More of You: The Home Series, Book Two Read online

  Finn’s wheels are spinning, knowing how important that car is to me since it’s from Daddy.

  “What if I get rid of the Bronco? I’ve had some guys from the shop ask about it recently. Then we can keep your car and get you something else. I’ll drive the Audi and you’ll drive the new van.”

  I get as close to him as I can with my belly and whisper in his mouth, “How bout we go in the back and forget about car shopping.”

  He chuckles. “I’m not budging. We need to take care of this soon. What if I get rid of my ride, we keep your car and get you an SUV instead.”

  “You would do that for me?”

  He stares into my eyes for a beat or two and then talks. “When are you gonna learn that I’ll do just about anything for you and those babies, Magpie?”

  I thought Finn was manic with the baby apps. Car shopping with Finn just might kill me. I’m shopping based solely on how cute the car is. He’s comparing safety ratings, blue book values, gas mileage, and all that other boring stuff that I couldn’t care less about.

  “How about I take Troy or Landon with me to look? I can give you my top three choices and you buy what you want. If I have to continue doing this with you, I might strangle you.”

  “What’s the problem?” he asks, looking at me, puzzled.

  “Finn, I care about two things-cuteness and color. I don’t care about any of that other shit. I don’t want to hear about it. I don’t want to listen to you haggling over prices with sweaty salesmen in cheap suits. This is making me puke. It’s certainly not good for my blood pressure.”

  He pulls me in his arms, shaking his head. “You’re such a girl.”

  “Duh,” I tell him. “Can we just go? I will handle the shopping on my own. You can do all the man stuff later.”

  A week later, the Bronco is gone and Finn and I are sharing my car. I don’t mind, but I’d rather find something else so I don’t have to tote him around. I give him my car for the day, and Troy and I head out to shop for SUV’s. Finn’s provided us with the IIHS Top Safety Picks, along with explicit instructions not to stray from the list. He’s got the minivans highlighted, but I just can’t do it. I’m too young to be hauling kids around in a minivan all day.

  “I know this is probably falling on deaf ears, but you two need to try to stay focused today. Find a car, Maggie. I’m ready to do this. Troy, make sure she eats and doesn’t get too tired. Her blood pressure machine is in the car. She needs to take a reading when you go to lunch. Have her write it down.”

  “Yes, Dad,” we both respond simultaneously, and then break out in laughter.

  “I should have sent Landon with you,” he mutters, then pulls me in his arms. “Be safe, Maggie. Don’t forget to take a reading.” He runs his fingers through my hair and stops at the nape of my neck. “Call me if you need anything.”

  One yummy kiss from those soft lips and then he turns to Troy.

  “Watch her close. If she starts getting a headache, get her home and into bed.”

  “I got it.”

  Finn moves to shake his hand and Troy smirks. “No kiss bye for me?”

  Finn blows him a kiss and is out the door.

  “This is so fun,” Troy claps as we pull into the first dealership. “I’ve never had a sugar daddy before. I mean, seriously, you just get to go pick out a car and he’s gonna come back and buy it? Just like that?”

  “It’s not for me. I need a way to get these kids around. I can’t do it in my car.”

  “When are you going to pull your head outta your ass? That Irishman is so in love with you it’s sickening. This isn’t just about the babies.”

  “I don’t know, Troy. He’s never said anyth-”

  “Really? You can’t just rely on words. Look at the way he treats you. The man would do anything for you.” He sighs and grabs my hand. “Maggie, you tell me everything that happens between the two of you. He may not have said those exact three little words, but he’s said a whole hell of a lot more. It doesn’t seem like he’s got a lot of experience with love. He may not know how to say it but, trust me, he loves you.”

  I nod, not really knowing what to say. I hope Troy is right. I just have a hard time determining if Finn’s feelings are because of the babies. Could we be in a relationship if you took the babies out of the equation? Would I be enough for him? It’s not a rational thought to think since it’s not a possibility, but I can’t help it. I need to just relax and let things happen.

