Saved by the Bride (30 page)

A familiar voice sounded a moment later. “Blackbeard,
arrrh.”

“Anni to Wolves of the Sea, over. Captain Finn will be here
soon.”

“Yay.” Logan forgot to be Blackbeard in his excitement.

She waved to them through the trees and absently adjusted the
centerpiece on the table.

She chewed her lip. God, she hoped he was going to get here in
ten minutes. She really didn’t want him arriving just as Dana and Sean were
leaving for the island because they’d suggest he come with them in the boat and
that would give the game away completely.

She busied herself by opening the cream for whipping but
struggled with the lid and when it finally came off with a jerk, a lot of cream
followed. After she’d mopped up the mess with a cloth, she poured the rest of
the cream into a bowl and turned on the beaters without checking the setting.
The high speed sent cream flicking out everywhere including the counter, the
walls, the floor and her dress.

With a wail, she turned it off and started to clean up.

Ten minutes later after restoring order and checking on the
boys again, Finn still hadn’t arrived. Another ten ticked past and still no
Finn. The boys had trekked back to the cabin twice to see where he was and she’d
sent them back to the fort with pretzels and drinks. A washing machine on spin
cycle would be calmer than her stomach. She was now between a rock and a hard
place. She couldn’t delay or cancel Sean and Dana because they’d see Finn when
the helicopter arrived at Kylemore, but now they were going to arrive on the
island before him. She had no choice but to let the evening roll on.

“Hello!”

Sean’s melodic voice called out as she heard a heavy step on
the veranda followed by a lighter one.

She met them at the door with a welcoming smile plastered on
her face that she hoped hid every other feeling that swirled inside her. She
accepted the bunch of Dana’s zinnias and a bottle of wine. “Thank you, that’s
very kind.” She put them on the small side table by the door. “Finn’s not back
yet but he should be here soon. The boys are really keen to show you their fort
so if you walk down there now, Finn and I will join you as soon as he
arrives.”

“Have they been good?” Dana asked as she looked toward the
trees.

“They’ve been great but they’re aching to show someone other
than me all their hard work.” She hoped she wasn’t sounding as pushy as she
felt.

Sean extended his arm to Dana with a twinkle in his eye. “Let’s
go check out the pirate camp.”

Annika watched them walk away, wondering for the thousandth
time where Finn was, and then she heard the helicopter coming in over the lake.
Thank
you
.

She ran down and met him on the dock. He’d lost the tie but
with his jacket slung over his shoulder, he still looked as sexy as a model in a
glossy magazine.

“Sorry I’m late.” He kissed her in a long, slow kiss that
sizzled through her, making her rise up on her toes. “What’s with the boat?” He
tilted his head toward Sean’s boat.

Crap
. She hadn’t factored that in
because if he’d been on time he wouldn’t have seen it. She had no choice but to
white lie. “Dana and Sean have come to collect the boys and on the spur of the
moment, I invited them for dinner.”

His previously relaxed expression became guarded. “Why would
you do that?”

She linked her arm through his but his eyes didn’t twinkle down
at her like Sean’s had with Dana. “Because we’ve eaten at Kylemore and it seemed
the hospitable thing to do.”

“I forgot you were Miss Manners.”

She smiled encouragingly and tugged his arm, and they started
walking toward the cabin. He would come around and see that tonight was a good
idea. “I’ve got cold beer waiting, supper’s organized and all you have to do is
kick back and relax. You can give me
some
credit,
you know.”

His brows rose as if he gave her no credit at all. “Why’s
that?”

She smiled. “I didn’t invite your mother.”

He didn’t laugh like she’d hoped.

* * *

Annika served the little boys ice creams in cones and
then they settled down on the couch to watch
Peter
Pan
. Every now and then Logan would jump up and yell
out, “Arrgh, me hearties” and Max would say, “Tick-tock.” At least they were
happy.

As she sliced the chocolate mud cake and arranged it on
individual plates with strawberries and cream, she listened intently to the
conversation drifting through the open door from the veranda. Her ears were
tuned to Finn’s rich bass but the only voices she could hear were Dana’s and
Sean’s. Finn had been quiet all evening.

