Love and Rumors: A Summer Sisters Beach Reads Contemporary Romance (The Summer Sisters Book 1) (8 page)

“My boy who lost his manners. Your hands were all over that girl.”

Uh-oh. He knew that tone of voice. He stared at the ceiling, trying to figure out which woman his mother might be referring to. It could have been anyone during the blitz he’d gone on after his breakup. Derek had been elated and said it was the best news he’d heard all week, and that Finn’s royalty check would show a nice blip as a result of that bender.

The next day Finn had booked his trip to Canada.

“You know the things you see in the tabloids are usually staged, right, Mom?”

“I had one tough time explaining that to my church group.”

Finn swallowed. The wrath was coming down.

“You know that photo was taken out of context?” he said, buying time, cringing, wishing he could hide.

“I doubt she needed first aid applied to her nether regions, Finian.”

He let out a short laugh. Yeah, he knew which photo his mother was referring to. He felt his cheeks heat. Not his finest moment. Well, unless you were Derek; then you had that one framed and hung as a fabulous publicity stunt.

“Mom, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Finn rubbed his hand down his face. This was seriously the absolute worst part of being famous.

“I think you need a new agent. One who doesn’t encourage this kind of behavior. I was talking to Adrian and he said you would do well with therapy.”

Finn’s brother, Adrian, had been there the night Julian died in his arms. He knew what Finn had been through and knew what he was trying to accomplish with his publicity and fame. And yet, Adrian—who Finn had put through rehab, and then college—always sided with their mother in the quest to straighten him out. If they wanted him to keep bailing them out for their medical bills and student loans, someone had to pay the price. They couldn’t have perfect, famous Finian Alexander
and
have their financial worries cared for at the same time.

“I’m sorry you feel that way, Mom.” Finn made his voice firm. “But you need to realize that this is the nature of being a movie star. I’m okay with it, so you shouldn’t let the stories bother you, either.”

“They are untrue, Finian. They are slandering you. Creating an image of you that is false! This man in the papers is not the boy I raised. You are better than this.”

“Without the tabloids I’d be a nobody, Mom. I’d become that guy who everyone forgets or wonders what happened to.”

“Quit complaining about what you don’t have, and enjoy what you
do
have. You hear me?”

He sighed. He never won these battles. Ever.

“So, then…” He could feel his mother switching gears, and braced himself a little too late. “Have you met anyone nice in Canada? I hear they wear skirts that cover their goodies.”

“Yeah, you’d like her. She slapped me across the face.”

His mother clucked. “Already?”

Finn laughed, letting his tension fall away. His mother had forgiven him, and saw the humor in how he was caught between two worlds.

“Yeah. She’s got me on the run.”

“Sounds like you need to come home and get a refresher on manners and how to treat a woman.”

“I have a date with her tonight. If I’m lucky, she might even show up for it.”

C
HAPTER
4

Hailey parked her car and, biting her lip, grabbed her purse before she could talk herself into hurrying back home. She had to squelch the intrigue she felt about Finian, and the only way to do that was to hang out with him. Analyze him. Oh, and take photos to sell him out and save the cottage.

Right. No problem.

She nudged her car door closed with her hip, swishing her gray-blue skirt out of the way. With nervous hands she adjusted her necklace and ran a palm over her straightened hair. She joined the crowd that was tumbling out of a bus in front of The Kee. If Finian wasn’t already in line they’d never find a place to sit. Although if they did manage to snag a table, they’d spend all night trying to keep it instead of hitting the dance floor, which was her preference. Hailey had to admit it would be pretty cool to dance with a movie star. Assuming he even showed. And danced.

Finian stepped out of a massive cluster of people, waving to her. Hailey’s heart hiccuped and she gave a small wave back. There were a
lot
of women around Finian. Like, half the population of Bala. And they had all turned to see who he’d waved at.

Hailey wasn’t sure she was going to enjoy hanging out with him all night if these women were going to be sizing her up every second.

Finian stepped out of the throng and grabbed her hand, yanking her into the warmth of the group. What the heck. Might as well make the most of stalking him. She smiled and let her hand linger in his.