  “Come on, let’s go find you a mom-mobile,” Troy says, getting my focus back to the task at hand.

  Several exhausting hours later, I have decided on a car. I didn’t make a top three for Finn, I just picked my favorite. I think he’ll agree and get it. I did pick the Top Safety Pick+ Winner from his list when I decided on a Toyota Highlander, so Finn should be satisfied.

  By the time we finish for the day, my feet are swollen, my head is pounding, and my blood pressure is hovering close to the danger zone. Troy hangs with me at the apartment until Finn gets home, even though I end up just crashing on the couch. My blood pressure came down once I got home and rested, but I’m still exhausted from running around all day.

  I hear Finn come in from work, but I can’t make myself fully wake up.

  “Thanks for staying with her. I tried to get away, but we had some late appointments and I just couldn’t do it.”

  “Anytime. I’ll do anything for Maggie. You don’t even have to ask. She’s like family.”

  I feel the couch sink down by my knees. Finn’s fingers glide through my hair, then stop at the base of my neck. His lips quickly touch my forehead. I feel his finger glide back and forth over my cheek bone.

  “She really wore herself out today, didn’t she?” he asks Troy.

  “It wasn’t too bad, but this blood pressure thing seems to be kicking her ass. She’s very blasé about it when I ask her.”

  “Typical Maggie. It’s not too bad right now, but it has the potential to be. I don’t think she’ll be working anymore when the doctor hears her latest set of readings. He threatened it last week, but wanted to see how she responded on this new medication first. Her pressure is still too high, even on the meds. She’ll have to take it easy until the babies come.”

  “She’ll go insane.”

  “I’ll keep her distracted.”

  Troy laughs. “You’re really good for her, Finn. She’s still Maggie, but she’s not so bitter. She’s in a good place right now. It’s because of you.”

  I can feel my heart rate picking up. I need to let them know I’m semi-awake. It seems wrong to listen in on this heart to heart they’re having about me.

  “She’s having the same effect on me. It’s like I’m living someone else’s life.” He rubs up and down my arm a few times and then continues, quieter this time. “I’m just so fucking scared it will all be ripped away from me. I’m not used to having good things in my life.”

  “You’ve made some huge changes. It’s time you were rewarded with the good stuff.”

  I stretch, letting them know I’m up. When I open my eyes, Finn’s staring down at me, smiling.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey yourself. Rough day?” he asks, kissing me gently. It’s lazy and perfect.

  “No, just long. No day can be too rough if I get to spend it with Troy.”

  “I enjoyed it too, Doll. I’m heading out. Get some more rest.”

  Finn walks him out and then comes back to the couch. He can’t really lay on it with me anymore, so he sits on the floor next to it, propping his elbow on the cushion next to my head. His other hand takes its usual position, resting on my belly.

  “I like what you picked out. A very safe and sensible choice.”

  “I knew you would.”

  “I’ll go pick it up for you tomorrow. You don’t even have to come with me. I’ll handle all the man stuff alone. Now, let’s get you to bed. I have a story to read to my children.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Just as we suspected,
Dr. Newman put the kibosh on work when I called in my newest blood pressure readings. He also put me on a second medicine that makes me feel utterly horrible. I can’t function before about noon, and then when I’m semi-coherent, it’s time for another round of meds and I’m knocked on my ass again. I just have to keep in mind that this is all for the sake of the babies, and as soon as I evict these little boogers from my uterus, my body will quit freaking out.

  Staying home on modified bed rest sucks. I have managed to binge watch everything interesting on Netflix, my besties are always at work, and Finn is swamped at the shop. Lucy is back at work, too. She’s coaching some lower level competitive teams at her former gym and is in heaven. She wasn’t sure if she was going to be able to do it, both physically and mentally, but she’s really enjoying it. Momma’s busy with Ava all the time. So, I’m sitting, eating, or sleeping my days away.

  Dr. Newman gives in to my begging, agreeing to let me go work at Ink Addiction part time. I had to promise to keep off my feet and watch my blood pressure, using a hideous monitor I have to wear on my wrist. It will beep at me whenever my blood pressure or heart rate gets too high.

