Saved by the Bride (12 page)

He flicked on the indicator. “Doesn’t that road lead out of
town?”

“Yes.”

Her teeth snagged her bottom lip and he took the corner too
fast.

She raised a chestnut brow. “The brake’s that big pedal on the
left.”

He grinned. “And to think, someone’s actually prepared to have
you and your smart mouth in their house.” Except the houses were getting farther
apart but as she’d been on the phone the entire time he’d been completing the
rental agreement, he figured one of her friends or family must live out
here.

She didn’t fire back her usual quick response. Instead, she
said quietly, “Turn right up here.”

As he slowed, he recognized the grove of maple and birch trees.
“This is the entrance to the business park.”

“Well done. You’ve just graduated Whitetail Geography 101.”

Her sarcasm lacked bite, which made him sneak another look at
her. Fatigue and worry lines hovered around her eyes and as he killed the
engine, he said, “I don’t recall any houses out here.”

“That’s because I only gave you the warehouse tour.” She threw
him a bright smile. “So now you know my location, pull in here and we’ll swap
drivers and I’ll take you back to your car.”

“Not before I’ve carried in your boxes.” His feet hit the
blacktop and he met her at the back of the truck bed.

“Thanks, but there’s really no need because my friends will
help me unload later. Like I said, time is marching and business calls. I’m
surprised you’re not a barrel of anxious tics from not checking the six messages
that came in over the last half hour.” She crossed her arms. “I don’t want to be
the one responsible for your meltdown.”

He was fine with ignoring the phone because none of the
emergency ringtones had sounded. She, on the other hand, was a barrel of tics
and as skittish as a deer. Even when she’d fallen through the window she’d had
more poise than she had right now. He stared over her head looking for a
manager’s house or something similar but all he could see were the walls of the
two warehouses. He ignored her and started walking.

“Finn, you’re going the wrong way.”

He didn’t believe her. He kept walking and when she jogged up
alongside him, his hand shot out automatically to steady her when she inevitably
tripped over her feet.

He rounded the corner of the farthest warehouse and met a
towering field of green corn. He knew there was no house between the entrance
and here, and suddenly all her agitation made sense. “You’re
not
staying here.”

Her chin lifted. “You said you were happy for the town to use
the warehouses and I’m part of the town.”

He tried to keep his voice even but it wanted to rise on a wave
on incredulity. “I meant them to be used for business not housing.”

Annika squared her shoulders. “The partitions from the Reggies
offices are still here as well as a kitchen and a bathroom. It’s everything a
girl needs to set up house.”

“There’s no way in hell you’re staying out here.” He pulled his
phone out of his pocket. “Call your parents.”

“They don’t live here.”

That surprised him. Although he spent his life avoiding his
family he knew many people had families they wanted to spend time with, and he’d
assumed her family was part of the attraction for her living in Whitetail.
“Brothers? Sisters?”

She shook her head and he recognized the stubborn glint and
failure to back down that had burned them both the night at the police
station.

Confusion circled him. “You’ve been extolling the virtues of
Whitetail from the moment we met, so even without family, someone will put you
up.”

“I can think of twenty people who’d offer in a heartbeat, but
I’m not imposing on any of them. They’ve all got their own set of worries and
I’m not adding to them.” She blew some hair out of her eyes. “I’ll pay you
rent.”

“I don’t want freaking rent.” He could just see the headlines
in the local paper: Callahan in Kylemore Luxury While P.A. Lives in Warehouse
Squalor. He knew enough about Annika Jacobson to know she’d fight hard for what
she wanted and despite being taken to the lowest point, she was determined to
try and survive without taking charity. But even a woman who stretched his
patience to the nth degree didn’t deserve to squat in a warehouse. Hell, it
wasn’t safe out here in the middle of nowhere. “I’ll pay for your
accommodation.” He made a quick call to the Whitetail Motel.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Callahan,” the apologetic clerk explained.
“It’s the musky fishing tournament in Hayward and we’re full with overflow
accommodation. You could try the B and Bs.”

He called them. Same deal. No vacancy.

Shit
.

She rubbed her arms as the cool of the evening settled over the
heat of the day. “Once I get a coffee maker I’ll be very cozy here.”

“I’ll have Rory evict you if you even try. This time he’ll
agree with me.”

For the first time since he’d met her, she seemed at a loss for
words. The woman who thought on her feet and was his equal in quick thinking,
was strangely silent.

