Page 13 of Finn

Even her brother nodded. It was obvious that Brian Murphy had one goal in life and that was to follow in his father’s footsteps. He wanted nothing to do with the corporate world. He wanted the life of a soldier. I knew that was one reason for this invitation. Jim wanted me to meet Brian. To have that connection, so when he finished school and came to me for a job, I would take him on.

Oddly, I felt nothing for her brother. No interest either way. He didn’t impress me. His father insisted he go to community college before joining the ranks, in case he changed his mind. But Brian barely made passing grades. He had little ambition and even less personality. His younger sister impressed me completely. I was twenty-eight at the time, and I felt as if I were speaking with a woman my own age, not a teenager.

We had finished dinner when a neighbor came by, asking for help from Brian and Jim. “It’ll only take a few moments,” she assured them. I offered to help, but Jim waved me off.

“Una will make you coffee. We will be back soon.”

I sat at the kitchen table as Una efficiently tidied up. Unable to sit and not help, I picked up a tea towel to dry the dishes.

“Oh, you shouldn’t,” she protested. “Dad wouldn’t like it.”

I laughed. “I’ve done my fair share of dishes.”

I found myself enjoying the domestic moments with her. And I liked hearing her talk. Small inflections of an accent on occasion, no doubt picked up from her parents, gave her voice a lilting sound when she spoke that was somehow soothing.

“Do you like school, Una?”

She shrugged. “The classes, yes. The other students, not so much.”

“Why?”

She paused, lifting a hand to wipe away a stray curl from her forehead. I had to fight not to do it for her. “I feel old next to most of them. Our interests aren’t the same.”

“I understand.”

She turned her face, her lovely eyes curious. “You do?”

I nodded. “I felt much the same growing up. As if I lived a different life.”

“Yes!”

“What do you do for fun?”

“I read. Sketch. I like to run.”

“Where do you run?”

“The track at the school. I’ll be off to have a run soon.”

“But it’s getting late.”

“The track is well lit, and there are always others there,” she said, brushing off my concern.

“It’s not safe,” I insisted, stepping closer.

She smiled. “My dad has taught me to defend myself. I carry pepper spray. I can fight hard. And I’m alert. If the track is empty, I come home and run on the treadmill. But I like to run outside.”

“Please be careful.”

She tilted up her head, a small vee between her eyes. “I will be.”

The same curl fell across her forehead again, and I reached up, tucking it behind her ear. It was soft to the touch. I suddenly became conscious of how close we were standing to each other. How small she was compared to me. How enticingly sweet she smelled.

Awareness hit me. She was eighteen. Alluring, lovely, intelligent, and interesting.

And eighteen fucking years old.

I stepped back, dropping into my chair just as Brian and Jim walked in. I averted my eyes as Una held out a tray of coffee and a plate of cookies. “Take it to the living room. It’s more comfortable,” she told her father. “I’ll finish here.”