Chapter Eight

 

“Natasha Rivera Finn.” Jen glared over the vegetables she was chopping for the salad. “You promised.”

“I know I did. And I haven’t told my husband, his brothers or anyone who has the name Finn on their birth certificates. But I had to tell Jeremy. We tell him everything and he’s always kept your secrets.”

“Yes.” Jeremy leaned against the kitchen island and made a face. “I remember the last one Owen found out about. I couldn’t sit for days. Good times.”

Tasha reached out to pat his arm. “That’s the price you pay to be a co-captain of the Little Finn fan club. Jen, you know we support you and we’d never do anything to hurt you. If you want to date Trick, that’s your business.”

At least there was that. Tasha hadn’t been able to keep their recent conversation entirely to herself, but she’d only shared a half-truth. As far as Jeremy and Ken knew, Jennifer was in a secret relationship with Stephen’s friend, Trick Dunham. Tasha had managed to keep Declan a secret.

Jen hadn’t wanted to put anyone in that position. She shouldn’t have told her what had happened between her, Trick and Declan—that they’d finally gotten together—but Tasha had called and worn her down.

Now there were three people in her mother’s kitchen staring at her with equal parts concern and surprise. Three people in love with Finn men—men who had ways of making them talk. Jen highly doubted Ken and Jeremy would look as calm as they did if they knew she wasn’t just sleeping with one inappropriate man, but two.

She shouldn’t have come tonight. Should have said she was studying for exams and stayed away from her inquisitive, well-intentioned family, but her mother wasn’t willing to hear that excuse again. She’d specifically asked for her help in talking some sense into Owen. Thanks to her last debacle of an engagement, Jen had experience with the difficulties of renting party halls and hiring caterers and entertainment. Ellen Finn was getting worried that all of Owen’s last-minute changes were going to ruin the celebration she and Jeremy were hoping for. So Jen had come. Alone.

She missed her men already.

“Talk to us, Little Finn,” Tasha begged. “Jeremy, she’s not talking and she’s slaughtering those innocent vegetables.”

Jen shook her head and lifted the knife, gesturing to the quiet man standing beside them. “I’m not mad, Tasha. And I know Jeremy always kept my secrets. But what about him?”

“Me?”

“Ken?” Tasha sounded surprised. “Ken is one of us. He’s been in the lifestyle longer than I have. He’s taught classes on respecting the privacy policy at the club. You remember him from your first night there, don’t you? He doesn’t go around telling other people’s secrets.”

Jen stared at Tasha without blinking. “You said he could destroy Trick’s life with one line of code.”

“One line, huh?” Ken moved closer, grabbing a carrot and popping it into his mouth. He smiled at Tasha where she was seated on the stool beside the island. “I’m flattered. It’s a little more involved than that, but you’re not wrong. Still, I wouldn’t do that to Trick.” He sent Jen a piercing look. “Though I have to admit I’m surprised he let things get personal. I mean he acts like he’s careless, but anyone who pays attention would know he isn’t.”

Jen tried not to take that as an insult. “What do you mean? He isn’t still working for Stephen. No one’s paying him.”

Ken tried to reach for another carrot and Tasha slapped his hand. “You know what’s he’s been doing, don’t you? Spill, Tanaka.”

Ken tilted his head, his long ebony braid sliding over his shoulder. Brady’s lover was a beautiful man. “I can’t tell you everything. He and Solomon have already gotten more involved than they should be.”

“Does this have to do with that group? That thing Stephen’s dead assistant was mixed up in that had everyone jumping at shadows for weeks?” Jeremy looked concerned.

“Yes.” He looked at Jen. “And when one of those shadows started to take shape, someone started taking an interest in your family again. When I mentioned you being the most vulnerable target—young female on a crowded campus with your history, etcetera, Trick offered to help use his contacts to get us more information as long as you were protected. I agreed, of course, but it quickly became clear he meant to do it himself.”

Jen set down the knife, wondering why Trick hadn’t told her. And what did, with her history mean? “So he was protecting me from something you and Brady got mixed up in? Can you explain to me why your boyfriend doesn’t like Trick after all he’s done for you?”

