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He nodded. Finn’s mouth was curved down and I knew he didn’t appreciate the topic.
Aidan, however, was the one who spoke next, “That’s why we keep business and family separate, Aoife.”
I got it then.
They were warning me.
“Fuck, guys, you think I’m going to follow Finn around the docks?” I squeaked in outrage. “If you don’t think I have better things to do than sneak around spying on you—”
Finn laughed, got to his feet and hauled me onto his lap. I settled with a pout, and as he rested his chin on my shoulder, he turned and pressed a kiss to my throat.
Refusing to shiver, I folded my arms across my chest and demanded, “Did that really happen? Or was it like a fable? Were you trying to teach me something?”
“Well, yeah,” Conor admitted. “I was trying to teach you a lesson but unfortunately for Dec, it’s true. He can’t live with himself because of it.”
Finn sighed. “Connor’s right, Aoife. Her death is a huge weight on his conscience, and he’d done nothing wrong. I think, by that point, he hadn’t even slept with anyone other than her, for Christ’s sake. Yet there she was, following him around like he was a dog.” He shook his head. “If she’d trusted him, stayed at home, she’d still be alive, making him miserable.”
I elbowed him in the belly. “That’s not nice.”
“The truth doesn’t have to be.” Aidan turned the counter stool to look at me better. “Jen coming around tonight?”
I smirked at him. “Thought you didn’t like her.”
“I don’t. But she’s pretty to look it.” He smacked his lips. “Her ass is almost as fine as this pie.”
A laugh escaped me. “I’ll be sure to tell her that. I think she’ll appreciate the comparison.”
He wrinkled his nose. “Better keep it between us, Aoife. You ladies are very particular where your asses are concerned.”
Finn chuckled softly at that, and my cheeks burned because I knew he was thinking about what he’d done tomybutt that afternoon.
I cleared my throat and told him, “Your secret’s safe with me.”
“That’s why you’re the best sister-in-law in the world.”
With a grin, I moved off Finn’s lap even though he tried to cocoon me there, but the oven timer went off and he relinquished his fierce hold on me—more’s the pity. There was no better place to be than his arms, after all.
When I went to retrieve the second batch of cookies, the men went back to talking about shit I shouldn’t, by rights, know about.
But as I went about my baking, I tuned in and out of their conversation.
Aidan had called me his sister-in-law even though none of them were aware of that truth. It filled me with warmth though, to know that they truly did consider me family without being aware of their father’s behavior all those years ago.
In less than ten months, I’d gone from being utterly alone to having more family than I knew what to do with.
Today, Finn had proposed to me. We were in such a different place compared to the last time he’d asked me to be his wife. I’d only had Jenny in my life. With just her, I didn’t know enough people to have any bridesmaids, and things like flower girls and ring-bearers had been out of the question. Now, I had Mary-Ellen, and she could be my matron of honor especially as she’d popped out her twins and was no longer waddling—I wouldn’t have minded, but I figured she would.
By bringing me into this nutty family, Finn had given me more than he knew.
Not only did I have his love, I had theirs too.
There wasn’t much I needed in this life. My business was opening soon and I was excited as I sought that signature dish which would make my name on social media. Finn was at my side, and who knew, in the next year or so, we might even start a family of our own…
The contrast was enough to have tears stinging my eyes.
Because of one man whose intent had been to screw with my life, I’d been brought into a world that was filled with highs and lows.
There was danger, yes, but in Finn’s arms? I knew there was no safer place on this Earth.
The End
