Page 28 of Protecting Lainey (Broterhood Alliance #7)

Finn was joking with the guys, tossing back a beer, when he felt a prickle of unease at the back of his neck.

He was being watched.

He turned slowly, eyes scanning the room until they landed on a familiar group of women and a familiar pair of eyes.

Lainey!

Surrounded by friends, drink in hand, laughing and looking relaxed. Having fun.

And for some reason, that hit him like a punch in the gut.

What was she doing here?

Stupid question.

The woman was allowed to go out and have fun without checking in on him, as if he had some sort of claim on her.

Still, she held his eyes for a long moment before turning back to the table like it was no big deal.

Something twisted in his chest. Unfamiliar. Possessive.

He must have stared a little too long. Dex clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s a fine-looking group of women.”

The guys all turned and looked. Dex gave a casual two-finger wave toward the table, and the women giggled.

Finn scowled. “What the hell was that?”

Dex just shrugged and grinned at him. “Just saying hi.”

“He’s looking to get lucky,” Caleb said, laughing as he took a gulp of beer. “But good luck with that. Joy, Isabelle, and Felicia are off the table.”

“I know that, asshole,” Dex shot back. “But the others aren’t.”

Finn rolled his eyes.

Why?

Why the hell did he come out tonight? He wasn’t worried about Austin Peters, who was happily married, or Will and Colt, who were too busy arguing about some shit to notice anything else.

But Dex? Caleb? Sean “Linc” Lincoln, with that cocky smile and shiny badge?

Yeah, that was a problem.

Because as far as he could see, Caleb had it bad for Mia.

He’d have to hurt someone if they had the same idea about Lainey.

What was supposed to be a fun evening was turning into something else entirely.

The country band began a new set. Something upbeat and one of those songs you could line-dance to. Finn had turned to concentrate on his beer but could see the dance floor reflecting in the mirror behind the bar.

It was crowded.

Beside him, Dex let out a slow whistle. “Oh, my…”

Finn’s head snapped around. “What?” Was there some sort of danger? Did Lainey need help?

Dex shook his head, his eyes glued to the dance floor. “Man, I think I need to learn how to line-dance.”

What the hell was he talking about?

Dex was sitting next to Caleb and Linc, and they were all leaning forward, eyes glued to the dance floor.

He didn’t want to look. God help him, he really didn’t.

But he did.

The women had taken over the dance floor. Lainey, Autumn, Joy, Felicia, Mia, and the others in the group were all moving in sync, hips swaying, arms up, laughing, spinning, and shaking their booties.

But he only had eyes for one of them.

Lainey.

She was smiling wide, her hair loose and bouncing as she moved. Confident. Happy. Beautiful.

And absolutely not looking at him.

He took a slow drink of his beer, trying to keep his expression neutral.

He failed.

Finn didn’t have to look at Dex to know he was smirking at him like a damn fool.

“Hmmm,” Dex drawled. “I don’t know, Caleb, but it looks like someone here is trying too hard not to be affected by all the beautiful women dancing their hearts out. Especially”—he gave a little chin nod toward Lainey—“that one.”

“Fuck off, Dex,” Finn muttered. “I’m not affected. Because I’m not looking.”

Linc snorted. “Yeah, and I’m the damn Tooth Fairy.”

“Mind your own business, lawman.”

“Ohhh. I’m scared now,” Linc shot back, smirking.

Finn took another sip of beer and slammed the bottle down a little too hard. The guys didn’t flinch.

“Are we done?” he asked.

“Not even close,” said Caleb, grinning. “This is too much fun.”

Then Linc stood. “Well, if you pussies are just gonna sit here and sulk, I think I’ll join the ladies.”

Finn’s pulse raced.

If he touched Lainey, Linc would die a slow, painful death.

Finn spent a moment going over all the ways he could make him hurt. When he looked again in the mirror, he saw Dex and Caleb grinning at him.

Will and Colt were in the far corner, watching the women dance while also watching the game. Secure in the notion that no one was touching their women.

Finn watched Linc push his way between Mallory and Jessie. Both women shook their heads and laughed. Then almost shimmied up to him. He had to admit Linc was pretty good with the two-step. The women ate it up, surrounding him like he was their favorite dessert. Linc was loving it.

Damn it all to hell. Finn got up. “Need to use the head.”

Behind him, Caleb and Dex’s laughter followed him.

Finn made it to the men’s room. Thankfully, it was empty. Because no one needed to see the hard-on he had. Hopefully, splashing cold water on his face and thinking murderous thoughts about Linc would get it under control.

He walked out just as the band changed gears into something slow and steady. The lights dimmed. People were slowly leaving the dance floor. Dex had already asked Autumn to dance. Will and Colt had their women on the dance floor. Mallory was in Linc’s arms.

Mia and Joy were talking at the edge. He glanced over at Caleb. His eyes were locked on Mia, but he didn’t move. Just watched. Finn wondered what was going on with those two. They danced around each other every time they were in the same place.

His gaze drifted until he found her. Lainey had stepped away from the group, standing just off the dance floor, sipping her drink.

He didn’t think. Just stood. Walked toward her before he could talk himself out of it.

“Dance?”

Lainey looked up at him but didn’t speak at first. Then she smiled and set her glass down.

He held out his hand. She took it.

