She shook her head.
“That guy has anger issues,” I said. “I’m glad you’re not with him.” A terrible thought came to me, causing me to stop the cleanup and turn to Vee. “Tell me the truth. Did he ever hurt you?” I was ready to run down the stairs and find him in the lobby or out on the street.
“No.” She sighed. “He’s not like that. Part of the reason I broke things off with Preston was that he asked me to move in with him. I didn’t want to. He asked if he could move in here.” Vee spoke as she carefully picked up flowers, and I gathered the larger pieces of glass. “I told him that I wasn’t ready for that.” She nudged me with her shoulder. “You shouldn’t have said you’re living here.”
“Well, damn. I didn’t know that part of your history, and let’s face it. Currently, I’m living here.”
“You still have your own place.”
I dropped the last large piece of glass in the trash can and leaned closer. Bringing my lips to hers, I smiled. “I do.”
We stood.
I reached for the broom. “I can get the rest.”
After the hallway floor was clean, I brought the broom, dustpan, and trash can back into the condominium and closed and locked the door. Vee was leaning against the kitchen counter watching me.
Setting the items down, I went to her. Caging her to the counter with one of my arms, I cupped her sore cheek with my other hand.
She inclined her face and sighed.
Leaning forward, I pressed my hips against hers. “You were gorgeous out on the sideline. I was surprised to see you.”
Vee splayed her fingers over my chest. “Are you sore? You kept getting knocked down.”
Reaching for her hand, I gently kissed her tender knuckles. “We may have to share the bath salts tonight.”
Her cheeks rose as she smiled. “I’ve had a crazy day.”
“How about I open the wine we started last night and call downstairs for dinner? Ethan or Jacob can bring it up and we can relax.”
Vee furrowed her brow and tugged on her bottom lip with her teeth. “How did Preston get up here? I never gave him a keycard like you have.”
“He said he told the security guard on the first floor he lives here.”
She pressed her lips together. “We need to let security know. Anyone could do that.”
“Speaking of security…?”
Her emerald eyes gleamed.
Chapter 22
Vee
“Fin, I’ve had a day. There’s security at Maker’s Mark. Uncle Darin arranged for extra security in Las Vegas. I have you here. I think I’m good.” I brushed my lips over his. “The reason I’m late isn’t about security or the lack thereof.”
He took a step back and walked to the other counter. I scanned the definition of his biceps from beneath the sleeves of his shirt as he pulled two clean wine glasses from the rack, uncorked last night’s bottle, and filled each globe with the semi-sweet red liquid. As he turned, his blue eyes were focused on me. “Here.” His smile grew as he handed me a glass. “You’re now in the let-yourself-relax-and-leave-everything-to-Fin world.”
A long hum left my lips. “I like the sound of that.”
“Do you want to talk about your day?”
I took a hearty sip of my wine. “I don’t know.” Kicking off my shoes, I walked barefoot into the living room to the tall windows. The bubbling lava lamp at the horizon was gone. The sky above was a black dome, the stars masked by the city lights. Closing my eyes, I pictured Bre, the pictures, and the notes.
Opening my eyes, I saw Fin’s reflection in the windowpane as he came up behind me and wrapped an arm around me. Exhaling, I leaned my head back against his solid chest. “I learned something today.”
“About…?”
