Flynn's In (Lexi Frost Series) (10 page)

“Also
, you’ll be alone in the house for a while if Alicia happens by.”

Kenny nodded and blushed slightly. Flynn suppressed a smile and returned upstairs to find Teri waiting. He opened the front door for her and escorted her to his car. Holding open the door on her side
, he waited until she was settled before closing it and sliding behind the wheel.

“So
, new car?”

“No
, I’ve had this one for a while. I waited until the weather was better to have it sent out.”

“A Jag?
”

Flynn grinned at her as he started it up. He loved the purr of the engine.

“Boys and their toys,” she sighed dramatically. He laughed.

“This is more than a toy
, love. This car makes a statement.”

“It
’s a convertible. I think the statement is that it belongs in California.”

“Not the statement I was thinking of.
”

“It
’s outrageously expensive and says that you have the means to afford a car you can only enjoy part of the year,” Teri tried again.

“Yes
, it is a declaration of affluence I suppose, but so are so many other cars that you can’t hold that against it.”

“So
, being flashy.”

“No.
I
can be flashy in almost anything.
I
could probably pull it off in Kenny’s very unsexy van. I have a Jaguar because, despite the initial and ongoing costs associated with it, it’s a pleasure to drive. It’s too bad we don’t have far to go.”

“Where are we going? It just occurred to me you didn
’t have me bring a camera.”

“I doubt you
’ll need one. We’re stopping by my place.”

Teri paused. “Why?
”

“Tim and I talked about a lot of things. There was a little something that technically you know about
, but he needs to bring to your attention regardless. It’s going to upset you, and I told him I’d handle it. There’s something I need to show you.”

“At your condo?
”

“Don
’t sound so suspicious. I didn’t mention it when I got back because it’s a question of timing. I wasn’t prepared so some papers are at my place. I could have put it off, but now seems better. Plus, if it does upset you, Dev won’t see it if you’re not home.”

“You warned Kenny.
”

“Yes.
”

Teri was silent for
a while. Flynn debated how long to let her think. She seemed apprehensive, but she had a chance to steel her nerves. He hoped giving her advance warning would soften the blow.

Flynn pulled into the condos and into his garage. Hopping out quickly to get the door for Teri
, he led her from the garage to the kitchen, took her coat and settled her in the living room.

“So
, you’ve got an apartment in New York too?” Teri called as he hung up their coats.

“Yes
, want anything? I do keep a couple of Dr. Peppers on hand.”

“For me?
”

“Dev drinks them too.
”

“I
’m fine. I didn’t know the boys came to your place.”

“Occasionally. Mostly Kenny and Jess. I suspect Jess was looking for alcohol. He was disappointed.
”

Flynn returned and pulled a manila envelope from a stack of papers on a desk. He returned to sit on the sofa by Teri
, making sure he wasn’t too close.

“Not into promoting underage drinking?
” Teri asked nervously.

“Not into promoting drinking. It was one of the more interesting addictions to break.
”

“I can see where Jess might be a concern.
”

“Jess would just drink to party
, at least that’s his current mindset. Kenny would be more likely to drink to relax and I’m more concerned about that. It means he’d drink alone. I gave them both the ‘please don’t make the same mistakes I did’ lecture and we’ll hope it holds. As addictions go, it’s common and beatable. It’s just difficult when you’re around everyone else drinking all the time.”

“So what made it interesting?
”

“Not drinking when you
’re around everyone else. At first I tried to be subtle, I drank a Coke. Everyone assumed it was mixed with rum. Unfortunately, bartenders frequently made the same assumption so I was constantly handed a rum and Coke. So I tried being obvious. Milk, can’t get more obvious than that, right?” Flynn shook his head as he remembered. “I singlehandedly reignited the fashion to drink White Russians, which was ironic because I don’t care for them. So, water. That got people concerned, they thought I was drinking my vodka straight and kept trying to intervene.”

“So what do you drink now?
”

“Coffee. Although I
’ve been known to carry a glass of champagne at events as a prop.”

“Ever fall off
the wagon?”

“Several times. Now
, done avoiding the issue?” Flynn didn’t want to admit she was the reason more than once. He needed to move on to a safer topic.

Teri fidgeted and nodded.

“Fine.” He handed her the envelope. “Paul wishes you an early Happy Birthday.”

• • •

Teri’s hand trembled as she took the envelope from Flynn. She stared at it for a moment.

“It
’s pictures of the cabin he left you in the will. Well, Lexi officially.”

“I don
’t . . .” Teri stopped. She didn’t what? Want to know? Believe it? Understand? She looked at Flynn for direction. He was watching her. She looked away, feeling like he was taking notes or judging her reaction. She didn’t want to be here, at Flynn’s place. It made her feel uneasy, like he expected something.

“Apparently Paul came across a broken down cabin while he was up in
Vermont last summer. He bought it, and had it remodeled as a cozy little vacation place for the two of you.”

Teri just nodded
, still unable to open the envelope.

“You don
’t have to look if you don’t want to. The project’s finished now. I’ve seen the pictures and descriptions. Do you want me to just tell you about it?”