Ken’s smile was soothing. “Trick doesn’t make it easy. It was clear his interest in you was personal. Abundantly clear. Your man enjoys ruffling Brady’s feathers.”

Was that why he was always around?  Another person determined to protect her.

You know him. You know that’s not the only reason.

Jeremy came up beside Jen and pulled her into his arms. She closed her eyes and hugged him back. “I’m not supposed to approve of this match, but I can’t say I don’t feel better knowing someone like Trick has your back. What those two stirred up is a hornet’s nest. You don’t want to get anywhere near it.”

He was probably right. “I suppose I have to forgive her for telling you now,” she sighed. “She is pregnant.”

Jeremy chuckled. “We both know she wasn’t that great at keeping a secret before she started using her unborn offspring as an excuse.”

“What?” Tasha’s voice rose. “Hello. Sixteen years and you had no idea about Stephen. I am the winner of keeping secrets. Usually.”

That was true. No one knew that Stephen and Natasha had had a casual, no-strings relationship that lasted over a decade. Then again, Tasha hadn’t known that Stephen had never considered it casual.

If Scott hadn’t filmed them having sex in the backseat of a parked car as payback for Tasha’s spurning his advances, they might have kept that secret forever. At least something good came out of Jen’s heartbreak.

“No one knew that I was in love with Owen for closer to nineteen years.” Jeremy challenged. “I win.”

“I knew,” Tasha responded smugly. “And I kept that secret too. Crown the queen.”

Jen smiled despite her mood. “She has a point. Also…Mom and I sort of knew for years.”

Jeremy looked stunned. “You did not.”

“Oh, and Brady told me he knew before he joined the Marines,” Tasha supplied helpfully.

“Was there anyone who didn’t know?”

“I didn’t.” Ken sent him a dazzling smile. “But to be fair, I didn’t meet you until you were a couple.”

Jen shrugged. “We had no idea Owen had similar feelings, if that makes you feel any better.”

“It doesn’t.”

Ken chuckled. “I give you both all the credit in the world for holding out. I can’t imagine keeping my hands off Brady for that long.”

Jen knew exactly what he meant. She’d only been with Declan and Trick for about a week and a half and she was still struggling just getting through her school days without them. Declan’s class had become an experiment in torture for both of them. Trick was glad he’d been kicked out that first day. He said listening to Declan talk about sex without being able to touch him would be agony.

He was right.

Jeremy snapped his fingers in front of her face. “Earth to Little Finn. I think we’ve lost her.”

“I know that look,” Tasha sighed, a glint of concern in her eyes. “She’s definitely got it bad.”

Jen laughed nervously. “I do not. Let’s talk about something else. Like the wedding.”

Jeremy growled. “Let’s not.”

“Why don’t you just give in and have it by the lake?” Jen asked. “It’s so beautiful there. I know Stephen and Tasha had their wedding there, but what does it matter? That’s where you two finally got together.”

“Tell Owen,” Jeremy said, still frowning in frustration. “I would marry that man in a closet or a Christmas canoe, he just has to make up his mind.”

“Ellen was planning something more elaborate,” Tasha warned. “She loves you both, and she wants you to have a special day to remember.”

Her mother was pretty hung up on Owen’s wedding. Jen knew it was for them, so they would both know she was proud of them and overjoyed that they’d found each other. She also knew how many friends her mother had lost when the news about the engagement went out.

“They were never my friends,” Ellen had assured her stiffly when Jen helped her cross names off the invitation list. “Because I don’t associate with narrow-minded bigots.”

Those rejections had only made her more determined to give Owen and Jeremy the wedding of the century. If she could, she would invite the entire city and have it televised like the St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Owen would probably love that.

Jeremy grabbed a large salad bowl from the cupboard and sighed loudly. “Between Tasha’s pregnancy, this wedding disaster and new and exciting secret-keeping, I’m thinking we should cancel family nights and Finn Agains until things are safe and boring again.”

Ken laughed at that. “From what I’ve seen, things are never boring in this family. Just varying degrees of crazy.”

What degree of crazy was she, Jen wondered. She was in a relationship with two men. At least, it felt like a relationship. She and Trick had been practically living at Declan’s house, and no one was saying anything about ending it.

