It was a beautiful day when I climbed out of the Porsche and peered over my sunglasses at the façade of Aidan’s estate.
“Looks like it’s been hit with a flower bomb,” Finn murmured from behind the wheel.
I smiled.
He wasn’t wrong.
“Savvie likes peonies.”
“Trust me,” he said, “I know. Aidan told me.”
“You guys talk about flowers?” I laughed. “So, it’s not all about tax evasion and hostile takeovers?”
His mouth cocked up in a smirk. “It’s eighty percent that. Three percent flowers. Seventeen percent shit that would turn your hair curly.” He slipped his glasses down his nose. “Oh, wait, it’s already curly.”
I’d embraced the curl today, thinking, ‘fuck it.’ It was a late spring wedding, why couldn’t I go boho chic when I wasn’t a part of the bridal party?
And no, that wasn’t a complaint.
His eyes clashed with mine and…
Damn.
Double damn.
A shiver rushed down my spine.
It was the first time in months that I’d felt that way.
I looked at him and saw a beautiful man. Much like I made a pan of brownies and knew they were delicious but didn’t eat the whole tray.
I’d been… I didn’t want to say dead inside because that was extreme. But how he looked at me had my mouth working as the lightning bolt that had always existed between us surged to life once more.
He felt the zap of it too.
His head reared back, his mouth firmed, and a look that was pure predator overtook him. Everything in me responded to that. Flickered to life because of that glance.
I sucked in a breath.
“Aoife?” he rasped, his voice sending more shivers down my spine.
“Finn, I—”
“Aoife!” Jen screeched from the doorway, making me jump.
I twisted around before I could finish my sentence and found my friend waddling over to me because of the toe separators she wore to keep her nails dry.
My brow furrowed at the sight. “I thought you went for a pedicure yesterday.”
“I did. I chipped a nail.” Jen shuddered. “I had to do them.”
Behind me, I heard Finn mutter to Jake, “Cockblocked, buddy. But never get between a woman and her friends. That’s advice that’ll take you through life.”
Lips twitching, I asked, “Why did you have to do them?”
“Because Savvie got a team of estheticians in who are all guys.”
“So?”
She shrugged, but a kitten-like smile curled her lips. “Luc doesn’t like other guys touching me.”
I rolled my eyes. “Jesus, Jen.”
Her smile morphed into a grin. “I love it.” She raised her hands together, clasping them in front of her chest in true Disney princess fashion. “I don’t want him to ever change.”
“Just wait until you’re married, then you’ll hit him over the head with a frying pan,” Finn drawled unsympathetically as he rounded the car with Jake struggling for freedom in his arms.
“When have I hit you with a frying pan?” I countered, but even as I asked the words, ice overtook me.
I’d hit him.
Guilt made the ice shatter inside me, leaving shards behind until he moved beside me and snagged my hand.
Squeezing it, he retorted, “I’ve never told you not to get your nails or makeup done by a guy.”
That hand squeeze was him giving me forgiveness.
But it was easier said than done.
I was still ashamed that I’d hit him. Violence might be the answer in his world, but it wasn’t in mine. Even if our borders did rub up against each other.
“This is true,” was all I said.
“I like my man to be all in my face.” Jen boasted, “It’s the Sicilian in him.”
Finn snorted. “Yeah, you keep telling yourself that. I’m plenty in Aoife’s face, but there’s a time and a place.”
Sensing a brewing argument, I decided to butt in, “Why did you waddle out here?”
“Because Savvie’s being bridezilla and I need moral support.”
My lips twitched and I leaned up on tiptoe to give Finn a kiss. “I’ll act as referee.”
When my hands moved toward Jake, he shook his head. “We’ll go and have some men’s talk.”
I grinned. “Good thinking.”
“Come on, Aoife!” Jen had already started toward the door, and as I joined, he snagged my hand and pulled me against his side.
“Hey.” His timber was low enough to make my pussy clench.
“Hey,” I breathed.
His fingers let go of mine with another squeeze, and he reached up and tugged on a curl before he trailed a finger along my neck. “You feeling okay?”
Well, that really made my pussy clench.
I swallowed. “Yeah.”
That finger trailed to my pulse, and as he felt it speeding away, he smiled. “Did I tell you you look beautiful?”
“You did,” I whispered, watching his gaze drop to my outfit.
It was only a silk chiffon maxi dress, but I knew I looked good.
Sweeping sleeves that floated thanks to the chiffon, with a deep V that showed off my breasts, while it hugged my waist and hips before swirling down to the floor. It was a bright blue and was patterned with thousands of beads shaped into flowers.
I felt pretty, but when he looked at me like that, I felt hot.
“Did I tell you that you look handsome?” I tacked on, taking him in in his casual suit and patting his lapels so I had the excuse to touch him.
He wore a navy one for once, no pinstripe, a white shirt that was open at the collar, and tan loafers. On his wrists, he wore the anniversary cufflinks I’d bought him last year.
Yum.
“You did.” He smiled as his finger continued tormenting me. “Later?”
The question made my heart stutter, and nerves hit me. Which was ridiculous. But the nerves were soon drowned out when his finger drifted between the deep V of my neckline.
It was an innocent caress, but so filthy.
Heart skipping another beat, I nodded and sighed when he pressed a kiss to my lips.
Just a simple one.
Then, he shifted when Jake started struggling to get down, and in my ear, whispered, “Today might be hard, sweetheart, but I’m here. Always. Okay?”
Nodding again, I whispered, “I know you are.”
And that was the truth.
I did.
He ran his nose along my temple, and though it shot shivers of sensation through me, I whispered, “Thank you for being patient with me.”
Tension hit him, and he pulled back, shaking his head. “I wasn’t being patient, sweetheart. I was grieving too.”
My mouth rounded at that, the simple honest statement.
“You didn’t want—”
“I always want you,” he said simply. “But I know I’m lucky to have you by my side. That you climb into bed with me. That you want me at all in your life.
“That’s been enough for me, and it would have been enough.” His gaze tangled with mine. “I saw that you wanted me back in the car though.”
“I always want you,” I said, using his words. “I’ve just been…” I tried to explain, and when I heard Jen squawk my name again, it forced me to speak when I might have stayed silent. “I felt like I was in hibernation.”