Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
I’m not sure why I’m disappointed.
Maybe I want to see him again before the wedding. The last time we talked, it didn’t end well. Probably because he’s a fucking crazy person who says he wants to hurt me and that he hates me for some bizarre reason. I don’t even know the guy.
But the more time that passes, the more I’m sure we need to get past our terrible first meeting.
We’re getting married. It’s happening. I can talk big all I want but there’s no way I’ll ever back out. Not knowing full well what my dad would do to me. There’s no plane in the world that could fly me far enough away to escape Eamon Flanagan’s wrath.
I might as well try to be civil to Finn. Even if he doesn’t deserve it.
I’m in a good routine after nearly two weeks of an empty apartment. I enter through the front, toss my stuff in the kitchen, do a quick spot cleaning, and order something to eat. I sit up in the pool area, watch TV, swim, sauna, all that good stuff, before leaving for the night. Sometimes I do extra cleaning, but usually I don’t bother. Finn’s not going to notice either way.
But tonight, something’s different.
I step in through the front door and the lights are already on.
That never happens. I’m instantly on edge. I expect to see Finn’s cocky smirk at any second. “Hello?” I call out. “Is someone home?”
There’s a thump from upstairs and a door opens. I stare in astonishment as a woman comes down toward me.
She’s pretty. Probably in her early thirties. Thick, auburn hair, simple but expensive clothes. Big green eyes. She smiles big and I get a strangely warm feeling from her.
“Oh my god, I didn’t know you’d be here,” she says, stopping on the bottom step. “I am so, so sorry. I should’ve asked Finn—”
I laugh awkwardly. “No, it’s okay, I didn’t know he had a guest over.” Jealousy stabs into my chest. This woman is beautiful. She’s older and elegant in a way I’ll never be. It makes sense though. This must be the kind of woman Finn’s actually attracted to, not some random girl like me.
“What? No, Finn doesn’t know I’m here.” She waves a hand distractedly. “He’d never let me in his house. Are you kidding me?”
“Really?” I frown, squinting at her. “So you’re not, uh…”
Her eyes widen and she laughs. “Oh, shit, no, no, no, I’m not Finn’s girlfriend or anything like that. My name’s Casey. I’m married to Finn’s brother Declan.”
“Oh!” A strange wave of relief floods me. But why would I even care? I have no stake in who Finn’s dating. “You’re his sister-in-law. I’m Caroline.”
“I know. You’re the future wife.” Casey comes down the last step. She’s smiling sympathetically and she glances at the cleaning supplies and my bag with my swimming stuff. “Does he have you cleaning in here?”
“Sort of. Not really. It’s complicated.”
Her eyebrows raise. “Is it really?”
“I guess it’s not. He hired me to clean his apartment before I knew about our marriage and I guess he wanted to watch me and get to know me somehow?”
Casey sighs, shaking her head. “Sounds like Finn. Another game.”
“That’s normal for him?”
“I wouldn’t call anything he does normal, exactly.” She grins sheepishly. “But you’ll see. Anyway, I’m sorry I ambushed you like this. I just wanted to deliver a present.”
“Oh, that’s nice. Is it his birthday?”
Her laugh is light and comforting. She steps a little closer. “It’s not for him, actually. It’s supposed to be for you. I was just finishing up in there.”
“For me?” I stare at her, a little bewildered. “What? Why?”
“Finn told Declan you two would be living here after the wedding and I know how hard it is to marry into an arrangement, so I thought I’d do something nice for you.” She frowns a little. “Did I overstep? I can do that sometimes.”
“No, no, not at all, that’s really, really nice of you. I’m just surprised, is all.”
“Since you’re here, want to see it?” She gestures for me to follow. “I hope you don’t mind but I put it in the master bedroom. If history tells me anything, Finn’s not going to let you stay anywhere but with him.” She rolls her eyes and glances back at me. “Whelan men have a pattern, but you’ll hear that when you meet Alina and Bianca.”
“Are they married to the other brothers?”
“Exactly right!” Casey chats about her fellow wives. She has nothing but good things to say, which is really refreshing. Her joy is almost infectious. I find myself relaxing with her, even if this is kind of bizarre. She takes me into the main bedroom and gestures into the massive walk-in closet. “Check it out.”
This space is usually empty. I’ve vacuumed once or twice but I usually skip it. Now I step inside and straight ahead is an absolutely stunning vintage vanity.