He hugged Moira and kissed her cheek, then hugged his brother. Ethan thumped him on the back a few times for good measure.
“It’s fantastic to see you all, Ethan.” Fin’s eyes filled with tears and he was thankful for the girls clamoring at his feet, drawing attention away from his emotional state. “Let’s get everyone settled inside.”
Moira looked up at Addie’s house. “Is this yer house, Finley?”
Fin followed her gaze to Addie’s spacious Spanish-style home. “No, it belongs to a friend. It’s far too extravagant for me. She has a guest house around back where we’ll be staying. If it’s too tight for your comfort, there’s a decent hotel I can put you up at not too far from here.”
He selected the largest suitcase and walked them around back. When the girls caught sight of the large pool, they bounced up and down, talking over each other, asking Fin if they could swim. He reassured them that swimming was on the schedule this week. This winter was warmer than normal, so the water wasn’t too cold. Although, he suspected they would have braved cooler temperatures regardless of the weather.
While Moira busied herself with unpacking their suitcases, Shaylee and Tara investigated everything in the cottage. After declaring the place acceptable, the girls settled down at the kitchen bar after Ethan set them up with juice and a snack.
“So…?” Ethan eyeballed him over the water bottle he held. Fin raised a hand and stopped him before he could speak and pointed at the girls.
“Right, then. Topic for later.”
“Thanks.” Fin rubbed the back of his neck and looked away. “Plans changed without warning, so it’s only us. We’ll talk later. Are you guys tired?”
“Not yet, but I’m sure it’s coming. We encouraged the lasses to sleep on the flight, but they were too excited. None of us got much rest.” He watched his daughters comparing their juice boxes. “I suspect the crash will come within the hour.”
When Moira joined them, Fin ushered them toward the living room where they could sit and visit. The couple brought him up to date on family happenings and he answered their questions about his life. They astutely avoided questions concerning Alex, although he knew they had to be bursting with curiosity, especially since he had made such a big deal about them meeting her.
Soon after getting comfortable on the couch, the girls’ eyes drooped. Moira interrupted the conversation, saying they all needed a nap and ushered them into the bedroom, closing the door behind her.
Once the girls left, Fin asked Ethan if he wanted to go sit outside. He expected his brother would enjoy the balmy eighty-degree weather compared to the forty-five degrees he’d just come from. Fin pulled two beers from the refrigerator and led the way.
“The grounds are beautiful. Kind of posh too,” Ethan observed.
“Yes, Addie entertains often and enjoys having a space for people to move around and feel comfortable.”
“Addie is your agent?”
“Aye. And my best friend.”
“I could nae believe it when you told me to pack swimsuits.”
Fin laughed. “I ken how odd that must have sounded. But it’s a heated pool, so even if the weather turns cooler, swimming is still an option.”
“Nice.” Ethan tipped his beer back for a long pull. “So… We read the article about you and Alex. I expected her to be here before us?”
Fin slumped further into his seat. “Aye. She canceled at the last minute.”
When Fin offered nothing further, Ethan prompted, “Something work-related came up?”
“No. She canceled me.” Fin stood up and paced. “In all fairness, she’s only seen a glimpse of the Hollywood life. With this article, she got a full dose of what it’s like to be a celebrity. She was half a world away and completely caught off-guard. If they had waited one more week, she would have been with me and I could have helped her navigate it.”
Fin rubbed his face, then dragged a hand through his hair before sitting down again beside his brother.
“She got scared and ran like a rabbit? Seems a bit drastic. Was there more to it?”
“From what I understand, the paparazzi harassed her parents in their hometown, then a crowd of reporters showed up at her office, which is sacred to her. The disruption at her place of work was the last straw.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the late afternoon before Ethan spoke. “From everything you told me about the lass, she sounded special. And strong enough to handle you and everything you bring with you. Running without explanation doesn’t fit the woman you’ve described. Ye sure it’s just the stardom thing?”
“Ah dinnae ken. I’m still reeling from it.” Fin turned his head to Ethan and met his gaze. “But I’m putting it aside for now to enjoy my family.”
The men clinked their bottles together and drank.
Later, while trying to fall asleep, Fin considered what Ethan had said. Alexwasan intelligent woman, and it seemed unlike her to run from trouble. But he knew better than anyone else what unwanted attention could lead to, and he wouldn’t place that burden on anyone. Perhaps Alex was right… you couldn’t have everything. You were either successful at work or successful in relationships. He curled up on his side and wondered how long his heart would ache this time.
