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“A very long time.” Veronica shrugged. “I mean, I get his thinking. The whole family thing. But it’s just not something I need to be happy. I already have my family. Finn and I are the complete opposite in that regard.”
“Opposites sometimes work. Jack and I are the perfect example.”
“Opposites can attract. But that’s personality types. Our opposite is the fundamental way we want to live the rest of our lives.” She shook her head, trying to solidify the theory in her brain. “It just wouldn’t work.”
“Sounds like you’ve thought about this a lot,” Penn said. She exchanged a quick glance with Sterling.
“Finn and me?” Veronica pointed at herself. “No, no, hell no.” Had she been convincing enough? “Finn and I are friends. Just friends. Besides, I have too many complications right now to get involved with anyone.”
“Veronica,” Sterling said. She moved even closer, placing her palms on the table, and leaned forward. “Believe me when I say I know all about complications. And if it wasn’t for Jack, those complications would still be ruling my life.”
Veronica nodded. “I appreciate your advice, but Finn isn’t The One. Not for me. He’s just not. I…” Gosh. She needed to stop talking. Right now.
Sterling smiled and tilted her head to the side. “Maybe it’s not Finn, but someone.”
She returned her sweet gesture. “I hope so.”
If only that someone would make himself known, so she could get over Finn once and for all.
Do you hear that, man of my dreams? Show the hell up, already!
Until then, she had a promise to fulfill with Finn.
Chapter Five
Finn had been summoned to Bistro for an emergency foundation meeting a few days later.
The Vivian Madewood Foundation had been founded more than a year ago, initiated by his brother Jack. The foundation raised funds for various charities, the most important being the Cooking for the Future program.
When Finn arrived, the group had already gathered at its usual booth at the back of the dining room. Neil sat at a table alone across the aisle, dressed in his usual business suit, straddling a chair. Jack and Gloria York, the foundation’s vice-chair and their late mother’s best friend, sat on one side of the booth. She patted his hand gently with a smile. Cole paced the small distance between the booth and the table. By the look on his face, Finn knew this was going to be an intense meeting.
“Morning,” Finn said as he approached.
“We’re all here now, can we get started?” Cole asked. He fisted his hands at his sides and the tendons in his neck rippled with his anxiety.
As soon as Finn had squeezed into the opposite side of the booth from Jack and Gloria, Cole began. “I assume you’ve all heard one of the kids in my program has passed away.”
Gloria gasped. “I had no idea.”
“That’s exactly the reaction you should have, Gloria.” Cole thrust his finger at the petite, older woman. “And what’s worse, he was stabbed on the street and left to die, all because he was dared to steal something.”
“It’s awful, Cole,” Neil said, “but what does that have to do with the foundation? We have no liability.” Neil was always the best at keeping the conversation on track.
“We can try to stop it from happening again.” Cole rustled through a stack of papers and handed them out.
It was a makeshift proposal. Numbers were written all over the page. It was like a serial killer’s version of a business deal.
“Cole, dear…” Gloria laid her hand on his arm as he placed the papers back on the table, but he jerked it away when he stepped back to hand a copy to Neil. “How do you expect us to stop kids from being victims of crimes?” Gloria had a family of her own—a husband, two sons, and five grandchildren. Finn used to keep them occupied whenever Gloria came over to visit their mother. And despite the occasional offhand remarks about Vivian’s decision to take in four stray teenage boys, Gloria had always been by her side, her staunchest friend and supporter.
“By establishing the Madewood Boys and Girls Club.”
They all stared silently at their brother. No one even dared make eye contact with each other for fear of Cole flying off the handle. He tended to do that sometimes, when he felt they were siding against him. But in this case, it wasn’t siding against him, it was doing what was best for the family and the foundation.
“The Madewood Boys and Girls Club?” Neil was the first to cautiously speak.
“These kids need somewhere to go. They need activities to keep them occupied. And—” Cole straightened and stuck out his chin. “It’s all going to be free of cost.”
“Have you lost your mind?” Neil scoffed. “It’s one thing to give our time and donate food, but this…you’ll need buildings, staff, equipment. Where are you going to get the money for all that?”
