Wake My Heart (Jasper Falls 1)

He loved that his house was on the corner lot. Finn’s truck idled at the curb as Ryan pulled into the driveway. In that moment, he decided the back door would be the main entrance. It made sense, since it was closest to where he’d park.

He shut off the truck and his headlights poured over the neighbor’s shed. Something moved in the shadows and he squinted. A small figure parked the bike against the fence and climbed off. A female, small, possibly a teenager. Blocking her eyes from the beaming headlights, she stared at his truck.

Her face turned and he noticed her small upturned nose with a spattering of freckles on otherwise pale skin as she looked back at him. Her lips were full and eyes large. Her wavy, brown hair streamed from beneath a gray wool beanie cap.

He hit the switch to kill the lights but regretted his decision the moment her figure nearly vanished in the dark. As she moved a few steps, the narrow frame of her shoulders bundled in an oversized hooded sweatshirt caught the moonlight.

There was something familiar about her. Of course, there weren’t many mysterious residents in a town with a population under four thousand. But who was she? Had they met before?

The passenger door jerked open, startling him out of his trance. “This place is great,” Finn said in greeting, grabbing the pizza off the front seat. “Smells good. You get this from Vincenzo Marcelli’s?”

Ryan glanced back at the bike, and the woman was gone. He returned his stare to Finn. “Yeah. Did you see that girl?”

“What girl?” Finn followed his stare. “Someone over there?”

Had he imagined her? He grabbed the beer and climbed out of the truck. “I must be seeing things.” But he could swear he saw her.

He led Finn through the back door. “I don’t have any furniture yet, so we’ll have to rough it.”

“I’m sure we’ll survive. This is really nice, Ry.”

“Thanks. Tomorrow I’m heading to McGinty’s to see about getting some furniture.”

They each cracked open a beer. Finn flipped a cardboard box over in the center of the living room and used it as a coffee table for the pizza. The warm mozzarella and hot marinara sauce seemed the perfect end to a great day.

“How’re Mallory and the kids?”

“Can’t complain.”

“And did I hear you now have rabbits?”

Finn laughed and groaned. “I think the one’s pregnant. I could shoot Philly for agreeing to let the kids get them.”

“Fertile land you come from. And you know what they say about rabbits…”

“That they have a libido only second to McCulloughs?”

Ryan laughed. He was probably right, being that there were now something like thirty-five of them living up on what the family referred to as McCullough Mountain.

“Something like that.”

His cousin grinned. “That rabbit isn’t the only thing packing heat.”

Ryan stilled, a warm mouthful of sauce and cheese forgotten on his tongue. “Mallory’s pregnant again?” He stared in shock.

Finn’s smile stretched from ear to ear. “Guilty.”

Ryan swallowed with a gulp. “Holy crap. That’s five kids, Finn. Five! What the hell are you gonna do with five kids?”

He shrugged and happily reached for another slice. “Maybe start a minor league baseball team or form the next band of junior river dancers. We could call ourselves the Irish Von Trapps.” He laughed. “We’ll just make it work. Just like my parents did. It all comes together in the end.”

“You’re going to be overrun by redheads and bunnies.”

Finn laughed. “It’s great.”

“And how’s Mallory feeling?”

“Exhausted, but happy.”

“Aunt Maureen must be thrilled.”

Finn held up a finger. “She doesn’t know yet. We just found out on Wednesday and Philly wants to tell everyone after the morning sickness ends, so don’t tell your mum until then.”

“She’s not speaking to me at the moment, so your secret’s safe.”

“Baloney. I heard she’s got a freezer full of casseroles for you. With Pat so busy doing his residency and Tristan preoccupied with family, you’re her number one. She’s just pouting and enjoying the sympathy. It’ll pass in a few days once she misses you. Besides, there’s no way she’s going to let you decorate this place without meddling. The women in our family don’t know how to back off. Believe me, she’s happy for you.”

“Well, she sure has a funny way of showing it.”

“She’s an O’Leahey woman, Ry. They’re all insane. But Aunt Rose has always been the most logical of the three, so she’ll come around. Maybe stop by Ashlynn’s Farmers’ Market and pick her up some flowers or something. Sort of a peace offering.” He tossed his crust into the box with the other bit off pieces. “Either that or have fun watching Tristan eat all your dinners.”

Ryan laughed. “He’s such a kiss ass.”

“No kidding. Even my mum swoons whenever he comes by. It’s that damn southern charm.”

He gave Finn the grand tour, and when the six-pack was gone, he walked him out. Finn was a great cousin, a great business partner and supervisor at the lumberyard, and an even greater friend. Since their dads were on the verge of retirement, the responsibility of the business fell into their laps. Together they made an unstoppable team, Ryan thought.