“You look hot.” His dreamy eyes sparkled, and she had to force herself not to reach out and touch his cheek.

“Thanks.”

Hot.
Not pretty.

She was in the limelight. With a movie star. At a concert. People were talking about them, heads bent together, trying to figure out who she was. Taking surreptitious photos with their phones.

What had she been thinking?

As if sensing her desire to run back to her car, Finian gripped her around the waist, pulling her into the big building as the doors opened.

Her head felt light. He was touching her. He’d called her hot.

Holy hell, but that was really messing with her head. Big time.

He headed to the bar, setting her up with a drink. She sipped it carefully, promising herself she wouldn’t go along for the ride and be his date. This was business. She had to keep her wits about her.

But, oh, he was amazing, and even better in real life than he was on film. He still hadn’t shaved, and the way his eyes were set off by the dark stubble on his chin made her want to stare into them for hours.

She looked away, then found herself drawn back to his eyes. There was something consuming in his intense gaze. Primal. As if he had plans for her. Plans that involved getting her into compromising positions.

Hailey studied her leather sandals, tapping the toes together. Normally, she’d run if she got anywhere near a man like this. He was too distracting, making it too easy to get consumed and forget about your own life. Your own needs. Your own wants. He was someone who would love her and leave her, like all those boys who had tempted her and her sisters all through their high school summers.

She was already in too deep with him. She already wanted whatever he was willing to offer.

“What?” Finian asked, his eyes flicking over her face. “What’s wrong?”

She smiled and waved off his concerns.

What did it matter, anyway? He’d never…she’d never…

And anyway, all those easy women fawning over him would surely be the ones he’d take home. Not her. Hailey was safe.

She almost laughed at herself. How had she believed even for one second that he’d choose her instead of the buxom babe trying to get his attention?

Oh, right. Because he’d asked her to come with him.

Maybe he thought she was an easy target. Or wanted free head shots.

It was probably that.

She could say no to free head shots.

“Do you like to dance? The band’ll be starting in a minute.” He lightly touched her elbow, eyebrows raised in question. Nervously, she strode to the spot he’d pointed to, near the stage. Turning, she waited for him to catch up. He was slowly making his way through the crowd as people paused to say hi, offer compliments, and generally distract and waylay him. Hailey rolled her eyes and turned to watch the band’s roadies set up, ignoring the way Finian’s broad shoulders cut a path, his moves relaxed and confident. There was something about the way he dressed casually in worn clothes that made him seem so real, so “boy next door.”

Damn, but she wanted to know what he looked like under that faded T-shirt, and how he moved those denim-clad hips when they were free of cotton. She closed her eyes and told herself to stop thinking about him that way. Finian Alexander wasn’t going to take her to bed. And anyway, she’d say no before she played the fool. It would be all right. All she had to do was enjoy the night and live a little while she waited for him to be the screwup he was.

She felt a zing as a warm hand touched her lower back and Finian wrapped himself around her protectively, possessively. She went to step away from his embrace, but realized he wasn’t actually touching her, other than that gentle, resting palm. She turned back to the stage, where the band was starting into their first song, and tried to block out the subtle aftershave that made her want to move closer and inhale deeply.

Finian was a good dancer, Hailey discovered. The way he moved with ease, not just shuffling from foot to foot as he swayed to the music. She liked how he’d reach out to lightly touch her, drawing her closer when the crowds started to pull them apart. It felt like a real date. As though she was someone he wanted to be with. He had boundaries out in the real world and she was within them.

His dance was a seduction and she moved closer, intrigued. Every time he prolonged their eye contact beyond a casual, comfortable glance she felt herself flush with heat. And every time he used his body to gently block someone from honing in on them, she fell a little deeper for this version of Finian. She felt safe, protected. Wanted.

Hailey saw a flicker of discomfort in his eyes when wandering female hands brushed his body. He flashed the offender a smile as he spun to slap her on the ass, hard enough to send her back into the throng of other dancers, giggling and with eyes that were filled with excitement and a hint of lust.

