Page 75 of Finley

Releasing Daniel’s hand, Professor Devaney turned toward his mother and ushered them to the far left side of the room. “I’m sure he does. Please, allow me. I’ll show you the way.”

Daniel walked behind the two adults and adjusted his tie.Fuck, he’d never been so nervous in his life. But as soon as he caught sight of Brantley’s brilliant smile and those gorgeous eyes, he relaxed and felt…comforted.

This man eased him. He made anything seem possible just by being near, and as his mother talked with his law professor, Daniel fell into an easy familiarity with Brantley as they all discussed his school year, grades, and the future. A future he was certain would include this man.

TWO HOURSAND three bottles of wine in, a full seafood dinner of lobster, shrimp, and scallops had been devoured. Daniel was standing in the kitchen with his mother, who was leaning against the counter with her glass of red in her hand, eyeing him the way only a mother could—with all-too-knowing eyes.

Brantley had excused himself for a bathroom break, and his mother had corralled Daniel into the kitchen, where she was,no doubt, about to grill him. He’d known that it was coming. He could read his mother almost as well as she could pinpoint his moods in a split second. She swore that it was a gift, but he thought that it had more to do with being overly nosy about one’s business.

“What?” he finally said as he reached into the sink full of suds, rinsed the plate, and then passed it her way to dry.

She lowered her glass and took the dish. “Don’t youwhatme. You know exactly what I’m waiting for. This is the first time I’ve gotten you alone.”

He scoffed as he went in for the next plate. “Not for lack of trying. Could you have been more obvious when we got here? ‘Oh, Finn, I think you left a pair of socks in your room’?”

“Can you blame me? You were here all of one day then finally told me you were back here because of Profes—Brantley. And then you went and moved in with the guy for your vacation.”

“Youtold me to.”

“True. But now I want details. What’s happening with you two? And why has it taken me two hours and four glasses of wine to get you alone?”

“Probably because he’s terrified you’re going to bring out a shotgun to defend my virtue. He’s had his hand on my leg the entire night as if to hold me in place.”

“Aww,” she said with a sappy grin. “That’s kind of adorable.”

“He would be mortified to hear you think so.”

“Well, he shouldn’t be,” she said as she placed the platter on the table and took the next one from him. “You two…” She paused as if trying to think of the right word to use. “You fit. Does that make sense?”

It did, and that was part of the problem. He’d known all along that hefitwith Brantley. But he’d sent him away, and Daniel had started his life elsewhere. And no matter how well they fit together, their worlds did not.

“Yeah, it does. It’s always been that way. Right from the beginning.”

She reached for her glass and took a sip before placing it back on the counter. When her fingers touched his arm, he turned to face her, and the expression in her eyes was caught somewhere between joy and worry.

“Don’t look at me like that, Ma.”

“And how am I looking at you?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Like you want to congratulate me for following my heart while also warning me to watch that same heart because it’stenderandfragile.”

Putting her hands on her hips, she frowned. “And what’s wrong with any of that?”

“Not a thing. But you’re too late. My heart’s already involved, fragile or not…” He trailed off when he saw that his mother’s gaze had moved beyond his shoulder.

He didn’t have to turn. He knew exactly who had come into the room. Straightening his shoulders and clenching his jaw, he rolled his eyes when she looked back at him and mouthed, “Sorry.”

“I was just coming to see if I could help out with anything.”

Brantley’s voice was surprisingly steady considering what he’d just walked in on them discussing, and Daniel ordered his feet to turn.Turn around and see what he’s thinking.But his body wasn’t paying any attention to him, because he couldn’t fucking move. Luckily, his mother seemed to understand, and stepped around him.

“Oh, no you don’t. You’re my guest. Why don’t you take a seat on the stool there while we finish up the dishes?”

Daniel shut his eyes for a moment and counted back from ten. Then his feet finally cooperated. Brantley was seated at the breakfast counter, his arms resting on the countertop.

“So, Brantley,” she said, throwing her hands up in the air and letting them slap the sides of her legs as if she’d given up trying to be polite. “Let’s talk.”

“Okay. Let’s.”