Free Certain Sure by Reina M. Williams

time,” Katie said. “Please leave.”
     
    “He needs to.” Michael motioned to Fin.
     
    “That’s it.” Fin grabbed Michael’s arm again and yanked him down the walk. They stopped. Fin edged closer. “I know about you and Maureen,” he whispered. “Think Katie’ll ever forgive you for wanting Maureen to have an abortion? Thank God she didn’t, especially since Rose isn’t yours.”
     
    Michael’s cheeks colored almost purple with rage. “Damn you Dunbars,” he hissed. “Doesn’t matter. She won’t believe you.”
     
    Katie walked toward them. Fin’s stomach clenched. If Michael ever called his bluff…he’d promised Fergus not to tell anyone about the paternity test.
     
    “Goodbye, Katie,” Michael said. “If you change your mind, you know where I am.”
     
    “She won’t,” Fin said. Michael hopped into his car and drove away.
     
    “I don’t need you to fight my battles for me, Fin.”
     
    “I know. I have so little fun these days, though, surely you won’t deny me?”
     
    “I suppose if you put it that way…” Katie laughed.
     
    Fin grasped her hand, Katie squeezed his. Longing and lust bubbled up, a hot spring, new and unexpected.
     
    “Let’s go get Rose,” he said. Katie nodded and they walked over to Mrs. Knight’s, hand in hand.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Seven
     
     
     
    “Banish the unwanted suitor, young Dunbar?” Mrs. Knight said. She led Fin and Katie into her living room, where Rose sat, dangling a string in front of a tiny grey kitten.
     
    “We did, thank you,” Fin said.
     
    Mrs. Knight inclined her head with a smile. Katie released Fin’s hand and glanced around. The room hadn’t changed much since Katie was Rose’s age. Mrs. Knight and her home had timeless elegance.
     
    “We better go, Rose,” Katie said. “We need to change and go to your grandparents’.” Fin’s hand over hers had caused her head to throb, among other places. She had to think of something else, remember her duties and plans.
     
    “Thank you,” Rose said to Mrs. Knight.
     
    “Come back anytime. When you visit your uncle Fin, he can borrow Lancelot.”
     
    “Thanks, Mrs. Knight, but my dad’s allergic to cats. I can bring her here next time she visits,” Katie said, puzzled when Mrs. Knight raised an eyebrow at Fin.
     
    “She means once I move into the cottage in back,” he said.
     
    “Fin has agreed to fix it up for me, in exchange for a reasonable rent. I said he could live there rent free, if he’d keep changing my light bulbs and all the little things he’s been doing, but he insisted.” Mrs. Knight smiled.
     
    “When are you moving?” Katie tucked her hair behind her ears and tried not to frown. She’d be gone soon too. So why did she feel the urge to beg Fin to stay?
     
    “Can I help?” Rose said. “Will you paint?”
     
    “Yep,” Fin said. “I’ll be moving as soon as I get the place ready. If I can find the time, it shouldn’t take long. Thanks again, dear lady.” Fin kissed Mrs. Knight’s cheek. Katie felt simultaneously warm at how sweet he was and flush with jealousy that he’d kissed every woman of their acquaintance, young and old, but never her.
     
    Once they returned home, Katie helped Rose get ready while Fin changed. She smiled at him. She couldn’t help it, the way he moved, confident and casual, in his dark Dockers and blue button-down shirt, the collar open, sleeves rolled, exposing the tiny black hairs of his arms and chest. Katie blushed as if exposed herself as he grinned back, like he knew what she had in mind.
     
    “Come on, Rose,” he said. “Let’s get your things in the car while Aunt Katie changes.” He gave her a last glance as she went into her room. She bit her thumb. Katie had to file her nails; she’d been biting them again.
     
    She tried to hurry, but she wanted to look pretty and feminine, so she took some time picking her dress, finally deciding on her white sundress