Finn (Casella Cousins #3) - Kathryn Shay Page 0,25
contacted you?”
“He told Seth he wasn’t ready. Something bad happened with either Mother or Dad all those years ago.” Sighing, he slid off the stool. “Let’s order some dinner and get off this maudlin topic. Thai food?”
She set her glass on the table. “I never had it. You order for me. I’m sure I’ll like whatever you do.”
He pulled her off the stool, aligned her body with his. “I like you.”
The expression in his eyes was so sincere. So, she answered, “I like you, too.”
He lifted her off the floor and kissed her. Another erotic one that went on and on.
* * *
Finn was grumpy when the alarm buzzed the next morning. And he was uncomfortable. Hell, it had only been a few days of celibacy, and he was suffering. It came from being with Millie so much.
You’ll be harder next time, Finn.
When she said the words, he’d thought them fun and flirty. But this morning, he didn’t find them fun. Shit.
He moved quickly through the half hour he allowed himself, then walked again to the store to clear his head. When he got there, he was in a somewhat better mood. He had to be on because today was their big Columbus Day sale. And two authors, who’d written books about Christopher Columbus, had agreed to come in to give informal talks and sign books.
He was walking to work when his phone buzzed. “Hello, Jake.”
“Finn. Your voice mail sounded urgent.”
“Yes. Can we meet today?”
“I’m in court all day. Can you get here now? I have an hour.”
“Yeah, I’ll get a ride.”
He called an Uber and fifteen minutes later he was in Jake Hogan’s office, sitting across from his lawyer
Jake asked, “What can I do for you?”
“We got word that a big developer wants to buy my building.”
“What’s so bad about that?”
“He plans to evict everybody, including Fitzgerald’s, and build condos.”
“Hmm. Off the cuff, why don’t you offer to buy the bottom space at the cost he’d charge for condos. He might like to have retail there.”
“It never entered my mind.” He could afford to do that. But then he thought about Dylan, and The Broken Egg, and the other people already rallied around him. “But I don’t want to go that route. I have a responsibility to the neighborhood.”
“I understand. Then what you’re seeking is legal action to stop the sale so you can get the Community Board on your side, get the petitions, etc.”
“Right.”
“When?”
“The bidding ends in two weeks.”
“I can get an injunction, but I’ll need at least the petitions signed and proof of an appointment with the Community Board.”
“I’ll work on that.”
Enervated by the meeting with Jake, he headed to the store to get Millie to handle the Columbus Day goings-on so he could pursue this.
Thank God for Millie Morrison. In many ways.
* * *
Molly had lived her life independent of anybody, but Fitz presented a threat to all that. First, he was too protective. She hadn’t seen it the first days they were together, but all last week, he took over everything.
She said out loud, “Call Erin. She helps you figure things out.”
Molly hadn’t seen her friend much since she met Fitz but now, she was anxious to talk about him.
Erin was her bright sunny self when they met to walk. “Hey, I wondered when I’d see you again.”
“I’m sorry. I kind of ditched you when I started going out with Fitz.”
“Don’t worry. I did the same when I first started dating Joey.”
Molly had forgotten that Erin had been AWOL when she met her current boyfriend.
“Tell me all the details, she went on. What he looks like, how he is…in bed?”
“In bed? You’re kidding. I haven’t known him that long. But I do like him but it’s scary trusting his feelings.”
“Yeah, I know. I guess you just have to decide if you want Fitz Connors.”
* * *
Chapter 6
* * *
Having planned to meet in the parking lot of La Jordanie, Hayley and Paul, and Finn and Millie walked into the restaurant in Manhattan that his mother had chosen, at exactly seven p.m.
Bridget sat with her back to them, sipping a drink. “Ready, Finn?” Hayley asked.
“I’m never ready for her.”
Millie squeezed his hand. He thought she’d balk at his request to come with him tonight, but instead she said she’d do anything to help him deal with his mother. And Millie was tough. She could take a night with the Wicked Witch of the West.
They crossed to the table. Bridget didn’t stand up, of course, because she