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If they ever made it out alive, she would never complain about Cal again. She would never be selfish. Never again wan
t to forge her own path without her family firmly by her side.
What if she died? Cal would always think she had wanted him gone—out of her life. But that just wasn’t the case. She loved those damn kids. Had loved them every minute of every day since they’d arrived on her doorstep eight years ago.
Plunging headfirst into tumultuous waves had sparked an epiphany. She was being an obsessive mother. And she had to stop. She needed to loosen up and untie the apron strings. To start having fun. Not only on her own, but also with Ali and Cal. Together, as a family. It wasn’t all about raising two productive members of society—although she had been tasked with that responsibility, and she took it seriously. But the kids were nearly adults now. Maybe they all needed to take a break and just relax. Especially Veronica.
The boat crashed over the rapids, sending a wall of tsunami-force water over her head and swirling around her feet. She gripped the top of Finn’s hand that held her thigh and squeezed for dear life, comforted by the fact that he was by her side. Keeping her sane while she battled exhilaration and fear.
She looked over at him just as she shook off another drenching, and he was already looking her way. His hand tightened on her thigh and he grinned, his sparkling eyes confirming exactly what she had needed.
Finn was there to support her. Not to save her. She had to battle her fear of these rapids on her own. Just as she had to deal with her family situation—with the wall between Cal and Mark, and with Ali being out on her own for the first time ever.
And just like that, Veronica’s pounding heartbeat slowed. The sound of the churning water and screams of the other passengers fell into the background, and Finn’s face held her mesmerized.
She leaned in as far as she could while being strapped into her seat, and he met her halfway, brushing his lips over hers. Her hand closest to him lifted and settled on his cheek, pulling his face closer as she tried her best to keep their kiss going despite the surge and retreat of the boat. And just as he deepened the kiss, a surge of water fell over them. They both gasped for breath under the wall of water. She pulled away and watched as he blinked water from his eyelashes, sending it trickling down his face with the flutter of his lids.
The trip took an hour in total and when all the passengers were soaked to the bone, the captain finally returned the boat to the dock and tied up.
As they made their way up the pier to collect their things, Finn guided her forward with a hand to the small of her back. Just a simple gesture, but the feelings of longing and comfort it roused within her reaffirmed she was getting in too deep. Her emotions were swirling too fast, just like those rapids, into a relationship she shouldn’t want.
She heard a splatter of water hit the dock from where he wrung out his T-shirt. His raspy voice whispered in her ear, “That wasn’t so scary, was it?”
The ride had been scary as hell. But her biggest fear had nothing to do with the rapids, and everything to do with her realization she was falling more in love with Finn than she’d thought possible. But revelations aside, the boat ride had been exhilarating and she would definitely do it again.
“It was awesome.” She gathered her hair in her hands and squeezed. Everything was soaked, right down to her panties. “It’s definitely on my list of things to do every time we visit here.”
“Ali and Cal would love it, too. We should bring them next summer.”
He was making plans. A year from now. Where exactly did he think their relationship would be in a year? Definitely not married with children. He would probably have a family of his own by then. So why was he making plans with her family?
“Excuse me.” On their way back to their car Finn slowed beside her and stopped a young couple. “Would you mind taking our picture?”
They nodded eagerly, and Finn handed over his phone.
He pulled Veronica close, threading his arm around her back and under her arm, gripping her waist tightly. A gesture of possession, right there in the parking lot for anyone to see. But no one would, not anyone from their lives. Not his brothers or her siblings. Their relationship was a secret. A naughty, pleasurable secret that would soon come to an end.
The motor of the jet boats roared in the distance and they both smiled as the couple took turns as photographer, each thinking their skill better than the other’s.
When they were finally satisfied, Finn took back his phone and smiled as they checked out the photos. “Perfect.”
The first picture was sweet. His chin rested on the top of her head and his easy smile stretched from ear to ear. With the way his arms wrapped around her body, they looked as if they were always meant to be together. As if they were always meant to be here, in this place, safe in each other’s arms. A sight she could get used to—Finn being hers alone.
“Now we have something to remind us of our romantic weekend.”
She didn’t need a photo to remind her of their time together. Finn had imprinted every lick of desire, every burn of lust, with every mark he’d made on her body. With every heated gaze, and every sizzling touch. She would remember this weekend forever.
Finn continued to swipe his finger across the screen of his phone, scrutinizing the pictures. “Maybe we should delete this one.”
Her eyes darted to the screen and she cried, “No!”
The photo staring back at her was more revealing. It was an action shot before they had settled into each other’s embrace. Veronica was looking up at Finn, her hand resting on his chest as he smiled and spoke to the couple. But it was her expression caught on camera for all eternity that scared the shit out of her.
Love. It was written all over her face. And not the look of love she had seen whenever she’d gazed in the mirror thinking about Finn as a teenager. No, this look was the real deal. Head-over-heels. Honest-to-God love.
“Where’d you go?” He pushed away the wet strands of her hair plastered across her forehead.
She shook her head, peering up at him, and smiled. “Just a little shaken up from the rapids.”
