Page 66 of Off-Limits Love
Mak barely dared to breathe as excitement poured through her. “And? What did he say? Did I pass?”
Finn nodded, his handsome smile filling his gorgeous eyes with warmth beneath the ball cap he wore to block out the sun.
She caught her breath at the news, fighting the urge to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.
“I passed? I passed!” She couldn’t stop herself from laughing and hugging Emi, squeezing her daughter until Emi’s giggles filled the air. “I can’t believe it!”
“You’re good to go now,” Hudson said.
Mak straightened, her gaze shifting to Finn in his quiet steadfastness. He didn’t seem upset by the news, and she hoped they could move beyond Brad’s connection to her life. “It’s all happening so fast. Finn, thank you so much. Emi, do you know what this means?”
Emi scrunched up her face against the sun as she stared up at her. “You can make me cookies?”
The adults chuckled at the simple answer.
“I can makelotsof cookies and cakes,” she said, smoothing Emi’s hair off her forehead.
Her dream was coming true, was at least within reach—thanks to Finn. “I don’t even know what to say. Thank you isn’t enough.”
“Just provide us with plenty of samples,” Hudson said. “That’ll do it, right, Finn?”
“What’s my surprise?” Emi asked. “You said we both got surprises.”
Leave it to Emi to zero in on that fact.
“Come with me, and I’ll show you,” Hudson said as he held out his hand. “Okay, Mama? We’ll just be in the barn right there. Isla’s in there now with Isabel’s son and the bodyguard checking out the baby llamas.”
There were so many things to unpack in that sentence. First that Isla worked for a family with so much money a bodyguard escorted them when they were in public but also—babyllamas?
But she wanted a moment alone with Finn, and Emi would be well looked after. “Of course. Emi, be good and stay with Hudson and Isla. No wandering off.”
“Okay,” Emi hopped over to take Hudson’s hand.
Mak watched as the two headed toward the open doors of the barn where Mak could now see Isla holding a child. Isla saw her and waved, and Mak waved back before focusing on the man beside her. “I…wanted to talk to you. About the night you walked over. Finn, Brad was just— I know it might’ve seemed like— There’s nothing between us now, and there never will be again. He heard the news about Sam and had some questions. That’s all.”
She’d looked away during her rambling explanation and now glanced back up at Finn to see him watching her. She faltered at the intensity of his stare, but moved willingly when he gently took her elbow in hand and tugged her toward the party venue.
The oversized doors were closed, but Finn unlocked the regular door on the side and ushered her in, silently leading her to the kitchen with a hand at her back.
The wide island countertop was empty except for a stack of papers, and she caught her breath when she saw what was printed in large black letters on the top one. “You made that for me?”
The Itty-Bitty Bakery was written in a fancy, loopy font, with theidotted by a frosting-topped cupcake in a colorful design.
“S-sophia,” Finn said, lifting his chin as though urging her to look at the rest.
She frowned and stepped closer to flip through the official-looking paperwork and—a check? “Wait, what is this?” She scanned the paper, blinking twice. “She got me a grant? Just like that?How?”
Mak looked up and found Finn watching her, the corners of his lips tilted up at the corners. “This is really happening?”
Finn opened his arms, and she couldn’t resist. She slid into them and let Finn envelope her in a bearhug that brought a rush of feelings to the forefront. Especially when he kissed the top of her head.
“I-it’s happening.”
Mak buried her nose into his chest and breathed him in, squeezing him tight. Trying her best to ignore Brad’s many warnings sounding in her head that Finn was only interested in her because of the chance she’d inherit Sam’s land. Like it or not, the seed had been planted, and combined with all the insecurities she felt about her self-worth, that seed had taken root.
Finn’s large hand stroked over her hair, and she hated that she felt so divided. Suspicious.
Finn had never given her a reason to doubt him. Brad had given her many reasons. But what was the truth? If she worked up the nerve to ask Finn, would he be honest?