He’d gone down to play with the boys in the fort the moment
he’d got changed, but unlike her plan where she and his parents would have
joined him, he’d gone to the fort the moment his father and stepmother had
returned from it. At dinner he’d responded to his father’s questions about AKP
and had requested his opinion on the terms a new client was demanding but the
moment that subject was exhausted he’d chatted with Dana before lapsing into
virtual silence. He’d hardly spoken to her all night.

She bit her lip. This wasn’t going anyway near the way she’d
pictured it in her head. She concentrated on drizzling strawberry sauce around
the edges of each white plate and then surveyed her handiwork. Given the tension
in the air she wasn’t even going to try and balance four plates on her arms. She
carried them out two at a time.

Finn and Sean rose instantly as she crossed the veranda. Finn
took the plates from her without a smile and she trudged back for the final two.
When she’d returned and had taken her seat, Sean said with a smile, “This meal
is worthy of five stars. I’m impressed you managed to cook all this
and
look after two busy boys.”

Finn leaned back in his chair but there was nothing casual or
relaxed about the action. “Annika likes to keep busy but even she’s outdone
herself with a spur-of-the-moment invitation.”

That particular combination of words should have been a
compliment but they slammed into her with the full force of his condemnation
about the invitation.

Dana and Sean exchanged glances.

“This cake’s divine, Annika,” Dana said. “I’d love the
recipe.”

“I’m sure Annika would be more than happy to give it to you,”
Finn responded. “In fact she’ll shop for the ingredients, come over and give a
step-by-step demonstration and then clean up the kitchen for you.”

Dana blinked and looked between them. “Am I missing something
here?”

Annika rushed to smooth things over. “Finn’s just teasing me
because he thinks I overcommit.”

“That’s right.” Finn’s mouth had an intractable line to it and
there was no smile in his eyes. “Like throwing dinner parties and building forts
with little boys when you really should be doing
other
things like, oh, I don’t know, painting for instance.”

“Do you paint, Annika?” Dana’s face lit up with interest.

Annika hedged. “At the moment I’m concentrating on my
calligraphy.”

Finn grunted.

Sean rested one arm on the herringbone veranda rail and looked
toward the setting sun which was sending out vivid cerise-and-orange light
across the lake. “I can see why you love this place, Finnegan. It reminds me of
the original Kylemore.”

Finn pushed his plate away. “You mean before you cleared the
trees and extended the house so it could feature in
Vogue
Living
.”

“I was thinking before it had running water and electricity,”
Sean replied mildly.

“Grandpa didn’t mind doing without a few luxuries.”

Sean didn’t react to the bite in Finn’s words and continued on
calmly, “Actually, your grandfather bulldozed the first cabin within a week of
purchasing the property.”

The statement hung between the two of them and if it was news
to Finn, he didn’t show it. In fact he wasn’t showing much at all beyond a stony
look.

Sean continued undeterred. “This cabin shares some of the same
features and if you’re interested, I can dig out some old photos.”

Annika smiled. Sean was trying to make connections. This was
exactly the sort of thing she’d hoped would happen tonight. “You could also
check with the historical society. The two cabins may have been built by the
same person and share a story.”

“That’s true,” Sean agreed.

But Sean’s attention wasn’t on Annika—it was fixed firmly on
Finn. She saw something akin to gratitude in Sean’s eyes and right then she knew
this dinner had been the exact thing they needed. She’d given them the
opportunity and the place, and now they were taking the first steps in repairing
their relationship so they could look to the future. She hugged the feeling of
hope to herself.

Sean leaned forward, his voice filled with sincerity. “I’m just
pleased to be here, son. I appreciate the invitation.” He squeezed Dana’s hand.
“We both do.”

Tension shot through Finn so fast it ricocheted into her with
the slash and burn of a whip on skin. “Annika invited you, Dad.” The coolness in
his voice chilled the warm air. “I had no clue you were coming until I got
here.”

The dismay on Sean’s face tore through Annika. She immediately
put her hand on Finn’s arm, hoping to ease him back into the reconciliation. “It
doesn’t matter who issued the invitation, the important thing is you’re both
here and—”

“No.” Finn moved his arm out from under hers and with his lips
barely moving, said, “Dana, I apologize that Annika’s ill-advised invitation has
put you in this uncomfortable position.”

The words didn’t touch her because she was still reeling from
the way he’d pulled away from her as if touching her was suddenly abhorrent. A
little tear bled in her heart.

“Finnegan, I’m sure that Annika was—”

But Dana’s hand gripped Sean’s and she shook her head as if to
say, “not now.” “Sean, let’s take the boys home.”