She
ran
interference
with
Bridey
and
Logan
today
. The thought shone like a light bulb in his
head. If she was at the house out of business hours she could do that even more.
“You can stay at Kylemore.”

Her blue eyes widened in disbelief. “I can’t just move into
Dana’s house.”

He shrugged. “My father has a guest cottage and it’ll save you
a long commute to work.”

He watched her thinking about it. Her expressive face hid
nothing as she ran through all the aspects of the offer, even though she
virtually had no choice.

She suddenly stiffened. “And I’d be sharing with?”

He laughed, understanding completely. No way would he have been
offering if it involved her staying with him. He’d have no chance of honoring
his promise not to kiss her. “The guest cottage is down by the lake and you’ll
have your privacy just like I have mine at my cabin.”

She hesitated and he could clearly see the war of housing need
versus imposition. He threw her a line. “You can pay my father rent.”

Her hand shot out. “Deal.”

Chapter Seven

“She’s what?”

Annika had heard the shock in Finn’s voice a moment before he
slapped the side of his head with his palm as if it would somehow alter the
words he’d just heard Bridey speak.

They’d arrived at Kylemore a few moments earlier and she’d
expected everyone to be down by the lake enjoying the cookout she’d
unfortunately missed. Instead, chaos reigned. The sound of raised voices coming
from the kitchen sizzled, and Annika recognized Sean’s velvet voice being
answered by Dana’s softer but equally determined one. Added into the mix were
the occasional words spoken by Bridey.

Annika’s feet had frozen on the threshold of the terrace’s
sliding doors, not wanting to intrude on what was clearly a domestic dispute,
but Finn had cupped her upper arm and propelled her forward. “Don’t mind another
happy Callahan vacation. I’ll just grab the key to the guest cottage and we’ll
get going.”

At that moment, Bridey had stepped out of the kitchen and
straight into her brother’s arms. She’d given him a quick hug, which he’d
returned warmly before jerking his head toward the kitchen. “What gives?”

“They’re adapting to the news that Mom’s in the guest
cottage.”

That bit of information had rendered Finn momentarily
speechless before he’d spluttered out, “She’s what?” Then he’d slapped himself
on the side of the head. “What the hell is she doing there?”

Bridey sighed, and Annika noticed strain around her usually
bright green eyes. “Mom missed the last step as she deplaned and she’s sprained
her ankle pretty bad. The B and B had stairs,” she added, as if that explained
everything. “They were able to rent the room right away because of some fishing
thing so we didn’t lose the deposit.” She caught sight of Annika. “Oh, sorry,
Annika. Hello.” Curiosity clung to her cheeks but she stopped short of saying,
“Why are you here?”

Finn interrupted. “What about flying Mom home and employing a
nurse?”

Bridey rolled her eyes. “That’s exactly what Dad suggested and
Dana went ballistic saying, ‘Kathleen stays in the cottage until she can walk
out of it.’”

Finn paled. “How long is that going to be?”

Bridey turned her hands palms up. “I don’t know. The doctor in
Whitetail said it was a bad sprain.”

Annika recalled the numerous times she’d slipped on ice,
tripped on curbs and stumbled on sidewalks. “Soft tissue injuries can take a
long time to mend.” As she spoke, the sound of her words crashed into her,
suddenly making the situation crystal clear. With a shudder, she realized that
her promised accommodation was no longer available to her. She glanced at Finn
and opened her mouth, but Bridey spoke first.

“I think Dana’s being totally amazing letting Mom stay. I’m
just going back to check on her now. Come with me, Finn, and say hi.”

Not wanting to intrude, and suddenly seeing an escape route,
Annika reached out her hand with a smile. “Hey, boss, if you give me the keys to
the truck, I’ll get out of your way and see you in the morning.”

Finn jerked around and looked at her as if he’d just remembered
she was there. His eyes narrowed. “You’re not going anywhere.”

Sean strode out of the kitchen looking thunderous but he seemed
to give himself a shake when he saw Annika. “So you made it for the cookout
after all, Anni?”

Confused, Annika waited for Finn to explain about the
now-defunct guesthouse plan but he stayed unexpectedly silent. She didn’t have
to fake her surprise when she said, “Hello, Sean. I thought the cookout would be
done by now.”

Sean shook his head. “We’ve been delayed with my ex-wife’s
unexpected arrival.”

Finn made a strangled sound.

Bridey gave her father’s arm a squeeze.

“Dad, I think Dana’s being amazing given the
circumstances.”

