Finn glanced at the digital clock: five a.m. How could he have so long with such a beauty beside him? Granted, he may given her an amazing night of sex, she might feel utterly comfortable around him, but whether or not they had fallen in love lay heavy on his heart. He had always placed the two acts together, but his ex-fiancée had taught him otherwise.
Unlike Rowena, Anne was an easy woman to read. She seemed to want a man with a good heart to share her life. He could be that man. Wanted so badly to be such a man. Damn his stupid curse to hell and back. Whatever he did before this night—before he became a seal—it wasn’t living. Rather more like existing. He knew nothing of life or love.
“Anne, tell me it’s going to be okay.”
“What time is it?” She yawned, rolled onto her side, and gazed up at him with her beautiful hazel eyes.
“Too late.”
“Too late tae make love tae me? Or too late for coffee and toast at our favorite place?”
“Too late for anything.”
“What’s wrong? If it’s condoms, I have—”
“No, Anne. You misunderstand. I mean it’s too late to start this date again. I’ve ruined it.”
“On the contrary, Finn. I’ve had such a wonderful time. Besides, our date isn’t over yet.” She climbed on top of him, rubbing her entrance with the tip of his swollen shaft. He sprang to life, letting his body do the talking. Pushing down on her shoulders, he thrust his hips, readying to sink into her entrance.
“Condom,” she whispered, tugging on his ear lobe with her teeth.
“I’ve got one more, hang on.”
If he had his way, he’d throw her on her back and pound her silly until she came over him, until he filled her up with his juices.
Stupid move. Stupid. Stupid
. He covered his hard dick before being tempted to do something he’d regret. After all, he had no idea if she took the pill or not. He didn’t want to leave her with child if he’d be damned to live out the rest of his days in the ocean, barking and bathing.
He moved over her, spreading her legs with a knee, burying his length into her. Slow, steady, he penetrated her heat while planting soft kisses over her sweet mouth.
“Finn, you are amazing. Keep this up, and I’m going tae marry you one day, mister, I am.”
He froze. Could it be? Did she love him? So fast? Was she really going to save him?
A loud rapping at the door startled him.
“I didn’t order room service, did you?” Anne whispered.
“No.” He glanced at the door, waiting for another knock. Maybe someone had rolled in drunk and mixed up the rooms? The guest might go away if they ignored the ruckus.
Knock. Knock
.
“Who the bloody hell is it at this time at night?”
“Finn? Anne?” Bethany’s calm, easy-breasy tones with backbite from earlier were now panicked and high-pitched.
Knock. Knock
.
“Can’t this wait until morning?”
Anne pushed at his chest and whispered, “There might be something wrong with her daughter.”
Clunk click sounds of Bethany using her room key echoed through the still night. “I need Anne, now.” She flung the door open and flicked the light on.
“Oh, shit!” Scrambling from beneath him, Anne swore several times under her breath and covered them both with a sheet.
“I see you haven’t changed much, Bethany. Always were one to barge in unannounced. Couldn’t it wait?” Tsking, Finn failed to see how Bethany had the right to interrupt Anne’s evening. She wasn’t on duty, and at her hotel as a guest. Didn’t this woman know about boundaries? No, as he recalled, she didn’t. She’d caught him and Rowena at it on several occasions. “Or couldn’t you call the doc?”
“Rowena fell down the stairs and says her stomach hurts really bad. I really didn’t know what to do and she insisted on Anne.” Turning her back to the couple—perhaps to give privacy, but Finn suspected she hid a smirk—Bethany tapped her foot. “I’m sorry I disturbed you, but I didn’t know what else to do.”
“It’s okay, Bethany. I understand, but I dinnae have my midwifery bag with me.” Anne slipped into her knit dress and kicked her pair of wet knickers under the bed.
“Can I help with anything?” Finn didn’t want to jump to rescue the chick who gave him years of heartache, but he didn’t like seeing his Anne so flustered. “Name it. What can I do?”
Anything but hold Rowena’s hand
.
“Depends on what’s going on…. I could really use someone to run tae my office for my bag.” Pulling her long locks back into a ponytail, Anne scrunched her face and muttered several nonsensical things under her breath. Hard peaks of her breasts strained the material covering them, reminding him she didn’t have any underwear on. Damn it, he wanted to strut right up to her and take one of those nipples into his mouth. Wanted to hear her squeal as he sucked and nibbled on her dark pink nubs. She grabbed her overnight bag and disappeared into the bathroom.
