Page 52 of Off-Limits Love
“I understand the desire to help them out and be extra generous, but don’t let emotions and sentiment cloud business decisions, Finn. Market price is high enough around here as it is. Especially for that many acres. That’s no small sum you’re talking about.”
That was true. Land prices were at a premium along the coast, and what he was asking them to do as a group would require a large sum considering the acreage Sam owned.
“The contract will also need to have a few specifics like easements and listing us as first buyer if she ever decides to sell. Otherwise you could wind up with a citified neighbor who hates animals and calls the police on you every time they hear one,” Dawson added.
Definitely something to consider, Finn acknowledged with a wary nod. “Fine, just make it fair and a priority. Sam wants things settled, and he doesn’t have much time. I want to do everything we can to help make Sam’s last request come true. He wants to know Mak and Emi are taken care of, and that Mak has the bakery to fund her future. I want us to do what we can to help make that happen.”
“Even though she’s Jensen’s ex?” Elias asked.
Finn wondered how Elias knew that but figured Mak had shared the news with one of the ladies in the family, and Elias had put the names together. “He’s an ex for a reason. I’m not holding that against her.”
If anything, the thought of her being Jensen’s ex made Finn want to help Mak even more.
The crowd in the bar thickened until it was standing room only. Topics shifted to Gage’s latest idea for a new income stream when Finn saw Elias’s gaze move to something above Finn’s left shoulder. His brother’s gaze narrowed, and a fierce scowl formed.
“What have we here?” Quinley drawled in a throaty voice that attracted all of their attention. “A table chock-full of gorgeously handsome men? Which one shall I choose?”
Finn turned in his seat and then nearly swallowed his tongue when he spotted Mak among the group of women that consisted of his sisters-in-law and those about to be family. All of them were dressed to kill in short skirts and high heels. He now understood Elias’s scowl.
“I thought you were staying in,” Elias all but growled. “And didn’t we discuss that dress you’re wearing?”
Quinley’s smile could only be described as trouble.
“I seem to remember you sayingsomesilly thing about how I could only wear it for you, but—here you are. Can’t get mad about that now, can you?”
Finn glanced at his twin and bit back a chuckle at the expression on Elias’s face. Quinley played with fire when it came to Elias’s jealous streak, but she obviously knew it and reveled in riling up her fiancé. And from the looks of it, she led the charge of women dressed to impress, reminding all his brothers of what they had at home. Which was probably the point of their excursion since they’d known exactly where the guys would be.
“We decided since you were going out, we should too,” Sophia said. “Especially since we so rarely get a girls’ night all together.”
Finn shifted his attention back to Mak. He wasn’t sure how she’d wound up included in the group outing, but she looked good enough to snack on.
She wore a flirty shirtlike dress that showed off her toned short legs in heels that made his pulse pick up speed and a furry jacket that had to have come from Quinley or Ana’s closet. He didn’t know any other woman who had clothes like theirs, thanks to Ana’s boutique which was located here in the hotel lobby.
“And you decided to come here?” Dawson asked, eyeing his wife appreciatively.
“To armor up before we go dancing,” Quinley said, indicating her outfit with a wave of her hand and twirl for Elias’s benefit. “We hit Ana’s samples bin for what we didn’t already have at home.”
Finn wanted to tell Mak how good she looked but was afraid of opening his mouth and the stupid stutter making itself known in the worst way. She had his blood pumping faster through his veins, and he’d certainly fumble his words as a result.
Mak’s makeup was darker than he’d ever seen her wear, making her bright blue orbs stand out even more. And her lips… Her mouth looked luscious and full and sparkled with a rose-colored, glittery gloss that made him ache to kiss her again and see if it was flavored.
“Where’s Emi?” Hudson asked Mak.
Mak looked uncomfortable but smiled. “She’s with Allie’s babysitter and the girls. I went to pick her up from a playdate, and Allie insisted she spend the night so I could join the fun.”
“Made it,” Isla said, bursting onto the scene and into the group like a whirlwind. “Parking’s getting tight out there.”
“Oooh, look at you, hot stuff,” Quinley said.
Finn heard more than one of his brothers mutter. Seeing the women they loved looking seductive when the ladies had shown up, knowing they wouldn’t be allowed out of their significant others’ sights was one thing, but to see their unattached baby sister out for fun dressed like that?
“You’re too young for a club,” Alec said in his best dad voice.
“And that skirt is way too short,” Brooks, father of three girls, added with a grumble and a bone-chilling glare.
Cole shook his head at Isla and then shot a frown at Ana, who pretended not to notice.
Dawson rubbed a hand over his eyes and squeezed hard, like he knew he’d be bailing someone out before the night was over and wondered which account to transfer money from.