It was cool from the drink. On the floor, his hand settled at the small of her back. She placed her palm on his shoulder. They started slowly.

She fit against him like she always had. Familiar.

His fingers tightened slightly against her spine, drawing her closer.

The music dropped away. There were only the two of them in a dance so familiar that it washed over him like a wave. Lainey. Him. Senior night. Making love.

She looked up at him. Eyes dark and full of want. Lips parted.

Then he leaned in.

Brushed his mouth against hers. Soft. Testing.

She didn’t pull away.

Instead, she tipped forward, lips parted. And he kissed her like he had the last night they spent together. He kissed her as if she were his future. And she kissed him back.

By the time the song ended, Finn knew one thing for sure.

Lainey was his, and he wasn’t walking away again.

Lainey didn’t move away when the song ended.

Couldn’t.

Her heart was pounding so hard, she was sure he could feel it. Finn’s arms were still around her, a familiar warmth.

She should step back. Say something. Make a joke. Something to put the space back between them.

But while her mind was working overtime, her body had other plans.

It was too easy to stand there, tucked in his arms. Safe. Comforting.

But ten years had passed. And that kiss had felt like a memory and a promise all at once. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for either.

“You okay?” Finn’s voice was low, right at her temple.

Lainey nodded. “Yeah,” she whispered. “I … wasn’t expecting that.”

She was still in his arms. “Me neither,” he said.

When she finally looked up at Finn, his jaw was tight. But this wasn’t safe. She knew what came next. How easy it would be to fall into old patterns. Late nights. Shared beds. Whispered nothings in the dark.

But she also knew what happened when the spell broke.

When someone left.

And yet, she was still in his arms, his warmth surrounding her. When she looked at him, really looked, she didn’t see the boy who left.

She saw the man who came back.

Who kissed her like she was cherished.

“Finn. What are we doing?”

He didn’t answer right away.

Finally, he said quietly, “That’s the thing, Lainey. I don’t know. But I know I’m not done with you, with us.”

Lainey didn’t know what to say to that.

Not done with her? Them?

Before she could respond, someone bumped her shoulder.

“Girl,” Autumn’s voice cut through the moment. “You didn’t tell me how hot it was going to get in here.”

Lainey turned, Finn’s arms still around her waist. Autumn stood beside her, her cheeks flushed from dancing. Dex, a few steps behind, grinning like he’d won the lottery.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Autumn added quickly as she glanced between the two of them. “Were you guys…?”

Finn stepped back. “No, it’s fine.”

Autumn’s eyes narrowed, but she nodded. “Okay then. The band promised to play ‘Man! I Feel Like a Woman!’”

Lainey laughed. “That song is trouble.”

“Exactly,” Autumn said. “The fun kind. The kind that when you hear it, you can’t stay in your seat and not dance.”

She looped her arm through Lainey’s.

Lainey glanced at Finn, who hadn’t moved.

“Go ahead,” he said softly. “We’ll talk later.”

Autumn tugged her toward the other women. But her mind was on Finn, how comfortable she had been in his arms, the truth in his eyes when he said he wasn’t done.

And the worst part?

Neither was she.

Finn watched Lainey walk away. His arms ached with her absence.

He wasn’t ready to let her go. Not yet.

But she didn’t look back. Autumn and the women were laughing. But he knew she felt it. Whatever that was between them.

He let out a slow breath, every cell in his body telling him to go after her.

But this wasn’t the time. Not here. Not in a bar filled with people and his buddies watching.

He turned back toward the bar just as Dex sidled up, handing him a beer and grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

“Well,” Dex said. “That looked like progress.”

“Don’t.”

Dex raised his hands in mock surrender. “Just saying. You danced. You kissed. You didn’t get slapped. That’s a win in my book.”

Finn didn’t answer. Just took a long pull of his beer.

Dex leaned against the bar and continued. “That was a straight-up Hallmark moment out there.”

“Fuck off,” Finn muttered, rubbing a hand along the back of his neck. “It might have been a mistake.”

“No,” Dex said quietly. “That was real.”

Finn didn’t reply. Didn’t need to. He could still feel her kiss on his lips, her hand on his chest.

He wasn’t walking away.

Not this time.

A few songs later, the bar had thinned out. Finn glanced over at the women’s table. Isabelle and Felicia had left with Will and Colt. Most of the others were still there. But not Lainey.

Where was she?

His eyes scanned the room again. Booths. Hallway. Dance floor. She wasn’t in the bathroom line.

She was gone.

“Hey,” he said to Dex as he shifted off his stool, keeping his voice low. “You see Lainey?”

Dex glanced around. “Wasn’t she with Autumn and the girls?”

“She was, but she’s not now.”

Dex shrugged. “Maybe she went home.”

Finn didn’t reply, just walked toward the table.

Autumn looked up as he approached.

“She left,” she said gently.

“When?”

“Just a few minutes ago. Said she had an early morning.”

Finn nodded once. “Anything else?”

“Just that she had a good time.”

He stood there a moment longer, not knowing what to do with that.

A good time? Was that code for “big mistake”? or “shouldn’t have kissed you”?

He didn’t ask. Just nodded and headed back to the bar, the weight heavy in his chest.

Yeah, she walked out.

But she returned his kiss.

So maybe, just maybe, that meant the door wasn’t closed.

Not yet.