Page 12 of The Valiant Knight (The Ravensmire Chronicles #2)

He didn’t care that he’d been Black Watch. He was sinking his chances quicker than the Titanic went down.

If she hated him, he couldn’t ask her out.

“But that’s his charm. He’s a decent guy, and we’ve been friends for a long time. I think we were five when we met.”

She smiled and he handed her the goat. It made her happy. She loved animals, but her ex-husband wouldn’t let her have any when they were married.

Now, she had fish and Bark Twain.

“Oh, you have?” she asked, as she moved toward a horse at the fence after setting Jethro down.

“Yeah, he’s single.”

She paused, her hand halfway to petting Juliet.

“Is that good or bad?” she asked, her heart racing in her chest.

“Good if you want to get to know him. I think you’d have a lot in common.”

Finn listened, and now, here was where the wingman kicked in.

Thank.

Freaking.

God.

She let him talk.

“He’s a cop, you’re a cop—well, a Fed. He loves dogs. You have a dog.”

She laughed.

“That’s what you think is a lot in common, huh? Well, sadly, he’s better off avoiding me. I’m a bad bet, Graham. You saw how I reacted to the cup breaking.”

He was surprised she opened up like that.

Really.

Shocked.

“You are?”

Gabby shrugged.

He stopped her. This wasn’t about Finn anymore, but helping Gabby.

“As someone with PTSD and my own trauma, I can see it a mile away. I can’t cure it, but I can certainly invite it to the ‘Misery Loves Company’ party.”

She didn’t say anything.

“Was he bad?” he asked.

She laughed sardonically, and inside the barn, Finn listened and held his breath.

“Yeah, you could say that. I never did anything right, he criticized everything. His final straw was I gained fifteen pounds, and he told me I was fat. I was never good enough, and he really didn’t love me. He loved breaking me.”

He stared at her.

That was crushing.

He couldn’t imagine.

“I’m sorry, Lass,” he said. “You’re far from fat. I know a bunch of ladies that wish they had your curves. Men like a place to put their hand, not get poked by bone.”

She snorted.

The man was sweet, and she appreciated it.

“Thank you, I think. Anyway, there were so many other issues between myself and the ex. One day, he hit me. He hit me so hard he fractured my cheekbone. That was the day I left so I didn’t end up in a morgue.”

He wanted to hug her.

But how was he supposed to do that without scaring her? He knew.

He’d ask.

“Can I touch you, or will that upset you?” he inquired.

She smiled at him.

“You can touch me, Graham. I’m not that woman anymore. I fight back. I’m comfortable around people I know who are safe. Like you, and Tony. Even the detective. When I was falling, he caught me, and I didn’t feel like I needed to run.”

Oh, quite the opposite.

Gently, Graham ran his hand up and down her back to soothe her.

“I’m sorry he hurt you. I’m sorry that he put his hands on you like that. I’m glad you got away.”

She appreciated that.

“I left the other side of the country and returned to DC, transferred offices, and became Elizabeth Blackhawk’s favorite hacker. So, it all worked out. Now, I get an amazing adventure here in Scotland, for as long as I’m here.”

When Finn accidentally bumped a bucket on the floor, they both looked that way.

Shit.

Graham covered.

“Just a goat,” Graham said. “They are crazy little menaces, and he likely just passed out too.”

She laughed.

Gabby pictured it.

“So, I’m a bad bet,” she said, “but thank you for suggesting it. I’d just fuck it up, somehow, and I don’t just sleep around. I swore I’d wait until I found someone who saw the real me. Then, I’d start trying to make connections again.”

He hugged her.

“Good plan, Gabby,” he said. “Well, if he asks you out, go. He’s a good guy, and he’d never force himself on you or hurt you. Maybe you could use a friend, or I could take you out.”

She stared at him.

“Wait for it,” he said. “I’m gay. You’re safe with me. I might judge your choice in shoes, but I won’t try to jump you.”

She laughed.

He was funny.

And he was right.

“If you really wanted to be my friend, you’d bust Tony’s ass by flirting with him. It freaks him the fuck out,” she said, amused. “You could be my bestie then.”

He gave her a high-five.

That was a deal.

“I absolutely will. How horrified do you want him?” he asked. “Like call his wife and cry or hide in his room all night? Because I can do it up for you.”

She snorted.

“I like you, Graham. I spoke to Ian when he came into the office to see us, and he said you were a great guy. You are. Thanks for being kind. The good ones are taken or gay.”

He winked at her.

“Well, one out of two,” he admitted. “Just as a side note, Fineas is a good one too.”

