Page 88 of The Moment He Couldn’t Walk Away

“Tell me what you really think,” he teased her.

She leaned sideways to look up at him. “This town is growing, and we need to work on the tourism side of things. Growth is important for Lyntacky’s future.”

“Slow down, tiger,” Finch said, running his eyes over her pretty face. “I didn’t say I’m buying the land.”

“But we need to keep the small-town vibe here. That’s important to everyone, especially the older generation,” she continued, like he hadn’t just spoken. “But we also need expansion in a way that works alongside that.”

It was good to see a small spark of excitement in her eyes, even briefly. They had to head into the police station and talk about last night soon, and that would not be easy on Nina.

“Blue has good ideas, and Zoe, too, for the Circle Left. When this shit show that is my life now is cleared up, I’d like to explore the possibilities.”

“We’ll get it sorted, Nina.”

She touched his chin, just a small brush of her thumb, but he felt it everywhere. “You should buy that land, Finch, whether or not you do the retreat. You need a focus, and it would give you that.”

He leaned down and kissed her soft lips, and her response was to lean into him and take everything he gave her. Finch slid his hand under her top and felt the smooth, warm skin under his palm.

“Lynx is in the house,” she whispered, easing back.

“He won’t come in here.”

As if saying his name was a sign for his brother to speak, there was a pounding on the door.

“Sheriff Dans called my phone because yours is off.” Lynx sounded grumpy. “He’s coming here in twenty minutes, and Mabel is missing Nina, so get your lazy asses up.”

“Lynx is not a morning person,” Finch said. “He was hell to get up for school.”

“Did you have to get him up?”

“We shared a room, so when I got up, I woke him.”

“You’re a good guy, aren’t you, Finch McAllister?” Her smile was small, but still packed a punch.

“I’m not sure about that anymore.”

“I am,” she said, touching his chin again.

“Nina, I know all this is hard on you, but I need you to know I’m here for you.”

“Thank you,” she said, looking serious now. “I haven’t forgotten the hell that’s going on around me, but being here with you pushed it back a little, if only for a while, Finch. So thanks for that too.”

He kissed her again, soft and slow, and their lips clung to each other. “Welcome.” He lifted her off his now painfully aroused body. “You want a shower?”

She nodded.

He rifled through the closet and found a pair of stretchy leggings—which must have belonged to Birdie because the legs were too short for Blue—and a sweater. He had no idea who owned that.

“I’ll just clean up a bit first. Then the bathroom is all yours.”

“Okay.” The word sounded small because the fear was returning, he knew.

Nina was strong, but even a strong person would struggle to cope with what she was going through.

Finch washed in the bathroom and then told Nina it was free. He found Lynx in the kitchen, his eyes squinty as he cupped his hands around a mug of coffee like it was a lifeline. Mabel was at his feet, staring adoringly up at him.

“You all good there, bro?” Finch asked, nudging him to one side. He got out a saucer and poured the cat some milk and then found a tin of tuna and emptied that into another bowl.

They’d never owned a cat because his mother didn’t want one killing the birds, but he’d wanted one, and maybe when he had a place of his own, he’d bring a cat into his life.