Page 100 of Unleashed

My hand goes to my chest, and I gasp. “I’m sorry. Richmond’s daredevil is testy. Did I just touch you more than your Becks will? Poor thing. Alas. I’m not servicing you, so don’t ask.”

He grabs my arm and yanks me into the house. I’m off to an excellent start. It always brings me enormous joy to piss off my brother since he’s a pro at doing it to me. I still love him to pieces, and he’s one of my bestest friends. Sometimes. I know he loves and wants to protect me no matter what I do. Sometimes.

In the entryway, I see Finley. She claps her little hands with a giggle. “Dome!”

“There’s my pretty girly!”

Finley squeals as she runs toward me, her mini blonde ponytail flying. She’s dressed in little denim overalls, which is a shame. This kid should wear Givenchy or Prada, not farm wear. She’s a model in the making, and she’ll blow her dad’s money and then this town. I squat to catch her and kiss her squishy cheeks.

Finn shuts the door, stops beside me, and puts his hands on his hips. “Did you have to work this morning?”

“Yes, and thanks for asking before you demanded an audience with me.” He crinkles his nose like I’m a crazy ho. I may be crazy, but I’m also an educated ho who paid attention in literature class when it didn’t waste my time. Jane Austen was worth my time. I shrug. “I came to see your progeny. Look up that word.” Finn rolls his eyes, and I turn to Finley. “Tell Daddy to buy a thesaurus or go back to school and pay attention instead of bribing girls.”

Wilderness shoots me a dirty look as Finley shrieks, “Daddy funny!” and throws her little baby hands over her mouth. This kid is going places.

“I sure am. Tell Aunt Dome to fly a kite.” Finn picks her up to kiss her cheek, earning more baby giggles. He’s such a marshmallow for his baby. Too bad his brain is pure fluff.

I look around the entryway and into their blue living room. “Where’s your bride? I forget her name. Betsy?”

His smirk is sarcastic. “Hilarious. She’s in the kitchen.”

“Who? Betsy?”

He rolls his eyes. “Knock it off.”

“You BFFs now?”

“No, but I don’t have to yell at Betsy like I do with you.”

“She has a crush on you.”

He scowls like he smells rotten food. “I don’t need to know that.”

“I wonder what she does in bed when she thinks of you.”

He shrugs, but his disgusted frown remains. “Whatever she wants.”

“Not surprising for a narcissist.” I walk into the kitchen and see Hadley setting down plates. She’s wearing her usual ponytail and our maroon team shirt and jeans. Such a denim-loving family.

“Hey, Simone.” She looks past me and then at Finn. “Did you get home okay last night?”

“Uh...sure. Are you taking Finley to practice?”

Finn says, “Yep. She’s your relief catcher.”

Hadley laughs. “Val’s husband, Paul, wants to take her to the Maymont Japanese Garden.”

“What a rip-roaring time,” I mutter. “Afterward, Paul can take her to the historical society and a shuffleboard tournament.”

Hadley swats my arm as she giggles. “She enjoys going to the garden. And Paul is her adopted grandpa. They adore each other. Finley doesn’t see your mom or Finn’s dad as often, or mine...at all.” She clears her throat and changes the subject. “Can you put Finley in her high chair? So last night, Rhonda took you home?”

“She did.” I hand Finn my purse. “Thank you, good sir. Make haste. We shan’t dally.” I don’t know why I’m talking like that, but his confused facial expressions are totally worth the effort.

As a pro at the babysitting gig, I slide Finley into her chair and lock her tray into position.

Hadley brings me a Diet Pepsi in a glass, my preferred drink at their house. After Finn hangs my purse on the coat rack, he brings me a plate of meat that has seen better days in a dog food dish. “What’s this supposed to be?”

Hadley grins as she sets a bowl on Finley’s tray. “It’s your brother’s famous cheeseburger meatloaf.”

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