Page 50 of Off-Limits Love
“Me,” she said simply, stubbornly. “It’s the single mom mantra, in case you haven’t heard.”
She tried to sound flippant or maybe confident, but he heard the thread of vulnerability in her tone.
He stood and stretched out a hand toward her. She didn’t hesitate to take it and he liked that.
Finn tugged her to her feet, then cupped her face and stroked his thumb over her cheekbone. “And if I…s-still…w-want you t-to…lean on m-me—friend?”
He watched as her gaze flared a bit. She pressed her cheek into his palm, like she couldn’t help herself, before pulling away.
“I would appreciate a friend. My life is chaos, but a friend would be wonderful.”
Chaos mixed with a little hurricane named Emi. And a tsunami named Sam. Mak was about to get sucked out to sea, and he couldn’t stand the thought of her struggling.
“I’m sorry. I just— I can’t handle more right now, Finn. I hope you understand. If I use your kitchen and something happened—I would be shooting my future in the foot on top of everything else.”
Is that what she thought of him? “I wouldn’t d-do that to you.”
Her smile was sad. And far too wary.
“You say that now. I never thought Brad would do the things he did, either, but…he did. He does.”
“D-don’t,” he said, scowling at her. “Don’t c-compare…m-me to him.”
Her expression softened even more. “You’re not like him. You’ve already proven that in so many ways. I’m just saying; it could get awkward,” she said, taking his hand in both of hers and pulling it from her cheek. “And right now, I need a friend more than anything else. Can you accept that? Really accept that? If not, this isn’t going to work.”
Finn stared down into those gorgeous blue eyes, his heart twisting. She was officially friend zoning him, even though he’d technically led the conversation toward that end.
Still, he’d give her that. Give her friendship, a usable work space, a shoulder to cry on.
Whatever she needed, all the while keeping Hudson in check.
If friendship was all they could have, somehow it would have to be enough.
ChapterFourteen
What’s got your shorts in a bunch?”
Finn startled and looked up from the laptop to see Gage and Hudson standing in the doorway of his home office. He’d been so deep in thought he hadn’t even heard them enter the house.
“You forget to knock?” He glared at his two younger brothers.
“We did. You didn’t answer.”
“I was busy. What are you doing here?”
Hud pushed past Gage and entered to plop himself down in a chair opposite Finn’s desk. Gage stayed where he was, leaning against the door jamb.
“Picking you up for a Saturday night out,” Gage said.
“Pass, but thanks.” He felt like he could sleep for a week after pouring over financials all day. He wanted to go to his brothers with a solid plan of action when it came to purchasing Sam’s land, and that required some homework.
“Fine, then we’ll kidnap you.” Hudson grinned. “Two of us, one of you. Good odds. Come on, man, don’t you get tired of staying here all the time? You never leave except to go for a ride or to the market. Don’t you miss us?”
“I saw all of you last weekend at your birthday party,” Finn reminded them.
“We’re taking Elias out to celebrate his engagement,” Gage said. “Kind of a prebachelor party since Quinley and all the girls are getting together tonight for a girls’ night in. You’re coming. It’s just us.”
“And Jameson, maybe.” Hud shrugged. “He was heading to the firehouse to hang but said he might hit us up later tonight.”
