Bet in the Dark(43)
Author: Rachel Higginson

In a pathetically shaky voice I agreed, “Alright.”

Fin trailed little kisses along my collarbone as if he couldn’t stop himself and then gave me a long, lingering one on the mouth. I melted into him, relishing in the feel of his lips, the taste of his tongue and every hard muscled pressed tight against my body. I couldn’t stay away from this, not when it wanted him more than anything else in life.

“Ok, go get ready,” he demanded, releasing me suddenly.

I stepped back with a squeal and then turned around to either obey or die of mortification, I wasn’t sure yet. I took one step and he slapped my ass. Hard.

I shot him a shocked look over my shoulder but he just stood there grinning at me, cocky as ever.

Shaking my head I made my way to my bedroom and threw my t-shirt on the ground in frustration. I would go to lunch, but only because of his grandma and because I was dying to meet Declan. And because I was terribly curious about his home life.

And because it felt so good to be with Fin again that I was pretty sure all my reasons for staying away died the minute he put his lips to my skin.

I could whine and complain about moral integrity all I wanted, but in the end those were just excuses. It felt more wrong not to be with Fin than it did to give in and let myself love him. It felt right to be with him, to be in his arms, to let go of all of my meaningless reasons to stay away. I loved him. Heartbreak and integrity be damned.

Except somehow I knew I would get to keep both my heart and my integrity with Fin. Instinctively I knew now that he would never let me hurt or feel pain and he’d be damned before he let me compromise anything about myself.

He was one of the good guys.

I dressed quickly in a peach hombre maxi dress I’d picked out with my mom while I was home.

She beamed at me the entire shopping trip and we actually had a good time. It was a hard pill to swallow that when I cut myself off from my parents, I had also cut them off from me. And they were hurting because of my distance. Looking back I realized how selfish I had been. I was blessed to have a family like them. I wouldn’t take that for granted any longer.

I threw on some light makeup and braided my hair over my shoulder to tame its rowdiness. I walked out into the hall to find Fin waiting for me near the door. He looked up and his expression heated immediately with something more than want, something I couldn’t name or identify.

“Let me just grab my purse.” I said in a still wobbly voice.

Fin grabbed my hand before I could walk past him and pulled me to him. Slowly, purposefully he walked forward until my back was pressed against the wall. His head dipped and his lips were just a breath away from mine.

“There’s no more debt between us, yeah, Ellie?” his voice rumbled over me. I felt myself nod, but I couldn’t form words. “Tell me you understand that.”

“There’s no more debt,” I whispered.

He barely let me finish before his lips were on mine in a scorching kiss. One of his hands gripped my hip, while the other slipped gently to the nape of my neck. He held me to him, firmly, possessively. He kissed me so deeply, as if he was touching every part of me, as if he owned everything that I was. And this time I let him. There was no fight, no struggle. This kiss was everything I wanted.

Fin was everything I wanted.

Eventually, he slowed the kiss and pulled away. “I missed you Ellie. God, I missed you.”

“It’s been a week, Fin,” I tried to sound exasperated but my voice was still breathless from his kiss.

He rested his forehead against mine, “We have a lot to talk about, but my grandma will kill me if we’re late. She’s impatient to meet you.”

“I’m also anxious to meet her,” I admitted.

Fin cocked his head back and stared at me for a while, like he couldn’t believe I was here, like he couldn’t believe we were together again. Finally he said, “Then let’s go.”

I grabbed my purse and then Fin led me down to his Jeep and soon we were on the road to the residential parts of La Crosse. His grandma lived in a precious little blue ranch with a front porch and winding front walkway. We parked on the street and Fin walked around to let me out. I was fine with getting out on my own, but he had sworn his grandma would kill him if she saw him lacking manners. He reached for my hand immediately, tugging me along behind him. There was a wheel chair ramp to the front door and we took it, with Fin smiling back at me the entire time.

I was giddy with all his attention, ridiculously so.

Fin’s grandma met us at the front door immediately reaching up to Fin, which was quite a ways and pulling him down so that she could kiss him soundly on the lips. I mashed my lips together to hide my smile, she was precious. Fin towered over her; she couldn’t be much more than five feet tall, with snow white curly hair and sharp gray eyes that snapped to me as soon as she was done with Fin.

“Are you Eleanor?” she asked in her sweet old lady voice.

“Ellie,” I corrected automatically. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Hunter.”

“Oh sweetheart, call me Grandma, everyone else does.” She smiled at me and then reached out her hands so she could grab my face, just like she did Fin. I noticed when she had them placed on my cheeks how shaky they were and wondered if these were the signs that worried Fin and made him seek out more help for Declan. She kissed me on the forehead and while I was a little embarrassed, most of all I was blessed that she was offering me her acceptance already.

“Grandma, I kiss her enough, she doesn’t need any more from you,” Fin teased.