Hot and cold chills raced through Annika as she walked inside
to help the Callahans get the boys ready for the boat. With hands trembling from
a combination of anger and disappointment that Finn was throwing away an
opportunity, she quickly gathered up toys and towels and bundled them into bags.
Dana and Sean quietly overruled the boys’ tired and grumpy requests to finish
watching the movie and got them on their feet.

Finn stayed standing outside as rigid and as silent as a
sentinel waiting for everyone to leave.

“Do you want to come back to Kylemore with us?” Dana asked
Annika quietly, concern clear on her face.

Annika shook her head. She wasn’t scared of Finn. There was no
doubt in her mind that he was angry with her for inviting them to dinner, but it
was an anger born out of hurt. His hurt. Sure, he’d yell and she’d listen, and
then they’d talk. The rest they’d work out in bed. “Thanks, Dana, but I need to
stay.”
Finn
needs
me
.

Dana nodded her understanding and she joined Sean and the boys
on the veranda. After some tight and strained “Good-nights” they walked down
through the trees to the dock.

Annika expected Finn to yell the moment the motorboat’s engine
started but as Dana, Sean and the boys disappeared into the night, Finn spun on
his heel, brushed past her and stepped into the cabin. The screen door slammed
shut behind him. If he thought she was going to let things slide this time then
he was sadly mistaken. Taking in a deep breath, she opened the door and followed
him inside.

Chapter Nineteen

Rage burned through Finn hot and strong, scorching
everything in its wake, until all that was left was smoldering bitterness that
tainted every breath. It had been burning slowly all night despite his attempts
to hose it down. He’d thought he’d been doing okay too until he’d seen the look
on Sean’s face—the one where he thought Finn had invited him to the island and
that one action signaled a change between them. It had acted like a hot, south
wind and ignited his fury into a roaring wildfire.

He’d stormed inside because he was so furious with Annika that
he could barely configure a sentence. He couldn’t believe she’d betrayed him.
Couldn’t believe she’d invited Sean here.
Here
. His
hand tore through his hair as if the action would marshal his thoughts but it
utterly failed. He heard the squeak of the door.

Shit
.
You
didn’t
think
this
through
,
did
you
? Why had he come inside to a small, two-roomed
cabin? He should have gone for a walk around the island or taken the boat and
left the island altogether. He knew the first words Annika said would be, “We
need to talk.”

Hell yes, they needed to talk. Only this time he’d be the one
doing all the talking.

“Finn?” She walked over to him and reached her hand out to his.
“I understand you’re angry.”

Understand
? The placating words
sounded straight out of Psychology 101 and he crossed his arms to avoid her
touch. “Annika, it might come as a shock to you, but you don’t understand
anything
about me.”

Her expression filled with empathy and she gave a half smile as
if she thought the statement really silly. “Try me.”

The smile only increased the sensation that he was barely
hanging on to everything he understood about his life. “You lied to me. This was
no spur-of-the-moment idea, was it? You had no right to invite my father
here.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way, but—”

“There are no ‘buts.’” He threw out his hands. “This is
my
sanctuary.
I
choose who
comes here. I’ve put up with you inviting people to camp out on the island and
with you letting the boys build forts, but I will not stand by and allow you to
invite my father to my retreat. This time you’ve gone too far.”

“I didn’t realize I had no rights as to who I could or couldn’t
invite, given that you’ve always told me to make myself at home.”

He ignored the flash of hurt in her eyes and overruled the
voice in his head that called him a jerk. “I have never wanted my father
here.”

This time she threw her arms out wide. “I was only trying to
help you and Sean bury the past. God knows, you need someone to guide you
through it.”

His jaw was so tight it ached. “I don’t think so.”

“I think so.” Her chin shot up. “You’re blind if you can’t see
that your father badly wants to find a way to connect with you.”

Finn had known what Sean wanted from the morning of the
campout. “Yeah, well the only way I want to connect with him is the way I’ve
been doing it for years. Through work.” He crossed the room, hauled open the
fridge and grabbed a beer bottle.

She followed him. “Don’t you think that’s a bit immature?”

“No!” He spun the top off a longneck and tossed it into the
bin.

