Page 124 of Better Luck Next Time

Lee had worked out a deal with the gallery. They’d agreed to assist with the transportation costs, which would come out of her commission. He’d video called her while she was at home making dinner with Finn to give her the final details.

“What if the pieces don’t sell?” she’d asked.

“They’ll sell,” Finn and Lee had said simultaneously, and they’d all laughed together.

Lee’s expression once again serious, he’d added, “If they don’t sell, then I’ll pay for it myself, an offer I only make because I know it’ll never happen.” Which was a lie she didn’t call him out on. She knew he’d do it anyway, for her. “I’ve seen your work, Addy. This is just the start of great things for you.”

“Nah, I’ve already got plenty of great things.” She glanced over her shoulder at Finn and winked.

“So cheesy,” he said, shaking his head, but his grin gave him away.

To Adalia’s surprise, Lee was fully accepting of Finn. Given his attempt to interfere with Georgie’s relationship with River, she’d expected resistance, but then again, their situation was different. River technically worked for Georgie, and her brother wasn’t the sort who understood mixing business with pleasure. Or pleasure with pleasure, given his choice of girlfriend.

“He makes you happy, Addy,” Lee had said when she’d mentioned it during their now-weekly Sunday afternoon video chats. (She could only assume Victoria had some sort of recurring Pilates class.) “Anyone who makes you that happy is good with me.” But there was something in his expression that raised her suspicions.

Her eyes narrowed. “You looked into him.”

Lee shrugged. “I regret that I didn’t do more about the Alan situation. Besides, it was only a small background check, nothing too in depth, so it didn’t cost much.”

It had taken a few seconds for that to sink in. “You hired aprivate investigatorto do a background check? I thought you’d just Googled him!”

His eyes hardened. “No one’s going to hurt you and get away with it, Addy. Never again.”

To her surprise, Finn hadn’t been offended in the least, and in fact, it had endeared her brother to him. “If I had a younger sister, I would have done exactly the same thing.”

“You only say that because he approves of you,” she’d said, hands on her hips.

He’d grinned. “What’s not to approve?”

They’d been worried about the fallout of her name being inTheNew York Timespiece about Alan, but so far, she’d mostly received support. Alan had been suspended from the Lanier School, and Lee was certain he’d be fired. Her father had sent her a letter—a literal, pop-it-in-the-mail letter, although he’d typed it rather than handwritten it—saying he wished she would have employed more restraint. And better judgment. She’d cut it into little pieces and incorporated them into a painting full of reds. This one she hadn’t attempted to destroy. Several artists were joining forces for a civil suit, but Adalia had told the others she wasn’t interested. She was ready to move on with her life.

And it feltgood. Finn and Adalia were both busy, him with launching his consulting business, her with her art, but they tried to cook dinner together several times a week, switching between their houses, especially since Finn had admitted how much homemade meals meant to him. He often went with her to the studio space in the evenings and worked on proposals and whatever wizardry he came up with for his clients while she worked on her pieces, Tyrion always with them.

She was happy. No, it was deeper than that—she was content. So much so, she worried it was too good to be true. Finn had told her he’d always wanted to camp out in his back yard when he was a kid, but his parents wouldn’t allow it. So she’d made it happen. And that night, as they lay under the stars in the back yard, she confessed to Finn that she’d never felt like this, and she was terrified it would be snatched away.

He’d cupped her cheek, and his blue-green eyes had searched hers. “I’m not going anywhere, Adalia. You’re the very best thing that has stormed into my life. Why would Ieverrisk losing you?”

So here she was, at the end of an event that had been successful in every right. They’d sold every ticket. Maisie’s speech had tugged heartstrings, and the guests loved the puppies. The last-minute food was delicious. The artists had all sold more pieces than expected. And Dog is Love had a few thousand more dollars to keep the lights on and give love to abandoned pets.

Finn was on the other side of the room, talking to a couple who were admiring one of Blue’s unsold pieces, a hanging octopus rendered in shades of blue and fuchsia. He looked impossibly handsome in his dark suit and tie. As if sensing her scrutiny, he turned his head slightly and caught her eye. A slow smile spread across his face—the one he brought out only for her—and her stomach somersaulted.

“Happiness looks good on you, dear,” Dottie said, bustling up to her. “Now, are you quite sure you won’t be attending the after-party? Stella was disappointed she couldn’t bring the goats, so I promised her we’d have a petting zoo in my back yard. Lurch and Josie are setting everything up as we speak.” Lurch and Josie were both ex-Buchanan Brewery staffers, and from what Adalia had seen at the couple of parties she’d attended with them, she suspected the party would rage well into the night. It was the kind of event she usually wouldn’t miss for the world, but she had other plans.

Jack came up and hugged her. After sharing the news about his sister, Iris, with her and Georgie, he’d become much more open with them. He’d privately told her that her reaction to the news had been his favorite. She’d said, “I’d be happy to get another secret sibling every month if they all have a right hook like you do.”

In truth, she’d been happy to learn his secret wasn’t something sordid. His obvious affection for his sister only bolstered her opinion of him.

“Come on, Adalia,” Jack said. “Stella stopped by earlier and she said her goats had formed a taste for Finn’s clothes. She suspects he’ll be down to his boxers within minutes of stepping into Dottie’s back yard.”

“Boxer briefs,” she corrected, grinning.

He pulled a face.

Maisie came up to them then. There was dog hair on her green dress, something that made Adalia smile fondly as she reached out to brush it off. One of her volunteers had already taken the puppies back to the shelter, but Maisie had stuck around to “pull more heartstrings,” as she’d put it.

“Four adoptions,” Maisie said with a wide grin. “And I found a foster home for a senior dog too.”

“That’s certainly something to celebrate, dear,” Dottie said with the smile of a carnival barker who knows they’ve caught someone’s interest. “Why don’t you head over to my house early for the after-party?” Her gaze shot to Jack. “Both of you. You can help finish the setup, and we can enjoy the back yard before the other guests show up.”

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