  The girl that was working the front desk was fired a while back and the guys at the shop thought they could manage doing her job on their own. They did alright for a while, but now they’re in over their heads. It’s simple work, really, but they couldn’t handle doing their jobs and hers. I’m going to go in a couple of days a week in the afternoons to answer phones, book appointments, and help with the book keeping.

  Finn’s over the moon. He’s looking forward to having me with him at work and at home. I don’t know how I feel about seeing all the hussies that parade in and out of there, but I’m excited to get out of the house and do something with my time besides eat candy and watch mindless reality TV.

  I walk into the shop and am greeted by a grinning Finn, leaning against the counter, waiting for me. He grabs me and kisses me like it’s been days, and not mere hours since he’s last seen me.

  “You look hot, Magpie. You tryin’ to make everyone in here crazy? ” he asks, looking me up and down. I tried to go for ‘tattoo shop chic’ when I dressed this morning, which is not easy to do when choosing from a maternity wardrobe. I threw on some black skinny jeans and one of Finn’s faded concert tees, which shows off my huge belly. My make-up is dark and my hair is wild. I can’t keep raiding his closet, though. I see a shopping trip in my near future.

  “Hardly. I doubt anyone wants any of this,” I tell him, running my hand up and down my huge figure.

  “You couldn’t be more wrong,” he says, that mischievous twinkle gleaming in his eyes.

  I don’t know about that. Finn and I still haven’t had sex. It’s been a few weeks since I tried, but something always happens. We get interrupted, I have a headache, Finn has to work, or I can’t seem to stay awake.

  As I’m pulling away from a kiss that’s not appropriate for work, a loud, booming voice takes over the front of the shop.

  “Jesus, O’Leary, you gonna run this one off, too! She hasn’t even been here for ten minutes and you’ve got your hands all over her.”

  I turn around to see who the voice belongs to, and I see shock on his face.

  “Oh, shit. I’m sorry,” he says, taking in my current state.

  “Bear, this is Maggie. Maggie, he owns the place. Technically, he’s your boss. He’s just not here too much.”

  “Hi, umm, Bear,” I say, more as a question than a statement. This man is huge, hairy, and quite gruff looking. He looks like he’s been hanging out in the wild, not having any contact with civilization.

  I stick my hand out for a handshake and he pulls me in for a rough, tight hug.

  “Don’t listen to what I just said,” he murmurs in my ear. “O’Leary’s calmed down quite a bit since he’s hooked up with you. It’s actually been kind of boring around here. I heard we were getting a new girl for the front, I just didn’t know it was you,” he continues as he releases me from my hug. “I don’t come in too much, just like to show face every once in a while and check on things. He’s got it all under control,” Bear says, slapping Finn on the back.

  “Somebody’s got to be responsible around here,” he says, causing me to laugh.

  “And that’s you?”

  “You doubt me, Magpie? I’m the epitome of responsibility. Well, I am nowadays.”

  “Besides, this place won’t be mine for too much longer. I don’t need to hang out here. O’Leary’s running it just fine. I let him do what he wants.” He looks back to Finn. “I’ll get out of your hair. Call if you need me.”

  When he’s out the door, I spin on my heels towards Finn. “You make a habit of running girls off?”

  “I can’t help it if they couldn’t handle me.”

  “Are you really that hard to work for? Maybe I should reconsider this.”

  “That’s not what they couldn’t handle.”

  I glare at him. If I could shoot daggers from my eyes I would. “So you slept with them all and then made them quit. Let me guess, after you got in their pants it was nothing but feigned indifference on your part. Sounds like a familiar story.”

  I stomp away from him and go sit behind the desk, plopping down none too gracefully in the chair.

  “You can’t really be pissed about this. None of it happened after you, Maggie. You are fully aware of how I was before we got together. I can’t change that.” He’s behind the desk now, kneeling between my legs.

