Page 14 of Off-Limits Love
Finn watched as Emi’s face twisted in a disappointed pinch when he didn’t immediately answer. His heart tugged, then squeezed again when she blinked up at him with her mama’s eyes and said, “Please?”
That changed his mind quick, because any man capable of disappointing her in regard to something as simple as a boat paddle didn’t qualify as a man.
He smiled as he nodded, tilting his head toward the lake.
Squealing, Emi grabbed her mama’s hand and then Finn’s and began to tug, her grunt of exertion loud as the small girl tried to move two full-grown adults. Well, one and a half, he countered silently, eyeing Mak’s petite frame.
Everyone smiled at the sight of Emi taking charge. Hudson grinned like a loon and said to have fun, and Sam glanced over at the two chairs set up in the shade near Harriet and said he’d be over there if Hud needed him.
“Come on, come on!” Emi tugged harder and another grunt sounded. “Mommy!”
Finn took a step which meant Mak had to comply or be the stick in the mud. He sensed her reluctance and chalked it up to the fact she’d be stuck on a paddleboat with a man who couldn’t hold a conversation. Not exactly any woman’s idea of a good time.
Things would be awkward, but he doubted she could’ve said no to Emi, either, when the baby girl asked so nicely and was so excited.
Maybe the rental booth would be closed? Give them an excuse that didn’t leave either of them taking the hit for disappointing Emi?
He watched as Mak sent a glare at Sam’s smirking face and retreating figure, and she blushed when she saw Finn taking note.
Yeah, this wasn’t such a good idea… She obviously didn’t want to do this anymore than he did.
“Finn, you…really don’t have to,” Mak said in a low voice. “I can make an excuse for you if you’d rather not go.”
She would too. He had no doubt about that. And even though he told himself he should let her do just that, something made him keep walking behind Emi’s diminutive form as she tugged them in the direction she wanted to go.
Mak glanced up at Finn in time to see him shake his head no and walk a few more steps.
“Okay then,” Mak said. “I guess you’re going.”
He guessed he was. And he’d be lying if he said every glance down at the two ladies beside him didn’t make him wonder what it would be like if this was the norm.
A day at the lakeside market, a paddleboat ride and smiles and giggles galore from the little one holding two of his fingers because that’s all her hand could manage.
Emi hip-hop-skipped steps in between them, pausing whenever the walkway was crowded and they had to slow down to maneuver through the crowd three wide, like a family.
They got to the shed that served as a sales stand and while Mak looked down to unzip her purse, he quickly pulled out his wallet and handed the kid inside some cash.
Mak looked up in time to see the kid take it.
“Wait, no. You can’t do that. I’m paying for this. Especially since you were forced to join us.”
“Done,” Finn said, forcing the word out of his tight throat.
TheDsound was thicker and drawn out, but the stutter wasn’t as obvious as the other night.
He added a look at Mak that made it clear he wasn’t going to argue about who was paying. This was his treat—and while Emi’s adorableness had wrung the decision out of him, he wasn’t being forced.
Mak and her daughter were a no-go for him for too many reasons to name, but he could give them time on the lake. It fell under being neighborly, since he doubted Sam was up for paddling, and correct that Mak probably wouldn’t be able to reach the pedals.
Mak murmured a thanks and put her wallet away, sliding him a glance as she zipped her purse. The attendant left the hut to get them lifejackets and indicated they were to follow him.
Finn watched as Mak helped Emi into hers and clicked the latches into place, making sure it fit properly despite her squirming, excited daughter bouncing up and down.
Mak straightened and turned, and since he’d decided to embrace the moment, he refused to hand over her jacket and instead held it for her. Once he slipped it over her shoulders, he heard her suck in a breath when he gently swiveled her round and his hands shifted to the first buckle.
“I can…”
The words had barely left her mouth before he had all three buckles fastened, tugging to make sure they were secure.
