But Finn hadn’t done that. He hadn’t done anything but be sweet and kind. Granted, he might not be totally forthcoming at times, but it wasn’t because he was out to deceive her or hurt her. She couldn’t punish him for the wrongs her father had done to her over the years.
If she was ever going to trust a man with her heart—it would be Finn. Because in truth she did love him. She’d fallen for him that first night when he’d invited her here to his penthouse. He’d been charming and entertaining.
Now, when it looked like she was going to have it all—the perfect guy, the amazing babies and a happily-ever-after—she was pulling away. In the light of day, the depth of her love for Finn scared her silly. Her instinct was to back away fast—just like she was doing now. And if she wasn’t careful, she’d lose it all. If she hadn’t already.
Still wearing Finn’s jacket, she wrapped her arms around herself. She inhaled the lingering scent of his spicy cologne mingled with his unique male scent. Her eyes drifted closed.
There had to be a way to salvage things. Maybe she could plead a case of pregnancy hormones. Nah. She had to be honest with him about her fears and hope he’d be willing to work through them with her.
It was then she noticed something poking her. There was something in his inner jacket pocket. She reached inside and pulled out not one but two packages of pacifiers. One was pink and one was blue. Happy tears blurred her eyes as she realized just how invested Finn was in their expanding family. She had to talk to him—to apologize.
She swiped at her eyes and got to her feet, heading for the kitchen.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
WHAT WAS HE DOING?
Finn chastised himself for losing his cool with Holly. Every time she questioned him, she poked at his insecurities about being a proper husband and father. He had so many doubts about doing a good job. He didn’t even know what being a husband and father entailed. All he knew was that he wanted to do his best by his family.
And he wasn’t a quitter. He fought for the things he believed in. Sometimes he fought too long for his own good. But this was his family—there was no retreating. He would somehow prove to Holly—and most of all to himself—that he could be there for her and the babies through the good and the bad.
Certain in what he needed to do, he turned on his heels and headed back to the living room, hoping Holly hadn’t made a quick exit. If she had, it wouldn’t deter him. He would find her. He would tell her that he loved her. Because that was what it all boiled down to. He was a man who was head over heels in love with the mother of his children.
When he entered the living room, he nearly collided with Holly. He put his hands on her shoulders to steady her. “Where are you going in such a rush?”
“To find you. There’s something I need to say.”
“There’s something I need to say to you, too.”
At the same time, they said, “I’m sorry.”
Finn had to be sure he heard her correctly. “Really?”
She nodded before she lifted up on her tiptoes and with her hands on either side of his face, she pulled him down to her. The kiss wasn’t light or hesitant. Instead her kiss was heated and demanding. Need thrummed in his veins. He never wanted to let her go.
It’d be oh, so easy to dispense with words. His hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her soft curves to his hard planes. A moan grew in the back of his throat and he didn’t fight it. Holly had to know all of the crazy things she did to his body, to his mind, to his heart.
But he wanted—no, he needed to clear the air between them. Christmas was in the air and it was the time for setting aside the past and making a new start. That was exactly what he wanted to do with Holly.
It took every fiber of his being to pull away from her embrace. Her beautiful eyes blinked and stared at him in confusion. It’d be so easy to pull her close again and pick up where they’d left off.
No, Finn. Do the responsible thing. Make this right for both of you.
“Come sit down so we can talk.” He led her to the couch.
“Talk? Now?”
“Trust me. It’s important.”
“As long as I go first,” she said. “After all, I started this whole thing.”