Yeah, but why would he want to have anything to do with her?

She.

Was.

Plain.

Instead of having to deal with that rejection, she changed the subject.

She looked around.

“Tony wants me to look at the grave. Can you point me in that direction?” she asked.

It was clear she was done talking about her past, and he’d respect that. He got Finn as much information as he could.

Now, he had to do the rest on his own.

“I can walk you there or I can get the detective. He’d be more than happy to get you there.”

She brushed it off.

“I live in the city. I think I’d like a walk in nature to check it out. Hopefully, I can get some good pictures to show my friends when I get home.”

Well, that said it all. Finn was going to have an interesting time trying to get the lady to see him in the way he wanted.

He pointed.

“There’s a lake down there,” he said. “It’s pretty and private. The spring thaw is close to happening, and you can watch the spring animals down by it. We have some deer and rabbits who like to hang out there.”

She smiled.

“That sounds lovely. Thank you,” she said.

He pointed down a different path.

“The grave is marked. Gryphen tied yellow ribbons on the trees that lead to it. Follow them, and don’t forget to take some time to enjoy nature.”

She patted his arm.

“I won’t forget,” she said. “I’ll check out the lake after. I do love some bunnies. Thanks again, Graham.”

And that was the end of it.

Graham watched her head away, and when she was gone into the trees, Finn came out of hiding.

“Thanks for helping me. I needed to get more insight into her world.”

Yeah, because he was leaning heavily into his dream. Normally he was skeptical about so many things, but this was the one thing he wasn’t overthinking.

Staring into her eyes and into her soul showed him all he needed to know. Now, he just had to get her to see him the same way.

“Go follow her,” he said. “Meet up with her at some point, and talk to her. If you feel what you say you feel for her, you have limited time.”

He was worried.

“I’m terrified of the rejection. You heard what she said. She’s not interested. Do I have a legitimate chance?”

Graham stared at him.

“She said she’s a bad bet. She didn’t say she wasn’t interested.

Those are two different things. Maybe change her mind by showing her the softer side of Fineas.

You grew up with so many sisters. You should have learned something on how to manage women.

Be gentle, and be kind. She needs someone who can protect her. ”

He couldn’t believe he was going to follow her, but apparently, he was.

Graham was right.

He did know how to deal with women. He’d grown up surrounded by them.

While he suspected he was asking for trouble, he desperately wanted to be the person who protected her. Why? Well, that was one of life’s mysteries.

Clearly.

“If this gets my heart broken, I’m punching your gay ass in the face.”

Graham snorted.

Of course, he was.

Like that would be his fault.

He watched his friend walk away.

Deep down, his gut told him that they would work out. While he was bad at fixing things, he knew one thing.

He could spot a good match a mile away.

And Fineas McKnight had met his match, and she was an American.

This was going to be fun to watch.

For him.

* * *The Ravensmire Castle* * *

Ceit’s Grave

In The Trees

When she got there, it was easy to find the way to the woman’s grave.

Graham had been right.

Gryphen had left a clear trail, but then again, he was a Marine, and likely something he’d done for survival all of the time in combat training.

As she stood in front of the old, moss-covered grave, her heart raced.

And she didn’t know why.

The closer she got to the grave, the heavier the air felt around her. It was just like when they were walking down into the crypt.

“Hey, Ceit. I’m sorry that they buried you out here. I’m sorry that you were tossed away. Men can be the biggest assholes,” she admitted.

In the wind, she swore she heard crying as goosebumps moved up her arms.

As she looked around, there was no freaking way she was hearing it.

Right?

Instead of overthinking it, she kept talking.

“I’ve been there, girl. Trust me. I have a promise for you, Ceit. My doctor friend and I are going to get you put into your crypt where you belong. I’m sorry that you had your heart broken by a man after birthing him a child.”

Not far behind her, Finn was watching her from the trees. He shouldn’t be, but he was, and he was learning plenty from it too.

As a cop, he was curious, and this woman brought that out in him.

Plus, he was learning a lot about her so that he could figure out a way to make a connection to her.

Somehow.

Finn was desperate to do just that.

“We’ll make this right for you, and tell everyone your story, once we figure it out,” she promised.

Taking a few pictures, she got what she needed for Tony’s file. Callen was going to want an update, and they knew how they rolled.

Chris was a stickler for paperwork, so the easiest way to update them was in that format.

Finn couldn’t help but watch her. He was getting a great view of her ass, and it was spectacular.

The man who called her fat was an idiot. Her body was perfect.

That curve of her hip…

Honestly, it made him crazy.

What wouldn’t he give to see her all curvy and naked in bed with him?