Only Mine (Fool's Gold #4)(48)

Finn hesitated, torn between the normal polite response of not wanting to interrupt and the need to come between a sophisticated older woman and his brother. Then Aurelia spotted him and waved him over.

“How’s it going?” he asked, hovering at the edge of the blanket, not comfortable sitting down.

Stephen sat up. “Good. We were just talking.”

“I have an overbearing mother,” Aurelia admitted. “We’re strategizing. I’m going to stand up to her and tell her to get off my back.” She wrinkled her nose. “That sounds so brave. I’m fearless, right up until I see her. Then I crumble.” She looked at Finn. “Any suggestions for gathering courage while facing a private demon? Not that my mother is a demon. She has her reasons for running my life. I’m the one with the problem.”

Finn was having a little trouble following her conversation. “I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

Stephen laughed. “Typical guy response to an emotional situation. When in doubt, distance yourself, then run.”

“You’re not running,” Finn said. “Why is that?”

“I like Aurelia. We have a lot in common.” Stephen sat up. “We’re both the quiet ones in our family, we like the same movies, we enjoy reading.”

“I finished college and you didn’t,” Aurelia said with a quick smile. “Oh, wait. That’s a difference.”

Her teasing but effective dig surprised Finn.

“You’re taking my side on the college thing?” he asked, incredulous.

“It does seem a little shortsighted to go all the way to your last semester and then quit.” Instead of looking at Stephen, Aurelia looked at him. “Stephen’s been majoring in engineering.”

“I know,” Finn told her. He didn’t understand. She seemed to think the words were significant. He was Stephen’s older brother. Of course he knew what he was studying.

Stephen shot her a look that silenced her. When she ducked her head, he reached out his hand and touched her arm.

Finn stood there, feeling like the odd man out. There was an undercurrent he didn’t understand and made him uncomfortable. Which made him miss Dakota. She would get it and smooth the situation over. She did that kind of thing.

“I, ah, have to get going,” Finn said quickly. “You two kids have fun today.”

He hurried away, not sure where he was going but wanting to get far away.

What was up with those two? As for Aurelia supporting the idea of Stephen finishing college, he couldn’t tell if that meant she was an okay person, as Dakota had claimed, or if this was all part of her cougar game.

He kept walking. The park was filled with residents and tourists. Young children offered bread to the ducks by the pond. He caught sight of someone with blond hair and a familiar build. Dakota!

He turned toward her, frowning when the family between them moved. No. Not Dakota. One of her sisters walking several dogs wearing service vests. He stood in place until she was out of sight. His cell phone rang.

He checked the screen and recognized Bill’s number. “How’s it going?”

“Great. The new guy’s a terrific pilot. There’s no bullshit. He does the work and then he goes home. I like that. We’ve already got sixty boxes delivered.”

“That’s fast,” Finn said, surprised they were doing so well.

“Tell me about it. If this guy wants to stick around, you can stay there as long as you’d like.”

“Good to know. I didn’t like leaving you shorthanded.”

“Plenty of hands now,” Bill told him. “I gotta run. Talk to you later.”

Finn listened to his partner hang up, then stood in the center of the park and realized he had nothing to do with the rest of his day. He stepped into the sunlight and looked around at the bustling town. Everyone had somewhere to be. Everyone had someone to be with. Except for his brothers, the only other person he wanted to spend time with was Dakota. The problem was, the last time he’d seen her, he’d acted like an ass.

It hadn’t been her at all, he admitted to himself. It had been him. He wanted to say he’d acted the way he had because he’d known the relationship wouldn’t last and he was only trying to protect her. But that would make him a liar. Instead, he’d felt himself getting closer to her. The realization had scared the crap out of him. So he’d acted or, rather, reacted. He’d rejected her and sent her on her way.

Now he was left with the consequences.

Knowing that, whether or not she was willing to forgive him, he had to apologize, so Finn walked the short distance to Dakota’s house. When he reached the front door, he knocked, then waited. If she wasn’t home, he’d come back later.

The door opened a few seconds later. Dakota raised her eyebrows when she saw him but didn’t say anything. She was wearing jeans and a T-shirt. Her feet were bare. Her blond hair tousled. She looked good. Better than good. She looked sexy and only slightly pissed at him.

“I should probably talk first, huh?” he said.

She leaned her shoulder against the door frame. “Sounds like a good idea.”

“I have a good excuse for acting like a jerk.”

“I can’t wait to hear it.”

He cleared his throat. “Would saying it’s because I’m a guy be enough?”