Page 55 of Fighting for Love (Boston Love)

“Well, I think I’m falling in love with him, and that scares me.”

Harmony tiled her head and gave me the sweetest smile. “Oh, honey, why does that scare you?”

Glancing back down at Presley, I finally let out everything I had pent up inside. “Because I want things with him that I’ve never even entertained before.”

Angela dropped to her knees to look me in the eyes. “Such as?”

I swallowed hard, then blew out a breath. “My whole adult life I’ve been working toward one goal: becoming a lawyer and making my parents proud of me. There are so many things I have given up to make that happen. Relationships, friendships, fun. Hell, even my dream to be a teacher. Then Finn blew into my life like a tornado and turned it upside down. I don’t wake up in the morning and think about my schedule and what all I have to do at work—I wake up thinking about him. Longing to be in his bed with him, wrapped in his arms.”

Both women sighed.

“I count down the hours until I can see him again. Hell, I even play hooky at work, and I have a huge case I should be focusing on. I’ve never wanted more, but with Finn…” I closed my eyes and whispered, “…I want so much more.”

“And that scares you? Rory, you can have a career and have Finn in your life as well,” Harmony said as I opened my eyes.

“I know. But it’s being able to separate the two—and then you have my father, who forbids me to date firefighters and has some kind of beef with Finn. If he found out we were dating…”

“Whoa. Wait a second—you’re hiding your relationship from your family?”

With a nod, I frowned and replied, “Yes. It’s been so stressful lying to them. And Finn’s job. Every day he goes to work…” My voice trailed off as I tried to keep it steady. “…I worry. I grew up watching my mother fear for my father’s life, and I’m not sure I can do that.”

Angela reached for Presley and placed her in the small bassinet next to the desk. Then she took my hands and pulled me up.

“Okay, I’m not buying that. I’ve grown up with a father and two brothers as firefighters, and do I worry? Hell yes I do, but the risk is part of their job.”

I nodded in agreement. “I know.”

Harmony put her arm around me and smiled. “I’ve had some pretty terrible things happen in my life that I’m sure Finn has told you about.”

“He has,” I whispered.

“Did he tell you I ran from Preston? I packed up one day and took off. He had almost been trapped in a house during a fire. I was there on the scene and watched it all play out. I don’t think I have ever been so scared in my entire life. I freaked and ran, but Preston eventually found me. I’m not going to lie and say I wasn’t happy when he told me he bought the pub and quit his job at the station. I was beyond happy, but I also know I loved him too much to have walked away from a life with him because of the risks of his job.”

A tear slipped from my eye, and I felt incredibly weak. “I’m not like you, Harmony. I’m not sure I could ever be that strong. The way I feel about Finn, it keeps growing, and at times I feel like I’ll die if I don’t get to see him. I can only imagine that feeling will grow, and if something were to happen to him…I’m not sure I could be that strong.”

She grinned and wiped my tear away. “Wouldn’t you rather live your life with him and treasure each and every day than spend the rest of your life wondering what it would have been like to be with him?”

Angela sighed again. “Oh, how I love love. It’s so flipping amazing.”

I laughed, then dragged in a deep breath. “My goodness. Where in the world did all this come from?” I asked while wiping my face and getting my composure back.

“The baby. It’s weird; it brings out weird emotions when you hold her.”

Angela and I both laughed at Harmony’s words.

Holding up her hands, Angela said, “Okay, but wait. We still need to talk about this no-sex thing.”

My face blushed. “I did mention to Finn how I was very…inexperienced. I think I might have scared him.”

With a huge grin spreading across her face, Angela shook her head. “That’s not it; I can promise you that. If there is one thing my mother did right with my brothers, it was how she raised them to treat women. Now, Finn might have liked his playboy ways at one time, but I can guarantee you he is simply waiting for the right moment. He wants your first time together to be perfect.”

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