Chapter 21
Vee
“What was it?” Fin asked.
I spun my glass by its stem and stared down into the swirling wine as legs dripped down the inside of the glass. Looking up, my focus was the handsome blue gaze looking back at me. “Detective Oldson said my dad met with Edward Clark the Saturday evening before his accident.”
Fin’s eyebrows came together. “Bre told me that Reid went to her place Saturday night for dinner.”
“Did she specifically say for dinner? I mean, he could have gone there after he met with Ed.”
“I’m sure she specifically said dinner.”
“That was what I recalled you telling me. Grant said Dad was gone from the house Sunday night. And you said Bre said she didn’t see Dad on Sundays, that it was family time. Where was Dad Sunday night?”
“If Bre lied about Saturday night, she could be lying about Sunday night.”
“She could be,” I agreed. “Or Dad could have been meeting with another potential investor in his infrastructure dealings.”
“I don’t know how you can find the answer to this question,” Fin said. “How did the detective learn that Reid met with Edward?”
“I don’t know. Maybe Dad paid and they were able to track his credit card charges.”
“Vee, let the police do their job. You have enough to think about without trying to be Nancy Drew.”
Scrunching my nose, I said, “When I was young, I was a fan of The Boxcar Children.”
“I was a fan of adventure like Hatchet.”
I nodded. “I’ve been tempted to call Preston to see if he knows anything about our fathers’ meeting or about Ed pledging a large sum of money to commission a hotel in Lexington.”
Fin pressed his firm lips together. “Remember me telling you that Clark said his father had his fixer investigate your family?”
Rolling my eyes, I replied, “When we first started dating. Because he was concerned about the lack of generational wealth.”
“And he discovered that shit about the possible way your grandfather double-crossed your uncle’s father. Now you find out Edward Clark and your dad had a contentious meeting. Isn’t that the word you used?”
I nodded. “It’s the word Detective Oldson used. This is bizarre.”
Fin walked around the island and kissed the top of my head. “Like some kind of crime-thriller-movie type of shit.”
“First, I prefer the kind of mystery that solves itself in two hundred pages or less. And second, my dad wasn’t involved with crime. He was simply seeking investments in Lexington’s infrastructure. This is all giving me a headache.”
Standing, I walked around the island to the stove and opened the oven. Peeking in, I felt a flood of dry heat warm my face. The pan of lasagna was beginning to bubble around the edges. I closed the oven. “We’re getting close. On my way home, I stopped by the bakery and picked up focaccia.”
Fin grinned. “You were in an Italian mood. I’ll get out the oil and vinegar, and we can dig in before the lasagna is ready.”
After dinner, I helped Fin with his sling.
“You know I hate this thing, right?” he asked.
“I know if you overuse your left shoulder, it will be slower to heal.” A smile came to my lips as I looked up into his cobalt orbs. “I don’t want you to get hurt. So maybe we should leave it off and then you won’t be cleared to play.”
With his free hand, Fin reached around and smacked his palm against my ass.
“Ouch. What was that for?”
“A reminder of who’s in charge.”
My giggle echoed through the air. Since he was wearing the sling I thought he should put on, there was clearly a balance of power.
Nevertheless, if thinking he was in control made him look at me the way he was right now—with lust in his eyes—I could play along.
“Yes, Fin.” Pushing up on my tiptoes, I kissed his cheek. “Don’t you have film to watch?”
“I do. Do you want to watch it with me?”
“Do I want to study the Bills’ defense and imagine them tearing apart the Coopers like they did the Jags? No thank you.”
“That’s not what I see. I see the vulnerabilities. I see where the Coopers can break down the Bills.”
“Good,” I said with a nod. “You keep seeing that, and I’ll go into my office for a little while.” I pursed my lips. “I think I’m going to call Preston. I need to know what was happening between our fathers.”
“See, I told you your ex keeps popping up.”
“Gail is pretty,” I admitted. It was the first time we spoke of her since the Vikings–Packers game.
He reached for my hand. “Not close to as beautiful as you.”
“I was thinking when I saw her that you don’t have a type.”
Fin cocked an eyebrow.
“I don’t know,” I continued. “I expected us to look more similar. She’s taller and has blond hair.”
“I didn’t try to get you out of my system by dating women who looked like you.
I was busy convincing myself that a gorgeous woman with long chestnut hair, stunning emerald-green eyes, the perfect height to hold against me, the softest lips, the most brilliant mind, the fiercest loyalty, and the strongest determination wasn’t part of my future. ”
“I love you. I’m beyond thankful that fate brought you back to me.”
“Coach Pratt told me why they wanted to sign me. Despite my witty comeback that the reason was because I’m a terrific quarterback, there was something else.”
“What was the something else?” I asked.
Fin narrowed his gaze. “Pratt thought maybe you told me.”
“What did he say?”
“He said that he, Beasley, and Tilson thought I would be a good mentor for Troy.”
My smile bloomed. “You’re an amazing mentor.”
His cheeks rose. “I would’ve preferred my answer, but I’ve been thinking about it, and I think it’s a compliment.”
“Fin, it’s a huge compliment. You’re rock solid. You know the game of football inside and out. During those practices where Troy and I would be watching, he would often make comments about things he was learning from you.”
“Remember me saying I want to go into broadcasting once I hang up my cleats?”
I nodded.
“Coaching might not be a bad way to go.”
“Whatever you decide, I know you’ll do amazing things. As for now, you still have two more years on your contract with the Coopers.”
“Thanks to your dad.”
“And Royce Beasley, but yeah, Dad too.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I whispered to myself as I left Fin in the living room watching film on his tablet and made my way to my office.
Sitting behind my desk, I pulled my phone from my pocket and stared down at the screen.
My one-sided conversation with Dad continued.
“Why would anyone target you? What were you and Ed Clark discussing?”
Another thought came to me. When I asked Bre about the location of the files regarding Dad’s infrastructure initiative, she never mentioned Edward Clark or Coletti Companies. Then again, she didn’t mention any of the investors. She only told me where I could find the files.
Opening my contacts, I found Preston’s name and pushed the green icon.