again. At the last minute her rationality kicked in and mentally slapped her to bring her to her senses.
‘I’ll see you out.’
‘Don’t bother.’
Finn stepped towards her, dropped a quick kiss on her temple before heading inside and picking up his wallet, keys and mobile. He turned and looked at her, and the corner of his mouth kicked up.
‘Yeah, I think you and I could have some fun. And, Cal?’
‘Mmm?’
‘No more crying, okay?’
FINN HEARD HIS doorbell ring and cursed as he lifted another box onto the tower of boxes he was creating in his hallway. God, Liz had a lot of stuff, he thought as he turned sideways to navigate through the thin aisle between boxes to get to the door.
It would be a brother again, holding a six-pack and a takeaway, coming to keep him company in his darkest hour. He appreciated the beer and the food, but instead of their sympathy he wished that they’d give him something useful, like help with shifting and packing boxes.
He rolled his eyes as the doorbell pealed again and reached out to yank the door open. ‘You can only come in if you’re prepared to work, you lazy—’
He blinked at the vision on his doorstep. Instead of one of his big, brawny, young stepbrothers Callie, dressed in a short sleeveless sundress, stood in front of him, her blonde hair pulled up into a tail and most of her face covered by huge dark sunglasses.
‘Oh, sorry. Wasn’t expecting you.’
Callie pushed her glasses up into her hair and smiled. ‘I can see that, since you’re shirtless and shoeless. Who were you expecting?’
‘Ah, one or more of my brothers—stepbrothers. They pop in most evenings, usually around this time.’
‘Coming to check up on you?’
‘Yeah.’
Callie placed a hand on her heart. ‘That’s so sweet.’
Finn grimaced. ‘I appreciate the sentiment but I wish they would just stop. Because I’m not talking they think that Liz is to blame and that I need comforting.’
‘Is she to blame?’
‘Mutual decision,’ he replied quickly, seeing the trap and dodging it. ‘Anyway, because not all men are Neanderthals, they’ve been worried about me because Liz and I were together for a long time. I have so many offers for beer or lunch or dinner I could scream.’
Callie didn’t say anything and he, like a rookie, just kept on talking.
‘So I drink the beers and eat the food and try to convince everyone that I’m okay.’
‘Are you?’
Callie took his right hand and held it between hers. She looked up at him from beneath those ridiculously long lashes, her expression earnest and concerned. She wasn’t just asking for form’s sake, he suddenly realised, she genuinely seemed to care. And her empathy—not pity or sympathy—melted one of the many icicles attached to his heart.
Finn thought about her question for a minute and left his hand where it was, his fingers entangled with hers. ‘Mostly. I will be a feeling a lot more relieved when you say yay or nay.’
‘Yay,’ Callie said as she dropped his hand.
Finn looked down at her, not sure that he’d heard her correctly. ‘What?’
‘Yes, I will be your fake wife.’ Callie said, her eyes dancing. ‘Thanks for asking me.’
Finn felt relief course through him and was surprised at the wave of—hell—happiness that followed. He was going to be able to complete this amazing assignment, get out of this house and step out of his life, thanks to this phenomenal woman.
‘That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. Thanks, Callie.’
‘I should be thanking you; it’s an amazing opportunity to see some places that I haven’t seen before.’
‘And to get out of Dodge as well.’ Finn folded his arms and raised a brow. ‘Want to tell me why?’
Callie didn’t miss a beat. ‘Want to tell me what really happened to stop the wedding?’
‘Touché.’
He wasn’t going to open up and neither was she. Better that way, Finn decided, even though he was damn curious.
‘So, do you want to come inside?’
Finn thought that she was about to say no but then she straightened her spine and pushed her shoulders back, lifting those small breasts. ‘Yeah, okay. There’s a couple of things we need to chat about.’
‘That sounds ominous.’ Finn gestured her inside and noticed that she had no problem negotiating the boxes. ‘Liz’s stuff. I’m packing it up and shipping it home to her parents.’
‘Ah.’
Callie moved away from the boxes and looked at the now stark living room. All the things that had made it a home were gone—the scatter cushions, the art, the ornaments, the photo frames.
‘The furniture—hers or yours?’
Finn shrugged. ‘The couches and the furniture are mine. I’m pretty much handing over the rest of the house. She bought most of it and there’s nothing much I want to keep.’
‘Nothing?’
Finn shook his head. ‘I’m not sentimental when it comes to stuff.’
He’d used to be but wasn’t any more. Only with a gun to his head would he admit that he’d kept all the sonar scan pictures of his baby—the baby that hadn’t made it past four and a half months. Finn swallowed and steeled himself against the wave of pain. Okay, maybe he was a little sentimental about some things.
He pulled in a deep, restorative breath and along with it Callie’s sweet perfume. She smelled so sweet and fresh, and he realised that he had to smell as if he’d been working his tail off all day—which he had—so he backed away from her.
‘There’s some wine or beer in the fridge—glasses in the cupboard next to the fridge. Help yourself. I’m just going to take a quick shower, if that’s okay.’
‘Sure, take your time.’ Callie grinned at him. ‘It’ll give me time to snoop.’
‘Snoop away—you won’t find anything interesting,’ Finn told her, before belting up the stairs to the en-suite bathroom off the guest bedroom.
As per normal, he glanced at the closed door of the room on the left and sighed. He really should
