gentle.”
“Finn, let yourself go. Please, I want your unrestrained love.”
“All right.”
He laid on his side and turned her to face him. Angling her top leg over his, he slid into her. Her eyes glazed. “Oh, God, Finn.” He was firm and full and very male.
He brushed his hand over her curls and she arched up again. He pushed in further. Further. And further. Rising up, he linked their hands.
On the last thrust, they came together in one cataclysmic burst of the brightest fireworks in the universe.
* * *
When Finn awoke, he was alone. But he was in Millie’s bed, so he hadn’t dreamed what happened. He hadn’t dreamed about Ronan either. Laying back with his hands behind his head, he gazed at the ceiling and replayed the lovemaking with Millie. He wished she hadn’t left him, but he remembered she had to open the store.
Then he retraced all of what happened with Ronan. Grinning with the good memories, he got up, put on his boxers and walked into the kitchen. She’d made coffee, and left a note. “Early this morning was delicious.”
He’d just poured a cup when he heard the keys in the door. Expecting her, he smiled.
Her grandfather walked inside. He recoiled. “Oh, um, I wasn’t expecting this.”
“Henry, I don’t know what to say.”
The man chuckled. “I’m not Millie’s keeper, Finn. She’s an adult and can take care of herself. I came up to leave some mail that came to us.” He walked to the counter. “Can I have a cup? Black.”
Finn poured the brew.
“Now, go get dressed then we’ll sit and talk about what I expect from you.”
Finn didn’t get to the store until after eleven. For some reason, he felt like he was doing the walk of shame, but he held his head high. “Morning, Judy. Erin.”
“Morning.”
“Morning.”
“What’s going on around here?”
“There’s been a lot of spillover from our Columbus Day sale already.”
Finn studied the store. People browsed the shelves and stacks and murmured to their companions. “Good crowd. Millie in the back?”
“Uh-huh.”
He felt as if they all watched him head there. She was at the desk, working on the computer. Her hair was down and she had on a simple white blouse. He closed the door before she knew he was there and caught a glimpse of him over her shoulder. From behind he bent down and whispered in her ear, “You were wonderful early this morning.”
A giggle escaped her. “You were, too.”
“My mind’s still reeling with what happened between us.”
“Mine, too.” He stepped back so she could swivel around. Then he leaned over and kissed her.
After, she said, “We said no affection at work.” The protest was weak.
“I know. I’ll be better the rest of the day.”
Lazing back in the chair, she stared over at him. “Whew! Ronan.”
“Yeah, let’s go out to lunch together and I’ll tell you some of it.”
“I think we can do that.”
“One more thing. I want to be with you again tonight. All night.”
“Fine by me, boss.”
He laughed.
They went to lunch at Bailey’s Pub.
No O’Neils in sight, so he leaned over and grasped her hands. “Millie, what made you change your mind about going to the next level?”
“Ronan. Even amidst the drama, I kept thinking how much time he lost. What he missed with you two.”
“Don’t blame him.”
“I don’t. That wasn’t what I was saying. It hit me that I didn’t want to waste any more time in my life.”
“I don’t either.” He brought her knuckles to his mouth. Just as Dylan showed up.
His friend stepped back. “Wow, I didn’t know about this.”
“It’s a recent development,” Finn told him.
A big O’Neil grin. “Good for you.”
“Yep, it is that. Can you sit?”
“If it’s all right with Millie.”
“Sure.”
“I want to tell you about something I’ve been thinking.”
“Great. Then I’ll fill you in about the meeting with my lawyer.”
“I’m concerned about the length of time blocking Markham Management through the Community Board and petitions. I’m wondering if we should try to find investors to buy it ourselves.”
“Yeah, Jake was concerned about that, too.”
“Tell me what else he said.”
Finn did, but left out the part about saving his own store by buying it as a retail site instead of a condo.
Dylan nodded. “Maybe investors are the way to go.”
“Yeah, maybe.” He thought about Ronan’s offer of money. But boy, he didn’t want to take any more of his father’s bequests.
* * *
Molly and Fitz were both crazy…Clothes scattered everywhere…Kissing her in bed…her mouth luscious…the salty taste of her skin…She felt so good…he devoured her…She was so