Page 8 of Home Town Advantage (Fourth Quarter Fever #1)

Finn will never walk through the front door again.

I’ll never hear his unique laugh again, the one that would always bring a smile to anyone around.

It was like Woody Woodpecker, and I loved it.

I would give anything to hear it one more time.

We’ll never shoot hoops by the garage in the middle of the night until my mother yells at us about the noise.

He’ll never see me play another game of basketball.

He’ll never achieve his dream of being an architect.

I’ll never get to see a true Finn O’Shea original come to life.

He designed his cabin on a torn piece of paper and couldn’t do everything he wanted because of the costs.

I couldn’t wait to see a true architectural masterpiece, born in his brain, come to life.

I manage to crack a small smile at the notion of Finn’s Fantastic Designs , his childhood name for his countless drawings that somehow stuck.

My parents are barely holding it together, but when Maddie walked into the funeral with a visible baby bump, my mother physically collapsed.

Deep sadness set in that my brother won’t know his child, but it also gave us a shining glimmer of hope that we’ll still have a piece of him to hold onto.

I pray this baby can keep my parents going in what I know will be dark days ahead for them.

Finn last visited for my basketball senior night three months ago. Maddie already has a decent-sized belly, but I suppose some women pop early. She’s super tiny, so perhaps small women show more easily.

It’s late at night, and I’m sitting in the treehouse that Finn and Vance built for me when I was six. I’m on the always-present bed of blankets, hugging my knees as I look around. Every single thing in here reminds me of him, my favorite being where he carved our initials in the support beam.

There are inspirational quotes everywhere. He drew them in here before he left for his first tour. He told me to come in here when I needed a push since he wouldn’t be around anymore. Now he’ll never be here for me again.

I squeeze his dog tags in a tight fist. My parents let me keep them when his belongings were returned to us from the military. A matching pair that will never again be reunited with their owner. They’ll be my most precious possession. I won’t ever be without them again.

It sounds like the house has finally emptied, and the bevy of indistinct voices has fallen silent. I hear the familiar creaking of the treehouse ladder and then see Vance’s head appear through the opening in the floor. “Mind if I keep you company?” he asks in his deep velvety voice.

I nod before he finishes his ascent into the treehouse. He looks ridiculous in here. He’s such a big man. Vance was always tall, but now he’s filled out as well. He’s an imposingly perfect creature.

His unique Vance scent immediately fills the small space. I’d know he was in a room before I saw him. He has always smelled exactly the same. It’s not cologne or anything fake. It’s Vance McCaffrey. It’s woodsy, spicy, and masculine. Too bad they can’t bottle it.

He sits directly across from me with his knees bent in a similar position to mine. Our shoe-covered toes are nearly touching.

“How are you holding up, Gully Sulley?”

My eyes fill with tears as I answer honestly. “Like my heart was physically ripped out of my chest. Like there’s a gaping hole that will never be filled.”

He blows out a long breath as his eyes brim with unshed tears. “Me too, kiddo. Me too.”

I flinch at the word kiddo and he notices. “Sorry, it was just an expression. I know you’re not a kid anymore.”

I’m used to sarcastic remarks from Vance, but his red-rimmed green eyes convey nothing but sincerity. I know he’s hurting as much as I am.

I croak out, “I don’t know how to do life without him, Vance. He was my biggest cheerleader. He lifted me up when I was down. He told me what I needed to hear in my moments of self-doubt. He protected me. I feel so…unsafe without him.”

Vance visibly swallows as he reaches for my hand. It’s the first time in my life that he’s ever held my hand in a tender way. Our fingers thread together perfectly. His touch warms my soul in a way I can’t describe.

He squeezes it. “I know I’ll never be half the man Finn was, but if you let me try, I want to be all those things for you. I promised that if something ever happened to him, I’d always look out for you and Maddie. I intend to honor that promise.”

“You two talked about him dying?” I ask.

Vance licks his dry lips. “I never wanted to, but he always brought it up. All the time. Every conversation. Protecting the two of you was the most important thing in the world to him.”

I bite back my tears. “Now it’s three. Do you know if Maddie told him about the baby?” I hope she did. I hope he knew he was going to be a father .

