Sure, she worked hard, worked doubly hard to get her master’s degree so she could fuel her passion and provide a good life for Luke.
Outside of her short relationship with Richard, she’d been alone. Never dated. Never wanted to. Not when a part of her hoped Finn would come back.
He never did. Just another disappointment on a list she stopped keeping.
Tonight, though, Finn looked at her like she mattered. Like he remembered the girl he once swore he’d never stop loving.
And God help her, part of her wanted that.
But another part, the devil on her shoulder, laughed and whispered the truth.
When he finds out Luke is his son, he’ll never forgive you.
Shetriedto tell him. Wrote to his mother’s address again and again. Poured her heart out on paper. And for years, she’d lived with the silence.
It was clear now. He’d never gotten those letters.
And now she had to tell him. All over again.
Lainey downed the wine. Thought about another glass. Then said to hell with it.
Instead, she walked into the condo, locked the door, changed into her nightclothes, and crawled into bed.
Because all the wishes in the world couldn’t rewrite the past.
And tomorrow everything could change.
CHAPTER 30
Finn spenta restless Sunday debating whether to call Lainey or let their kiss simmer. He replayed it so many times. The softness of her body as he held her, her mouth on his, so familiar and yet not. He wanted more.
When Monday morning came around, he was torn between confronting her or pretending nothing had happened.
He checked in with Caleb first. His construction project was on schedule with no problems. That was good news.
A few minutes after seven, he pulled into Lainey’s site. The air was already heavy with humidity. He stepped out of his truck, reached for the carry-out tray, and spotted her.
Lainey was already there, pacing across the sidewalk, phone pressed to her ear.
“No, Haywood Lake, not Lakeland. They’re two different towns. Different counties. Get those windows here today.”
She ended the call with a muttered curse and turned. She froze the moment she saw him standing there holding coffee and donuts.
“It looks like you could use a caffeine and sugar fix,” he said with a grin.
Lainey reached for one of the cups. “Is it too much to hope that there’s whiskey in it?”
“Sorry, no whiskey,” he said as he picked up a pink frosted donut from the box with a napkin and held it out for her. “Will a donut suffice?”
She reached for it with her other hand and took a big bite. “Mmm,” she groaned. “I haven’t had a donut in forever.”
Finn nearly dropped the takeout holder. Her groan went straight to places he was trying hard not to think about. He cleared his throat. “Glad I could help,” he managed.
Before she could answer, a sleek black Mercedes pulled up to the site and parked as if it belonged there. A tall woman stepped out, with flawless hair, heels and a tailored suit that probably cost more than his entire wardrobe. Finn didn’t know who she was, but he already didn’t like her.
Lainey’s smile faded. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Finn leaned in. “Let me guess. Not a friend?”
