Stripped Bare (Vegas Billionaire 1)

As we pull up the hill that leads to his father’s house, my hands start to fiddle with anything my fingers can touch. My hair, the hem of my shirt that is covering my bikini top, the tread on my shorts and even the trigger that moves the window up and down. I do this until Finn reaches over and grabs my hand, holding it like he’s done so many times. I’m afraid to check and see if Morgan is watching, if she’s noticing that the man who professed to be her father is holding her mother’s hand. I don’t want her to see. I don’t want her to ask questions about why Finn isn’t here all the time, or why he doesn’t love me. It’ll be bad enough when he leaves and I’m breaking down from the heartache. I swear I thought I was getting over him and then he showed right back up, making my ache for him even deeper.

Pulling into the circular drive of the McCormick house, my heart beats rapidly. The shortness of breath isn’t lost on Finn as he leans over and whispers, “I’ve got you.” Thing is, I wish he did. I wish he understood why I left him a day early and could grasp that I fell for him hard while in Vegas because I saw the life I could’ve been living, if he had chosen me. When you come from nothing and have nothing, it’s not hard to imagine a life where you have everything. It’s the easiest thing in the world to get accustomed to living a lavish lifestyle, to be treated like you matter and that you’re wanted. In a few days, he’ll go back to Vegas and I’ll deal with the fallout of Morgan questioning where her father is and me wondering if my heart will ever be the same.

Finn opens my door and Morgan’s simultaneously, with a smile that beams brighter than the sun. He’s happy to be here. I wish I could say the same. I step out of the car and cross my arms, preventing him from holding my hand, but that doesn’t stop him from placing a hand on my shoulder and one on Morgan’s and walking us to the door.

The inside of the house is as I remember it with the massive chandelier and sweeping staircase. This is the type of house that makes fairy tales come true.

“Whoa,” Morgan mutters as she enters the foyer. She steps away from Finn and I reach for her, trying to keep her close.

“Hey,” he says, grabbing my arm. “It’s okay. She can look around.”

“But—”

“There are no buts, Macey. Believe me when I tell you, I honestly don’t think he knew about her. If he did, he would’ve told me.”

“How can you be so sure?”

He shrugs and that doesn’t put me at ease, not one bit. “It’s a hunch.”

I want to bang on his chest and tell him hunches rarely work out and demand that he take us out of here before he opens his mouth. Instead, I follow him into another room, one where the television is on and an older version of Finn is reading the paper.

“Morning, Dad,” Finn says with us trailing behind him. His father puts his paper down and eyes us over the rim of his glasses before he removes them.

“Finn and”—he looks over Finn’s shoulder and finishes with—“guests, good morning.”

Finn smiles as he looks over his shoulder at the both of us. “Dad, this is Macey Webster.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Webster.” Much to my shock, he stands and shakes my hand.

“You too, Mr. McCormick.”

“And who is this?” he asks, pointing at Morgan. My heart thunders loudly in my chest, echoing in my ears. I want to grab her, hide her and protect her from every evil in the world.

Finn looks at Morgan and smiles. “Dad, this is Morgan.” Finn pauses before he turns to face his father. “Morgan is my daughter.”

Mr. McCormick takes a step back and moves his gaze from Finn to Morgan to me and back to Finn. The process is repeated over and over again as his mouth drops open, only to close immediately.

“You . . .” He shakes his head. “She’s your . . .” His eyes roam over me and back to Morgan. “I think I need to sit down,” he says, returning to his seat.

We stand there like statues, wondering if he’s going to start screaming or continue to read his paper. Mr. McCormick rests his head in his hands and starts to mumble something before Finn speaks up.

“I’m going take Morgan into the kitchen for a snack, then Macey and I will be back to talk.”

Once we’re in the hallway I grab Finn. “We should go.”

“We’re not leaving until I know for sure.”

“But why does it matter?” I beg. “Let’s just go and have a family day.”