They fight.”
Lainey sat back in her chair, letting the words sink in. She wanted to believe Naomi. She really did. But hope was a dangerous thing when you were barely holding on with your fingernails.
She rubbed the back of her neck.
The past year had taken its toll on her mind and body, and she was tired. Tired of everything. Tired of watching her back. Tired of going it alone. It would be nice to believe someone else could carry the weight for a little while.
She looked out over the lake. The sun had sunk beyond the horizon, the sky a riot of salmon, gray and pale yellow.
“I’m tired,” she admitted. “Tired of pretending I’m fine when I’m not. I’m tired of watching my back. And I don’t know how much more I can take.”
