Page 51 of Off-Limits Love
The last thing Finn felt like doing was going out, but if it was for his newly engaged twin, he felt the pressure to join in.
It was Saturday night. The chores were done, and short of a drink in front of the television to process everything that had come at him this week with the news of Sam’s health, being friend zoned by Mak and the past being dragged up again by Brad’s taunting, he didn’t have plans.
Unless Mak texted and wanted to talk like last night. She’d had a question about the kitchen in the party barn, and he’d spent the evening ignoring the television and staring at his phone screen as they chatted about kitchen specifics so she could finish filling out the paperwork to get her license.
Once she’d finished, they’d wound up talking about Sam and other things, and he’d forced himself to keep things friendly and not flirt. Though when they’d said their good nights, he had slipped and typed Sweet dreams, baby girl.
She’d simply said good night and hadn’t commented on the pet name.
That was a good sign, right? A sign that maybe, despite her words to the contrary, she wasn’t against him flirting with her? To be honest, he couldn’t seem to help himself.
“Is he— Is that what I think it is?” Gage murmured. “Is the Grinch smiling?”
Finn’s gaze shot to his brothers’ curious expressions, and he bit back a groan. Both wore knowing smirks, and Finn scowled once again.
“Uh-uh,” Hudson said, shaking his head. “Too late to go all broody. You were smiling. Thinking of a cute neighbor perhaps?”
“I don’t know if I’d call Sam all that cute,” Gage said in a droll tone.
Finn shoved himself up from the desk. “We going out or what?”
“So now you want to go?” Hud scratched his head. “I’m getting whiplash, Gage. How ‘bout you?”
“Shut up and come on before I change my mind. I’m going because I need to talk to everyone about a purchase that needs to happen ASAP, and this’ll be faster than scheduling a meeting.” He walked to the printer and removed the papers from the top that had taken hours to pull together.
All nine of them made up Blackwell Enterprises, though Isla had very little to do with the decisions and basically agreed to whatever the brothers decided. She loved her job as a nanny to a billionaire and his wife and left the running of things to her brothers, trusting they’d do nothing to endanger their future or the legacy their parents had left behind.
Isla filled in at the station in an emergency if her schedule allowed, but was pretty hands off. Not that they minded. None of them liked the thought of their kid sister in the store during a holdup or something, and in today’s world, you just never knew what might walk through the door.
Alec, Brooks and Cole had expanded their parents’ small mom-and-pop gas station by adding a convenience store. Brooks had then opened a towing service. Gage and Cole ran a rentals company in the building next door to the store, and most recently, Cole had added a black car service and scored some nice contracts with the newest upscale hotel built in Carolina Cove.
As a former marine, Cole doubled as driver and security whenever there was a need for it with the hotel owner’s megarich friends.
Toss in Elias and his businesses, plus the farm, and as a whole they did quite well for themselves, using the businesses and the farm write-offs to every legal advantage.
Hud had some things to figure out, but Finn didn’t doubt his little brother would get his act together in time. Hud was too driven to be a slacker—when he wasn’t letting himself be distracted by cougars.
The three of them made their way through the house and out the door after Finn changed shirts for something nicer. He drove separately from the others, knowing from experience he’d probably be the first to leave.
They met up at the Lachlan Hotel and headed into the bar off the lobby. Alec and Brooks were already there at one of the large tables, and the rest of the bar was crowded as more people favorited the newest hot spot on the island.
A guy played his guitar in the corner of the room, and wait staff scurried around, delivering drinks and food. The moment Alec spotted Finn, Alec lifted his chin in a nod. “Heard we have business to discuss before the fun starts.”
Hudson and his big mouth had no doubt texted or called to fill the elder brothers in as the nondriver of the group. Finn pulled out a chair and settled in at the large table, sliding the papers he’d brought with him toward Dawson. “Sam’s ready to sell.”
“Wait, what? What about Mak and Emi?” Hudson asked as he took the seat next to Finn. “They just moved in with him.”
Cole and Elias arrived, and Gage sat opposite Finn next to Alec. Before he could say anything else, a waitress came to take their orders. The pretty young woman looked to be Hud’s age and very interested in his brother, but Hud didn’t seem to notice.
Once she was gone, Finn inhaled and briefly shared Sam’s story as the guy singing took a break.
“Aww, man. That sucks,” Hud said. “I could tell he wasn’t feeling great at the market, but I didn’t think about him being sick.”
His brothers had all met Sam at some point over the years and knew him well.
“I only need the land and agreed to him leaving the house and a lot to Mak. I want to give him a generous price for what we buy.”
Dawson, their money man considering he was the one who handled their investments and planning because he had a bit of a Midas touch, dug his elbows into the table and gave Finn an unwavering stare.
