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“Who do you mean?” Finn asked, confused.
“Magnus Blackwell.” Liam tossed the name out like garbage.
All the good humor faded from Finn’s face. “Magnus and I are not friends.”
Liam shrugged, just to goad him. “If you say so.”
“We work at the same law firm, but he and I don’t see eye to eye.” A muscle ticked in Finn’s jaw, and he looked almost...angry. This was getting interesting.
“In what ways?” Liam asked.
Finn frowned. “Magnus performs his job effectively, but I’ve seen him cut corners and take risks that challenge moral and ethical boundaries, and I disagree with his flippant attitude when people’s lives are on the line.”
“I thought all lawyers stretched the truth to fit their agenda.” Liam knew he shouldn’t egg Finn on, but he made it so damned easy.
“Only the bad ones,” Finn said moodily. “Magnus and I have always clashed and probably always will. He has a god complex and tends to look down on those who don’t play by the same rules. His blatant disregard for differing viewpoints and the feelings of others makes him, frankly, abhorrent to be around, and I’m very sorry he ever met Cora.”
“But tell me how you really feel.” Liam almost smiled. He’d never heard Finn say anything so bluntly negative about anyone. Seeing him so visibly annoyed at Magnus was refreshing. Perhaps Finn had an interesting side, after all.
Finn toyed with his car keys on the table, his brow creased in frustration. “Magnus is, for lack of a better word, a womanizer. I’ve watched him go through many of the single women in our office, and some who weren’t single. It’s become almost a joke among some of the colleagues at the firm. They lay bets on how long a new receptionist will last before Magnus swoops in. While I know this isn’t my business, I take it personally when he goes after friends.” He paused, then said more quietly, “When he goes after Cora.”
“Agreed.” Once again, Liam was on Finn’s side. This was getting downright spooky.
“Anyway, Magnus abandoned you both at The Rolling Log last weekend. I’m surprised Cora wasn’t upset about that,” Finn said.
“She was, but the scheming weasel called and left messages for her all weekend, full of excuses. He whittled away at her defenses, and she finally agreed to see him tonight so he could explain himself.”
“That was a bad idea,” Finn said darkly. “Magnus isn’t good for her.”
Liam eyed Finn thoughtfully. “What kind of a man would be good enough for her?”
“Someone with integrity and honor, like her. Someone who appreciates her for who she is, not what she can do for them. Cora’s brilliant at her job. It’s her calling. She works hard to protect the people and ensure peace in Providence Falls, and she’s got a kind heart. Her compassion hasn’t wavered over the years, even though she’s seen the darkest side of humanity. I think that’s just...” Finn trailed off and shook his head, smiling slightly. “It’s special. She’s special, and she deserves someone who’s going to respect who she is. She deserves someone who wants to stand beside her in life, not try to control her. Someone who will give her the room to experience life on her terms.”
“And do you know anyone like this?”
Finn looked surprised. “No, I just think—”
“You, perhaps?” Liam pushed. His phone vibrated in his pocket, but he ignored it. He was trying to see if Finn would be honest with him, because it was painfully clear Finn was in love with Cora. All the things he’d just said made Liam’s gut churn with a bitter sense of loss. Finn understood exactly what Cora needed. Had Liam ever thought much beyond what he’d wanted? He’d fallen for Cora the moment they’d met. He’d wanted her with that driving passion and exuberance of youth that eclipsed all logic. But had he ever truly understood what she needed most? Had he ever seen her as clearly as Finn saw her now? Liam thought he had, but their lives had been different back then. The entire world had been different.
An uncomfortable feeling settled over Liam, scratching at his ego. He’d known the shy, sweet, impressionable girl Cora had been back in eighteen forty-four. They’d been young and impetuous and filled with dreams of a future together that was never realized. Had Liam ever truly stopped to think about Cora in the wise, understanding way Finn had just described? If Liam had never met her, she could have lived a happy life.
She could havelived.
He swallowed hard, refusing to think about the tragedy that had befallen them. Instead, he focused on the man across from him, who now looked extremely uncomfortable.
A blush crept across Finn’s cheekbones. “That’s not what I meant, at all. I was only saying what Cora deserved, not implying thatI’mthat man who’s worthy of her. I think very few are. All I know is she deserves to be happy however, and with whomever, she chooses.”
Liam’s mind was in turmoil, because Finn Walsh sounded like a hero, and it hurt like an arrow through the heart. If the angels were right, and Finn was the best man for Cora, could Liam love her enough to do the right thing? Could he truly let her go?
His phone vibrated again, and he pulled it out of his pocket. Glancing down at the text message, his heart dropped into his stomach.
At Magnus’s house on Cedar Lake. Found stolen money! Come get me. Call station. Am dialing 911 but can’t talk.
“What’s wrong?” Finn said in alarm.
Liam didn’t think; he reacted. Reaching across the table, he grabbed the one thing that could ensure he made it to Cora as fast as humanly possible: Finn’s car keys. Without even pausing to explain, he bolted for the door. Finn called after him, but Liam raced into the parking lot, pressing the key fob to find Finn’s Porsche. In the far corner the car beeped in response, headlights flashing.
Rushing for the driver’s side, Liam jumped in and started the engine, pulling out of the parking space and barely missing Finn.
