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After everything that had happened this past weekend, it’d be good to get away. All I had to do was get through Wednesday. Braden was worried about me being alone with Finn and suggested I drive myself to the hotel, which was what I planned on doing. That way, I could leave when I wanted.
Annika finished pounding on the punching bag and turned around, her eyes scanning the gym for who I assumed was Braden. She’d tried getting his attention all day to no avail.
A look of disappointment passed across her face when he was nowhere to be found. “How’d I do today?” she asked me.
She’d done very well, better than I thought. There were even some moves she incorporated in our sparring that I knew I hadn’t taught her.
“You did great. Want to start the same time tomorrow?”
Annika sighed, her movements tired as she walked over to her gym bag. “Sure. Although right now, I need to go home and take a nice long bath.” Picking up her towel, she wiped her forehead. “I am so tired,” she said, sitting on the floor. You worked my ass hard today.”
I shrugged. “I kind of had to. We only have today, tomorrow, and early Wednesday with each other. After that, you know I’m done.”
Annika reached into her bag for a bottle of water. “Yeah, I know.” She guzzled her water and searched the gym again. “What’s up with Braden today? He said hey to us this morning, but that’s it. I was hoping he’d help me train.”
I didn’t know what to tell her other than that he was busy, which he was. With our parents gone, they left it up to us to keep the gym running. Before I could say any of that to her, a car I recognized pulled into the parking lot. It was Finn’s black Aston Martin. My pulse skyrocketed, and not in a good way. The last thing I wanted was him and Braden in the same room.
“Your brother’s here,” I blurted.
Jumping to her feet, Annika slung her bag over her shoulder. “That’s not surprising. He was upset when you didn’t call him back last night. Are you avoiding him or something?”
I searched around the gym and breathed a sigh of relief when I didn’t see Braden. “In a way, yes,” I admitted in all honesty.
Annika’s head jerked in my direction. “Why? What did he do?”
We stopped at the door, and I faced her. “Finn didn’t do anything wrong. I already told him I don’t want to get involved with your family. It’s not who I am. I’ll be by your side on Wednesday and that’s it.”
Her lips pulled back slyly, and I didn’t like it. “If you say so. My brother can be quite convincing when he wants something.”
“I can’t be bought, Annika,” I said, pushing the door open so we could continue the conversation out in the parking lot.
She shrugged. “I wasn’t saying that. Finn has women lined up around the block to be with him. And you know what?”
“What?” I asked, already dreading the answer. We walked over to her car which was parked beside mine.
Her gaze moved to focus on Finn, who stepped out of his vehicle, dressed casually in a pair of jeans and a pale-yellow T-shirt with his light brown hair in disarray from the wind. He looked like a regular guy, but he was far from it.
Annika turned back to me. “He refuses to look at any of them. He wantsyou, Reagan. The more you refuse, the harder he’s going to try. Might as well give in.” That wasn’t what I wanted to hear at all.
“Is that how you are with men?” I asked her.
Eyes twinkling, she winked at me. “What can I say? I’m a Sellinger. We get what we want.” Not this time. Braden was mine. She waved at Finn, beaming when he closed the distance. “Hey, brother,” she said, kissing his cheek and smiling at me. “See you tomorrow.” She hopped in her Acura and honked as she drove away.
Finn glanced over at my Mini Cooper and laughed. “Why am I not surprised?”
My palms grew sweaty; I had to get rid of him. “I can’t drive the Bentley, Finn. If someone were to see me in it, they’d have questions. It’s good that my parents are out of town right now.”
His blue gaze homed in on me. “How about a trade then? Something more your style?”
I stepped up to him. “Why don’t you just take it back and that be it? I don’t need you to get me a car, Finn.”
He smiled. “I know that. You are perfectly capable of taking care of yourself. I haven’t met another woman like you.” After pulling an envelope from his back pocket, he held it out to me. “This is your money for the week.”
Shaking my head, I refused to take it. “I’m not accepting it. My time with Annika is free this week.”
Finn’s gaze narrowed. “What’s going on, Reagan? Are you still coming with me to Annika’s fight on Wednesday?”
Sweat dripped down my back, and my heart thundered harder in my chest. “Iwillbe there, but I’m going on my own.”