“I know Sean was an absent father full of unmet promises but he
wants to make amends, Finn. It’s clear to everyone he’s genuinely sorry but he
needs your help too. Can’t you at least meet him halfway? If you keep this up
you’re going to miss the opportunity to have an adult relationship with your
father.”

He wanted to put his hands over his ears. “I’m fine with the
one I’ve got.”

“That isn’t a relationship! It’s a business arrangement.”

“Exactly.” He chugged down the amber liquid, cool against his
hot, tight throat.

Exasperation and sadness for him swirled in her eyes and she
shook her head very slowly as if she’d just worked something out. “My God, for
all that you hate the idea of being like Sean, you are your father’s son.”

He slammed the bottle down. “What the hell is that supposed to
mean?”

She pressed her palms down on the counter as if she needed the
support. “You’re making the same mistakes your father did at the same age and if
you’re not careful you—”

“Like hell I am.” He crossed the room again, agitation pouring
through him. “My personal life doesn’t even come close to the debacle that was
my father’s. I’m
not
being unfaithful to a wife and
family, and I don’t have any children to ignore because I choose not to have
any.”

She bit her lip. “That part is true, but can’t you see? You’re
putting work between you and your father and hiding behind the company. This way
your father can never let you down or disappoint you again. It’s so much easier
than trying to deal with anything emotional because that scares you to
death.”

“That’s bullshit.” But her words skated close to the lid he’d
jammed on all his feelings about his father. Skated so close that they almost
cut it open and released the hurt he thought he’d shed years ago. He was never
going to walk through the emotional minefield that was his relationship with his
father. “Who appointed you custodian of how I relate to my father? Why are you
all up in my face about this?”

Her face softened. “I just want to fix this for you.”

I
want
to
fix
this
.

I
need
this
industry
.

The thoughts rammed into him. This is what she did. And
this
was how she did it. Weeks of vague thoughts
suddenly focused and the scales fell from his eyes.

Annika suddenly shivered as Finn’s dark and enigmatic eyes
stared down at her. “If you’re so desperate to fix something, Annika, how about
fixing your own life.”

“Don’t turn this back on me, Finn. My life is just fine.”

“Oh, yeah, it’s just perfect. You’re so busy hiding out in
Whitetail and living everyone else’s life for them that you’re not living your
own.”

His words hammered her and she hugged herself hard. “I
live
in Whitetail and I’ve been working my butt off
trying to save
my
town. If that’s not ‘living my
life’ then I don’t know what is.”

But his penetrative gaze didn’t move an inch. “The
saving-the-town bit, it didn’t go so well for you, did it? They didn’t want to
be saved in quite the way you believed it should happen.”

For the first time since she’d come inside, he spoke quietly,
and there was something about the way his face had softened that made her
stomach lurch. Oh God, he knew. He knew about the town meeting. She tossed her
hair and tried not to let the hurt from the town flatten her. “We had a
difference of opinion, is all.”

He stepped a bit closer. “Melissa told me what happened the day
Ty Dennison came. How they asked you to step down. This is why you’ve been
spending more time here and why you’re hell-bent on getting over-involved with
my family.”

Her breath hitched in her throat as her chest tightened and she
shook her head hard and fast. “I’m just trying to help. I’m not
over-involved.”

“Yes, you are.” He strode straight to her painting box and
picked it up. “If you want to help then help yourself and get involved in your
own life. Start living it the way you should be.” He shoved the box into her
arms. “By painting.”

She put the box down. “I
am
living
my life the way I should be. Right here, in Whitetail, where I’m needed.”
Was
needed
. Her throat got a lump in it and she tried
hard to swallow around it.

Finn shook his head. “No, you’re hiding from it here in
Whitetail but they’ve just released you from your self-imposed responsibility.
It’s time to stop throwing roadblocks in your own way. I tracked down that
review of your work, Annika, and I read it. Are you really going to let one
person’s opinion rule your life?”

“It wasn’t
one
person’s opinion. It
was three!” She spun away from him, her heart pounding so hard she could hear it
loud in her ears.

“So your style wasn’t theirs, so what? It doesn’t mean you just
stop.”

His caring voice didn’t lessen the impact of his words and she
tried to take in a long, deep breath but she was being spun back in time to the
cruel reviews and she couldn’t move air in or out. Bitterness spilled over. “I
didn’t stop. God, I’ve tried painting. I was asked to paint a series of this
lake for an exhibition in Milwaukee but I can’t paint what I see. When I try it
just comes out bland and lifeless and wrong. Everything about the paintings is
wrong and I’m not exposing any more of my failures to the world.”