The only people who knew were Tasha and Alicia. She’d had to tell her roommate where she was disappearing to every night. They hadn’t known each other too long but, other than Tasha, Alicia was one of the few friends she trusted. After seeing the shocked look on her face, Jen could only hope she hadn’t made a mistake.

Jen was in shock, too. She hadn’t realized it would be like this. That the need would keep growing. That they’d treat her like an equal and make her feel safe and protected at the same time. Precious, but not fragile.

She’d never known a relationship could be this good. Hell, she’d never known sex could be this good. Now she understood what all the fuss was about. Why Owen and Stephen acted like they’d lost their minds and publically declared themselves for Jeremy and Tasha.

Oh God. Now she knew? Was she in love…with Trick and Declan?

She couldn’t be. It was sex. Great sex. Phenomenal, mind-blowing, Guinness Book of World Records-breaking sex. It wasn’t love. Love would be a disaster.

“We’ve lost her again,” Ken said, amused. “Someone grab the knife.”

“God,” she groaned to no one in particular. “Why does everything have to be so complicated?”

Jeremy laughed. “Believe me, I feel your pain.”

“I’m not so sure,” Tasha muttered. “I feel sick, but that should pass in a minute.” She slid off the stool carefully, but before she could take a step her beautiful face contorted in pain and she doubled over, clutching her stomach.

Jen and Jeremy were both beside her before her scream brought the rest of the family.

“Damn it,” Tasha cried, clutching Jen’s hand so tightly she lost all circulation. “This hurts so much. I’m scared, Jen.”

“I’m here.” She looked up in time to see Stephen turn white as a sheet and collapse on his knees beside his wife. “Stephen’s here, Tasha. We’re taking you to the hospital.”

A moment later her cousin Rory moved Jeremy out of the way and started checking Tasha’s vitals and asking questions. “I radioed in. The ambulance is right around the corner. Just breathe, Natasha.”

But Tasha was too busy screaming in pain to hear him.

 

***

 

“It’s been hours. Jennifer. We should go and find a doctor.”

Shawn Finn put his arm around his wife and pulled her back down when she tried to get out of her seat. “It’s been two hours and Stephen and Rory are both back there with her, sweetheart. We’ll have news as soon as they do.”

Jen hugged herself, smiled weakly at her father and continued her walk around the waiting room. There almost weren’t enough seats to accommodate all of them. Brady and Ken. Wyatt and Noah. Solomon, James, Owen and Jeremy. Seamus had to take his kids home, but he was on his way to the hospital now.

It was too soon. That’s what everyone was thinking, but they were too afraid to say it out loud. Tasha was only six months pregnant with twins and it was too soon for them to arrive. Which meant that something was wrong.

Something was wrong with her sister and best friend, and she was helpless. All she could do was wait and pray.

“Jennifer?”

She spun around so fast it made her dizzy. “Declan?” She forced herself not to run as she moved swiftly toward him, aware of all the attention that had suddenly focused on the strange man who knew her name.

Her mother’s voice was weak with worry. “Honey? Is everything all right?”

“Yes, Mama,” she answered, still in shock. “Declan is a…friend from school.”

“How nice that he came to check on you.” Ellen turned to Shawn again. “Let me go find a doctor.”

“Can I talk to you outside?” Jennifer took his arm and he followed her out of the sliding doors and down the walk until the bushes concealed them from view. “What are you doing here?”

He cupped her shoulders and studied her face, his own etched with concern. “When we got your text, Trick had already been called out for some job or else he’d be here too. Have you heard anything yet? Has a nurse or a doctor come to give you an update on their status?”

Suddenly overwhelmed, Jen collapsed into his embrace and started to cry. He put his arms around her without hesitation, rocking her as he kissed her forehead. “It’s okay, baby. She’s going to be okay.”

“She was fine,” Jen sobbed. “Teasing me and joking and then she just— She’s healthy. Every checkup, the doctor says she’s healthy.”

“That’s a good thing,” he soothed. “From everything you and Trick have told me, Tasha is a strong woman. They’ll find out what’s wrong and she’ll be fine.”

