Cara O'Shea's Return by Mackenzie Crowne Read Free Book Online Page B

slapped a box of brushes on the counter with a thump, leaning forward to give him a steady glare. She didn’t answer him directly, saying instead, “There’s physical hurt, and then there’s emotional hurt.”
    “You’re obviously accusing me of one of those. Which is it?” His deep voice told of his rising annoyance, going cold and clipped.
    “I’ve personally experienced the kind of hurt infidelity can cause.”
    Stunned disbelief skittered across his features. “You think I cheated on Andrea?”
    She really didn’t want to have this conversation, but maybe it was best she put her cards on the table, so to speak. Sometime in the past half hour, she’d decided she wanted Finn to do the work on her studio. What she didn’t want were personal complications.
    She’d told him she wasn’t interested. He simply didn’t believe her, and considering her reaction to that bone-melting kiss, why would he? But he would, once he understood the depth of her disdain. She leaned back against the counter and crossed her arms.
    “I seem to recall seeing you a couple of years back, having dinner with a very attractive blonde. Funny, she didn’t look anything like your wife.”
    For several heartbeats his face went completely blank, then disappointed resentment hardened his eyes. He raked them over her as if he were looking at something distasteful. When he finally spoke, his voice dripped sarcasm.
    “No, she didn’t, did she? She didn’t appear anything like a high-powered divorce attorney, either. But she sure as hell acted like one, when my loving wife decided she didn’t like the idea of being married to a washed up jock after my second knee surgery.” His furious gaze seared her uneasy one. “Get your facts straight before you accuse, O’Shea.”
    For such a big man, he moved quickly. He stalked across the room to wrench open the door. Fury blazed from his eyes when he paused to glance back.
    “Ralph Gillespie can take care of the changes you want made to the building. I’ll tell him to give you a call.”
    She winced at the crash of the slamming door.
    Well, crap.
    She didn’t even consider he’d been lying. No one was that good an actor. Okay, so she’d jumped to the wrong conclusion, but everyone in town knew of her father’s infidelity. Considering her experience with Tom, could Finn really blame her for faulty assumptions?
    Of course he could, and did.
    As much as she hated the idea, she’d have to apologize. Not right away, though. Not while he was so angry. The fury in his eyes was hot enough to singe, but the accompanying flash of disappointment was to blame for the guilt squeezing her heart.
    She still didn’t want a personal entanglement with him, even if he hadn’t turned out to be a cheating dog as she assumed. He’d hit the nail on the head when he said she was scared. More like terrified. The way she burned at his touch proved she had no defense against him, and though she was no longer a shy teenager, Michael Finnegan was way out of her league.
    He said to get her facts straight, before he effectively withdrew his offer of a bid. Well, she didn’t want Ralph Gillespie, whoever he was, tearing into her studio. She wanted Finn. He’d do it right.
    As he had moved throughout the bottom floor of her new home, it became evident he loved the old building as much as she did, and was proud of the work he’d already done. She’d use that possessive streak to get him to change his mind. And she’d get her facts straight, before she offered an apology.
    She’d talk to Maive.

Chapter Eight
    Cara entered through the back door of the house where she’d grown up. “Ma? Is anybody home?”
    “I’m in the den.”
    Grabbing a soda from the fridge, Cara walked through the silent house. She found Mary with her feet up on the coffee table. A box of old pictures sat on the floor beside her and a pile of photographs rested in her lap.
    “What are you doing?” Clearing a space beside her, Cara sat down