Sean’s smile was stiff. “That’s one way of looking at it, not
that Kathleen will thank her for it.”

“Do you really expect her to?” Finn’s voice was polite but
distinctly cool.

Sean suddenly looked unaccountably weary but his voice was one
of command. “Go visit your mother. She won’t want to see me.”

“You’ve got that right,” Finn muttered quietly, dragging his
hands through his hair though his feet stayed still.

Sean shrugged. “Sadly, yes.”

Bridey immediately swapped arms from her father to her brother
in an action that spoke of peacemaking. “Come on, Finn. Let’s go see her.”

Finn leaned in close to Annika. “I need you here when I get
back because China’s just getting up.”

She interpreted that as code for “don’t even think about
leaving me here with my family.” Although it could have been “I’ll haul you out
by your sweet ass if you stay at the warehouse.”

“Food first, Annika. China can wait.” Sean graciously opened
the sliding doors for her and ushered her out onto the terrace. She snuck a
glance at Finn, whose taut expression made him look like she’d just abandoned
him on a sinking ship.

* * *

“Whatever was she thinking painting these walls this
color?” Kathleen’s gaze touched everything in the room with a critical eye.

The age-old spasm of tension that coiled through Finn every
time his parents got within a mile of each other, settled in with its iron grip.
Even on neutral territory it made his chest tighten and Kylemore was so far from
neutral it qualified as a war zone. How had his ordered life—the one where he
controlled the amount of time he spent with his family—manage to turn to into a
nightmare in the space of ten days? Excluding Sean’s second wife, he now had his
entire immediate family in the same place, and to add insult to injury, he’d
just lost the one place Annika could stay.

He ran both hands through his hair, welcoming the discomfort at
his scalp as his fingers snagged and pulled.

“Finn?”

He glanced around abruptly to see Bridey looking at him from
her place on the bed.

“What?”

“I was just saying to Mom that she needs to look at the sprain
in a positive way.”

“How’s that exactly?”

She smiled. “We get to spend some time together. Mom’s accident
has a sort of serendipitous air to it given we’re both up here at the lake for
the first time in years.”

He fixed his sister with a glare that said “I know your plan”
before asking his mother, “Are you sure Bridey didn’t trip you?”

“Finn,” his mother reproved. “What a dreadful thing to
say.”

Bridey grinned. “See, it’s just like old times.”

Kathleen’s mouth tightened. “Except, I’m a guest in what was
once my own home.”

Bridey fluffed the pillows behind Kathleen’s head. “Think of it
as a vacation in your own private villa. You have to admit it’s much better than
the B and B. Tomorrow morning Esther will be back to fuss over you and once
you’ve had her French toast, life will be brighter. Then you can sit on the deck
in the sunshine with your leg up, with a view of the lake, and we can go through
the bridal magazines.”

“But it’s not
my
private villa, is
it? Staying here will never feel like a B and B, and Esther will be far too busy
at the main house. I’ll be left here alone.”

His mother’s unusually tremulous words sparked a brilliant
idea. An idea which would solve a massive problem for him. “My P.A. can stay
here with you so you’re not alone at night.”

Bridey gasped. “Finn, you can’t just tell Annika she has to
stay.”

He rolled his eyes at his sister’s horrified look. “This has
nothing to do with me being her boss. Two hours ago I promised her the cottage
after hers got sublet out from under her.” For some reason he didn’t quite
understand, he closed his mouth before mentioning her rent arrears and the
eviction.

Sympathy settled on Bridey’s round face. “I’m really sorry to
hear that’s happened to her but she can’t stay here. After the day Mom’s had,
she needs the cottage to herself.”

Kathleen flinched. “I’m quite able to make decisions for
myself, Bridey.”

Hope flared and Finn smiled at his mother. “I knew you’d prefer
to have someone here with you, especially overnight. I’m on the island so I
can’t get here quickly if you need anything.”

“There’s an intercom.” Kathleen’s tone was back to being firm.
“If I need anything, which I doubt I will, Bridey can get it for me.”

Finn pressed on. “But if you fall no one will be right
here.”

“I’m fifty-five, Finnegan, not eighty,” Kathleen snapped. “I’ve
already negotiated the bathroom and I’m not having a stranger staying here with
me.”

An amended brilliant plan evolved. “Then I’ll stay with you.”
And
Annika
can
have
the
cabin
.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Kathleen shifted on the bed. “I know how
much you value your own space and after working all day you need the quiet of
the cabin.”

