Page 64 of Off-Limits Love
“Why do you say that? You two seemed really cozy the other night at the hotel.”
Finn turned and stalked across the room to glare out the window. “She f-friend z-zoned m-me.”
Finn turned to glance at Elias and saw his brother cross his arms over his broad chest as he seated himself on the edge of his desk.
“Really? That wasn’t the vibe I got from her about you.”
“S-says it’s t-too much with Sam’s illness a-and Emi b-because of J-J-Jensen.”
Elias seemed to consider that and angled his head to one side. “Jensen would make you an issue, no doubt about it. And I suppose it is a lot to consider. But if that happened that night, why are you so angry now?”
Finn braced a hand against the window frame and took a breath. “S-saw her w-with him.”
“Jensen? What? they were kissing?”
“N-o.”
Elias shifted on the desk, drawing Finn’s gaze.
“More than kissing?”
“N-no,” Finn growled.
“Okay,” Elias said, drawing out the word. “I know you hate the guy—we all do—but he’s her ex, and they share a kid. If you’re this angry because you saw them talking, you need to take a breath and chill.”
Finn closed his eyes and turned back to the window. It was getting dark, the sun giving that golden glow of evening.
“Look, Finn, the friend-zone thing sucks, but if you like her that much, be there for her. That’s all you can do. I don’t imagine it was easy being married to Jensen, and she seems like a nice woman. Give her some space to process all the crap going on in her life. Who knows? Maybe she’ll change her mind on the friend thing because, like I said, that wasn’t the vibe you two had that night at the hotel.”
It wasn’t. The chemistry they’d shared had been tangible. The looks. The touches. The way she’d naturally curved her body into his when she’d sat on his lap, leaned into him like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Despite their height differences, they’d fit together perfectly, like she was made for him. And when he’d kissed her in the truck?
“Get changed. I’ll put you through a workout to get rid of some of that frustration.”
He nodded and jerked his head toward the door for Elias to block it in case Quinley came back during the process. They might be twins, but he didn’t want to give his brother’s fiancé a show.
He quickly stripped down and donned the tee and shorts, tossing his clothes toward the loveseat right as his phone pinged.
He fished the phone out of his pocket and froze at Mak’s name on the screen.
I saw you. I wish you wouldn’t have left, but I understand. Did you need something?
His jaw hurt because he clenched it so tightly. Need something?
He needed—wanted—her.
He just couldn’t tell her that.
ChapterSeventeen
On Sunday afternoon, Mak held Emi’s hand as they approached the animals’ enclosures.
The goats saw them and immediately let out a series of greetings, and Dash came running up to the fence as well, his miniaturized donkey bray cute as could be.
Finn had responded to her text a few hours after she’d sent it, saying he’d planned to visit Sam and spend some time with him.
They hadn’t spoken since, and things felt awkward in a way she didn’t like. That’s why, when Emi asked if they could come see the animals, Mak readily agreed.
