Page 160 of Finn Rhodes Forever

“Hello,wife.”

The word made my skin tingle. He’d been trying it out for days, sometimes in public. I had to shush him to keep the secret. My mind flicked to last night when I gripped the headboard while he took me hard, gritting that word into my ear. In the bar, my face heated and Finn smirked like he knew what I was thinking.

“You’re lucky,” Beck told us.

Finn and I exchanged a smile. “We know,” I said.

Finn leaned toward Beck. “Is the boat done for the season?”

Beck sighed and leaned back in his chair. “It’s in my garage until spring.”

I studied his regretful expression. Sometimes, it seemed like his boat was the only reprieve Beck had from the demanding hours at the hospital.

“Are things still busy at work?” I asked him.

His eyebrows lifted. “I think things are about to get better. One of my dad’s old friends, a specialist from Toronto, is moving here for retirement and he’s going to be working part time at the hospital. My dad’s hiring another doctor to mentor under the specialist.” He frowned. “They brought someone in for a third interview today. I haven’t met them, though. They’re keeping the interviews private until they make a final decision on the candidate.”

“That’s good, right? More time for hanging out on your boat.”

He laughed quietly. “Yeah, I guess.” He stood. “Be right back.”

He slipped away and Finn and I sat there, saying hello to the people who came up to congratulate us.

The redheaded woman from earlier in the summer appeared at my side, sending confused glances around the bar. Tourist season was mostly over so we hadn’t bothered closing the bar for a private party. Her eyes narrowed as she read the sign above the bar and then took in my dress and Finn’s suit.

I beamed at her. “Hi.”

“Hi.” She winced. “I came in for a drink but…” She trailed off, biting her lip. “I should go.”

“Stay.” I gestured at the seat Beck had left empty. “Did you have another interview?”

She nodded, a small crease forming between her eyebrows. “I did. I’m Cassidy, by the way.”

“Olivia.” I gestured to Finn. “This is Finn, my…” Our gazes met and he wiggled his eyebrows at me. “My husband, I guess.”

Finn shot me a flat, amused look. “Youguess?”

I choked out a laugh. “You are. I signed the papers. Everyone saw.”

He chuckled and reached out to shake Cassidy’s hand. “Hey, Cassidy.”

She glanced up at the sign again. “So this is not a birthday party.”

I shrugged. “We lied.” I gestured around the party. “It’s our wedding. Surprise.”

She snorted, surveying the room with an amused expression. “This place is weird.”

“Yeah.” Finn and I grinned at each other. “Queen’s Cove is really weird.” I turned back to her. “Where are you interviewing?”

“Interviewing,” Beck repeated at my side, staring at Cassidy with a weird, tense expression, like he’d seen a ghost. He blinked at her.

Cassidy looked at Beck with a cold glare. “Are youfuckingkidding me?” she hissed at him.

Finn and I exchanged a charged, curious glance.

Beck’s eyes were still on Cassidy. “What are you doing here?” He didn’t sound welcoming.

Her back went ramrod straight and she laughed without humor. “Don’t tell me you’re trying to get the mentorship, too? God, what are you, stalking me or something?”

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