Fool's Gold Collection Part 2. Susan Mallery

like.”

      “Good to know. I didn’t like leaving you shorthanded.”

      “Plenty of hands now,” Bill told him. “I gotta run. Talk to you later.”

      Finn listened to his partner hang up, then stood in the center of the park and realized he had nothing to do with the rest of his day. He stepped into the sunlight and looked around at the bustling town. Everyone had somewhere to be. Everyone had someone to be with. Except for his brothers, the only other person he wanted to spend time with was Dakota. The problem was, the last time he’d seen her, he’d acted like an ass.

      It hadn’t been her at all, he admitted to himself. It had been him. He wanted to say he’d acted the way he had because he’d known the relationship wouldn’t last and he was only trying to protect her. But that would make him a liar. Instead, he’d felt himself getting closer to her. The realization had scared the crap out of him. So he’d acted or, rather, reacted. He’d rejected her and sent her on her way.

      Now he was left with the consequences.

      Knowing that, whether or not she was willing to forgive him, he had to apologize, so Finn walked the short distance to Dakota’s house. When he reached the front door, he knocked, then waited. If she wasn’t home, he’d come back later.

      The door opened a few seconds later. Dakota raised her eyebrows when she saw him but didn’t say anything. She was wearing jeans and a T-shirt. Her feet were bare. Her blond hair tousled. She looked good. Better than good. She looked sexy and only slightly pissed at him.

      “I should probably talk first, huh?” he said.

      She leaned her shoulder against the door frame. “Sounds like a good idea.”

      “I have a good excuse for acting like a jerk.”

      “I can’t wait to hear it.”

      He cleared his throat. “Would saying it’s because I’m a guy be enough?”

      “Probably not.”

      It had been worth a try, he thought. “I was frustrated and angry about my brothers. And starting to get involved with you. That last part wasn’t supposed to happen. You know I’m leaving and I know I’m leaving.”

      “So you decided on the mature response,” she said.

      “I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that. I was wrong.”

      She stepped back and held the door open. “Come on in.”

      “As easy as that?”

      “It was a good apology. I believe you.”

      He stepped into the house and she shut the door behind him and faced him.

      “Finn, I have a good time with you. I like talking to you and the sex is pretty good, too.” She smiled. “Don’t let that last part go to your head.”

      “I won’t,” he promised. Although he wanted to take a second and enjoy the praise.

      Her smile faded. “I’m very clear on the fact your stay here in town is temporary. When you leave, I’ll miss you. Despite that, I’m not going to get crazy and try to make you stay.”

      “I know,” he said quickly. “I shouldn’t have said all that before. I’ll miss you, too.”

      “Having cleared up how much we’re going to miss each other, do you still want to spend time together while you’re here?”

      He hadn’t dated much in the past eight years. Once his parents had died and he’d become responsible for his brothers, there hadn’t been time. So he wasn’t sure if her direct attitude was about dating a woman who was more mature, or if she was incredibly special. He had a feeling it was the latter.

      “I’d like to see you as much as I can,” he said. “And if you want to beg me to stay, I wouldn’t mind that, either.”

      She laughed. “You and your ego. I’m sure you would love that. You in your plane, ready to fly away. Me sobbing on the edge of the runway. Very 1940s and going off to war.”

      “I like war movies,” he said.

      “Let me put on some shoes.” She walked across the living room and slipped her feet into sandals. “I’ll show you the town and later you can stay for dinner.” She turned back to him. “And if you’re very lucky, I might just use you for sex.”

      “If there’s anything I can do to encourage that last one, just let me know.”

      “I’m sure there’s something,” she said with a smile. “Let me think on it.”

      DAKOTA SPENT THE AFTERNOON showing Finn around town. They explored Morgan’s Books, got a coffee at Starbucks and watched the last two innings of a Little League game. Around five, they headed back to her place.

      “Want to get takeout?” he asked.

      “I still have the ingredients for that chicken dish,” she said, enjoying the soft breeze and the feel of his hand in hers.

      “Who taught you to cook?” he asked. “Your mom?”

      “Uh-huh. She’s a great cook. We always had a tradition of big family dinners. We were all expected to show up every night, regardless of what else might be going on. As a teenager, I hated the rules, but now I appreciate them.”

      “Sounds like you were part of a close family.”

      She looked at him. “From what you said earlier, it sounds like you were, too.”

      “It wasn’t the same. Dad and I were always flying off somewhere. We didn’t have a lot of meals together. But you’re right. We were close.”

      They’d reached her house and went inside. While he browsed through her music selection, she got the chicken ready to put in the oven. Once she’d slid it into place, she grabbed a bottle of wine and joined him in her living room.

      They sat together on the sofa.

      “How old were you when you learned to fly?” she asked.

      “Seven or eight. Dad started taking me up when I was about four. He would let me take the controls. I got serious about studying to be a pilot when I was ten. There’s a lot of written material, but I got through it.”

      She shifted so she was facing him on the sofa. “Why do you love it?”

      “Part of it is growing up in Alaska. There are lots of places that you can only get to by boat or plane. Some of the towns in the far north are only accessible by plane.”

      “Or dogsled,” she teased.

      “A dogsled only works in the winter.” He put his hand on her leg. “Every day is different. Different cargo, different weather, different destination. I like helping people who are depending on me. I like the freedom. I’m my own boss.”

      “You could be your own boss anywhere,” she said.

      “I could,” he agreed. “As much as I like Alaska, I’m not one of those guys who can’t see himself living anywhere else. There are things I like about being in the city. Maybe not a big one. But there’s something to be said for tradition. My grandfather started the business. It’s been in the family ever since. Sometimes there’s a partner, sometimes it’s just us.”

      Dakota knew all about belonging to a place. “My family was one of the original families here in town. Being there from the beginning can make you feel like a small part of history.”

      “Exactly. I don’t know what’s going to happen with the company,” he admitted. “Sasha’s not interested in flying. I always thought Stephen would take it over, but now I don’t know. Bill, my business partner, has a younger brother and a cousin. They both want in. Right now they’re flying for regional carriers. That’s why he couldn’t hire them to help while I’m down here.”