“Sure it is. We all got one, except Robbie, because he already had his.”
“Even the dads?”
“Oh, yes, dear, Tim and James have been talking about this for a while. Boys and their toys,” Evelyn tells me with humor in her voice.
“Let’s go.” Finn takes my hand and leads me to Ember’s SUV.
Everyone piles into their own vehicles, and I watch Declan strapping in his children’s car seats with fierce determination. He checks the straps several times before he’s satisfied then picks up Raven and sets her in the passenger seat. Before he shuts the door, he lays a quick kiss on her lips and runs a hand through her hair. It’s an incredibly intimate gesture.
“What are you looking at?” Finn scoots closer to me.
“Declan and Raven. They have a beautiful family.”
“They do.”
“Why was she so aggravated with you?”
“Because he’s kept you hidden, but don’t take it personally. Robbie did it to me, too.” Ember answers cheerily for him.
“Why?”
“I didn’t hide you, as everyone keeps implying. I’ve been selfish.” Finn kisses my temple.
“So I have some news,” Max tells the car. “I’m being transferred in September. Going to Quantico.”
“Congratulations, man!” Finn slaps his shoulder.
“Does this mean no more deployments?” Ember asks.
“Not in the traditional form. I’ll know more in a few weeks.”
The rest of the ride, we talk about Max’s upcoming move. When we pull up in front of the Harley Davidson dealership, there are eight bikes lined up in the front, all gleaming.
“Wow,” I breathe when Finn helps me out. “They are incredible.”
Like moths to a flame, each man walks up to his bike and inspects it closely. I stand to the side and watch them with amusement. I giggle to myself when Finn runs his hand over the chrome then reaches for the salesman’s cloth to wipe off his fingerprints.
“This is a big deal to these guys.” I turn to find Raven watching me with her arms crossed. Her mom and Evelyn have the babies under the shaded tent.
“I can see that.”
She walks up next to me, and I sense her tension. “So how long have you known Finn?”
“A few weeks,” I answer flippantly, not sure where she’s going with this. She’s sending off weird vibes, and I’m having a hard time understanding why.
“You met when Ember found Blade?”
“Yes.”
“Robbie’s crazy about that dog.”
“He’s a great dog.”
“Finn’s a great guy, one of the best.”
How did we go from talking about a dog to discussing Finn’s merits?
“Yes, he is. He’s been very sweet to me.”