He’d had that dream a hundred times in the days since he’d met her. He found himself thinking of her at the end of his day, the beginning of his day, and nearly every damned minute in between.
And that alone was reason enough to end this. He was a practical man, one who made sensible decisions. The sensible side of him said keeping his distance from Ellie was the wisest course. The one that would head off the disaster he’d created before. A part of him was relieved.
Another part was disappointed.
The part that dreamed about Ellie Winston and wondered what it would be like to consummate their temporary marital union.
Finn cleared his throat and refocused. He was in a platonic marriage, and there was no definition of that word that included having sex. “I’m not taking relationship advice from you two.”
“Maybe you should, brother.” Riley quirked a brow at him, as they entered the diner and sidled up to the counter. The diner’s namesake of bright blue flowers decorated the border of the room, and offset the bright yellow and white color scheme. “So, besides the fact that you aren’t in bed with her right now, how is it going with the new missus?”
“Do you want to talk about anything else this morning?”
Riley glanced at Brody. “Not me. You?”
“Nope. Finn’s life is my number-one topic of conversation.”
He loved his brothers but sometimes they took well-meaning just a step—or ten—too far. “Well then, you two will be talking to yourselves.” Finn ordered a black coffee, then gestured toward Riley and Brody. “What do you guys want?”
“Oh, you’re paying?” Riley grinned. He turned to the waitress, a slim woman with a nametag that read Stace. “Three bagels, a large coffee and throw in some extra butter and cream cheese. Can you pack it in to-go bags, too? Thanks.”
“Two blueberry muffins and a large coffee for me,” Brody said.
“You’re guys aren’t seriously going to eat all that, are you?” Finn fished out his wallet and paid the bill.
“Hell no. I’m getting breakfast for the next three days.” Riley grinned again.
“Yeah, and considering how often you offer to pay, maybe I should have ordered a year’s supply.” Brody chuckled.
Finn rolled his eyes. “You two are a pain in the butt, you know that?”
“Hey, we all have our special skills,” Riley said. “Except for you, because you’re the oldest. You get the extra job of taking care of us.”
“Last I checked you were grown adults.”
“Hey, we may be grown, but some us aren’t adults.” Riley chuckled.
“Speak for yourself.” Brody gave Riley a gentle punch in the shoulder.
Finn pocketed his change and followed his brothers over to a corner table. Since it was after nine, the breakfast crowd was beginning to peter out, leaving the diner almost empty. The smell of freshly roasted coffee and fresh baked bread filled the space.
“You know, I was just kidding,” Riley said. “You don’t have to take care of us. Or buy us breakfast.”
“I didn’t see your wallet out.”
Riley grinned. “You were quicker on the draw.” Then he sobered. “Seriously, sometimes you gotta take care of you.”
“Yeah, you do,” Brody said.
Finn looked at his brothers. “What is this? An intervention?”
Riley and Brody both grinned. “Now why would you think that?” Brody said, affecting innocence that Finn wasn’t buying. His brothers clearly thought he was working too much and living too little. “This is just coffee, isn’t it Riley?”
Their youngest brother nodded. A little too vigorously. “Coffee and bagels.” Riley held out the bag. “Want one?”
Finn waved off the food. He glanced around the diner. Filled with booths and tables, the diner had a cozy feel. Seventies tunes played on the sound system, while Stace, apparently the lone waitress, bustled from table to table and called out orders to the short-order cook in the back. “What made you pick this place?” Finn asked. “I didn’t even know you came here.”
“Oh, I don’t know. We thought it’d be nice to have a change of scenery.” Riley’s head was down, while he fished in the bag.
“Change of scenery?” Finn tried to get Riley’s attention, but his brother seemed to be avoiding him. “What is this really about?”
The bell over the door rang and Riley jerked his head up, then started smiling like a fool. He elbowed Brody. “Well, there’s our cue to leave.”
“What? We just got here.”
Riley rose. Brody popped up right beside him, guilty grins on both McKenna faces. “Yeah, but someone much better company than us just showed up.” Riley dropped the bag of food onto the table. “I’ll leave these. Be nice and share.”
“What? Wait!” But his brothers were already heading for the door. Finn pivoted in his seat to call after them. And stopped breathing for a second.
Ellie stood in the doorway, framed by the sun, which had touched her hair with glints of gold. She had on a dark blue dress today that skimmed her knees and flared out like a small bell. It nipped in at her waist, and dropped to a modest V in the front. She wore navy kitten heels today, but still her legs, her curves, everything about her looked amazing.
Finn swallowed. Hard.
Riley and Brody greeted Ellie, then Riley pointed across the room at Finn. Riley leaned in and whispered something to Ellie, and her face broadened into a smile. It hit Finn straight in the gut, and made his heart stop. Then Ellie crossed the room, and Finn forgot to breathe.
Her smile died on her lips when she reached him. “I didn’t know you’d be here this morning.”
“I didn’t know, either.” Finn gestured toward the door. “I suspect my brother is at work here.”
“I think you’re right. I’ve seen him in here a couple times. I recognized him from the cocktail party and we got to talking one day. I told him I’m here pretty often for my caffeine fix. I guess he figured he’d get us both in the same place.”
“That’s Riley.” Finn shook his head. “My little brother, the eternal optimist and part-time matchmaker.”
“He means well. And he thinks the world of you.” She cocked her head and studied him. “Wow. You three do look a lot alike.”
“Blame it on our genes.” Finn wanted to leave, but at the same time, wanted to stay. But his feet didn’t move, and he stayed where he was. He gestured toward the bag on the table. “Bagel? Or do you want me to get you a coffee?”
She glanced at her watch. “I have about fifteen minutes before I have to get to a meeting. I really should—” Her stomach growled, and she blushed, then pressed a hand to her gut, then glanced at the growing line at the counter. Despite the light banter, the mood between them remained tense, nearly as tough as the bagel’s exterior. “Okay, maybe I have enough time for just half a bagel.”
Finn opened the bag and peered inside. “Multigrain, cheese or plain?”
“Cheese, of course. If I’m going to have some carbs, I’m going all out.”
“A woman after my own heart.” Finn reached