He has an indecipherable look on his face. “You’d have to ask Maddie.”

Maddie hasn’t spent much time at the house since we got the news of Finn’s death. She’s barely spoken to us. It’s kind of weird. You’d think she’d want to be close to us. Perhaps she’s grieving in her own way.

I nod. “I just hope she lets us be close with the baby.”

We’ve never been particularly close to her. Frankly, I never understood what my brother saw in her. He was too good for her. I hate myself for thinking that, but it’s what I’ve always felt deep inside, not that I’ve ever outwardly expressed it to anyone.

He squeezes my hand again. “You should talk to her. Don’t worry about money for the baby. I’ll take care of all its needs.”

I squeeze his hand in return. “Thank you for always being such a good friend to him. Hopefully I’ll go pro in four years, and then I’ll be able to support the baby too. If you can help until then, I promise to pay you back every cent.”

The corner of his mouth raises slightly. “No need. You just keep your head down and play ball. I’ll take care of the rest. And if you need anything at all, please don’t ever hesitate to ask.”

I exhale a long breath before admitting, “He left me the cabin. I’m not sure why me and not Maddie. Maybe his will is old. Maybe it was drafted when they broke up. I was thinking I should sell it and give the money to Maddie for the baby.”

Vance immediately shakes his head. “Absolutely not. We both know how much he loved that place. Do not sell it. I told you, Maddie will be taken care of. Don’t worry about that.”

I nod, knowing he’s right. Finn wouldn’t want me to sell it. “I’m not sure I’d have the heart to do it. When the baby comes, maybe he or she can spend time there.”

Vance smiles. Something I’ve rarely ever seen. “I think Finn would love that.”

For some reason, the image of Finn’s baby in Finn’s house without him there sets me off into a fit of loud, uncontrollable sobs.

Vance momentarily freezes before awkwardly moving his body next to mine and holding me.

“Let it out, Sulley. It’s okay to cry. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere. Ever.”

I let my head fall onto his chest and cry for what feels like hours until I must pass out.

When I blink my eyes open, I'm in my bed. I have no idea how I got here. Is there any chance the past week has been a nightmare?

I can feel that I’m wearing what I wore to the wake. This is real. Finn is gone.

Could Vance have carried me? I’m not a small woman. I’m six feet tall. While my future college coach wants me to put on about twenty-five pounds of muscle before I get there, I’m not light.

I realize my head is still buried in Vance’s broad chest. I look up and he’s staring down at me. He whispers, “Sorry. I carried you to bed, but you asked me to stay with you. And then you fell back asleep on my arm. I didn’t have the heart to wake you.”

I don’t remember, but I feel so safe and secure in his arms. I can’t help but cup his stubbled cheek with my hand.

It’s coarse and rugged. He’s so manly. I’m used to high school boys.

I’ve even dated a few college boys, but Vance is no boy.

He’s a man. The most beautiful man I’ve ever seen in my life.

Maybe it’s the emotions of the week and the fact that he’s taking such good care of me. Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve dreamed of having Vance in my bed countless times. Maybe I just need to feel something other than heartache. I can’t help but tilt my face and bring my lips to his.

I’m not sure what I intended or what I expected, but I definitely didn’t expect him to return and then deepen the kiss.

His lips latch onto mine just before I feel his tongue slip into my mouth.

I’m enveloped in the familiar smell of Vance, and now I know how good he tastes too.

I match his intensity by sliding my tongue over his and into his mouth as I kiss him with everything I have.

Every stroke of his tongue breathes warmth back into the coldness that’s consumed me since we got news of Finn. It’s everything I need to feel whole again.

His hands move under my sweater and up my bare back. The sensation of Vance McCaffrey touching me like that causes an uncontrollable moan to leave my mouth. My body suddenly feels ablaze with desire.

He pulls me as close to him as possible. I feel him harden on my stomach. Up my stomach. Wow, he’s big. The satisfaction I feel at knowing I made him react this way is indescribable.

I manage to roll us until I’m situated on top of him, straddling his big body. His extreme hardness is now pushing against my soft center. I can’t help but grind against it.

I wish I could tear both of our pants off our bodies to feel his bare skin on mine. My panties are soaked.

