Page 96 of Capture The Moment

“I think you’ll find that we’re an easy bunch to work with,” he continued, “Well, except for Connor, who can sometimes be a pain in the…”

“Ass!” Liam finished.

“Anyway, we won’t leave you on your own until you’re comfortable.”

“Sounds good,” McKayla said.

“After we close the deal on the store, you and I can get together and talk salary, if that’s ok with you?”

McKayla nodded.

“I guess we’re done here,” Finn said and started to rise.

“Hey. We should all go out for dinner to celebrate,” Liam suggested.

“That’s a little premature, don’t you think?” Finn said.

“I think it’s a great idea. Don’t you, McKayla?” Harper said.

Finn narrowed his eyes at Harper and then looked from Liam to McKayla, and it was like dawning struck. He’d figured out that Harper was playing matchmaker even though he didn’t look particularly pleased about it.

“Yeah. I guess so,” McKayla replied, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

In the end, Harper got her way, and the four of them drove together to a local restaurant that was known for their excellent fish and chips. Harper had purposely taken the passenger seat in Finn’s truck, which had forced Liam and McKayla to sit together in the back. Finn had raised his brows at Harper when she’d slid in, but he hadn’t said a word (smart man!).

At one point, Harper heard Liam say, “Are you sure we haven’t met before? I could have sworn we have.”

“No. We’ve never met,” McKayla insisted.

But Harper knew her sister, and it sounded like she was protesting too much. Maybe it hadn’t been a good idea to push these two together after all.

By the time they were seated at the cozy restaurant and had been served fish and chips by the owner himself, everyone seemed to be doing fine. They drank beer, and Liam made a toast to the new store and to new beginnings.

When they clinked glasses, Harper smiled at Finn, who grinned back at her and then squeezed her knee beneath the table.

And then suddenly, Liam banged his fist down on the table and shouted, “I know where I met you! At Rob Larson’s bachelor party!”

The four of them wore expressions ranging from confusion (Harper) to mortification (McKayla) to satisfaction (Liam) to concern (Finn).

“Bachelor party? Why would McKayla be at a bachelor party?” Harper asked, but when Finn gave her a little kick under the table, her confusion morphed into horrified understanding.

McKayla’s face had turned bright red, and she quickly slugged down the rest of her beer before practically slamming the bottle back on the table. “That was a long time ago,” she muttered through clenched teeth.

Liam, who seemed oblivious to her discomfort, plunged ahead. “It took me a minute to remember because I think you were wearing a red wig that night…”

“Liam. I think that’s enough,” Finn warned.

McKayla refused to look at anyone, least of all her sister, who was glaring at her from across the table.

And then Liam tuned in to the tension, and looking at McKayla, he said, “Sorry. I assumed your sister knew about your side job.”

“It’s not my side job,” McKayla hissed, turning to meet his eyes. “One time! It was one time! I was helping a friend. That was it.”

And then the waitress came over to collect their empty plates and give them their bill. “Is there anything else I can get you?” she asked.

“No. I think we’ve had quite enough,” Finn said, his eyes narrowing at Liam.

Finn quickly paid the bill, and they left the restaurant, no one daring to say another word until Harper heard Liam whisper to McKayla, “If it helps, I thought you were a really good dancer.”