“Ditto,” he said with a smirk.
“You’re a Patrick Swayze fan?”
“Real men watch chick flicks, April.”
“Good thing I got me a real man, then.”
Smirk giving way to a real smile, he hopped down from the table and took her hand. “Let’s go home.”
They walked out the front door and into the sunshine.
It occurred to her that she had never bothered to ask Finn about his financial status. She knew he did well for himself, but her dad had made that comment for a reason. “Are you really loaded?”
“Richer than God himself,” Finn answered cheerfully.
“Is this like the time you told me your—”
“It is that big.”
“Finn.”
He lifted a brow. “April.”
“Is this how it’s always going to be between us?”
He laced his fingers through her and grinned. “I sure as hell hope so.”
Epilogue
Eight months later
Finn adjusted his cuff links, then looked over at his brother. “Ready.”
“You’ll do, I guess.” William smiled, bouncing his nephew in his arms. “The ring bearer’s ready, too.”
“Where’s Neil?” Finn asked, looking for William’s partner.
“He’s with Alice. She had a wee bit of a problem sharing flower girl duties.”
“Girls are drama,” Finn said as they walked out of the makeshift dressing room and into his back yard. “You sure he didn’t mind walking her down the aisle.”
“Neil was touched and honored.”
“Good.” Finn glanced around, making sure that everything was perfect for his bride.
Chairs lined each side, with a white runner down the middle. A trio of musicians played a banjo, violin and cello. Flowers were everywhere, as were kids and the new friends he and April had made in their neighborhood.
“Don’t faint on me, Finn. I’ll kick your arse,” William growled.
Finn rolled his eyes, striding to the pastor. “Don’t get your knickers in bunch. I was admiring the décor.”
“You’re such a pussy,” William whispered as Hunter joined them.
Hunter clapped Finn on the back. “Great job on the décor, man.”
“Jesus and Mary, there’s two of you now?” William placed Aidan in a pram festooned with ribbons and flowers. The baby fussed, then settled back into a deep sleep.
Hunter grinned. “Real men like weddings, William.”
Two flowers girls, one wedding attendant and a maid of honor later, the Wedding March started. April appeared with Neil at her side. She was beautiful, taking his breath away.
She seemed to float toward him, taking a hand that shook like crazy. He said the right words at the right time, barely able to concentrate on anything that wasn’t her.
After the kiss, they strolled down the aisle hand in hand, only to come face to face with April’s father. He stood in the shadows, watching.
“I didn’t come here to impose on you. Just wanted to say congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Finn said, turning as his brother, Neil, and his niece joined them with Aidan.
Neil handed the baby over to April without a word.
“We’ll see to the food,” William said and Finn nodded.
“Is that him?” Chad asked, then grimaced. “Stupid question. Who else’s baby would my daughter be holding? Anyway, I’m happy for you both and wish the three of you the best.” He stated to walk away.
“Wait,” April said, glancing up at Finn with a pleading look in her eyes. “Would you like to meet your grandson?”
“We’re a team,” Finn whispered. If she wanted to include her dad, he would go along with it. Real men didn’t say no to their brides on their wedding day.
“You sure?”
April nodded, her veil swinging with the motion. “Yes. We named him Aidan, in honor of Finn’s grandfather.” Carefully, she placed Aidan in Chad arms. Finn had the urge to snatch his son away, but he clenched his fists instead.
“He’s gorgeous, just like his mother.” Chad bounced the baby a few times, at first awkward, then experience took over and the man began to sway, side to side. “I remember when you were this age and got colic. Your mother and I had to take turns walking the floor with you. We were such a good team, like you and Finn.”
“Where’s your entourage?” April asked.
“Left them in Raleigh.”
“So no photo-op with the bride?”
Chad shook his head. “No.” He handed the baby back to April. “You look beautiful, sugar. I wish the two of you nothing but the best.”
April kissed the top of Aidan’s head. “Are you heading back now?”
“Yes.” For a moment hope shone in Chad’s eyes, but then April turned and walked away, without saying good-bye. He glanced at Finn. “Guess I deserved that.”
Finn wasn’t about to argue with his father-in-law. “You did. Wish I could tell you not to be a stranger, but lying isn’t my strong suit.”
“Good to know.” Then Chad simply walked away.
Finn spun around. He found April by one of her oldest friends, Love Leigh Clayborne. Love held Aidan, a pretty smile on her face. Weird name. Nice girl. The two had recently reconnected, and April had been stunned to find that one of her single friends had no problem doing stuff with her and the baby.
“May I have this dance, Mrs. Kennedy?”
“Of course, Mr. Kennedy. Love, will you watch Aidan for a couple of minutes?”
“I sure will.” Love’s smile grew and she buried her nose in the little tuft of hair that stuck up from his son’s head. “God, he smells so good. I can’t wait to have one.”
Taking his hand, April laughed. “I recommend going about it a different way than I did.”
“Well, now that Jason broke off our engagement, I might have to do exactly what you did.”
April’s forehead wrinkled in concern. “Oh, no. We’ll talk later, okay?”
Love nodded, her attention firmly fixed on the baby. A tall, blond-haired bloke joined her and her face lit up even more.
“That’s not her ex, is it?” Finn asked, spinning her around as the trio of musicians played.
“Chase? No, he’s one of my exes…from a long, loooong, time ago.”
“Good thing I’m a confident man.”
“You’re the only man I want.” April eyed the couple and laughed. “Would you look at them? They’re friends, or at least she thinks they are. That poor man’s in love with her and she doesn’t have a clue.”
“Don’t care much about them right now.” He kissed the top of her head.
April smiled at him, one full of wicked promises that he sure as hell hoped she’d keep. “Thinking about the honeymoon?”
“Of course.” They would be travelling to Ireland, to introduce Aidan to Finn’s parents and the rest of the Kennedy clan.
“I have something of a confession to make.”
“Do you now?” If she was pregnant again, he would faint. Unmanly, maybe, but babies were exhausting.
“That day I drove from Raleigh to Charlotte, after everything my dad had planned had gone wrong...I thought I was driving home, but I was mistaken.”
“You were?”
A confident smile replaced the wicked one. Both were sexy as hell. “Yeah, I wasn’t driving home, to a place. I was driving to you. You’re my home.”
His throat felt a little tight. “I love you, April Kennedy.”
“It’s okay.” Hunter leaned in, his wife tugging on his arm and mouthing ‘I’m sorry’. “Real men cry at weddings, Finn.”
April rolled her eyes. “Real men kiss their brides, Finn.”
So, Finn did just that.