Finn (Casella Cousins #3) - Kathryn Shay
Chapter 1
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Finn Casella stood outside of Fitzgerald’s, located near the famous MacDougal/Bleeker Street where the likes of Jack Kerouac, W.H Auden, James Baldwin and Allen Ginsberg had once lived. The bookstore was his baby. His life for a long time. Maybe too long. Eight years ago, he’d rented a small storefront on the ground floor, then expanded when the store next to him became available. Now his business took up twice the space. He’d sunk a lot of his own cash and his inheritance into the store he now loved.
He took the time to appreciate the newly refurbished red brick of the façade which rose to the four floors above him. He moved to the larger window, decorated by his manager, Millie Morrison. This week they were featuring mystery authors in preparation for a book signing coming up soon. But…what was that in the corner? Hell, what had she done?
He walked inside. Finn didn’t storm in anywhere, except maybe that time when he decked his estranged brother Ronan.
At the cashier’s desk, he asked Judy Shannon, “Who put the flyer in the window?”
Judy raised her gaze from the computer and watched him through reading glasses. “I didn’t see one, but I don’t check it out regularly. Erin’s the one being trained by Millie to assist her.”
“Where is Millie?”
“In the back, working on the rare book collection.” Which was one of her jobs as manager of the store and hugely lucrative.
He found her at the computer. “Millie?”
She looked up, those pure chocolate eyes a bit annoyed. “Yes, Finn?”
“There’s a flyer in the front window, which I didn’t okay. I don’t want flyers in our displays.”
When she leaned back, her long braid fell across her shoulder. “You never okay the windows. But to answer the question, I put it there.”
“Why?”
“A new soup kitchen opened up on Broome Street and needs donations.”
“I can’t have you soliciting donations from our clientele.”
“Hungry people need help.”
“Not this way. Besides, the thing is so small, nobody will see it.”
“Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll make it more visible.”
She did this to him all the time. Misinterpreted what he said to get her own way. He pulled over a chair. “Millicent, what’s going on?”
“Uh-oh, the use of my real name.”
“I’m trying to have a serious conversation with you.”
An intense gaze narrowed on him. “It’s pretty serious that people on the streets of New York don’t have enough food to eat.”
“I know. And you know that we give sizable donations to food banks in the area every month.”
“Which I appreciate. However, hunger needs more attention to be eradicated.”
Much as he tried, he couldn’t figure this girl out. And she was a girl, even at twenty-six. “What brought this on?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why did you do this now?”
“I, um.” She glanced away. Her tell, when she didn’t want to answer a question. “I volunteered at the new soup kitchen.”
“You volunteer at one uptown, don’t you?”
“I’m surprised you remember.”
“Why another one?”
“None of your concern. In any case, the man heading the Broome Street one said we needed to get more monetary donations for the pantry.”
“You did this for a man?” If he sounded shocked, it was because she’d gone through men as disposable commodities in the eight years he’d known her.
Her laughter filled the office. Usually he liked the sweet sound of it. “Hardly. I did it for the hungry people in the Village.”
“Let’s compromise. Come up with a few other suggestions on how the store can help get more money for this new location. None should include the clientele coming into Fitzgerald’s.”
Her eyes ignited with anger. “God forbid somebody in need take precedence over sales.”
He pushed himself up out of the chair. “This conversation is over, Millie. I’m taking down the flyer.”
Quietly, she said, “So be it.” He knew that voice. It was the one she used whenever she was mad at him. Finn was an expert in reading women’s signals. He couldn’t have survived his upbringing with his mother, Bridget Sullivan, if he hadn’t.
* * *
“One, two, three, four, five…Shit.” Counting to ten wasn’t working this time. She was really pissed at him.
Don’t let your feelings get in the way of helping people.
Her feelings for Finn had gotten in the way of everything up until eighteen months ago. But that was over now. Done! Done! Done!
Still, she had to give herself advice every day that she worked with him. Don’t piss him off. Don’t get too haughty. You need this job. And most important, do not let your attraction to