“Isn’t that being just a bit overdramatic?”

He stood in front of her, this successful man she loved, and
the distance between them had never felt greater. “You have no idea what you’re
asking me to do, Finn. You’ve never been publicly humiliated nor had what you
believed was your best work thoroughly trashed. And why would you? You’re a
winner. Under your guidance AKP is weathering a huge financial storm while other
companies around you are going to the wall. But not all of us are as driven, or
talented, or strong as you are.”

His eyes burned her. “You think I don’t have problems or
challenges? If you believe that then you’re living in fantasyland. The only
difference between the two of us is that I’m not a quitter and I never took you
for a coward.”

“I’m not a coward.” She knew she was yelling but if she tried
to speak more quietly her voice would crack. “I’m making a choice with my life.
Right now I’m creating beautiful invitations and making brides happy.”

He shook his head slowly and his expression filled with sorrow.
Sorrow for her. “Now you’re just lying to yourself. Again. First it was saving
Whitetail and now you’ve lost that you’re clinging to the calligraphy. You know
you’re not happy.”

She stared at him, thinking about the past few weeks. “Of
course I’m happy. I’ve got you.”

The moment the words slipped out she wanted to pull them back
and push them down deep where they belonged until he was ready to hear them.

But they hung between them, vibrating loudly, and their message
clear.

Finn’s face paled under his summer tan and his black eyes
seemed huge in his handsome face. “Annika, you and I, we’re—”

She cut him off with a forced laugh, not wanting to hear the
words she knew would follow. “What I meant to say was I’ve got you until Labor
Day.”

But he didn’t laugh with her and every muscle, bone and tiny
cell on his beautiful body said he didn’t believe her. “I never meant for you
to...”

It was like a balloon inside her which had been holding her up
and it suddenly deflated. She shrunk in on herself. “Fall in love with you?” She
bit her lip, hating his shocked surprise. “No, sorry. My bad.”

An agonized look crossed his face. “It’s been fun, Annika. It’s
been amazing, but you know we wouldn’t work. Not long-term. Like you said, I
don’t do emotional connections. I don’t fall in love, but most importantly, I
won’t let you live your life through me.”

Her heart split in two and the ripping pain seared her like no
other pain she’d ever experienced. It stole her breath before shooting down deep
to a level never reached before. The man she loved didn’t love her. He didn’t
need her. He was letting her go.

First
Whitetail
.
Now
Finn
.

Her legs trembled and she gripped the back of the couch so she
didn’t sink to the floor.
Where
to
now
?

Somehow, from somewhere, she managed to muster up a spark of
dignity. If Finn was blind to what they could have together, if he was so scared
of the idea of loving her that he saw no reason to fight for her—for them—then
she knew what she had to do. “I should probably spend the night at
Kylemore.”

He nodded slowly. “That’s probably best.”

Best
? Pain made her numb. Nothing
about this was best.

She absently picked up a light jacket. “I’ll clear my stuff out
tomorrow and make arrangements for someone to work in the office.”

He ran his hands raggedly through his hair. “Annika, you can
still work for AKP.”

She shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t compartmentalize my
life like you can.”

He stared at her silently and then, ever the gentleman, he
picked up the boat’s keys. “It’s dark so I’ll take you over.”

And the most important relationship of her life ended in a
polite and agonizingly silent boat trip.

* * *

Bridey snuggled in close to Hank, loving the feel of the
soft wool of his tux and the cool satin of the lapels caressing her bare
shoulders. Her ivory silk organza gown with its hand-pieced lace tulle overskirt
spilled over his legs and filled the carriage, rising to meet the low sides. The
horse snorted as Al flicked the reins and the carriage started moving slowly
around the town square.

“So did my dress match your tux as requested?”

“Darling, you’ve outshone my designer tux ten times. The dress
is stunning. You’re stunning.” Hank pressed his lips to hers in a bone-melting
kiss.

A cheer went up from the small flag-waving crowd lining the
street and Hank grinned. “Wave, Bridey. It’s our day.”

With a broad smile, she sat forward and waved, loving every
minute of their special day. The sunshine glinted off her shiny, new wedding
band and she started laughing.

Hank gave her an indulgent look. “Again? What’s funny now?”