Page 77 of Off-Limits Love
Gage looked like a confused puppy, but Hud’s expression narrowed in understanding.
“It was about Mom and Dad, wasn’t it?” Hud asked.
Finn yanked out a chair at the table and plopped himself down. His brothers did the same, and after a long pull from the bottle he held, Finn nodded. “Yeah. It was a letter about why I’ve always felt responsible for what happened. The accident. And…also about why I finally realize it wasn’t my fault.”
He lifted his gaze and found both of them staring at him like he’d grown two heads. “What?”
“Nothing. I mean, I’m glad you figured it out,” Gage said. “Just hate that it took you so long.”
“Slow on the uptake,” Hud niggled.
Finn huffed out a breath and then groaned. “Yeah, well, I’ve been stuck in the backseat of that car for way too long.”
“So where’d this mind-blowing revelation come from?” Hudson canted his head. “Does this have something to do with Mak?”
He took another drink and figured if they cared enough to ask, maybe he ought to care enough to talk more than he had in the past. “She’s part of it. We went for a ride and talked. She said writing the letter might help. Turns out it did.”
“So are you two a thing?” Gage asked.
“Yeah, I wanna know that, too.”
Finn glared at Hudson. “We’re not a thing—but you’re still staying away from her.”
“You really like her,” Gage said. “Especially if you’re sharing histories as heavy as yours.”
He scrubbed his hands over his face, feeling the bite of the rough callouses adorning skin. “Mak thinks I’m only interested in her because of Sam’s property. Jensen said something to her about it.”
“You told her differently, though, right? You liked her a while before you ever found out about Sam being sick.” Hudson’s defensive tone revealed his upset over the accusation.
“I did— I do—like her,” he admitted, “but if she believes that…”
“What? You’re just going to let her?” Hudson snorted. “I thought you had more backbone than that.”
“Watch it,” Finn warned.
“He’s got a point,” Gage said with an unapologetic grimace. “Unless it is true, why would you let her think that?”
“I can’t change what she believes. She has to figure that out on her own.” Finn argued. “What are you doing here anyway?”
“Dawson finished the paperwork for Sam and asked if we’d drop it off on our way to Wrightsville.” Gage waved a hand toward the door. “We pulled in and heard the alarm. The paperwork’s still out there.”
“We were also hoping Mak was here baking so we could taste test for her,” Hudson added.
Gage shook his head and stood. “I’ll go grab the folder. Be right back.”
Gage left, and Hudson cleared his throat. “Finn, I may not know much about serious relationships, but don’t give up on her. You remember what it was like dealing with Jensen in high school. I remember the stories, and I wasn’t even there. But Mak was married to the guy. It’s gonna take time for her to trust anyone, let alone a nice guy who probably seems too good to be true.”
“It’s not just him, though Jensen is definitely a factor. She says we need to keep things professional. She’s afraid that if we blur the lines and it goes bad, I’d revoke the use of the kitchen.”
“So put it in writing. Say you won’t and… I don’t know, say you’ll avoid the kitchen while she’s baking should you not work out. That’s easy enough.”
Nothing about Mak was easy. Not when they had an ocean’s depth of baggage between them.
“Show her you mean it and then pull out the big guns. Romance her. Flirt with her. Text her. Get the Sam thing settled and show Mak you’ll still be there for her.”
Finn shifted his gaze to Hudson and downed the last of his drink. “Grand gestures, huh?”
Hudson grinned. “It’s the only way to win the girls.”