  “I just don’t like it thrown in my face.”

  He shakes his head and sighs. “He wasn’t throwing it in your face.”

  I sigh too, not really feeling like talking about this. The jealousy I feel over it is stupid and irrational. I feel like a psycho. “I know. But how many of your ‘women’ are gonna be thrown in my face while I’m here? You have quite the reputation when it comes to the extra services you provide when you tattoo.”

  “That’s all done. There are no other women. I thought we were past all of that,” he says, defeat evident in his eyes. “I can’t change any of it, but I can make damn sure I don’t do anything anymore to jeopardize this. This is all I want.”

  I nod, leaning down to kiss him. I know he’s telling the truth. But I tend to get a little crazy over these things. I just need to learn to control it.

  He reluctantly pulls back from me. “I have an appointment soon. I need to go get ready. You good?”

  “I’m good, Irish. Everything is perfect.”

  He kisses me again. “It is, isn’t it?”

  I love working at the shop with Finn. Not just because of the time we get to spend together, but he’s really in his element here. It’s obvious that tattooing is his passion. He’s proud of the work he does, and has every right to be. It’s amazing. He shows off each of his pieces to me when he finishes and they are all works of art.

  When Bennett said he’s the best around, he wasn’t blowing smoke. Finn’s appointment book is filled months in advance. I’m constantly turning people away who want ink from Finn, suggesting they get it from the other artists at the shop. The others are good, but Finn is phenomenal. I feel a deep sense of pride for him. I can’t wait until his dream comes to fruition and this place is actually his.

  Despite how good things are going, I can feel Finn pulling away from me. He seems distant, distracted, and preoccupied. Every time I bring it up he reassures me that he’s fine and I have nothing to worry about.

  “Something’s up with Finn,” I tell Lucy and Bennett. I’m sprawled out on their couch, drained from work. Not that my new job is that hard, but just being pregnant is exhausting.

  “What’s going on?” Lucy asks, sitting up tall, ready to go on attack. Lucy was never one hundred percent sold on us living together and having a relationship. It’s never been verbalized, but she’s my sister. I can read her like a book.

  “I don’t know. It’s not anything I can put my finger on. He just seems preoccupied. He’s always lost in thought
or spacing out. I just can’t figure out what’s going on. He keeps telling me he’s fine, but I don’t think he is. I feel like I’m pestering him, but I’m worried.”

  “Do you think he’s hiding something from you?” Bennett asks.

  I think about it for a minute. It would be pretty hard to do, considering we live and work together.

  “I don’t think so. We spend all of our time together.”

  “Mags, he’s got a lot going on. A family that will be here in the blink of an eye, a new business that will be his soon, a new relationship he’s trying to navigate. Maybe he’s telling you the truth and he really is fine. Sometimes he might just get like this. I know it probably seems like you’ve been with him forever, but you haven’t. This might just be a side of Finn that you don’t know.”

  As usual, Bennett comes up with a reasonable explanation. I’m sure he’s right. Finn’s handling a lot right now. I need to just let him work it out and quit worrying.

  “I think I’ll head home. Thanks for letting me vent. I love y’all.”

  I get hugs and kisses from my sister and Bennett at the door before getting in my new SUV and making the short drive home.

  When I walk in, Finn’s sitting on the couch, sketch book in one hand, beer in the other. I pause at the door, taken aback by the sight. I haven’t seen Finn drink in ages. Granted, it’s just a beer, but it worries me.

  “Hey,” I say as I make my way over to the couch. He sets the beer and the sketch book down, looking to me and smiling. It doesn’t reach his eyes.

  “Hey. How was your visit with your sister?” he asks, leaning his head against the back of the couch and shutting his eyes.

  “It was fine. I’m pretty beat, though. I think I’m gonna shower and head to bed.”

  He nods, but doesn’t say anything in return. I get in the shower, trying to hold it together and not think about what’s happening in the living room. I take the fastest shower of my life, throw on my robe, and go back out. He’s got a fresh beer in hand, and he’s back to sketching.