“Dax said you’re really into the Storm, and that you genuinely like football,” Finn said as he raised the glass to his lips and sipped. My stomach felt strange as I watched Finn situate himself in the easy chair with his back to the window. He had a wiry body that looked coiled and ready to pounce and his green eyes were guarded. I felt uneasy in his presence in a way that I couldn’t quite explain.
“I do like football, but then I’m part of the Halas legacy, as I’m sure you’re well aware,” I said, trying to let him know that I wasn’t someone he could flatter into submission.
“Ah, yes, I do know that,” he smiled as he ran a hand over the top of his head and smoothed his already slicked back hair. “Dax says you’re studying the team and helping line up the next draft picks; is that true?”
“Well, I don’t know about helping identify draft picks, but I am definitely studying the Storm,” I said. “Do you like football, Mr. O’Brien?”
“Please, call me Finn,” he said. I nodded, but when I didn’t return the friendly invitation, Finn’s eyes narrowed and I saw a predatory look cross his face. I knew the look all too well; it was one that my mother wore when she was hot on the trail of something she absolutely had to have. It made my stomach turn to see it up close again.
“Okay, Finn,” I said. “Do you enjoy football?”
“I enjoy a good competition between two equal challengers,” he said slyly, eyeing me as he sipped again. “But football isn’t at the top of my list.”
“I see,” I said, shifting my gaze toward Dax who was staring out the window at the lake. “Well, I guess you two are quite the pair, then.”
“Indeed,” Finn said with a mysterious smile. I hesitated, and in the moment of silence, my phone rang.
“Excuse me,” I said, setting down my drink and grabbing my purse from the hall table before heading back to my suite and closing the door. I pulled the phone out of my bag and answered it harshly, “What do you want, Mother?”
“Tonight is the Bears opening game at Soldier Field, and I expect you to be there, Payton Gale,” my mother said before hanging up. I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at it for a long time before I took a deep breath and began to get ready.
An hour later, I exited my room and rejoined Dax and Finn in the living room. I’d dressed in black, linen pants and a matching tank top in support of the Bears, but also to send a message to my mother. She’d always insisted we wear black and gold for every game because she said that all black made game days feel like a funeral. I knew when she saw me, she’d pitch a fit; in fact, and I was counting on it.
“I’m heading out for a bit,” I said to Dax and nodding to his guest I added, “It was nice to meet you, Finn. I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”
“Oh, you can count on it,” Finn smiled sending a chill up my spine.
“Where are you headed?” Dax asked.
“Oh, you know, just out and about,” I said, not wanting to share my family business in front of Finn and hoping that Dax knew what I was trying to tell him. “I’ll be back early.”
“Okay, do you want me to have Geo drive you?” he asked almost as an afterthought.
“No, I’ve called a cab, but thank you for offering,” I smiled as I moved across the room and bent down to kiss his cheek. I quietly whispered, “My mother,” and when I stood up, he nodded. I waved goodbye and headed down to the street, hoping that my time with my mother would go even half as smoothly, but feeling fairly sure it would be twice as rough.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Dax
After Payton left, I turned to find Finn staring at me with a knowing grin plastered on his lips.
“What?”
“She’s sneaky,” he said, gesturing toward the door where Payton had just exited. “She’s smart and she’s sneaky. I’ll bet she’s headed to the Bears game.”
“What makes you think that?” I asked, knowing that at the very least Payton was headed to meet with her mother. I had no idea if she would attend the game, but Finn saying it aloud started the idea racing through my brain.
“She’s dressed in black, heading out for the evening, and she didn’t tell you where she was going,” he said ticking off the evidence. “If I didn’t know about the contract you two had signed, I’d say she was running off to meet her lover, but since I do know about it, I’m making an educated guess.”
“So what if she is?” I asked. Sometimes Finn got ideas in his head that weren’t true, but worked the conspiracy through to the bitter end. It was annoying, but he’d been right enough times that I couldn’t entirely discount his assessment.
“I’m just wondering how much information she’s handing over to the Bears coaching staff,” he shrugged. “I mean, not like we really care or anything, but there’s the principle, you know?”
“She’s not a spy, Finn,” I said dismissing him.
“Whatever you say, man,” Finn nodded as he set his glass down and stood up. “I mean, you live with her, right? You know who she is and how she operates by now.”
“She’s a good girl,” I said firmly shutting the door on the conversation. “What’s up with the new business?”