Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 118693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 593(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 593(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
I rolled my eyes and sat at my chair. “Mom, you do see how silly that is, right?”
With a shrug, my mother blew out her cheeks. “I do. But when your father found out Finn was at his new station, I thought he was going to have a heart attack. He came home that first day and told me Finn was like his old man. A lady magnet. Mentioned something about him making out with an EMT or something behind the station.”
My heart dropped to my stomach at the idea of Finn kissing another woman. Trying not to let it bother me, I stood up and gathered my things.
“Well, I can’t help that Daddy had his feelings hurt by a five-year-old. Or that Finn happens to be a firefighter.”
“With a reputation.”
My eyes lifted and caught hers. “If I remember right, didn’t Daddy have a bit of a reputation before he met you?”
“Touché.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m dating him, and I’m going to keep dating him.”
“And your father, Rory? How long am I supposed to pretend like I don’t know about this?”
Twirling a lock of my hair, I pondered her question. “I’ll tell Daddy at the firefighters’ gala.”
Her expression turned to one of horror. “If you think by telling him in a public place it will lighten the blow, you are sadly mistaken, my child.”
If I wanted to be Finn’s date for the gala, I knew I was going to have to come clean. “I’ll think of something.”
My mother walked up and placed her finger on my chin. “I hope so, because if he finds out from someone other than you…he’s going to be even more upset.”
Finn
I’ll fight for her
I took a deep inhale of air and blew it out, trying to dispel my frustration. Damn Zeb for making that damn pasta dish. The cheese was burnt on the casserole dish and I was having a hell of a time getting it off.
It had been my rotation to clean up after dinner. Well, mine and Colton’s. He was summoned off by the captain, though, and I knew the cap had done it on purpose to leave me stuck with the mess.
Flash lay at my feet, waiting for some crumbs of food to fall. Suddenly, he jumped up and started wagging. When I glanced over my shoulder, I sucked in a breath. Captain Adams’s wife was standing in front of me.
“Mrs. Adams, is there something I can help you with?”
Her smile was tender. “No, but I need a moment of your time, Finn. If you don’t mind.”
My gaze moved toward Cap’s office.
“He’s occupied for the time being. I only need five minutes.”
I nodded and tossed the dishrag into the water. “Of course.”
She turned and headed into the one and only conference room we had. Wiping my hands on my pants, I took in a slow deep breath.
She knew. And if she knew, did Captain Adams know?
I walked in and took a seat at the table as she shut the door and walked around to the other side.
“Yesterday I discovered something pretty interesting that involves my daughter and you.”
Fuck. My. Life.
“Rory?”
She nodded. “Would you like to tell me yourself?”
I lifted my brow. “Um, not really, ma’am. Honestly, I think I’m more scared of you than I am of Cap.”
With a lighthearted laugh, she shook her head and sat. “Finn, I’m going to be direct with you. My daughter seems to think she is falling in love with you.”
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face, nor could I deny the warmth that spread through my chest.
“By that reaction, I’m going to safely assume you feel the same way.”
“Yes ma’am, I do.”
Her grin appeared to grow bigger, yet it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’ve been asked by Rory to keep this information to myself, and I have agreed to until Saturday morning. At that time, if she has not told her father, I will. Now, I know what you’re thinking—she’s an adult and deserves to be treated as such. And I partly agree with you. I also agree with my husband. I remember sitting and listening to the calls come in and panicking because I was scared to death my husband wouldn’t come out of that burning building alive. I don’t want that for my daughter. That worry and stress.”
I moved about in my seat some when she looked at me with sadness in her eyes.
“Do you understand how I worry for my daughter? I see the way her eyes light up when your name is mentioned. I hate the idea of her holding her breath and worrying every time you go out on a call.”
“Forgive me, Mrs. Adams, but may I speak openly with you.”
She motioned for me to speak.
“I don’t see what the difference is if I was a cop, a banker, a bartender, a pilot, or a teacher. None of us is guaranteed anything. Does my job contain more risk? Yes, but did that make you love your husband any less? Would you have stepped back and let Captain Adams walk away merely to keep from worrying about him, or do you cherish every day you wake up next to him?”