Part 20 (1/2)
”Yes,” Jake said bluntly. ”I hurt her,” he said again. ”Don't you do the same, don't you even f.u.c.king think about it.”
”Or the aforementioned death and dismemberment?” Finn asked, only half kidding.
Jake didn't even crack a smile.
Monday morning Pru was waiting outside the county courthouse building, hoping she was in the right place at the right time. When she saw Sean heading for the steps, she pushed away from the wall with relief.
He stopped in surprise at the sight of her. ”Hey, Trouble,” he said. ”What are you doing here?”
”Helping you fix your mess.” She smiled at his confusion. ”You here to get the liquor license all square, right?” she asked.
He blew out a sigh, looking disgusted. ”Finn told you I screwed up.”
”No,” Pru said quietly. ”He wouldn't. I . . . overheard you arguing.”
”Yeah.” Sean grimaced and scrubbed a hand down his face. ”Sorry. I just hate disappointing him.”
”If that's the case, why do you give him such a hard time?”
Sean shrugged. ”It's how we show affection.”
Pru shook her head with a low laugh. ”Boys are weird.”
”Hey, at least we don't kick and scratch and pull hair when we fight.”
”If that's how you think girls fight, you're with the wrong girls.”
He grinned. ”You know, I like you, Pru. I like you for Finn. You've got his back. He'd say he doesn't need that but he's wrong. We all need that. He know you're here?”
”No, and he doesn't have to know,” she said. ”Especially since I'm going to save your a.s.s.”
”What do you mean?”
”Follow me.” She led him inside the offices, bypa.s.sed the public sign-in area and waved through the gla.s.s part.i.tion to a guy at a desk.
The guy was Kyle, Jake's brother.
Kyle gave her a chin nod and hit a b.u.t.ton that had the door buzzing open to them.
”Hey, cutie,” he said and took a look at Sean. ”What's up?”
”I've got a friend who didn't pay their liquor license bill in time,” she said. ”What can you do for me?”
”First, tell your friend he's an idiot.”
She looked into Sean's tight face. ”I think he's aware,” she said with a small smile.
”Second, have a seat. You're going to owe me,” he told Pru. ”Caramel chocolates from Ghirardelli. You know the ones.”
”Consider it done,” she said and ten minutes later they were back on the front steps of the building.
”You're a lifesaver,” Sean marveled. ”And a super hero.”
”I'll add both to my resume. Maybe it'll get me a raise.”
Sean laughed and hugged her. ”Dump my brother and marry me.”
She laughed because they both knew he wasn't the marrying type, at least not yet.
There'd been a time where she would've said the same thing about herself, but she knew now that she was changing. A part of her did want to let love into her life again. Maybe even have a family someday.
How terrifying was that?
Finn made sure to get to the softball field well before the start of their game.
He had no idea why he was looking forward to it, there were a million things he should be doing instead. But he lowered his sungla.s.ses and scanned the area for Pru.
”She's not here yet,” Jake said, rolling up to his side.
”Who?” Finn asked casually.
But not casually enough because Jake snorted.
Giving up on pride, Finn asked, ”Is she coming?”
”I'm not privy to her schedule.”
”Bulls.h.i.+t.”
Jake smiled. ”Jealous of me, O'Riley?”
”Do I need to be?”
Jake's smile spread.
s.h.i.+t.
”Got the new jerseys,” Jake said. ”You work fast.”
Finn shrugged like no big deal. It'd only cost an arm and a leg and a huge favor to get them done in one day.
”I like the SF Tours across the backs,” Jake said.
”Good.”
”Could've done without the O'Rileys on the breast.”
Finn smiled and didn't respond. He was looking forward to seeing his name on Pru's breast.
”What's going on with you two?” Jake wanted to know.