Page 48 of Moore to Love

“I can’t blame the guy for finally pulling his head out of his ass and realizing what he lost.” Finn pulled me against his chest to give me a hug.

“I don’t think that guy caught on to the fact that you already peed around Ellie.” John shook his head and chuckled. “Covered up any claim he might have had on her before.”

Everything that had just happened with Thad had left my brain whirling, but I was pretty sure I’d still remember something like that. “Peed on me?”

“Not on,around,” John corrected as though that would clear it all up for me.

“Ignore him,” Finn suggested. “Like I said before, John likes to think he’s funny. But he’s not.”

“Aw, c’mon,” John groaned. “You’re not going to cut me any slack after how I just helped get rid of her ex? Just because I flirted with your woman before you even claimed her?”

“You flirted with me?” I pointed at my chest. “When? Because I don’t remember anything like that happening.”

“When he came in to see why Rufus was off his food,” I muttered, glaring at the police officer.

“You’re a lucky guy.” John clapped Finn on the back. “Even before you made your move like I suggested, she only had eyes for you, man.”

I nodded as he headed back to his squad car. “He isn’t wrong about that. I thought about you way too often after that day on the sidewalk in front of Ryland and Waverly’s office.”

“And he’s also right about me being lucky.” Finn brushed his lips against mine. “Because I jumped at the chance to hire you even though I knew how hard it would be to keep my hands off you.”

I trailed my finger down the middle of his chest. “It’s a good thing you don’t need to try anymore since you can touch me all you want.”

“Is the coast clear?” a woman called from the passenger seat of a car parked at the curb in front of my house.

“Shit,” Finn groaned. “What’re my parents doing here?”

“I can’t believe I’m meeting your mom and dad like this.” I tucked my hands in my pockets as my face heated. “They’re going to think I’m awful if they witnessed that whole mess with Thad.”

Finn pressed a finger against my chin to tilt my head back until I met his gaze. “My mom and dad aren’t going to judge you based on someone else’s actions.”

I hoped he was right because they had climbed out of the car and were headed our way. His mom shook her head with a sigh, waving her hand at Finn as she climbed my front steps. “Is there a reason you’re walking around outside without a shirt? I thought I taught you better than that.”

“From what I overheard, it sounded as though that was your ex?”

Reaching for Finn’s hand to grip it tightly, I nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

“None of this ma’am business. It makes me feel old. Please call me Patty,” she offered.

His dad flashed me a smile that reminded me of Finn’s. “And I’m Bruce.”

“Mom, Dad,” Finn drawled, pulling me against his side and wrapping his arm around my back. “This is Ellie, my girlfriend.”

“I’m so sorry we’re meeting like this.” I grimaced. “I’m not sure what my ex was thinking, causing a ruckus like that.”

“No need to apologize,” she reassured me. “Smart women have been hoodwinked by men since the dawn of time.”

“I…um…thank you?” I stammered, stunned by her easy acceptance of what she’d witnessed with Thad.

She patted my hand with a smile. “At least you got two adorable children out of it.”

“I did, Benjamin and Madison.”

“And you’ve upgraded now that you’re with Finn.” She went up on her toes to give her son a kiss. “His father taught him how to be a good partner.”

“Only because you wouldn’t put up with anything less,” Bruce joked.

She elbowed him in the side. “Darn tootin’.”

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