Page 45 of Ever After Between the Lines (Montgomery Ink Legacy)

Chapter Three

EVERLAND

This was a mistake. A terrible mistake. But then again, I hadn’t made enough of them recently. After that first kiss in my cabin, I’d pulled away and I’d told myself that would be it.

Then he’d shown me the grounds.

We’d gone to the winery, the spa, the distillery. He made sure I was safe while showing me his new world.

And it was like we’d never been apart.

Laura hadn’t said a word, and I knew it was because Ben had filled her in. I didn’t know what would come of them or what they’d say about my current choices—but that would come later. For now I lived in this bubble of time that didn’t make any sense.

I was so angry with him…but I knew he’d been right. Because if there had been another way, I’d have found him before this. Instead, we were now who we needed to be in this point of our lives.

And now I had my arms around him again, knowing I needed to back away.

Only we weren’t moving from each other.

It felt as if no time had passed, and yet he was still a completely different person. His lips were firm on mine, and I took a deep breath as I pulled away, trying to get my bearings.

“We should stop,” I whispered against him, trying to breathe.

Finley went back slightly, before pushing my hair from my face.

“We can.” His lips quirked into a grin that hadn’t changed in all those years.

The grin that meant either trouble or the thrill of a lifetime.

I had followed that grin into new experiences, and not all of them had to do with the love I felt for this man.

“We only have an hour before the rehearsal dinner. And I still need to get dressed and look as if I’m somewhat presentable.”

“Okay. Because the press found out about Dean and Rosalie?”

I shook my head as I took a step back, trying to compose myself. Everything about me ached, and it had to do with this man. I wanted to climb him like a tree and just soak in the essence of him. I wanted his hands on me, and to feel him inside me. Over me. Just feel.

But I needed to take a moment to breathe.

I hadn’t even realized he would be here a few hours ago, and now here I was, falling into him as if I didn’t have a way to hold back.

I knew if I let myself fall completely, I would hurt him.

Not because I wanted to, but because my life came with obstacles that others couldn’t see and didn’t understand.

Maybe he had a glimpse of it from the other side.

By protecting Bethany and those in his care.

But his life was in the shadows. And being with me would tug him into the spotlight.

“I don’t think they do. No news choppers yet. But I would assume Trace and the others would message you, right?” I answered, trying to keep my voice cool.

“Trace has been giving me updates, yes. Same as Ben. What put that look into your eyes?”

“What look?” I asked, trying to pretend I had no idea what he was talking about.

“The one that says you’re trying to think of a thousand worries before they even pop up.

You always had that expression on your face when you were worried about Juilliard.

Worried about your mother. Worried about me.

It’s as if you take the weight of the world on your shoulders and you can’t take a step back and believe that we’re here for you too. ”

“I don’t like the fact that you can read me so well after all this time. We were separated for years, and yet in one afternoon you can walk back into my life and fit in. I don’t know how I feel about it.”

“Maybe I wanted to surprise you like this. While I knew you were coming here, I thought you were here as an ex-girlfriend of the groom. I wasn’t sure a letter or phone call would be welcome. Hell, I wasn’t even sure how to approach that subject.”

“I don’t think there is a map or flowchart for this. I never meant to find you again. I never thought I would.”

“And I found you. I should have found you long before this. I’m sorry for wasting so much time.”

I shook my head, trying to reel in my emotions.

“If the press hasn’t found out about this wedding yet, that’s good.

It will give them some privacy. But I love them both as my best friends.

Just as Laura is my friend. Same with Bethany.

Our world is so different than what others think it is and what others live through.

So having small private moments like this is practically unheard of. ”

“I know you’re trying to warn me away, but I’m not going anywhere. Unless you truly want me to. You don’t have to worry about me, Ever.”

I shook my head. “Somebody should. I don’t know if I can just fall into what we were.”

“I’m not asking you to. We aren’t those people. We are who we are now. And I would love to get to know the real you. Not the one the media presents.”

I winced. “There’s a reason nobody needs to know the real me beyond my circle. And it’s a tight circle, Finley.”

“I’m glad you have them.” He pushed my hair behind my ear, but before I could say anything, the front door opened. Finley whirled, pushing his body in front of mine, but visibly relaxed as Laura and Ben walked in.