She set the envelope on the coffee table in front of her and nodded. Listening as Flynn described the cabin
, Teri tried to imagine why Tim wanted her to see it now. When Flynn mentioned the old dilapidated shed and barn that Paul specifically ordered be left alone, tears finally filled her eyes. Flynn handed her a tissue and continued. She knew why Paul left the collapsed buildings alone, hearing Flynn mention hunting for snakes and lizards was just too much. He caught her in his arms as she completely broke down.

Teri was dimly aware of Flynn pulling her onto his lap and holding her close. His strong arms around her were comforting in a way. She hated herself for crying on his shoulder. She hated Flynn for being here when Paul wasn
’t.

As she struggled to pull herself together
, she became more aware of Flynn holding her. Teri started to push away. Flynn pulled her back gently.

“You
’re not done yet.” He reached over and picked up the envelope from the coffee table. Opening it, Flynn pulled out the papers and leafed through them. Some he set aside, Teri didn’t want to see the ones he kept. Shifting her on his lap so she couldn’t just bury her face against his chest again, Flynn held up a glossy picture. The cabin still had snow on it, but there was a warm glow in the window. Smoke curled from the chimney against the frosted trees in the background. It was charming.

“I
’m sorry, Teri,” Flynn whispered as she took the picture from him.

She nodded mutely
, imagining how her birthday should have gone. Paul probably wouldn’t tell her about it. He’d just make plans for the weekend and keep it a surprise.

Flynn handed her another picture
, then another. Pictures of the inside, the remodeled bathroom with the huge hot tub. Other than the tub it still looked pretty rustic. There were pictures of every room. A huge old-fashion cast-iron stove got her attention, and the bedroom loft with a four poster bed piled with quilts. There were pictures of the yard from the fall, after the landscapers had the area sculpted, and a sketch of what it would look like once the new plants matured.

“I believe they
’re still finishing the landscaping,” Flynn whispered. “Tim mentioned a resort down the road, but it takes a snowmobile to get to the cabin in the winter.”

Teri set the pictures on the couch beside Flynn.

“I don’t want it.”

“Yes you do.
”

She looked at him
, irritated that he was arguing with her. Flynn handed her another tissue.

“Teri
, it’s not fair that Paul didn’t get to give you this himself. He planned your birthday present . . . what? Nine months in advance? Going out and buying you a million dollar necklace doesn’t mean as much as the thought and effort he put into this. This was personal. It’s a little bit of him, and that means something.”

Teri broke down again. Flynn pulled her closer and held her as he continued.

“Whether you go there or not is irrelevant. It’s something he did to show you how much you meant to him.”

He waited in silence while she cried herself out a second time.
Flynn was right, she would keep the cabin. Paul meant it for her. He would’ve been proud to show it to her.

“Would you go
?” she asked quietly.

“You mean if someone loved me that much and put that much effort into a personal way to show it?
” Flynn sighed. “Sorry, love, I don’t know how to answer that.”

Teri sniffled again and looked up at Flynn briefly. He wasn
’t looking at her, he was staring off into the void, lost in his own thoughts. He’d been married three times, surely he was in love with them at some point. Teri didn’t want to pursue it despite her curiosity. And concern, she realized. She assumed Flynn’s sleeping around ruined his marriages, now she wasn’t so sure.

“You look strangely deep in thought considering you
’ve stopped crying.”

Teri realized he was looking at her again. She tried to smile
, to let him know it was okay. But Teri wasn’t sure it was. Aside from still reeling from the romantic gesture from beyond the grave, she was worried about Flynn. He seemed to be over his brief infatuation with her, Paul’s willingness to have him nearby confirmed that suspicion. Maybe it made sense that he hung around the house so much. After three failed marriages, he was pouring himself into his work now. No doubt Flynn Peterson could get another girl easily and virtually anywhere. Teri felt sorry for him that he didn’t want to try again. Hanging around with the boys was only temporary. It must be lonely to come home to an empty house.

“Are you okay?
” A hint of concern showed on his face.

“I thought your plan was to distract me so I didn
’t break down. The second time you started it.” She laid her head back on his chest and closed her eyes. They burned from crying, and she was tired.

“Sometimes you need to let it out
, love. This is one of those times.”

“Your shirt
’s wet.”

“I have others. I
’ll change before I take you home so there won’t be any evidence. Dehydrated yet? If you’re not up for caffeine, I keep fresh lemonade in the refrigerator.”

Teri sat up and looked at him.

“You already know I can cook, is it really such a stretch to imagine lemonade?”

“I suppose not. That would be great.
” She slid off his lap and Flynn got up. He returned a moment later with two glasses, setting them on the coffee table. Flynn hesitated before sitting.

“What?
”

“I
’m trying to decide if you’re done crying and it’s safe to go change my shirt,” he gestured toward the hall. Teri laughed.

“I think you
’re safe.”

“Okay
, just wanted to be sure. I’ll be back in a second.” Flynn disappeared down the hall.

Teri looked around the living room. The room was immaculate and appeared professionally decorated
, not like a bachelor lived here. The only things out of place were the wicker garbage can filled with tissues, and the envelope on the couch. And the framed picture of lightning over bushes that didn’t quite match the rest of the décor. Teri replaced the pictures back in the envelope without looking at them. She took a tentative sip of the lemonade.

Flynn returned in a dry shirt and sat down beside her again.

“The lemonade is good. Where did you learn to cook?”

“Gina mostly
, my second wife. She loved to cook and some of it rubbed off.”

“I didn
’t mean to bring up memories.”