CHAPTER TWO
After the chaos around what happened with River, the brothers found themselves now being asked to retire from the SEAL teams. It wasn’t that they weren’t ready to leave. It was the idea of someone telling them they were ready.
At the urging of the Navy, they returned to Coronado to finish their paperwork and exit interviews, turning their equipment in for inventory. Quinn and Finnegan decided to stay for a few days and just relax as civilians with their brother and Priscilla. Or at least that was the plan.
“Well, we’re no longer SEALs,” said River standing on the beach with his brothers.
“We’ll always be SEALs,” said Finnegan. “We’re just not active duty. Did anyone else think the reasons he gave were all bullshit? I mean, how do you say you have to leave the teams but you’ll get all your benefits, and we don’t get suspicious about it.”
“I agree,” said Quinn, “but I’m sure River doesn’t give a shit. He’s got a new life.”
“That’s not fair,” said River frowning at his brother. “I do give a shit. Yes, I have a new life but she was content to let me be a SEAL and she’d move here. I wanted what was best for all of us, not just me.”
“I’m sorry,” said Quinn. “I didn’t mean it to come out that way. It just all feels wrong. I guess we know how all the others before us felt when this bullshit happened to them.”
“It makes you wonder why we even bother,” said Finnegan. His brothers looked at him, confused. “I mean, why serve our country, risk our lives, take the worst missions known to man, when all they do is get pissed off when we actually go above and beyond.”
“I’m not sure we’re going to solve that issue,” said River. He looked at his watch and then at his brothers. “Priscilla’s gonna be worried we’re not back yet. I’m sure she’s anxious to hear what happened.”
“I’d like to hear what happened,” frowned Quinn. “I went numb after, ‘thank you gentlemen for your service’.”
“It will all work out,” said River slapping his brother’s back. He and Finnegan began walking toward the house then turned, waiting for Quinn. “Quinn?”
“Hold on,” he said staring off down the beach. “Are you guys seeing what I’m seeing?”
Before they could answer, his shoes were off and he was running in full dress uniform, sans shoes, down the beach.
“Well, shit,” muttered Finnegan. “So much for retirement.”
They could see what he was seeing a good two-hundred yards down the beach. A man was gripping the ponytail of a woman, dragging her kicking and screaming down the beach.
Quinn got there first, stepping in front of the man, his big hand in the center of his chest.
It was the start of a very long few weeks with Quinn and April but Finnegan was happy to help his brother.
That made brother number two down for the count. Meeting April changed Quinn in all the best ways and Finn couldn’t be happier for his newly married brothers.
He’d thought of marriage and of dating someone steady for a few years. Especially since the woman he wanted to date was finally a young woman, or at least everyone was telling him she was a young woman, old enough, smart enough, ready for what he might offer.
But Finn still had his doubts. Their age gap was significant enough that it worried him slightly. What if she wasn’t as mature as everyone claimed?
He’d been around her for her entire life but they didn’t ‘hang out’ together. What if she appeared mature and solid in front of her parents and others, but behind closed doors, with friends, she was a giggling, bumbling, idiot?
He didn’t mean to have those thoughts but they crept in whether he liked it or not.
At Quinn and April’s wedding, Finn spotted the only woman he’d thought about for the last four years. Unfortunately, she was dancing with an old schoolmate, now an attorney for the company.
Finn was not amused.
Patrick watched his only single son at Quinn’s wedding and smiled to himself. He noticed Finnegan seated, watching the crowds and wondered if he were contemplating someone as a future wife. There were plenty of women in the crowd. Many too young, but many within an appropriate age range.
“Seeing your future?” he asked smiling down at him. Finn stood laughing at his father.
“Don’t push, Dad. I’m just happy for Quinn and for River.”
“Wavy has grown into a beautiful young woman,” he said to his son. Finn jerked his head to the side, staring at his father.
“Willa. Her name is Willa. I hate that nickname, Wavy. And yes, she’s beautiful and young and if that asshole Brian Talbot doesn’t stop dancing with her I’m going to pound his face in.”
Finn turned on his heels and walked in the opposite direction. Patrick could only nod his head, smiling at his third son.
“So, it’s Willa,” grinned Margo. “We suspected as much.”
“Yep. Now, we have to figure out how to make him realize that she’s not so young any longer.” Margo took her husband’s hand and led him to the dance floor.
“Let’s let him figure that out. It usually works best that way. But just in case, maybe warn Brian so he doesn’t get the shit beat out of him.” Patrick laughed, swearing that he’d give a bit of a warning to poor Brian.
Willa knew that Finn was watching her but he didn’t do a damn thing. He didn’t ask her to dance. He didn’t come and sit with her or offer her a drink. He didn’t even bother to say hello or compliment her dress or her hair.