She looked up at him, her tears blinding her. “She’s over thirty-five and this is her—Declan, what if—”

“Don’t even say it, Jen. Don’t even think it.” He kissed her damp cheeks, lingering on her lips for one tender moment before lifting his head again. “She’ll be fine.”

Jen heard Seamus snarl and stiffened in Declan’s arms. “Step away now and I won’t hurt you.”

She turned toward the parking lot, ready to explain who she was kissing when she saw three men shadowing Seamus. Two of them had cameras.

“Can you confirm that the Senator’s wife has gone into labor three months early?”

“Seamus,” another man called. “Was it the stress of the wedding? I heard the senator’s been receiving threats about his brother’s upcoming marriage to his same-sex partner, Jeremy Porter.”

Reporters. Jen grimaced, her fists clenching. Luckily most of them had enough respect to give the family space before descending like vultures. All but three apparently.

Seamus was doing his best to ignore them, but worry was shortening his temper. He wasn’t used to it the way Stephen was. “No comment. I won’t repeat myself.”

Declan stepped forward as the four men reached them. Ignoring Seamus, he stared down the others in a way that made them pause and shift uncomfortably. Jen had only seen that expression once, when an offensive student was kicked out of class. She knew what it could do. “The Finn family has no information to give at this time. No amount of questioning will change that. So you gentlemen have a choice to make. You can turn around and wait patiently in your cars because it’s a free country. Or you can leave and wait for a statement from the senator’s office like everyone else seems to have enough sense and respect to do.”

“Who are you?” One reporter asked belligerently, looking around Declan at Seamus. “Is there gonna be a double wedding now? That’d make headlines.”

Seamus stepped forward “You know what would make headlines? I can give your friend an exclusive about a reporter who conveniently broke his arm in the parking lot of the hospital.”

The reporter backed up. “Fine. Fine. I’ll wait in my car.”

His friend followed his lead, leaving the third man standing awkwardly on the curb. He was short and balding, holding a disposable camera in his hands. He didn’t look threatening at all. “I’m not a reporter,” he offered, his face pale.

Jen moved closer as Declan and Seamus towered over him. “Then why are you here?” Declan asked.

“I know Natasha.” He swallowed anxiously and, seeing Jen, moved closer with a relieved smile. “You’re Little Finn, right? Maybe you could help me.”

Jen’s stomach knotted. The man was giving off some seriously squicky vibes. Tasha knew him? “What do you want?”

He held up the camera. “When they allow visitors, maybe you could take a picture for me? I don’t think she’d mind. It’s for the website.”

“The Baby Bump Brigade?” Jen growled, clenching her fists.

“You know it?”

“You’re the ones who follow her around and takes pictures of her every move.”

He scowled. “It’s a free country and a senator’s wife belongs to the people. If she’s going to die or lose the babies, we have a right to know. When we saw the ambulance, everyone was very worr—”

One minute he was standing there and the next he was on the ground cupping his bleeding nose.

Jen glared down at him. “You’re lucky my brother wasn’t here,” she snarled, not taking her eyes off him. “You wouldn’t be getting up.”

“But I—”

“I mean how dare you? My sister is in there, in pain and scared, and you want a picture for your website?” She started towards him again but Declan wrapped his arms around her, lifting her feet and inch off the ground.

“Calm down, tiger. I think he got the message.”

The man stood up slowly, pinching his nose to stop the bleeding. “She broke my nose. I need to see a doctor.”

“Your call,” Seamus offered tightly. “But don’t complain too loudly. You’ll have to walk through a waiting room full of Finns, and in a minute, they’ll all know why you got beat down by a girl.”

He muttered nasally as he walked by them and through the ER doors. “I just wanted a picture.”

When he disappeared her hand started throbbing like crazy. “Ow!”

Declan pulled back and cupped it gently. “Can you move your fingers?”

She could, but she didn’t like it. “It hurts.”

Seamus came up beside her, forcing Declan to let her go as he lifted her in his arms with a laugh. “Of course it hurts. You broke his nose, baby girl.”

She smiled down at him. “Why do you sound so happy about it? He could sue me and I don’t have any money.”

“He won’t sue you,” Declan assured her, watching them closely. “In fact, I doubt he’ll ever speak of it again. To anyone.”

