Read Online Only Mine by Susan Mallery - Free Book Online Page B

him.
    â€œDon’t go up there,” she said firmly, staring into his eyes. “You’ll regret it, but more important, the boys will be humiliated on live television. They’ll never forgive you. Right now you’re an annoying older brother who wants to keep them safe. That’s a livable condition. I’m serious, Finn.”
    He could see the truth in her eyes, and as much as he didn’t want to believe her, he knew he had to. But the thought of leaving his brother alone with that woman…
    â€œHe doesn’t have any money.”
    â€œAurelia isn’t after his money.”
    â€œHow do you know that?”
    â€œShe has a great job. She’s an accountant. From what I’ve heard, she does amazing work. There’s a waiting listto be one of her clients.” Dakota grabbed his arm again and stared into his eyes. “Finn, I know you’re worried. Maybe you have reason to be. It would have been great if your brothers had stayed in college like you wanted them to. But they didn’t. Please don’t make this worse by going out there and acting like an idiot.”
    â€œI know you’re trying to help,” he said, realizing he sounded frustrated.
    â€œLook at it this way. If she is as boring as I think she is, they’ll get voted off early.”
    â€œIf she’s not, he’ll be in trouble.”
    She dropped her hands to her sides. “You’ll be here to make sure nothing bad happens.”
    â€œAssuming he’ll listen.”
    He glanced toward the stage. Aurelia stood next to Stephen. If her body language was anything to go by, crossed arms, averted gaze, posture so stiff it was as if she were made of steel, she really wasn’t happy about the situation. Maybe he would get lucky and they wouldn’t last a date. He was due for some luck.
    â€œYou’re quite the tough guy,” Dakota told him. “Is that an Alaska thing?”
    â€œMaybe.” He took a deep breath and looked into her dark eyes. “Thank you for talking me off the ledge.”
    â€œI’m a paid professional, it’s my job.”
    â€œYou’re good at it.”
    â€œThank you.”
    He continued to stare into her eyes, mostly becausehe liked it. She was easy to be around. And his body couldn’t help but be aware of the smoothness of her skin, the shape of her mouth.
    â€œI need to get going,” she said. “Can I trust you to stay here on your own?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œHave a little faith,” she said, stepping back. “It’s going to be okay.”
    She couldn’t know that, he thought. But for today, he was going to believe her.
    He waited until she had left before walking out of the sound studio. After pulling his cell phone out of his pocket, he dialed the number for his office in Alaska.
    â€œSouth Salmon Cargo,” a familiar voice said.
    â€œHey, Bill, it’s me.”
    â€œWhere the hell are you, Finn?”
    â€œStill in California.” Finn shifted the phone to his other ear. “Looks like I’m going to be stuck here for a while. They both got on the show.”
    A couple of thousand miles away, Bill sighed. “We’re going to get busy soon. I can’t do this by myself. If you can’t get back here soon, we’re going to have to freelance a couple of extra pilots.”
    â€œI know,” Finn said heavily. “Go ahead and start looking. If you find somebody good, hire him. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
    â€œI need faster than soon,” his partner told him.
    â€œI’ll do my best.”
    The business mattered, he thought as he ended the call. But his brothers would always be more important. He was stuck here until he finished the job he’d come to do.

CHAPTER FOUR
    T HE AIRPORT AT THE NORTH END of Fool’s Gold was typical for its size. There were two runways and no tower. Pilots were responsible for staying out of each