“Finley,” she gasped and swatted at his arm. “You’ll embarrass her.” She moved out of the way and Fin led me into the house.

“I’m hoping to embarrass her,” he admitted. “I get jealous of those kisses; I don’t want her giving them out to anyone else.”

Grandma was wrong though, I was too shocked to feel any embarrassment. My heart was pounding in my chest, my mind swirling with hope. This was going to be a good day..

“My lands,” his Grandma gasped.

Fin ignored her and led me to the dining room that was set up immaculately. The room was small, fitting only a long table, the chairs that went around it and a China hutch at the far end. Real China was set in each place and real silver silverware.

“This is gorgeous,” I gasped. My parents had a full set of China that was promised to me in their will, but they never used it. It just sat untouched, even when they catered events at their house.

“Grandma believes that Sunday lunch is an art form,” Fin explained.

“At your house, it is,” I agreed.

He smiled down at me, pleased I liked the table so well. His grandma started bringing in food just then so I wiggled out of Fin’s hand to see if I could help.

“Can I help you bring the food in?” I asked politely.

“That would be wonderful,” she agreed. “We’re still waiting on Tyler, but he knows better than to be late for lunch.”

I shot Fin a glance and mouthed “Tyler?” He winked at me.

Grandma continued, “Finley go get your brother. You’re going to have to pull him away from his video games, but tell him you brought a girl for him, that will cheer him up.” She grinned at me and I was completely charmed by her.

Fin mouthed, “Are you Ok” to me and I rolled my eyes.

Compared to my family, his was a peaceful walk through the park.

By the time Grandma and I had the food spread out on the table, Ty had in fact arrived and Fin pushed Declan to the head of the table where his wheelchair could fit comfortably. Fin and Tyler took the seats closest to Declan, leaving Grandma and I to sit at the other end.

Declan stared at me for a while and I couldn’t help but stare back. He looked like a younger version of Fin, with tussled hair and a strong jaw, only his rested slightly askew. His eyes were the same dark, rich brown and were just as sharp as Fin’s and his grandma’s. His head rested against a neck brace that hung around his shoulders and his hands clutched at the controls to his automatic wheelchair.

“Fin, introduce me to your girlfriend,” Declan demanded through mumbled words.

“She’s not my girlfriend yet, Dec, I have to convince her first,” Fin grinned at his brother. “Got any tips?”

“Have you kissed her?” he asked innocently. I smiled because he was so adorable and so much like Fin.

“Of course, brother. Look at her,” Fin turned to me and smiled. In this setting, he was the man of the house and he looked and acted like it. He sat up straight and commanded attention. Even next to Ty, who I assumed incorrectly would dwarf him; Fin played this role very well.

“Good point,” Declan admitted and then suggested. “Have you sent her to Ty? Ty always straightens you out.”

Fin opened his mouth to say something but I interjected, “He did send me to Ty. And Ty did straighten me out. Or tried to at least.”

“That’s right, Dec, I told her what a good man your brother was, don’t you worry.” Ty agreed gruffly.

“And she still doesn’t want to be your girlfriend?” Declan asked Fin seeming genuinely confused by this. Fin shrugged apparently not so sure anymore and Declan took the opportunity to jump in and announce, “Good, then she can be mine.”

Ty, Fin and I burst into laughter while Grandma chastised him from across the table. After that Fin said grace per Grandma’s request and then the food was passed around. We fell into comfortable conversation, laughing and joking.

I easily fell in love with Declan, faster and harder than I ever had with Fin. He was so sweet and charming, I couldn’t help myself. And all the while I interacted with Fin’s family he sat back with an arm across my chair just watching me, like I was the most precious thing he’d ever held. And I fell for him all over again when he patiently helped feed his brother, leaving Declan with both his dignity and pride. Fin humbled me in a way no other person had before, leaving my heart a big mushy puddle of love.

I enjoyed watching how everyone interacted and even how they included Ty and forced him to relax. Ty told me that he was meant to do something for this family but over lunch I could easily see how much they were doing for him too.

“Now, Tyler,” Grandma cut in very sternly. “When are you going to bring over a girl? If Fin can find a good one, I know you can.”

“Hey!” Fin objected.

“Turns out they’re not so easy to find, Grandma,” Tyler ignored Fin completely. “And besides, has your grandson told you how he went about getting this one? He forced her to work for him and held her hostage by a huge debt of money.”

Fin paled next to me, I watched the color drain out of his face from the corner of my eye. If I wasn’t so amused by it I would have probably gone to his rescue. Maybe….

“Finley Davis Hunter is that true?” his grandma gasped while Declan laughed.

“By the way,” Ty cut back in. “You should have come to me first, son. I’ve been trying to help this family for the last three years and not one of you has let me so far. I’m giving you this money. If you want to pay me back you can, but I won’t argue about it. You’re going to take the money.”