Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
But I won’t let myself get involved.
It hits me, all at once, seeing Dara here in this club. She doesn’t belong in my world. She’s too good—too kind—too normal. She’s not hard like Genna or brutal like my brothers. Dara’s softness and warmth, she’s a gentle whisper on my neck.
I can’t drag her through this life. Not when I’m engaged to another woman.
No matter how badly I want to carry her off to my apartment and spend another incredible night between her legs, I won’t do it.
I won’t hurt her like that.
“Come on, maybe—” But I don’t get to finish.
Carson and Nolan come barreling out through the crowd. “Bro!” Carson says, grabbing my arm, his eyes shining with excitement. “Bro, you have to fucking see this. These girls came into the VIP area and started bragging about how much they can drink, one thing turned to another, they’re giving out body shots—”
“Carson,” I say through my teeth.
“They’re hot, bro,” Nolan says, laughing. “Well, one of them is. The other’s fine. But it’s hilarious, they’re like squirming around and laughing, bro, you got to see it.”
“Guys,” I say louder.
“Finn,” Dara says, tugging at my arm. “Really, can we talk?”
“You should go,” Genna says, eyebrows raised. “Hot girls? Body shots? If you’re not down, I’ll go for you.”
“Easy, Genna, I don’t want to get kicked in the nuts again,” Nolan says, glaring at her.
“Don’t try to kiss me.” She shrugs, smiling sweetly at him. “I’m just kidding around anyway. I have work to do, unlike you morons.”
“Finn,” Dara says again, whispering sharply. “Can we just—”
“Sorry, hold on.” I turn to my brothers. “I don’t know what you have going on in the lounge, but can you please cut the shit? It’s the reopening night. I really don’t want to put out any fires.”
“I know, but, bro—” Nolan starts.
“It’s so funny—” Carson adds.
Dara explodes. She grabs my arm, looking me in the eye, her face a mask of despair and desperation. “Finn!” she sounds, loud enough that everyone stares at her. “I’m pregnant.”
The world goes quiet. Nobody moves. Except for Dara’s friend, standing nearby with her face in her hands, shaking her head with a groan.
Chapter 11
Dara
Okay, that wasn’t ideal.
I probably should’ve been a little more patient. Maybe waited until I was alone with Finn to tell him the biggest news of his life, instead of blurting it out in front of his two brothers (actual brothers or like BFF sort of bros? I’m not sure) and his extremely pretty business partner.
Now everyone’s staring at me. I look back in panic and even Kathryn’s got her face in her hands, shaking her head.
I really messed that one up.
But at least I have Finn’s attention. He’s staring at me with wide, intense eyes, his grip on my arm tightening. Everyone else seems to disappear—he looks only at me now.
“You’re pregnant?” he asks, and I can barely hear him over the club music.
“Can we just go somewhere and talk?” I ask him, itching to get away from prying ears. “I’m sorry, I should’ve waited, it’s just—”
He looks over his shoulder. “Gen, take care of whatever mess my brothers made. Carson and Nolan, you two didn’t hear a fucking thing, understood?”
“Yeah, Finley, you got it,” the tallest of the two brothers says. I didn’t know Finn’s full name was Finley.
Finn grimaces. “Just keep it together while I’m gone.” He turns back to me. “This way.”
He drags me through the club. I catch sight of Kathryn and she gives me a nod of encouragement. She’ll be okay, hopefully, probably.
Well, I should worry less about her and more about what Finn’s about to do with me.
His face is a dark mask of anger. He walks with purpose, parting through the crowd, bumping shoulders, barking sharp orders, cutting a swath through the packed space until we reach the back hallway. We bypass the bathroom line until he reaches an unmarked door with a numeric padlock. He types in a pin code and I’m rushed inside.
It’s an office. A nice office, too. Thick carpet, big desk, lots of drawers and shelves, and a bank of little security camera TVs, each showing a different part of the club. The noise is dulled in here. He walks to the desk, leaving me near the door, and turns to glare at me, arms crossed over his chest.
“Explain,” he says, looking at me with a sharp, angry stare.
This is a Finn I’ve never seen before.
The Finn I knew was easygoing, if a little grumpy. He was quick to flirt, to tease, to joke.
But this man is all business.
Not that I can blame him.
I take a deep breath and slowly let it out to calm myself. “I found out this morning. I mean, I’ve suspected for a couple weeks, but I took the tests, and—”
He holds up a hand. “I shouldn’t ask, since you’re here and all. But I have to anyway.”