“What business was it of his? Wait, don’t answer that.” What area of her life had he not micromanaged? Asshole. For Haley’s sake, he didn’t rant and bitch like he wanted to, for fear of making Haley feel even worse for staying with the dickwad for so long.
Setting her feet back on the ground, she shrugged. “I do like pretty things, so I dress for me, which luckily aligned with Nate’s preferences. But I may have to invest in a few practical things. Like slippers and sweatpants.”
She grabbed their empty coffee cups and limped out of the bedroom. He wanted to haul her back in here and not let her walk on the ankle until it had fully healed, but he could see the fierce independence set in her expression, her cheek parked between her teeth, her blue eyes boiling with stubbornness. At least her head was better.
Hopping in the shower, he took his time so she could have some time alone. He’d have to see if she was up for company another day, maybe start on that furniture, or if she wanted him to go. Drying off, he wrapped the towel around his waist and headed back into the bedroom. Dammit, he’d forgotten to move the laundry along last night. Probably smelled now, so he’d have to re-wash and stay at least until the dryer was done.
Heading down the hall, he froze, hearing some guy talking in the kitchen with her. Haley’s voice was calm, but he could hear the monotone sneer in every clipped word. “Why are you here? I’m coming down in two weeks to sign all the final paperwork. The lawyers could have mailed this for me to review in advance.”
“Come on, Haley, we were married for almost ten years. It’s important that we go through this together. You deserve so much more than a share of our divided assets. Are you sure you don’t want alimony?”
Did she still have that stubborn edge to her expression, or was she wearing the phony polite face? Finn stayed out of sight, unsure what she’d prefer. Having a near-naked man come out of her bedroom was not going to be helpful at this point.
This time, her voice raised a few decibels. “I don’t want any permanent ties to you. Half of our assets should cover my inheritance from my father…” She trailed off for a moment, then continued, “And the fact that I gave up on my career goals to supportyou. I don’t blame you. It’s entirely my fault that I didn’t ignore your insistence that you would make the money while I kept the house, but because of my stupid decision to drop out foryou, I have no marketable skills. So I’m taking my share, and that’s it. All ties severed.”
“I miss you.” Slimy bastard. “We were good together.”
Haley’s voice rose an octave. “No, we weren’t. Our marriage should have ended long before you started sleeping with everyone.”
“Haley. Sweet Haley. A man has certain needs, and if his wife isn’t living up to his expectations—”
Okay, that’s it. Finn shifted the towel so it rode extra low on his hips, barely hanging on, and mussed his hair, playing up the look. Strolling into the great room, he acted startled to see the stranger in the kitchen with Haley. “Sorry, Haley. I didn’t realize you had company.”
She bit her lips to mask her amusement. “Good morning, Finn. Coffee? Nate was just leaving.”
“That’d be great. Why don’t you sit down for a bit? My turn to fix breakfast.” He rubbed a hand through his hair again, feigning exhaustion from a long night of sex.
Turning, she snagged a mug from the cupboard. Her weight all on the good ankle, she guarded her movements to conceal the injury.
Asshole Nate’s jaw dropped open as he read the back of Haley’s shirt, his head whipping back and forth from Haley to Finn. “Finn Halseth?”
Strolling closer, Finn accepted the coffee from Haley and leaned against the counter next to her. “That’s me.” He wrapped his arm around Haley’s middle. “Impressive. You recognized me quicker than most, even faster than Haley.” Playing it up, he teased his hands under the hem of her shirt, grazing his fingertips along her skin.
Calculating, struggling to figure out what was going on, Nate looked downright constipated. “How long has this been going on?”
Haley rolled her eyes and growled, “Oh my god. Nate, not everyone’s like you. Vows mean something to some people. Namely, me. I met Finn a few weeks ago. He lives in Foothills.”
“What a coincidence. He must have lived in San Francisco until a few months ago. You’ve been blaming me for my infidelity, and you’ve been hooking up with a professional football player all this time? No wonder you always had the game on.” Nate paused, then turned to the door. “Look over the paperwork, Haley. See you in two weeks.”
“Don’t come back,” she grumbled, letting him see himself out.
Finn held steady, listening to the engine start, then the sound of Nate peeling out of the driveway. “You okay?”
She stepped to the opposite cupboard, but hissed as she bore weight on her ankle. “Of course not. What a creep. I don’t know what he wants from me. One minute he’s begging me to come home, the next he’s accusingmeof cheating, then offering to support me for the rest of my life, then… I’m so done with his rollercoaster.”
“I’m so sorry. You’re almost free of him.”
Nodding, she crossed her arms and stared blankly out the window.
Moving closer, Finn rested his hands on her hips, resisting the urge to yank her against him and hold on for dear life. Her head thudded forward and banged into his sternum.
She mumbled, “That was awesome, having his hero come out all naked and satisfied after clearly having had a good time with me.”
“It was either that, or kick his ass, or let him know you’re fucking amazing in bed and out, and he’s the asshole with the problem. But that’s none of his damn business. Hell, he probably had so many affairs to find a woman that didn’t find him inadequate.”
Haley looked up and grinned. “I like you, Finn.”
He chuckled, “I like you, too.” Moving to the fridge, he went digging for eggs and chiles.