He just frowned at her. She’d finally had enough.
“Another dance, Willa?” asked Brian.
“Oh. Oh, no Brian. Thank you but I think I need to speak to someone.” Brian turned and smiled at Finn, nodding.
“I get it. We were just having fun, Willa. Please let him know that,” he laughed. Willa gave him a knowing grin and stood, walking toward Finn’s table. She took the seat next to him and stared at him.
“You’ve been frowning at me all night, Finn. Do you want to tell me why or am I supposed to guess at what I did to piss you off when you’ve barely spoken to me?” said Willa.
“You didn’t do anything. And don’t cuss. You’re too young for that,” he said twirling a butter knife on the table.
“Too young?” she laughed. “What in the world is wrong with you? Finn, I’m twenty-three, almost twenty-four.
I’ve finished my degree in nursing, almost done with my master’s work.
I work at the clinic, saving people every damn day.
I make my own money, live in my own cottage and I’ve been waiting for five years for you to notice me. ”
Finn looked up at her, shocked by her statement.
“At least Brian Talbot had the courage to ask me to dance. He’s nice, he’s fun, and he treats me well.”
“So, you’re dating him?” frowned Finn.
“God, you are so dense!”
She stormed out of the tent, her backless dress only serving to ignite him further. He followed her, the eyes of everyone in the room tracking the retreating couple.
When she got outside, in spite of the cold, Willa took off toward the gardens hoping to hide from Finn. But she knew she couldn’t. He was very good. She should have just headed to her cottage but it was a long walk and she was freezing.
Finn found her seated on the cold stone bench, her shoulders shaking from the chill in the air. He took off his jacket, gently placing it over her shoulders.
“Thank you,” she sniffed. “You can go back to the party.”
“Do you want me to go back to the party?” he asked.
“Finn, do you ever take hints? Am I not communicating anything to you? I mean, I can try to do better but you’re seriously starting to piss me off,” she said staring at him. That earned her a grin.
“Well, let me see if I have it right so far. You’re more than old enough for me at the ripe old age of twenty-three, almost twenty-four. You’re intelligent. Accomplished. Fully employed and not dating Brian Talbot. Do I have it right?”
“Yes,” she said grinding her teeth together.
“And,” he said pulling her closer, wrapping his arms around her, “if I’m reading your anger properly, you may actually be interested in me.”
“Give the man a prize,” she said quietly, relaxing in his embrace and warmth.
“I’ve got the prize, Willa. You. You’re the prize I’ve always wanted.”
Willa looked up at his handsome face and shook her head in disbelief. He was unbelievably annoying but he was so damn handsome and sweet, she couldn’t help but love him. She’d always loved him.
“Yes, Finn,” she said calmly. “I’ve been interested in you since I turned sixteen. I was smart enough to not say anything then. I thought you would look my way when I turned eighteen. But you didn’t. So I waited. Then I hoped you would look my way at my twenty-first birthday. But you didn’t.”
“I danced with you,” he said with a smirk.
“You’re annoying me again,” she frowned. He chuckled, nodding his head.
“I do that sometimes. You should know that about me. Willa, I didn’t make an advance toward you because I didn’t think you were ready. Maybe I wasn’t ready knowing I would continue to be deployed. I didn’t want to be the man that broke you.”
“You wouldn’t have broken me, Finn. I’m a lot stronger than you think. I can handle more than you know.”
“I know you are strong,” he said pushing her beautiful chestnut curls from her face. She had the features of her grandmother but she was tall and strong, like her father and mother. “You’re one of the strongest women I know and I know about a hundred or so.”
She could only laugh, shaking her head at him.
“I’ve waited, Finn. You’re the only man I’ve ever loved even if it was from a distance. I knew that you were the man for me.”
“I am, huh?” he smirked.
“Yes, you are,” she smiled. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, folding her legs on top of his thighs. “I’m cold, Finn. Either take me back to the tent or walk me home.”
“Willa,” he whispered, leaning his forehead against hers. “I want so desperately to take you to your cottage but I’m afraid I won’t leave.”
“Then don’t,” she said kissing his lips softly. His reaction was so swift, Willa lost her breath. He pulled her onto his lap, wrapping the coat tightly around her, gripping the lapels of his jacket.
“Woman, you have no idea what you’re doing to me,” he growled.
“Finn, I’m a nurse,” she grinned against his lips. “I have a very good idea of what I’m doing to you. But…”
“But? But what?” he frowned. Willa giggled, looking up at him.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for this to go so far. The only but is that I have some final exams for my master’s program this week. I really should study.”
“Then that’s what you need to do,” he said kissing her again. He stood, lifting her with him and gently setting her feet on the ground. “Let me walk you home.”
“That sounds perfect.”