These women would rip him to pieces if given the chance. How could he stand it? Hailey’s temper was getting the best of her on his behalf, and she didn’t even really like the guy.

The band broke between sets, and feeling tired from the tension of watching everyone fall all over Finian, while fighting her own desire, Hailey went to the bar to get another drink. The band was good, but she really needed Finian to do something asinine. And soon. Before she began to think he was human, or began reassessing her no-sex-with-summer-men rule.

With a hand on her lower back, Finian drew her up some stairs that led to an outdoor balcony. He nodded to a bouncer, who drew back a folding screen, revealing a wrought-iron patio table for two.

Yep, she was screwed.

She smiled as Finian offered her a chair in the private, sheltered corner.

“Wow. The bad-boy has some manners, after all. Thank you.” Although maybe his manners came out only when he had an agenda, such as getting up her skirt.

“Funny, my mother gave me a lecture on my manners only a few hours ago.” He took the seat across from her, and before she could ask about his mom, he said, “So? What’s your dream shot? For photography?”

A head popped around the screen. “Hey, guys. Did I hear you want some shots?” Austin held up his camera. “Hailey, you could straddle Finn. Finn, you could put your mouth over her—”

Finian was up in a flash, fists raised.

“Austin, go jump in the falls!” Hailey snapped.

Finian turned to face her, eyes assessing. “You know him?”

“Yeah. Unfortunately.”

“Ex-girlfriend, actually,” Austin said with a grin.

Finian gave her a disbelieving look that was also full of reassessment. She didn’t like it. At all. As her mother used to say,
Who you associate with reflects on you.
And Hailey was associating with trouble, times two.

“It was high school,” she said. “Science proves the teenaged brain isn’t fully developed until kids are in their twenties.”

Austin clutched his chest as though holding a dagger, and grinned when Hailey shoved him back to the bouncer’s side of the curtain.

“If you kiss her, Finn, just remember I kissed her first!”

Finian’s right hand was still curled into a fist, his jaw tight as he yanked the brown curtain across, just about knocking down the temporary structure. He scowled at the bouncer. “I said
nobody
.”

“Sorry, he said he was with you.”

Austin shouted through the curtain, “Way to move in on the target and get the good shots, Hailey. I hope it’s worth selling your soul.”

“I’m not like you, Austin. I photograph turtles, not egocentric jerks!”

“I’d screw him for a money shot, but would you?” he called back.

Hailey moved to the curtain, ready to hit Austin with all she was worth. Finian guided her gently back to the table. “Don’t let him get you riled up or he’ll have you in the tabloids faster than he came on prom night.”

Hailey choked on her laughter. “Good one.”

She allowed Finian to seat her again, before realizing what she’d said. “I’m sorry. I don’t think you’re an egocentric jerk.”

“That’s fine. You do, and I am.”

Hailey studied her hands.

“That’s my image, right?” Finian tipped her chin up and gave her a weak smile.

She sent him a grateful one. “I’m sorry about Austin. He’s never brought out the best in me, especially since we grew up.”

“Me, neither. In California I had a restraining order against him.”

“Seriously?” Hailey leaned forward. She’d always thought Austin’s stories of ruthlessness were blown out of proportion.

“Yeah. But apparently it doesn’t work up here in Canada. Oh, and it expired.” Finian cringed. “Think the Mounties would restrain him?”

“Austin can take a good shot from over a hundred yards away. He’s like a seagull, and knows exactly where his crap is gonna land. So even if the Mounties did restrain him, your shoulders are still going to get messy.”

Finian laughed, rich and deep. Hailey smiled, feeling a bond with him. Someone who finally understood just how much of an annoying burr Austin really was.

“What’s your favorite song?” Finian asked. “Of the band’s?”

“‘Drooping Flags’,” she said, feeling embarrassed. It was a silly song, but the depth of the lyrics got her every time. “And you?”

He paused. “Yeah. Me, too.” He leaned on the table, arms stretched toward her. All she’d have to do was place her hands near his and he’d grasp them. Long fingers, wide palms, ready to touch her. Caress her. Lead her into sweet temptation.