Page 84 of Cabin Fever Baby

“Are you showing me up with Mom again?”

“It’s not for Mom.”

Finn went around the SUV, pausing before he got to the driver’s side door. “You got that girl something.”

“That girl has a name.”

“Ocean.” He spread out the O until I wanted to slug him.

“Just get in the car.” I stowed my bags and climbed in.

Finn got in and turned to me. “Look. I’m serious. If you want to get her back, I’ll help. No pranks—for real.”

“Why?”

“I told you why.”

“Yeah, but even if I got Angel—shit.”

“Angel? Aww, man. You’re a sap.”

I slumped in my seat. “It’s what she looked like when she found me.”

Finn’s teasing smile slid away. “You’re lucky it wasn’t more than a knock on that hard head of yours, you know. What were you thinking driving that glorified tin can?”

“I wanted to surprise Mom and Dad. I haven’t been able to make it home much with work.” And if I continued up the corporate ladder, I’d have even less time.

Even if I managed to convince Ocean that we could try to make it work.

Hell, I wanted more than totry. But how was I supposed to do that, along with working seventy-plus hours a week?

Oh, hey move to Chicago with me and find something to do while I work myself into an ulcer.

“Instead, you’re gonna surprise them with a new daughter-in-law.”

The kneejerk reaction to tell him it wasn’t that serious just wouldn’t come. Because he was right. I didn’t want just to make her my girlfriend.

I really wanted it all.

I sighed. “You’re not totally wrong. There’s a bit more to it than just my job and hers, though. I’ve only told Dad this so far.”

“Well, he is a vault. You don’t have to worry if you don’t want the rest of us to know something yet. I tried the Vulcan mind-meld when we were kids. You might have the same DNA as me, but I can’t read your mind.”

“Ocean’s brother is pretty famous.”

“Why is that a problem? You’re gonna marry into money? Be a house husband.”

“You’re such an ass.”

He turned on the car. “I mean, yeah, I am, but what’s your point? How famous are we talking here?” he asked as he signaled and started pulling out into traffic.

“Quentin Hawkins.”

Finn slammed on the brakes, and I had to reach out to brace myself on the dash.

“Hey! I just recently had an accident, jackass.”

“Sorry.”