Chapter Six
The tantalizing aroma of tomatoes, fresh herbs, and Italian sausage greeted Finley when he entered Cash’s house.
He wanted to arrive before everyone else to have a private conversation with his sister and perhaps grab a little snack while he was there.
Harry was at the stove with her earbuds in place, humming and swaying side to side.
Knowing her, she had the volume turned up so high an elephant could sneak up on her.
He could’ve been a dick and scared her, something he’d done more times than he could remember, but Finley wanted to stay on her good side.
Harry wouldn’t divulge coveted information if he scared her.
He helped himself to a few grapes from the fruit dish and leaned against the island, knowing she’d eventually turn around and spot him.
A bowl of ricotta cheese sat on the counter along with dozens of cooked lasagna noodles resting on foil-lined cookie sheets.
Kieran was in for a treat because Harry’s lasagna was the best. She made her meat sauce from scratch using tomatoes and herbs she grew on the ranch.
Finley had mowed through the first handful of grapes and reached for a second when Harry turned around and squealed.
His sister covered her heart with both hands and aimed a mutinous glare at him. Then she briefly closed her eyes and cycled through a few deep breaths before meeting his gaze again. Harry removed her earbuds and dropped them into her apron pocket. “You’re an asshole, Fin.”
Usually, he’d feign innocence, but this time, his wide-eyed expression was legit. “What did I do? I was only standing here.”
She put both hands on her slim hips and narrowed her eyes. “Don’t play dumb with me. You knew damn well I didn’t hear you come in. You should’ve let me know you were here.”
“Like I did the last time?” he asked. “You nearly punched your hand through my chest.” He rubbed the spot as if the bruise was still there. “I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t.”
Harry studied him for a few heartbeats before she grinned and shook her head. “Okay, you might have a point.”
Finley’s mouth fell open in genuine surprise. “What? You’re admitting you’re wrong?” he teased.
“Don’t push it, brat.”
“I can’t seem to help myself.” Finley reached back toward the fruit bowl, but she swatted his hand away.
“You’ll ruin your appetite.”
Finley laughed and retracted his hand. “Yes, ma’am.”
Harry was older by thirteen years and often felt more like a bonus mom than his sister, especially when she bossed him around so much.
He’d hated it when they were younger but had grown fond of her overprotectiveness.
Their mom had had Harriet with her first husband, who hadn’t stuck around to help raise the fiery redhead.
Finley’s sperm donor, who was Hope’s third attempt at a happily ever after, wasn’t much better at parenting.
Hope, Harry, and Finley formed a tight bond, adopting an “us against the world” mentality until Hope met Gary, ending her streak of toxic relationships and expanding their family.
For her, the fourth time was the charm. Finley’s stepfather was the reason his mother could speak about rehabilitating the heart and finding true love with conviction.
She hadn’t given up and didn’t want her only son to either.
It seemed she was trying to prod his healing process along, and Finley was positive she wouldn’t have brought it up to him without discussing it with Harry first.
“I know how you can get your mind off your stomach,” Harry said.
Finley tossed up his hands in surrender. “Fine. Put me to work.”
“Do you want to assemble the lasagna or make the salad?” she asked.
“I’ll do assembly.” Finley stepped over to the sink. He pumped the soap dispenser twice, lathering his hands thoroughly before rinsing them. “Who’s the guy Mom wants me to meet?”
Harry moved to the refrigerator and retrieved a freezer bag full of mixed greens and several containers of vegetables and salad fixings. “He’s someone Gary knows. His name is Michael, and he recently moved to Last Chance Creek. That’s all I know.”
Finley pinned her with a disbelieving stare. “How’s that possible?”
Harry shrugged. “I didn’t ask questions. I’m trying to stay out of your business. And before I forget, Mom sent a jar of her special salve for muscle aches with me yesterday, but I forgot to give it to you last night. It’s in that small purple bag by the refrigerator.”
The salve’s arrival was perfect timing since he wanted to give some to Kieran, and he was down to his last jar. “Thank you,” Finley said, “and since when do you stay out of my business?”
Harry slapped him lightly on the arm. “Since you’ve become a grown-ass man who can care for himself.”
Finley quirked a brow as he dried his hands. “So this morning?”
