Page 124 of The Lady Needs a Rogue
The sound of her brother’s purposeful cough pulled her from the moment. Finn gave a slight nod as she eased from his embrace.
Macie regarded her brother with a slight frown. “I’d nearly forgotten you were there.”
“I gathered as much.” Jon raked a hand through his hair. “Tell me this, Finn. Is there any chance you’re a long-lost duke?”
He shook his head. “Highly doubtful.”
“An errant earl?” Jon went on. “Or perhaps, a long-missing marquess?”
Finn’s eyes narrowed as he studied her brother. “Not a chance.”
Macie eyed her brother with a touch of annoyance. “What in heaven is this all about?”
He regarded them with an impassive expression. “By thunder, if this isn’t the last bloody discussion I’d ever expected to have with you, Finn. But truth be told, I do believe I will enjoy informing father of this new development. One final question,” Jon said, a broad grin marking his features. “Will you be inviting this daft dolt to the wedding?”
Macie rushed to her brother and threw her arms around him. “Oh, Jon, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Jon’s eyes lit with affection. “You deserve this, Macie. You deserve this happiness. Now, don’t spend this time with me. I’d wager your husband-to-be would like to spend these moments with you and not his future brother-in-law.”
“Jon, ye know I love her.” Finn’s expression warmed. “More than life itself.”
“I see that, now.” Jon shook the hand of the old friend who’d soon become family, then headed to the stairs. When he looked over his shoulder, his smile was genuine. “I’ll leave the two of you to... begin making plans.”
Finn caught Macie’s hands in his. “My sweet lass.” He pulled her to him. “I’ll never get enough of yer kiss. Of your beauty.” He looked as if he’d gulped against emotion. “Of ye.”
“Oh, Finn. I never dreamed of a moment so very sweet as this.” Macie threaded her fingers through his silky, wheat-brown hair. “Of all the men in London, it simply had to be you.”
Epilogue
One year later
“If I hadnot witnessed this transformation with my own eyes, I would not have believed it possible.”
Standing by her brother’s side in the parlor of Bennington Manor, Macie smiled at Jon’s expression of wonder as he watched Finn engaged in a game of peekaboo with his godson. A month shy of his first birthday, Finnegan MacLain giggled boisterously as her husband covered his face again and again. Each time the precious little boy laughed, Finn matched his joy with a broad grin.
“Transformation?” Macie scoffed playfully. “I don’t know to what you are referring, dear brother.”
“Come now, Macie. Not long ago, if someone had told me Finn Caldwell would be playing with Logan’s chubby miniature on a Friday night rather than...” Jon broke off his thought as Macie’s cat sauntered over and rubbed her fur against his immaculately creased trouser leg.
Lifting a brow, Macie finished his sentence. “The activities of a well-seasoned rogue, perhaps?”
Jon frowned at Cleo as she happily pranced over to her little upholstered bed by the hearth. “In a manner of speaking,” he went on. “Then again, I never would’ve wagered you would be happily wed and settled into what one can only describe as domestic bliss.”
She flashed a little smile as his words warmed her heart. “It is rather astonishing, isn’t it?”
“Quite so. If I’d known the two of you were meant for each other, I would have concocted some scheme to bring you together years ago.” He pointed at the hair on his head. “If I had, I suspect I’d have far less gray to speak of.”
“In truth, you should be thanking me. Those strands of silver lend a look of distinction.”
“That’s one way of putting it.” He shrugged. “I suppose a touch of distinction suits me when I’m conducting business.”
“Indeed.” A grin tugged at her lips. “Especially when you act like your collar is too tight.”
Just as Jon shot her a playful scowl, Macie watched as her husband placed a contented babe in Amelia’s waiting arms.
Finn strolled toward them. The gaslight cast by the sconces on the wall gleamed like flecks of gold over his wheat-brown hair and emphasized the definition of his carved cheekbones. Suddenly, the warmth from the crackling flames in the fireplace was no match for the inner heat curling in her belly.
Macie’s mouth went dry. The very sight of the man she adored with all her heart still held the power to unleash a current of longing through her body, from the tips of her toes to the lips that hungered for his kiss.