“Consider me your assistant, at your service,” he called after her.
Beats spending a second longer than I have to with Rowena and her sneaky mother
.
He dressed in a snap, aware of Bethany’s watchful glare. Anne returned, dressed and groomed. She dished keys from her purse and handed them over. “102 West Parade, my office is tae the left as you go in the main door. Here, you’ll need this, too.” She scribbled something on the hotel note paper then passed him the pad. “The code tae the alarm system.”
“Right. I’ll be as fast as I can.” He kissed her cheek then squeezed her hand. “Good luck.”
Finn had to push his way through a mob of locals gathering around the movie star being prepped for filming in the lobby. Then he ran out onto the street and along the promenade. Took a left onto West Parade and raced past the row of Victorian semis. As remembered, the surgery was right around the corner. Using the code she’d given him, he made his way in the building and located Anne’s office. Quick as possible, he grabbed a doctor’s bag. To be sure, he had a peek inside. Yup. Stethoscope. Was it working? He tested it on his own heart to be sure. Yup. Beneath, he found rubber gloves and cleansing wipes.
He returned to the hotel in seven or so minutes to find the crowd had tripled in size. It took quite a bit of shoving to get through, but he managed.
He followed the staff-only path to a few steps then followed the screams and bustle of panic to an open doorway. Propped up in bed, with her frantic mother and calm Anne at her side, she sat. His first love and his last straw.
“Rowena, crap. You haven’t changed a tinniest bit.”
“Finn, did you remember tae turn the alarm back on? It’s vital you locked up, if anyone broke in and got their hands on prescription pads, it’d be my job on the line,” Anne probed, her nostrils flaring.
“Uh-huh. Code worked perfectly, and the doctor’s office is locked up all safe and sound.” Although Anne’s shrill tone warned him, he couldn’t draw his gaze away from the woman who ruined him. Not because he still loved her, but because she reminded him of who he became in his dark days…the reason he was banished to the ocean.
His ex screamed blue murder, but her smirk reminded him how she enjoyed being fussed over. Anne’s glare bounced from him to Rowena. He clenched his teeth and leaned against the wall all casual like. He couldn’t have her thinking Rowena affected him in form. “Rowena, how’ve you been?”
Anne glanced up, her eyes wide and her lips pursed. “I guess she means more tae you than you let on?”
“We were over long ago. The only feeling I have for Rowena is resentment.”
Bethany cocked a hip. “I expected better of you, Finn.”
“This really has nothing to do with you, Bethany, so why don’t you take care of your daughter and leave my love life be.” Finn raked a hand through his hair and exhaled his frustration. No way out of the awkward situation appeared. He had nothing.
“My girl isn’t an angel, I know. Most folks around here do, but to flaunt your new woman here under the same roof as the broken heart you left behind to work overseas. Well….” She tsked and rolled her eyes in a way only a judgmental mother could.
“What?” Anne slanted her eyes. “Finn, you said she left you.”
“Poor Anne doesn’t know she’s dating a perpetual liar,” Rowena scoffed, her sickly wide grin reaching Finn’s last nerve.
“Why?” He slammed his palms against the wall and huffed. “Why would you say such a thing?”
Rowena cast him a sly wink, then screamed. “It hurts so bad, Mama.”
Bethany scowled. “This is your fault, Finn.”
“How the hell is this my fault? Rowena, what have you been telling everyone?” Racing to Anne’s side, he reached for her hand.
“When you left, she became desperate to find love again.” Bethany glared at him.
“Bethany, don’t you remember our wedding day?” He couldn’t believe the whack of lies her daughter had fed her. He resented Rowena all the more now, stealing precious time, perhaps the last few hours he had with legs, better spent with Anne.
“I remember my Rowena in tears, yes, of course I do. You can’t talk your way out of this. You ditched my daughter on her wedding day.”
“Don’t be stupid, Bethany. It doesn’t suit you. Think back. I was there, at the church. But where was Rowena? Nowhere in sight, that’s where.”
“I cried into my veil at home, all brokenhearted, you bastard.” Rowena sent her hand flying toward Fin’s cheek.
