Page 64 of Wintertime Love (Holiday 2)

Scoundrel! Two-timing, lousy piece of –

The woman opens her mouth and there is a flash of hesitation in her eyes that my sharp eyes don’t miss before she says, stiffly, “Our grandmothers agreed to our betrothal.”

The fist that is crushing my heart so tightly that it’s getting hard to breathe, loosens it’s grip slightly. “But did he propose to you?”

“It’s been understood between our families that—”

“He proposed to me.” I give her an easy smile. “Today, in fact.”

Her face pales and then a terrible fury wraps around her beautiful features, as she hisses, “You’re lying!”

I don’t betray the turmoil in my heart and shrug. “He was quite public about it. You can ask around.”

“Finn and I have been together since he came to WestHallor!” The woman’s hands are clenched. “He knows that we will get married! So stop with your lies. You’re just somebody he’s fooling around with.”

/> My jaw tightens with anger and my eyes flash at her. “For somebody who thinks I’m of little consequence, you sound a little desperate. Why would you track me down if you believe that?”

She glares at me, her brows knitted together.

Now, I can’t see any hint of the elegance that she had had wrapped around herself when she first walked in.

She shrugs. “I just wanted to see the little tart that’s his flavor of the month.”

I’ve seen the way Finn is around me, the love, the respect, the adoration in his eyes. I recall the times he’s opened up to me, the way he’s dragged me out of my shell. I remember the overwhelming joy in his eyes when I finally admitted that I loved him. I’ve spent so long scared that he’d hurt me that I’ve not even given myself a chance to trust him, to trust us.

I don’t know who this woman is but I’m more level headed than she takes me for. I’m not going to ruin one of the best things that’s ever happened to me over the words of a woman I don’t know. I’d rather wait for Finn to tell me his side.

So, I smile and say, “Well, now that you’ve seen me, why don’t you do us both a favor and get out? I’ve got things to do and don’t have time to waste on somebody with delusions of grandeur.”

She stiffens and it pleases me to see the insult on her face. However, that is soon replaced by a malicious look, “I’d be careful of how you talk to me. I have a lot of influence in the business world. Shutting down a trash heap like this would be nothing for me.”

Fury envelops me and I bare my teeth at her in a cold smile. “You must really consider me a threat to go that far. Tell you what. I’ll give you a minute to get out of my dinner and if you do, I promise not to kick your skinny ass.”

She narrows her eyes at me.

I lift the broom and step towards her, my eyes chilly, “I can bet you’ve never gotten into a physical fight with someone before. Prissy princess like yourself.”

Her eyes flare in humiliated anger.

I then ask, softly, “Should I start counting?”

She hesitates and then turns on her heel, marching out. Pausing at the doorway, she turns around, her face red. “This isn’t over. You’ve messed with the wrong family, Miss Winter”

I give her an amused look that is straight out of Finn’s book and wait for the door to slam behind her. Once I’m alone, the amusement vanishes to be replaced by gut wrenching fury, my eyes flaring with burning rage.

I don’t even bother cleaning up.

Locking up in the next five minutes, I’m in my car.

Reaching the house, I park my car in the winding driveway and march up to Finn’s room past my startled aunts, ignoring their queries.

I bang on his door with my fist, shouting, “Open up, Finn! I know you’re in there!”

The door opens after a heartbeat and I see a grinning face. Unfortunately, my rage is too much as I raise my hands and shove him.

Finn staggers back, shock on this face, and I hear my aunts say something loudly in protest.

But I don’t care.

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