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Finley rolled her eyes before sliding onto the back seat. She scooted over and waited until I sat beside her before answering. “Twice. Don can be a little overprotective, so I only resort to it when she’s doing something dangerous. Like climbing the fire escape to rescue a cat!”
I was incredulous when I clarified, “A cat?”
“Yep. The little kitty had climbed out the window on the fourth floor and made it to the halfway point between them when she got scared and wouldn’t go back up or down. Luckily, I caught Glynnis just as she headed up the fire escape and talked her into letting me go instead. I was so worried she’d do something like that again and get really hurt, so I called Don.”
“How does he get her to capitulate? I’m assuming he doesn’t threaten to put her in a home.” The thought of him doing that made me surprisingly angry. Apparently, I'd become fond of her in the two or three minutes I’d spent with the woman.
“Oh no.” Finley laughed and shook her head, sending her long, ash blond waves cascading over her shoulders. “He threatens to move in with her. Which, according to her, would‘cramp her style.’ Don asked her what she meant, and she told him it would keep her from bringing her suitors home.”
I burst into laughter as I pictured Glynnis wiggling her eyebrows suggestively as she said it.
“I think Don was traumatized,” she added.
“I’ll bet.”
The driver announced our arrival at the restaurant just as the car rolled to a stop. Before he could exit the car, I waved him off. “I’ve got it, thanks.” I opened the door and climbed out, then turned and offered my hand to Finley. We’d both slipped our gloves back on, but I could’ve sworn I felt the heat sparking between our palms. I resisted the urge to pull her into my arms and instead, tucked her into my side and guided her to the front of the restaurant.
It was warm and smelled wonderfully delicious when we stepped inside, and a young woman stood behind a podium smiling brightly.
“Hey, Rhodes! Pop-pop said you were bringing a date tonight. I told him I’d believe it when I saw it.” Nina—the owner's granddaughter—sighed dramatically. “Now I have to bus the tables tonight.”
“You didn’t think I could get a date?” I asked, pretending to be offended.
“It’s not that you aren’t sort of good looking,” she said, wrinkling her nose slightly.
Finley giggled, and I rolled my eyes. “If I didn’t know you see me as a brother, I’d be very offended,” I drawled.
“I thought perhaps you’d secretly become a monk. According to Brady—”
“Stop gossiping with my best friend,” I muttered. “I swear, he’s as bad as a teenage girl.”
“Hey,” Nina gasped. “I am nowhere near as big of a gossip as the old ladies you play football with.”
Finley burst out laughing, and I couldn’t contain a smile at the joyous sound.
“Holy crap!” Nina gasped. I frowned at her incredulous expression, confused at what had caused it.
“Did you justsmile? I didn’t know your mouth could do that!” My frown deepened in annoyance, and Nina shook her head. “Ah, there’s the Rhodes I know.”
Finley giggled again. “He does look scary on TV most of the time, doesn’t he?”
Nina nodded and gaped at me. “Is she the reason you’re smiling?”
“Yeah,” I grumbled. Then inwardly cringed when I felt my cheeks heating.Did I just fucking blush? What the hell?
“Marry her,” Nina ordered, then she smiled at my date and came around from behind the podium. “Hi! I’m Nina.” She leaned in and gave Finley a quick hug, who returned it with a grin. “My pop-pop owns the place, so I’m stuck working here until I graduate in the spring.” Her eyes twinkled, and her lips curved up. “Or until I decide to take over for him.”
“Finley,” my girl stuttered as she finished laughing. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You, too.” Nina turned and grabbed a couple of menus. “Follow me, lovebirds,” she sang as she walked away from the hostess stand. She took us to a cozy booth in the back that curved around a circle table so I could scoot in right next to Finley.
Nina set down the menus and grinned at us, clapping her hands lightly. “Enjoy! I’ll let Pop-Pop know you’re here.” She winked, and then she was gone.
“She’s a ball of energy, isn’t she?” Finley laughed. “I like her.”
I snickered and rested my arm on the back of the booth, letting my fingers toy with Finley’s soft blond waves. “Vince always says she could run circles around us ‘pansies’ on the football field.”
Finley chuckled and picked up one of the menus. “I’ll have to send Uncle Lennox’s scout here to check her out.”
