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Aidan made it sound so simple. But in the meantime, it was reassuring to know he didn’t have to forgive until he was ready. “Thank you. That helps,” Finn said with sincerity.
Aidan gave him a warm smile, and leaned in close, saying, “My sister deserves to be happy, and so do you. Enjoy this time and each other.”
“Are you two plotting against me?” Colleen asked.
Finn turned to Colleen with a grin. “Always.”
Her eyes sparkled with happiness. He was a lucky man to have this woman and know that he was the one who made her happy.
Finn woke up to Alfie’s loud snoring nearby in his crate. He rolled off the couch, pulled on a pair of shorts, and stepped into his sandals. He went to the kitchen to get a glass of water and noticed the pool lights on. Colleen sat on a lounger, wearing shorts and a tank top, with her legs drawn up to her chest, and her arms wrapped around her knees. She used to do this when she was a teenager after everyone else was in bed. She’d told him once that it helped clear her mind watching the movement of the water over the pool lights below.
He stepped quietly onto the patio.
Colleen looked over her shoulder. “Did I wake you up?”
“No, but I missed you.”
She held a hand to him. “Join me?”
He took a seat and pulled her close to his side. With all the excitement at the hearing and dinner with her family, he wanted to check in with her to see how she was doing, but he didn’t want to push her too soon. “How are you feeling?”
She lifted her eyes to his with a calm smile. “Good. I feel like a big load has been lifted.”
He was full of pride for what she’d accomplished today. Now that her court appearance was behind her, he had something important he wanted to discuss with her. “So what’s next with your tour business?”
“I’m doing my first tour next month, so I’ll need to create a brand. I’m still exploring different ideas for a business name. I want something catchy.”
Her enthusiasm was obvious, and he was thrilled she intended to come back to New York, but he had another idea for her. “Is this really something you want to do?”
Colleen looked up at him with a frown. “Of course it’s something I want to do.”
“I just want to be sure you review all your options.”
“All my options?”
“I have something to tell you,” he said, pulling her close to his side. It was time to lay out everything he wanted to give her, and he hoped she would agree.
Colleen twisted away. “I don’t want to hurt your scar.”
“It’s only a little tender.”
Colleen lifted his shirt and traced the puckered scar with the tip of her finger. She whispered, “This makes it all so real.”
It was real, and the scar would always be a reminder of that night, but more importantly, it was a catalyst to make big changes. Finn didn’t want to live his life with any regrets. He held her tight. “The scar will fade over time, but I’ll always have you.” He kissed the top of her head. “Now, let me finish what I was going to say.”
“All right,” she said, snuggling into his side.
“Do you remember when I told you to be honest with yourself about the gallery sales job?”
“You said not to waste time being unhappy.”
“That’s right. You also told me not too long ago that the same applied to me. So, I’ve been thinking.”
She looked up at him and gave him a nudge. “Don’t keep me in suspense. Tell me.”
“I’m putting O’Connor Tower on the market. My father wants it back, but I’m going to sell it to another buyer. If I don’t want any further connection to him, the only thing to do is to break all ties, and that includes selling O’Connor Tower.”
“But what about the trust fund you set up for the families?” she asked in surprise.
