Finn (Casella Cousins #3) - Kathryn Shay Page 0,16
your life makes you crazy? I mean among the women you date.”
“Um…ah…”
“No woman has ever done that.”
“Katie Harrison.”
“In high school? You have to go back that far? You’re bordering on pathetic, Finn.”
“How could this happen, Hayley?”
“You don’t know your own heart because it’s rarely been involved in any romantic relationship you’ve had.”
“I’m at a loss, here. I need advice.”
She leaned over and squeezed his hand where it rested on the table. “Tell me how this came about.” When he finished, she said, “I knew Millie had a crush on you. Then, I thought it grew into more. But a year or two ago she seemed, I don’t know, to get over you.”
He could still see her, shaking her head at her confession that she loved him. “I thought that, too.”
“But you two are together most days and evenings. My guess is feelings kept building up.”
“Building up? For her?”
“And for you. Why did you run out on the O’Neils, when such a big thing was happening with the store?”
“I knew something serious was bothering her. I felt… compelled to go after her.” He scowled. “I rarely feel compelled to do anything.”
“I rest my case.”
“No, you can’t. We have to discuss the wisdom of this. If Millie and I pursue a romantic relationship, and it goes wrong, she’ll quit.”
“She’ll quit if you don’t pursue a relationship. Words like the ones she said can’t be taken back. Or the feelings hidden. That goes for both of you.”
“How did this happen?”
She grasped his arm. “Your body got sick of your mind blocking how important she is to you. So it took over.”
“You think?”
“Yeah, buddy, I think.”
He stood and went to the railing. Stared out over the water that always soothed him. Then turned to his sister. “I honestly don’t know how to behave with her under these circumstances. I am pathetic.”
“Let things roll out between you. Follow your instincts.”
“I’m petrified of doing that.”
“Yeah, I know the feeling. But if you want Millie in your life, you’ll have to be honest and see what you’ve got together.”
Noon
Millie accepted a date with Emerson. He’d called twice and when she realized Finn wasn’t coming in, she’d gotten majorly pissed, said, “Fuck it” then agreed to go out to lunch.
Emerson was his usual upbeat self as they sat in Washington Square Park, happy, excited about work, solicitous of her.
“What’s wrong, Millie? You’re distracted.”
“Um, it’s an issue at the store.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“I can’t. Let’s change the subject.”
“If you’re sure.”
She nodded.
“Has Finn found a way to help us get more funding?”
“The soup kitchen’s kind of gotten lost in all that’s going on.”
“I’ll wait a bit, then.” He wrapped up the dregs of his sub and tossed it and hers in a can a foot away. Then he took her hand. “Millie, I want your attention. I want to pursue this relationship, see where we end up. I need to know if you feel that way, too.”
Millie realized those were the exact words she wanted to hear. But not from Emerson.
Two p.m.
“What do you mean she’s not here? One of us is supposed to be present at all times.”
Judy gave an exasperated sigh. Something he was hearing a lot lately. “Finn, I’m training to oversee the store, and you or she can go out for lunch and leave me alone.”
“Still…” He frowned. “Do you know where she went?”
“Someplace with Emerson.”
His mind practically detonated with that tidbit. How the hell could she tell him she loved him last night and the next day go on a date with somebody else?
“I’ll be in the office to make sure we didn’t miss anything while she’s out galivanting around.”
Judy raised her chin. “I checked the email, the rare books site, as I’m allowed to do.”
He took a deep breath. “I know, Judy, I guess I’m distracted, not thinking straight.”
“Considering the letter you got this weekend, I’m not surprised.”
They’d told the employees about the situation so they didn’t hear it from the renters on the other floors.
“How’d the meeting go last night at Bailey’s Pub?”
“We have an action plan. First up is to meet with the owner and discuss the sale.”
“I hope this goes well for us.”
“I do too.” He headed back to the office. When he sat down, the air still carried a hint of her scent. She always smelled fresh and flowery. Maybe because she walked to work.
He called up his private email to see if Millie left him a message. She didn’t, but someone else important did.
Jonathan Parks, the owner of