Finn (Blue-Collar Billionaires 2)

That doesn't sound like a welcome to me but apparently he and Tank speak the same language because Tank grins. Sasha hops up so Tank and Emma can sit next to me.

Then she looks down at Luke. "Do you mind?"

He moves over silently, watching her with a look of awe as she slides into the booth next to him.

I have to stifle my laugh with another bite of the pie I've been neglecting. Was I ever this much of an idiot around beautiful women? Then I realize that I'm still that much of an idiot over one woman in particular.

“Are you okay, Finn?” Sasha is watching me with concern. At her question, Tank and Emma look over at me, too.

“He’s having girl trouble.” Luke smirks.

“I didn’t even know you were seeing someone Finn.” Emma looks thrilled.

Tank watches me with knowing eyes. I’m sure he’s already figured out that the woman screwing with my head is Rissa. Further, I have a feeling he knows my reasons for bringing her back into my life are not at all altruistic.

“There’s no woman. There’s nothing. Just a nosy little brother with too much time on his hands.”

As the conversation turns to general things, my mind wanders back to this morning. Despite the fact that she's available, I can't allow myself to get sucked back into Rissa’s spell. It’s time to stop playing around. Maybe I don't need revenge. Seeing her in tears this afternoon wasn't satisfying, it was just sad. My desire to hurt her has morphed into an insatiable curiosity about her life. I want to know if she's happy. I need to know all the things I was too blind to notice when I was teenager.

Andrew had the means to give her everything I couldn't but yet she still wasn't happy with him. There's a stupid part of me hoping that it was because she

never got over me. The same part of me that once called out for revenge would love to know that thoughts of me haunted her after we parted, providing her with the same torment that kept me in limbo for years.

But there's another part of me, rooted in the heart that loved her that just wants to understand why. I need to understand exactly what he did wrong and what was missing.

And I need to understand what it was about me that drove away the only woman I've ever wanted to stay.

* * * * *

By the time I get back home, my ears are ringing with unwanted love advice. Emma and Sasha took the opportunity to tell me everything that men usually do wrong in relationships. I tried to tell them several times that I wasn't in a relationship and have no intention of being in one but after a while I just let them talk. My brothers both seemed to enjoy watching the girls school me. Or maybe they were just happy the attention wasn't on them.

I take a seat on the couch. That's when I notice the catalogue on the coffee table. Did Rissa leave something behind? The women on the cover are wearing lacy lingerie so I figure she must have had this in her bag and decided to look at it while she was taking a break. I feel like a pervert as I open the cover but I can't deny that I'm curious if she's marked anything. The idea of her wearing one of these see through pieces of lace is enough to spike my blood pressure anyway but I really want to see the kind of things that she'd choose for herself.

Inside the front cover, there is a sticky note with my name on it.

Finn. Since you asked for help decorating, I decided to pick out a few things for you. I noticed some things in this catalogue that would be perfect for you! Check out the dog-eared pages.

I flip through the pages until I come to the first folded down corner. To my surprise, this page isn't lingerie at all but furniture. This must be a really diverse company to sell lingerie and furniture. I've never seen anything like it.

Halfway down the page, she has circled a black chair with black permanent marker. I tilt the catalogue trying to understand what is so special about this strangely shaped chair. Then I read the description next to Item 2453B and my breath catches. It's described as a Tantric chair. Perfect to support more adventurous positions.

I turn the catalogue over and suddenly the skimpy outfits make sense. Upon closer inspection it's quite obvious that the lingerie is on the risqué side and when I flip back through some of the pages that aren't marked, there is everything from cock rings to giant dildos. I stop on one page and then hastily flip back to the page Rissa marked. I don't have time to think about why any woman would want a giant purple dildo right now.

Rissa has left another sticky note on the page she marked. I bark out a laugh at the hastily scribbled note.

- - Perfect for your overnight guests. Especially the one who keeps losing her panties in your couch cushions!

A few pages over she has dog-eared a section with handcuffs and nipple tassels.

- - These would be perfect wall decor. Very avant-garde, right?

I'm chuckling as I page through the magazine, discovering several other colorful suggestions for my home decorating needs. The damn woman is playing by my rules and beating me at my own game.

I tuck the catalogue under my arm and stand. She's left this for me trying to get the last word. I text Jonah to bring the car around. I know where she lives so I'm thinking maybe I should drop by and let her know I got her message. It'll also be my chance to apologize for making her cry this morning. No woman wants to be reminded of a breakup.

The ride over to her house is quick but pointless. As soon as we pull up and I see the dark house, I remember that she said she works another job in the evenings. I give Jonah the address to her business office. Hopefully I can catch her before she leaves.

Someone is stepping out of the front door of the small building as we pull up. I roll down the window slightly. "Rissa?"