Page 23 of Unintentionally Yours

Layla’s brow rose. She rarely heard her mother curse.

“I’m right here, Mom.” Layla stepped out from behind Finn. “What are you doing here?”

“What am I—Layla, have you lost your mind?” Her mother threw up her hands. “Running off on your wedding day? Staying with some…some mountain man?”

“Mother,” Layla began when she was interrupted by Randy stepping forward.

“Get your things,” he ordered, his expression sneering as he looked at her dressed in Finn’s oversized flannel shirt. “This behavior will not be tolerated when we are married.”

“Tolerated,” Layla began before Finn gently pushed her back behind him. He crossed his arms, biceps flexing impressively. Randy took a step back.

The older woman recognized the stubborn set of her daughter’s jaw and attempted to defuse the situation. “Sweetie, we can forget this ever happened.”

Layla shook her head. “I’m not ready to go home yet, Mom. I will. But not just now.”

Her mother looked from her to Finn and then shook her head. “Layla, please, be reasonable. You have your whole life waiting for you. A good man who loves you.”

Layla barked a humorless laugh. “Randy doesn’t love me. He loves the idea of me. Of who he thinks he can turn me into.”

Her mother pressed her lips together. “I just want you to be happy.”

Randy made a disgusted noise. “This is ridiculous. Layla, get your things. We’re leaving.”

Finn stepped forward, putting himself right in Randy’s face. “No, you listen.” His voice was low and deadly. “Layla is mine. Do you understand that? I want all of her. Her beautiful curves, her sass. Her snark. Her uncompromising, stubborn attitude. Even,” he turned and looked at Layla. “Even if I have to share my sour cream and onion potato chips.”

“Oh, Finn.” Layla launched herself into Finn’s arms. “Do you mean that? Because I love you. I really do.”

Finn closed his arms around her, holding her as tight as he could. “I know, baby. I love you, too. You are more than I deserve.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she promised. “You’re stuck with me now, mountain man.”

Finn’s lips curved up in the beautiful smile he had. “Promise?”

“Promise,” Layla leaned in to kiss him, sealing the vow with lips and tongue. “No more running for either of us. We do this together, come what may. Deal?”

Finn’s answer was a kiss, long and slow and achingly sweet. It tasted like hope and new beginnings.

Like forever.

“Um, I hate to break this up…” A soft voice interrupted them along with the slam of a car door. Her mother stood there but Randall had gone to the car where he sat sulking like a teenager.

Layla blinked back tears as her mother stepped forward to pull her into a hug. “Be happy, baby girl,” she whispered fiercely.

Layla laughed, hugging her back. “I will. I promise.

Her mother turned to Finn, jabbing a finger at him. “You take care of my girl, you got that?”

Finn nodded solemnly. “With everything I have.”

With a final nod, Layla’s mother turned on her heel. She opened the car door and looked back at them over her shoulder. Her gaze me Finn’s. “Be good to my daughter. All I ever wanted was for her to be happy.”

Finn and Layla watched as she got into her car and drove away. Layla turned to Finn, a somewhat dazed expression on her face. “Did that really just happen.”

Finn nodded his head. “Apparently, your mother is full of surprises.”

“That makes two of you. Did you mean what you said?”

Finn’s gaze went molten, his hands pulling her back into his arms. “Yes, Layla Bryant, aka Goldilocks, I meant every word. You. Are. Mine. Forever.”

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