Free Seal the Deal (1Night Stand Series) by JoAnne Kenrick

family, her mother, too. Now that was something she had to see before he flipped back to the sea. Mum and Dad would love her, would go out of their way to take care of her if Finn couldn’t be around to do so. He had to get her home.
    He searched for something to aid a speedy journey. Golf cart. It’d have to do. He hopped in but Anne stared at him, hands on hips.
    “I’m scared, Finn. Scared I’ll break down and cry if I have tae watch you change. We should say our good-byes now. I had a lovely time. Let’s meet again. Call me.” She pivoted and slunk toward the winding exit driveway leading to the promenade.
    “Get your bottom in this here cart now, Anne Ward. Do as you are told.”
    She shook her head and continued walking away. “No one tells me what tae do.”
    “Then you leave me no choice.” He raced around the cart, threw her over his shoulder, then sat her in it and fastened her in.
    “Let me go. Let me go!”
    “Blimey, you have one hell of a set of lungs on you. If you’re not careful, the ruckus will attract some media attention.”
    “Then let me go.”
    “Stop being stubborn and selfish. Please, stay with me for a little longer.” Revving up the cart as fast as it could go, he drove down the promenade, past the wee park with monkey bars and swings, and over the cliff’s edge meadows. She pouted the whole way there.
    Finally, he drove up the drive to his parents’ home.
    They awaited on the porch, huddled together on a bench with a tartan blanket over their knees.
    “Son, it’s okay. Everything will be okay.” His mother stood and offered a warm smile.
    “No, it won’t. I’m cursed to spend a lifetime in the freezing ocean, alone, loveless.”
    “Have faith in destiny. She knows what she’s doing.”
    The orange edge of the sun peeked over the horizon.
    “It’s almost eight. Oh dear. Son, take her inside. A cup of tea is what’s needed here, then we’ll figure out what to do.”
    He turned to Anne, her scorn burning him. “I’m sorry.”
    “For?”
    “Having a crazy on you, for spoiling our perfect night. But I had to get you here before I changed back. I wanted, oh, I don’t know what I wanted. Anne, I’m desperate, to spend the last hour of my land time among the people I love. That includes you now.”
    “Come, dear, this way. My husband will make a cuppa.”
    “Hi, lass. I’m William. This here is Emily. Nice to meet you.” He held out his arm, impressing Finn with the warmth he offered his Anne. Her facial expression softened as she took his hand.
    “Nice tae meet you, sir.”
    “Call me Bill, lass.”
    He ushered her to his usual spot, the huge armchair directly in front of the fire.
    Finn gaped. “No one else gets to sit in his lounger. Not even my mother.”
    “Never mind that, son. Fetch your sealskin. You’ll need it for the change.”
    “I don’t mean tae sound ignorant to the selkie ways, but if he doesn’t have his skin, will he still be able tae change?” Anne asked, twisting her hands in her lap.
    “It makes the process easier, lass, less painful.”
    “You doubt the myth? I can see it in your eyes.” His mother patted him on the shoulder, but directed her comment to his Anne.
    “I don’t doubt it for a minute,” she retorted.
    “Then why don’t you save him. Tell him you love him so we don’t have to lose him?”
    “Mrs. Kneale, I...I....” A picture on the mantel caught her attention, and she stood. “This is my grandfather.” She took the framed image and cradled it, running her thumb over the face of the man in the picture.
    “You must be Sereanna’s girl? Blimey, yes, I should have seen it in you. You look like her.”
    “I do?”
    “You do, except she had glowing red hair down to her waist.”
    “Told you they might have known your mother.” Finn crossed his arms, proud of his accomplishment. At least his time on land had meant something, changed Anne’s life forever, even if he’d be banished back to the sea. His time