Page 100 of Finley

Life, he knew, didn’t get any better than this.

Epilogue

Two Months Later

DANIEL STOOD OUT on the balcony overlooking the afternoon joggers running along the beach, took a deep breath of the salty fresh air, and thought,Best decision ever.

It’d been two months since he’d walked into his office at Leighton & Associates and handed them his official resignation. Which also meant it had been two months since they’d set him up in their brand-new office in Florida: Leighton, Finley & Associates.

He still couldn’t believe that instead of chewing him out that day, Todd had asked Daniel how he would feel about coming on board and helping them expand their business down south.Ahh, pretty fucking happy, thank you very much.Now, there he was, first day on the job in his office overlooking one of the most beautiful views in Florida.

Themostbeautiful being the view out of Brantley’s—Brantley’s and my—beach house. He still couldn’t believe he was back there permanently—and that Moira had up and moved right along with him. It seemed she had been serious about visiting the beach.

“You know, I knew your fancy ass would wind up back here. Couldn’t resist the sun, the waves, and the hot bodies parading up and down the beach all day.”

Daniel turned and saw Derek strolling toward him before standing at the railing.

“About time you dropped by,” he said, looking out at the view in front of them.

“I told you I wouldn’t show my face until you apologized to me.”

Daniel rolled his eyes and turned toward his friend, whom he’d left a groveling voicemail message for. “I did,twomonths ago.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve been busy.”

“Doing what? Avoiding me?”

Derek shrugged. “Family stuff… You know how it is at the Pearsons’. And I wasn’t avoidingyouso to say…”

“Anything you need to talk about?”

“Nah. I got it all under control.”

“Okay, but if you need to?—”

“It’s cool, Finn. Don’t worry ’bout it.”

“Okay, okay. But as for the avoiding routine…you’re referring to the company I keep, right? So, are you avoiding Brantley, or?—”

“Let’s just say I think it would be wise if I visit with you here, just in case there are any?—”

“Unfortunate run-ins? You really can’t be in the same room as him? It’s that bad?”

“What can I say? Some men can’t keep their hands off me.”

Daniel scoffed and was about to answer when another voice chimed in with a similar opinion to his own.

“Or some men want to kill you with them.”

Brantley, looking preppy and polished in his pressed pants and his polo shirt, must’ve come directly from the school as he stepped through the French doors and walked directly over.

“Afternoon, professor,” Daniel said as Brantley wrapped an arm around him and kissed his cheek in a familiar greeting that made Daniel’s heart thump and his cock twitch. The guy had complete control over both.

“Afternoon,” Brantley said with a smile. Then he turned toward Derek. “Mr. Pearson.”

“Hey, professor.”

“You can call me Brantley, you know.”