Anne caught her arm before she made contact. “All this upset isn’t good for you.” She grabbed her bag Finn had delivered and reached for the stethoscope, refusing to meet his gaze. “Seems you haven’t been telling me the whole truth, Finn Kneale.”
“Rowena’s the one lying. I don’t know what she’s been saying, but she’s the one who left me at the altar. While I waited for her, Billy MacMeer had his head under her wedding dress. He was bloody quick to tell me so, too.”
Bethany cocked her head. “Billy? No, not possible. He’s bad news, and she knows it.”
“Mother, he’s the father of my baby.”
“Knocked up because of a no-mark? I don’t believe it, did you really ditch this lovely man for that traveler trash? Christ, girl, when are you going to learn?”
“It’s true, mama. I couldn’t tell you the truth. I know how much you loved Finn. I’m stupid, so stupid. I lost something really great that day. Oh, Finn, I really did…do love you. Can you ever forgive me? Give us a second chance? We could be a family. A really happy family.” Rowenna patted her tummy and fluttered her eyelashes. Apparently, she thought he was born yesterday.
Hilarious
.
Finn shook his head. “Not if you were the last woman in the Port.”
“You’re upsetting Rowena.” His Scottish Anne scowled at him.
Finn threw his arms up. “Unbelievable.”
Anne placed the stethoscope on Rowena’s tummy and moved it around.
“Shush,” she huffed. “All this noise and fuss can’t be good for the baby.” Her expression changed. Her brow furrowed. “Have you bled at all since the pain started?”
“No. Well, maybe a little.”
“I’m going tae recommend you see a doctor ASAP.” Anne moved around the bed and engaged in a hushed conversation with Bethany.
Finn leaned forward to read their lips.
“I can’t find the baby’s heartbeat, and I’m pretty limited with what I can do at this moment. She needs an ultra sound at the hospital, immediately.”
“You can’t do one at the surgery?”
Anne shook her head. “The nearest facility is in Castletown hospital. Want me tae call ahead for you? Let them know you’re on the way?”
Rowena threw the blanket over her stomach. “No hospital.”
“But...”
“Rowena, you have to go.” Finn moved around the bed. No matter how much hurt she’d caused him, instinct kicked in. He didn’t want to see her go through this much pain. And to think she might have lost the baby. How awful for the poor lass.
“Rowena, you really do need tae go tae a hospital and get yourself examined properly. You never know what could be going on. Maybe my equipment isn’t working.”
Anne lied; her equipment worked just fine.
“I don’t want you two coming, though. I’ve been so selfish. Finn, can you forgive me?” She fluttered her eyelashes, her ulterior motive transparent. Act nice, worm her way back into his heart.
“If you’re holding on to the hope I could fall back in love with you, you’re sadly mistaken.”
“We were young. Mistakes happen.”
“Maybe fate’s way of saying you weren’t meant to be together?” Anne offered.
“More like she’s been dumped and doesn’t want to be a single mother.”
His ex buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
“I’ll give you some privacy tae talk things through. Finn, I’ll be in our room.” Anne scurried away before Finn could stop her.
He pivoted and spat at Rowena, “I forgive you and I wish you and your baby well, but I’ve got to go after Anne.”
Rowena glanced up, and sniffled. “I’m so sorry, Finn. Please, tell Anne I want a wedding invite when you two get hitched.”
“Married? Us two? At this point, it’s not likely, thanks to you.” He raced after his Scottish beauty. A wall of press greeted him, and an actor he recognized from movies. Grant Hughes.
Anne spotted Finn, his mouth pursed and his eyes filled with fire. She weaved through the mob and film crew and grabbed him, pulling him into the kitchen.
“The hotel is riddled with bodyguards, cameramen, and groupies. The press is interviewing everyone they can get their hands on, so, what’s the plan?”
“Anne, you have to believe me, she means nothing to me. Rowena is in my past, you are my future.”
“Didn’t you hear me? We’re surrounded by the press.”
“Who cares about the press?” He grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “I’m concerned she’s miscarried, but I’m not going back to her. Not ever. I’ve been telling you all night, Scottish Anne. Fate wants to us have a happy ever after together, and so do I. In such a short time, it’s a miracle, but I do love you. I do.”
“Okay, we’ve established you don’t still love her.”
“I feel sorry for her, but nothing more. Now let’s make our way out of here. The sun will be up soon, and I’d like you to meet my parents.”