Page 103 of Better Luck Next Time

His heart ached in his chest. Should he go up after her? Talk to her?

But he’d said his piece, and ultimately, he hadn’t expressed himself badly.

If she decided to think the worst of him, the way almost everyone had decided to think the worst of him, he couldn’t do anything about it. He’d done everything he could to prove himself to her, and if that wasn’t enough…

Jezebel hacked as if she’d eaten poison, and he saw that she’d tried some of Adalia’s entree. Was it some kind of sign that the first dinner they’d cooked together had been delicious, while this one was inedible? The cat gave him a withering look of judgment, then slunk off as Adalia came back down the stairs. She had her clothes on, although she was carrying the fanny pack instead of wearing it—almost as if that bit of tongue-in-cheek fun was too much for such a weighty moment.

“You might want to get your clothes on,” she said. “I asked Jack to come over to help with the menagerie. I don’t want toinconvenienceyou.”

Her words were barbed, but he saw it for what it was—self-defense.

He stood from the table, and from the meal he hadn’t tried (not that he was keen to taste it at this point), and even though he knew she would likely turn him away, he went to her and wrapped his arms around her. There was a certain vulnerability to be in only boxer briefs while she was fully clothed. It made him a bit uncomfortable, but that was the point.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he whispered. He wasn’t sure why he said it like that. Maybe the words just felt like they should be spoken in an undertone.

The cat had slunk over to join the dog on the couch, and she and Tyrion were lying together in apparent harmony, grease-stained faces on the cushions. If Adalia saw, she’d likely worry about the furniture, but he thought it was kind of sweet. Like a lion lying down with a lamb.Focus, Finn.

At least Adalia hadn’t pulled away.

“The last thing I wouldeverwant to do is hurt you. But in case you haven’t noticed, I sometimes speak a little faster than I think. Can we please talk about this? The company, Alan…all of it?”

He pulled back to look at her, and there were tears in her eyes. One of them tracked down her cheek, and he traced it with a finger.

“Oh, Addy, I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

“I know you didn’t,” she said with a trembling smile. “You’re just that good at it.”

“It’s about the last thing I’d like to be good at,” he said, cupping her cheek.

“I know, you goof. I’m kidding. I’m sorry too. It’s amazing that you’re doing this…the consulting thing, I mean. It’s a natural fit.”

Why did it sound like she thought that was a bad thing?

“Let’s talk this weekend,” she added. She must have seen the alarm on his face, because she bit her lip and looked down. “I need some time to think.”

“Whatever you need,” he said, pulling away. But her words had dug in under his skin. He knew he’d be interpreting and reinterpreting them tonight. Tomorrow. Every day and night until she agreed to see him again. “I’d better get dressed before Jack gets here.”

He took a step toward the stairs, but she tugged him back by the arm and kissed him. A sweet, simple kiss that confused the hell out of him.

“It was a beautiful day, Finn,” she said.

There was something sad about the way she said it, something that made him think he was maybe already turning into a memory for her. Something in her rearview mirror as she went on to do the great things he had no doubt she would accomplish.

He found himself thinking again about Lola and the cards she’d drawn for him and Adalia. She’d said someone from the past would come back into their lives, causing them heartache, and help would come from the last person they’d expected. He’d thought he would be that person for Adalia…but what if he was wrong?

And who was supposed to helphim?

Chapter Thirty-Five

Jack pulled into the driveway just as Finn disappeared from view. Adalia stepped outside and stood on the porch, quickly closing the door behind her.

“Did you bring the cat carrier?” she asked the second he got out of the car.

He gave her a weird look as he pulled out a pet carrier and shut the car door. “Yeah. And I hurried, just as you requested. Is everything okay?”

“The deal was no questions, Jack,” she snapped.

Instead of getting pissed, he looked perplexed. “I take it you want me to deal with Jezebel since you seem to think I have some spell over her.”

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