Page 13 of Off-Limits Love
His hat was the same linen-colored one from the other day and obviously well loved, but the light color showcased his dark hair and sun-kissed face like an image from a magazine.
A shiver raced down her spine as she walked toward them, and her response took her by surprise. The man had literally said one word to her during their conversation earlier in the week, but right now it was as though they were somehow connected. Something about him just…drew her toward him. “You should’ve joined us for a photo, Sam.”
“Can we do it again?” Emi asked.
“Yeah,” Finn said, the word low and barely audible, more air than sound.
He cleared his throat and looked a bit awkward as he nodded, his gaze shifting from Mak’s to take in Emi.
Her precocious daughter stared up at him and gave him a wide smile. “I like your hat.”
Mak’s heart practically burst out of her chest when Finn’s stern expression softened into a gorgeous grin that brought that spine tingle back with a vengeance.
Finn squatted down to be at Emi’s eye level but still towered over her daughter in the position. He removed his hat to plop it on her head.
“Can I keep it?”
Emi’s excitement made her voice shrill. “Emi, no baby, no,” Mak said quickly. “Finn needs his hat. But you can wear it for a few minutes and give it back, and we’ll try to find one like it for you so it fits properly. How’s that?”
“Okay!”
Mak glanced at Finn and saw the corners of his mouth were still quirked up. He stretched out a large hand and lightly tapped the brim of the much too-large hat. It fell forward over Emi’s face, causing her to giggle like a maniac as she pushed it back up.
Rising with ease, Finn winked at Mak, and she had to force back an audible sigh. Who knew her type was tall, dark and silent?
But realistically, how the man wasn’t married or seeing someone was beyond her. The women in this town had to be crazy—or something was seriously wrong with him.
Which was it?
“Mommy said we can come see Harriet.”
“Sometime,” Mak said, glancing up at Finn. “If that’s okay.”
“Course it’s okay,” Sam said.
Mak felt Finn studying her as though he took in every feature and freckle. She fought the urge to squirm and felt a flush rising into her cheeks. “We shouldn’t keep you. I promised Emi we’d go on the paddleboats before our picnic.”
“You should go with them,” Sam said to Finn, gaining all their attention with his statement. “I’ll stay here with Hud and fill in for you. I’m not going to be much help paddling that boat, and Emi is too short to reach the pedals. I’m not even sure Itty-Bit will be able to.”
Mak gaped at her uncle since this was the first she was hearing of the change of plans, and she shot a glance at Finn.
Poor Finn looked like he’d turned to stone. But why wouldn’t he?
Standing there for a moment with them was one thing but being stuck on the lake with them? “Sam, I’m sure Finn would rather stay with Harriet and keep an eye on things here.”
“What’s going on?” Hudson asked as he joined them between photo sessions.
“Finn’s gonna go on the paddleboats with us,” Emi said in her sweet voice. “Sam doesn’t wanna, but he’s gonna help you.”
Mak watched as Hudson split his attention between her and his brother before clapping a hand on Finn’s shoulder.
“You’re due a break. What are you waiting for? Sam and I’ve got this covered. Go have fun.”
She’d have to be blind not to see and sense Finn’s reluctance. “Only if you want to,” she said. “Right, Emi? We don’t want Finn to feel like he has to come if he has things he needs to do here.”
Emi glanced up at Finn, her bottom lip sticking out more than the norm. “Don’t you wanna come with us?”
ChapterFive
