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Still. Maybe this was for the best. Maybe it was time for Finn’s and her secret to come out into the open. Well, maybe not the whole truth. No one needed to know the details of their arrangement. And people definitely didn’t need to know he liked to smack her ass and tie her up until she’d orgasmed so many times she couldn’t breathe. No, not the whole truth. What they’d done behind closed doors wasn’t anyone’s business but their own. Madison had saved her bacon at the rehearsal dinner, but it was time to fess up.
“I can’t do that, Mark. I am having sex with Finn.” Really fantastic, mind-blowing sex. She suppressed her smile.
Just as Finn had pointed out her worry vein, for the first time she noticed Mark’s angry vein. It throbbed and pulsed on his neck.
His expression tightened and a look she hadn’t seen since they were teenagers washed over his face. Fury stared back at her. “He took advantage of you. He seduced you.” It wasn’t a question.
Did he really think she was capable of letting a man coerce her unwillingly into sex? Or that his best friend would be so dishonorable?
“Don’t be ridiculous. Finn took advantage of nothing.” She straightened, rolling back her shoulders with pride. “If you must know, I seduced him.”
Mark shook his head vigorously in denial. “This is sick. We’re family, for chrissake.”
Cal started to shuffle away. “I’m just going to let you two talk.”
She clamped onto his arm. “You started this, buster. You’re not leaving.”
“Children?” Madison approached their tense family unit. “Do you think you could take this outside? You’re starting to draw attention, and that’s saying a lot since Penn was just dancing on the table.”
Mark’s eyes lowered to the ground. “No need. I can’t stand the sight of my dear siblings right now. I’m sorry for the disturbance.” He turned sharply and stalked away.
“What the hell was that all about?” Madison asked, watching him with raised brows.
Veronica sighed. “An explosion waiting to happen.”
Cal touched her arm. “I’m really sorry, V. It just slipped out. I didn’t mean to tell him about Finn.” He seemed genuinely contrite.
“Oh, shit.” Madison clasped her hand over her mouth. “Big brother knows you’re bumping boots with Chef Hottie?”
“Chef Hottie? Really?” Cal made a disgusted face. “And girls think guys are chauvinists. You nickname us?”
“Run along, little man.” Madison waved a regal hand at Cal. “I think you’ve done enough damage for one day.”
Veronica nodded her agreement. “Yeah. Go back to work before Finn has to come looking for you.”
Cal hesitated, but finally headed out of the barn toward the tent that had been set up specifically for food preparation.
“That was mildly entertaining,” Madison drawled.
“Did Jack and Sterling see? I’m so unprofessional.” She groaned and clutched her head between her hands.
“They didn’t see. They were outside for some pictures. Last I saw they were schmoozing with an older couple.”
“Thank goodness.” At least Veronica’s professional reputation was still somewhat intact. Her reputation as a role model, however, was in severe danger.
“Are you all right?” Madison slid her arm around her shoulders and let her head rest on top of hers.
“I don’t know.” Veronica sucked in a deep breath and laid her fears on the table. “I’m afraid Mark finding out means Finn and I are over. The bro code, and all…”
“I thought it was never supposed to be permanent?”
“I know. But…” It was impossible not to get attached to Finn O’Reilly. She should have known it would happen…from the very first second she’d contemplated this crazy arrangement. How had she ever expected to get over the man she had been in love with for more half of her life so damn quickly?
“Do you want it to be permanent?” Madison asked, her brow creased.
“Yes. No!” They would never work in real life. But she loved him too deeply and too fiercely to end it so soon. “Oh, hell, I don’t know.”
“Listen, Finn was supposed to be your hot, steamy, temporary affair. A means to get over your schoolgirl crush and get your womanly sexual mojo back, so you can go out and find the guy you’re really meant to be with.” Madison nudged her with her shoulder. “Right?”