“I was just here to check on you,” Laura said, her voice oddly high-pitched.

I peered around Finley and held back a smile as I realized that Laura’s perfectly coiffed hair was no longer smoothed and styled.

Instead it looked like hands had roughly slid through the strands, and she had distinct beard burn on her neck.

Ben, in contrast, looked like the cat who caught the canary.

“I was just about to get ready. You should come with me, Laura. I have a feeling we should talk.” I gave her a pointed look and then glanced over at Ben. Laura, the ever unflappable woman in my life, blushed.

I beamed and gave Finley one last look of longing that I couldn’t hold back, before pulling Laura to the bedroom to get ready.

“I see you and Finley are catching up. Ben was filling me in, and let me say, Finley is quite handsome.”

“Yes, yes. You are right about that. And I know Ben has already done his background check once again.”

“We just want to protect you. But Finley is clean. He wouldn’t be on this job if he wasn’t. You already look lighter.”

“I could say the same about you.”

Laura shook her head. “We’re not here to talk about me.”

“Maybe we should. Maybe it shouldn’t be about me.”

“Let’s get ready for the wedding, and we can toast to unexpected circumstances.”

I held up my hand and squeezed Laura’s, feeling as if something had changed for both of us.

I just hoped it wasn’t for the worse.

* * *

I wore a sky-blue ballgown that matched the wedding colors but wasn’t truly a bridesmaids dress as I made my way through the small crowd that was here for the rehearsal dinner. Everyone went full formal for the evening and I felt like a princess.

Finley was at my side, acting as my escort and guard. I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to feel about that, the way he was playing double duty. But all that mattered was I felt completely safe. I just had to hope my heart would remain safe through the weekend.

Taking a leap into the unknown felt as if I were jumping off a cliff.

Before I could dive any deeper into my own emotions, Dean came forward with his arms outstretched.

“There’s the other love of my life.” I laughed as he held me close and kissed me hard on the mouth. “I was beginning to think you were going to hide in your cabin with this mysterious stranger for the whole day.”

Dean pulled away as Rosalie came forward and picked me up, twirling me around in those strong arms of hers.

“Dean cannot stop asking questions about who this Finley is.” Rosalie also kissed me hard on the mouth before grinning up at Finley.

“It’s nice to meet you. Welcome to our wedding. Are you working or are you finally going to be Everland’s date. She’s so hard to set up.”

Blushing, I shoved at the bride and groom.

“You guys are ridiculous. Stop embarrassing me.”

“Never,” they said at the same time, and Finley let out a rough chuckle.

“I can see my perception of whatever the hell is going on was completely wrong.”

“It’s Hollywood. Whatever you think you’re seeing is usually a lie. Sometimes on purpose, most of the time not,” Dean said with a shrug. “But I’m glad Everland is here. Although I’m a little annoyed that Rosalie got her as maid of honor, and I couldn’t get her as best man.”

“Your brother is your best man, so I’m sorry that I couldn’t take up both spots.”

“You just like Rosalie more than me.”

“That is true,” I teased.

Finley’s gaze shot between all of us, clearly catching onto the play by play.

It felt odd to be my true self around both of my friends while others were milling about.

The only people at this rehearsal dinner were those who loved Dean and Rosalie.

Meaning they knew the truth about our relationship.

Tomorrow at the wedding there would be a few more people who weren’t completely in the know, so we wouldn’t be this comfortable.

But maybe it was time for me to finally be myself. Whoever that was.

“We’re going to steal Everland for a few moments to go over a few things, and then we have dinner. Really, tonight is just an excuse to eat and drink.”

“I’ll be around, checking in with the team. If you need anything, let me know.” Finley’s gaze met mine and I swallowed hard. The promise and intensity in those eyes should have scared me. Instead all I wanted to do was indeed take that leap I never knew I craved.

“I’ll be here. Promise.”

He looked as if he wanted to reach out and touch me, so I gave him that option. I moved forward to cup his cheek. Then I went to my tiptoes and brushed my lips along his.

He froze, clearly surprised I would do this in public, before he kissed me back, this time a little harder.

“I’ll keep an eye on you. Promise.”

“I trust you,” I blurted, surprising myself.

And when Finley walked away, Ben taking his place, Dean whistled between his teeth.