His hands now roam my back freely, but it’s not enough. I want more. I need more.

I break our kiss so I can sit up. With trembling fingers, I grab onto the bottom of my sweater and remove it, tossing it to the side. His heated gaze gives me the courage needed to do the same with my bra.

His green eyes are full of lust as they slowly rake over my body.

This is the first time Vance has ever stared at me this way.

I’ve always been Finn’s little sister, but that’s not how he’s looking at me right now.

Right now, he’s looking at me like I’m the only woman in the world and all he wants is to tear the rest of my clothes off my body.

That thought alone makes me shiver, but when his enormous hands cup my breasts, I just about orgasm from the sensation of being touched so intimately by my dream man.

The coarse pads of his long, wide thumbs brush over my hardened nipples. He breathes, “You. Are. Perfect. Sullivan Aisling.”

My hands shake as I boldly move to unbutton his shirt, slowly revealing the sexiest body in existence.

Vance’s dark chest hair, something I have long ached to touch, covers a broad, muscular chest. The muscles are bigger and more defined than when we were younger.

His years as a professional athlete have more than paid off.

I run my fingertips over it and then down his carved abs until they gently trace the hair running from his belly button into his pants. I want to see all of this perfect creature.

His breath catches when my fingers dip just an inch or so into the waistband of his pants. I want him like I’ve never wanted anyone or anything.

Unable to wait a second longer, I lean back down to fuse my mouth with his again. Our bare chests touch for the first time, and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt in my life. It’s a level of desire and passion I’ve never dreamed possible.

We kiss for minutes on end. My nipples rub along his chest, causing them to harden to a near-painful level. I circle my hips over his hardness, chasing my relief. Unfortunately, we both still have pants on. Damn clothes are getting in the way.

His fingers explore every inch of the top half of my body. His hands cover so much territory. Why are giant hands so damn hot? Why is his touch affecting me in a way I’ve never experienced before?

I sink my fingers into his thick hair. He’s grown it out over the past year, and it may be the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.

I can’t help but grip and tug on it. I’ve never been with a man whose hair is long enough to do that, but I’m loving it. It’s so hot. I can tell he’s enjoying it too by the sounds he’s emitting. I love that I’m turning him on as much as he is me.

He pulls my hair enough so that our kiss is broken. My lips are raw from the depth of that kiss. My neck is now exposed to him.

I shiver when his teeth graze my chin and run all the way down my neck to my breasts, where he bites one of them.

I can’t help the loud, “Oh god,” that comes out of my mouth. His cock jerks under me. If my panties weren’t flooded before, they are now .

Suddenly, I’m ravenous to have him inside me. I begin to unbuckle his belt, desperate to peel these clothes away. Just as I’m about to go for his zipper, he grabs my wrist. “Sulley, stop.”

I breathlessly ask, “Why?”

He exhales a long breath before briefly closing his eyes, as if in pain. “This isn’t right. I can’t do this to you.”

I shake my head. “I want this. I’m not inexperienced if that’s what you’re worried about.”

He tenderly cups his palm over my cheek.

“It has nothing to do with that.” He then runs his fingers through his hair in obvious frustration.

The same soft hair that my hands were just in.

“Fuck, I hate the thought of another man touching you, but this isn’t about that.

Today was a horrible day. You’re emotional.

You’re not thinking straight. I don’t want to take advantage of you. ”

I nervously chew on my lower lip. “I’m thinking clearly. I want this, Vance. I’ve always wanted this with you.”

His brow furrows. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve had a crush on you since the day I met you. That’s why I always followed you guys around. You must know that.”

He shakes his head. “No, I didn’t.” He blows out a breath.

“It wasn’t until three months ago that I started seeing you as a woman.

Finn noticed and warned me away. He wouldn’t want me to treat you like this.

I…I can’t do this to him.” He slides out from under me, reaches for my sweater, and hands it to me.

“Put it back on. We can’t do this, especially today. ”

I can’t help that tears spill from my eyes as the sting of rejection settles in. He pulls me close to him. “Please don’t cry. I’d never want you to do something you’d regret. It’s my job to protect you now. I’ll do anything and everything to live up to my promise to him.”

He holds me as I again sob until I pass out. This time when I wake up, he’s gone.