His sister aimed a cheeky grin at him. “Yep. I told Mom to stay out of your business, but it sounds like she didn’t listen to me.
” Harry set her bounty on the island counter and pulled an enormous bowl from the cabinet beneath it.
“I gotta admit she has good taste.” Then she removed three large rectangular casserole dishes for the lasagnas.
Finley retrieved the pot of meat sauce from the stove and set it on the workstation. “You’ve met Michael?”
Harry shook her head. “She showed me a picture. You could search Gary’s social media profiles for friends or followers named Michael.
” Their stepfather was a very successful real estate agent with tons of connections, so Harry’s suggestion sounded like finding a needle in a haystack.
“He has dark hair and eyes like the hunk Cash brought home today,” Harry continued, fanning her face with both hands.
“The solemn expression in that guy’s eyes really punched me in the chest. He reminded me of a stray puppy.
” Harry sucked in a sharp breath as she realized what she said.
Finley could feel her stare but didn’t turn to meet her gaze.
“Where did Cash place the new guy? His name started with a K. Keith. Kevin.”
She damn well knew his name, but he’d take the bait. “Kieran.”
“That’s it,” she said, snapping her fingers. “Do you know where Kieran is going to work?” When Finley started assembling the first dish without answering, Harry groaned. “Oh no.”
Finley finished the first layer of noodles in the casserole dish nearest to him. “It will be fine, sis.”
Harry placed her small hand on his forearm, and Finley looked at her. “Kieran is the ultimate fixer-upper. I get the attraction, but I’m worried about you working with him so closely.”
Finley was worried too, but he put on a brave front for his sister. “Kieran isn’t dangerous.”
“He is to your heart,” Harry countered. “You are the best person in the world, Fin. You deserve so much better than you allow.”
Two of those remarks were one hundred percent accurate, but he wasn’t so sure about the other.
Finley tried to be a good person, but he was sure there was someone more deserving of the best-person title.
“Which is why I’m giving serious consideration to Mom’s suggestion.
Who better to guide me through picking a good partner than Hope?
I can benefit from all her knowledge without the messy divorces. ”
Harry removed her hand from his forearm and placed it on her chest. “You don’t want to become a spinster like me?”
Finley snorted. “You would’ve been considered a spinster two hundred years ago.
Now you’re just smart because you refuse to settle.
” Hope would say Harry refused to take chances, but Finley wasn’t as brave as their mother.
He wished his sister would open her eyes and heart to the possibility of love. It might be closer than she realized.
Toenails clicking on the hardwood alerted them to company moments before Patsy and Cash appeared.
The rancher pulled out a stool and dropped onto it while the black-and-white beauty rounded the island so she could get closer to the action.
Cash tilted his head back and sniffed the air.
“Lasagna. My favorite.” His mouth curved into a smile, drawing attention to his full lips and neatly trimmed mustache and beard.
The salt-and-pepper bristles contrasted with his unlined, almost youthful-looking complexion.
Cash’s gray hair was several shades darker than his facial hair.
He’d come from his office and still wore his black glasses.
He’d rolled up his sleeves, revealing muscular forearms, a particular weakness for Finley.
He nearly laughed out loud when he recalled Kieran’s presumption that Finley and Cash were lovers.
He’d have to tell Harry about it when they were alone again.
Cash came across as an open book, a gorgeous one, but Finley didn’t know anyone who kept it locked down tighter than his boss.
Was he curious about Cash? Hell yes, but Finley respected him more, and there wasn’t a single spark of chemistry between them.
Pale blue eyes focused on Finley, signaling he had Cash’s full attention. “How’d Kieran do today? I meant to circle back but got tied up with one call after another.”
“He did great,” Finley said, and it was true.
“He didn’t shy away from any task, took direction well, and asked a lot of great questions.
I’m pretty sure Nellie has a crush on him.
” If he kept Kieran close enough, he might not need the lavender and vetiver lotion his mom had made for him.
His brain tried to suggest how close Kieran could get, but Finley tamped it down.
He needed to get through dinner with the guy before he could allow that thought to run free, preferably while his hand shuttled up and down his erection.
A slow smile spread across Cash’s face, softening his angles. Finley hadn’t realized his boss was tense until his shoulders eased. “I had an inescapable feeling Kieran belonged here with us.”