“I agree. And that’s the second time you’ve coldcocked someone for talking about our family. You’ve grown into such a brawler.” Seamus was still holding her. “How is Tasha?”

“No word yet. Unless they sent someone in the last few minutes.”

He nodded, letting her feet touch the ground before he spoke again. “Are you going to introduce me to your friend?” Seamus held out his hand and shook Declan’s firmly. “Seamus Finn. I want to thank you for your help with that. I might have lost my temper the way my sister did. But I doubt they’d be walking away as easily.”

Declan’s smile was more reserved. “Declan Kelley. They shouldn’t have been here to begin with. Sensationalizing personal trauma for headlines isn’t journalism.”

Seamus was still nodded, but Jen saw his expression change. “Kelley?”

Did he recognize Declan’s name? “I bet I can go catch those reporters. I still have one good hand.”

Declan frowned. “You’re starting to sound like Trick, God help me. You need to go inside and get some ice on that.”

“Wait, Trick?” Seamus sounded surprised. “Are you friends with Trick Dunham?”

And that made a difference, Jen realized. The set of her brother’s shoulders relaxed and he was smiling again. Good lord, was this Kelley versus Finn nonsense really a thing? How had she not known?

Declan shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t want to take up your time. I’m sure you’re anxious to get inside.”

Seamus glanced down at his sister and nodded. “We are. Like you said, we need to put some ice on Rocky’s hand. You’re a good man for helping out, Declan. Come into the pub sometime and I’ll buy you a round.”

He put his arm around Jen’s shoulder but she resisted, slipping out of his hold. “You go on. I’ll join you in a minute.” Seamus studied her until she raised her eyebrows. “Now?”

He nodded and walked away reluctantly, glancing at them over his shoulder before he disappeared.

“He’s the relaxed brother?” Declan murmured in disbelief.

Jen sighed, gripping his jacket with her good hand and pulling him back down the sidewalk until they were in shadow. “Yes, but it’s been a bad night.”

“Of course it has, I’m sorry. What do you need from me?” He slid his hands into her hair and cupped her face. “Just tell me and I’m here.”

She kissed him. She’d wanted to thank him for coming when she called, for stepping in to help her brother… She wanted to show him how much it meant to her. His lush lips opened and the tender kiss deepened. Changed.

Declan lifted his head and she smiled up at him, a fresh tear escaping down her cheek. “You’ve already given me what I needed. Why don’t you go home and I’ll call you if anything changes.”

He didn’t like that idea. “I want to be here in case you need me.”

“I know and I love that, but everyone inside is tense and worried and walking the edge. I don’t think this is the best time for introductions.”

Declan kissed her again before stepping back and shoving his hands in his pockets. “I understand. You should be with your family now. Just know that Trick and I will be waiting for you when you get home. You know we can’t sleep without you. And don’t forget to put ice on that right away.”

“I will.”

She cradled her hand and watched him walk to his car and drive away. What was happening? This was more than ménage. More than sex. His walking directly into the lion’s den to check on her proved that more than anything in the last few weeks.

It also confirmed her fears. She was in love with him. With both of them. What was she going to do?

“Jennifer.” Her mother’s voice was almost shrill, and so unexpected it made Jen jump and turn around, her heart in her throat.

The look on her mother’s face scared her. “Oh God, is Tasha…?”

Ellen winced and shook her head, holding out her hand. “The doctor just came out with Rory. Tasha is stable and the babies are healthy and strong and still waiting a while before they join us.”

A sob of relief escaped her throat and her mother reached her in seconds, wrapping her in her warm, familiar embrace and kissing the top of her head. “I know, baby. I was scared too. She’ll have to stay the night so they can keep an eye on her, but she’s fine. They’re all okay.”

“Thank God,” Jen said, pulling her mother closer and wincing at the pain in her hand. “Ow. I really think I do need to get some ice.”

“I heard you punched the Baby Bump ringleader.”

She laughed as her mother walked beside her toward the waiting room. “I did.”

“Your brother’s going to give you the key to the city for that.”

“He’s not the mayor.”

“Stephen will find a way. Now let’s forget everything else and go take care of our boys.”