His phone beeped.

His mother’s hand shot out and an imperious forefinger pointed.
“And I don’t want your phone here going off every three minutes.”

“It’s settled then,” Bridey soothed. “I’ll make up a schedule
so there’s always someone available.”

Kathleen flinched. “Not Dana or your father.”

“Mom, they might want to help.”

Kathleen’s hand fisted on the edge of the light blanket that
covered her legs. “Bridey.” The warning tone could have triggered an earthquake.
“Let things be.”

Finn sighed. “I’m working, Bridey.”

Bridey threw him a look that brooked no argument. “You’re
on
the schedule.”

He knew there was no point disagreeing. “Fine. Make it
midafternoon because that’s usually the quietest time of day.”

He stood up, giving it one more shot because he knew if he and
Annika had to share his cabin, he’d be permanently hard and having at least five
cold showers a day. “Mom, are you sure you’re going to be okay overnight,
alone?”

“For heaven’s sake, Finnegan. I’ve never known you to fuss and
now isn’t the time to start. I’ll be perfectly fine and I have Bridey not far
away. Now both of you, please go. My ankle’s throbbing and I just want some
peace.”

Stifling a sigh, Finn leaned down and kissed his mother on the
cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

She nodded silently and closed her eyes as if to say the
discussion was over.

He stepped out onto the large deck and stared out at the lake
wondering how he’d get through the next few days. The sun was dropping but there
was still enough light in the sky for water play. He heard Logan’s shout of
“watch me” drift across the air and he turned to see his little brother execute
a fair dive off the platform. The same platform he’d learned to dive off at much
the same age under the tutelage of his grandfather because his father had always
been too busy. Lucky for Logan, Sean didn’t appear to be too busy now.

He heard Annika’s cheer before he saw her. He brought his hand
up to shield his eyes from the sun and his eyes scanned the beach and the lake.
When his gaze finally found her, she was climbing out of the water and pulling
herself up the steps of the platform. Water sluiced around the soft curves of
her breasts, across the womanly swell of her belly and down her long, lithe
legs.

His whole body tightened and his palms burned to outline her
body, following the exact same path as the water.

“Now it’s your turn,” Logan instructed.

Annika laughed. “I think you’re the champion diver here. You
don’t need to see me dive.”

Logan crossed his arms and his bottom lip pouted. “None of the
grown-ups ever dive.”

Annika ruffled his hair. “I tell you what. I’ll give it my best
shot.”

Finn instantly went on alert. Surely she wasn’t going to try
and dive off the platform. Hell, she couldn’t even walk in a straight line
without falling over.

He heard her throaty laugh ring out as she ran the length of
the platform and threw herself off the edge. The loud thwack of her belly
hitting the water had him running as fast as he could toward the lake.

* * *

Wrapped in a towel, in the bow of a small aluminum boat,
Annika tried not to lose her recently regained breath while she watched Finn
row.

“What possessed you to try and do a flip?” Finn asked the
question she knew had been hovering on his lips for a good ten minutes or more,
while he’d waited for her to recover from being badly winded.

A black curl fell across his eye and he tossed his head to move
it. “Actually, I think I know. It’s always important to give it your best shot,
right?”

Her head jerked up as she reluctantly pulled her gaze away from
watching the ripple of muscles across a taut chest. She met dark-chocolate eyes
that glinted with something close to begrudging admiration. He’d just quoted
something she’d said to him the first night they’d met. “Actually, Logan dared
me.”

His eyes widened with surprise. “And if I dared you to do
something stupid, would you comply?”

A shiver of anticipation skated through her as her mind went
immediately to the memory of his kiss. “That would depend on the dare.”

“Is that so?” His lips tilted in a wicked smile that made her
acknowledge that if he asked her to kiss him right this minute, she’d be just as
reckless as she’d been with Logan.

She hastily returned the subject back to the little boy. “He’s
a kid in an adult’s world and he’s desperate for a friend.”

“So you, who have the coordination of a giraffe on ice, decided
to act like an eight-year-old?”

“No.” She tilted her chin trying to feign indignation because
at least she was putting some effort into playing with the boy. But she failed,
grinning as she lost out to the reality of the situation. “More like a
twelve-year-old, really.”

He laughed, and for a moment his usual deep worry lines
vanished, making him look far less uptight. Making him look way too gorgeous,
approachable and friendly, which was far too dangerous for her peace of
mind.