4. Finn

Chapter 4

Finn

Fuck, the men here are acting like they've never seen a woman before. Worse yet, they keep looking at my woman. I mean, Lola. Who's staying here and under my protection.

I wipe my hand down my face as I growl at Stan, who's been trying to set the moves on Lola, and I'm about at my wits end with them all. It doesn't help that Lola jumps into the dancing and singing, making her flesh flush and her eyes sparkle with happiness, making her sexier than when I first set eyes on her. It draws the men to her like catnip, and constantly putting men in their place hasn't been a thrill for me.

I haven't been this possessive of a woman before. This need to throw her over my shoulder, take her upstairs, lock her in my bedroom, and preferably tie her to my bed has me surlier than usual. I've never been one to manhandle a woman, but she's pulling it out of me.

Ma doesn't make things easier, as she keeps laughing and smirking at me. "Just spill it, Ma."

"What? I don't know what ye talking about."

"Bullshit. What's with all the sly looks and smirks?"

"Language when speaking to your Ma. Honestly, son, there's nothing to be said. Now, why don't you see to your friends?" She nods in the direction of the door, and I groan.

Great. Now, my former rugby teammates are walking in, drenched and dirty from playing in the rain. They never let a little weather stop them from getting a good practice in. Those were the good ole days, and I miss them every time I watch them come in and get a round of pints to shoot the breeze. But what's even worse, now they all have their eyes on Lola as she dances, and her large breasts are bouncing around as she throws her head back and laughs.

My cock has been fighting me all afternoon. Shit, who am I kidding? It's been fighting me all night. When she wore only the tank top and sleep shorts earlier, I had to rush to my room and stroke my cock hard to get a bit of relief, but it didn't do much because I've been struggling with getting a full hard-on all day. She's like a snake tamer, with every sway of her hips, my dicks ready to rise.

"Oi, grab a table." I glare at my mates and point to the vacant table. They shuffle over, smirking, while I scowl harder at them.

Young Petey finishes his second pint, stands from the stool, and wipes his hands down his clothes as he tries to straighten them. He even slicks back his hair behind his ears, adjusts his collar as he inhales deeply, and lets it out slowly. His eyes are set on Lola.

I'm too old for this shit.

Before he takes a step, I reach over the bar and grab him by the collar. "Don't even think about it." My voice is menacing, and Petey shakes as he turns to look at me. He gulps as I shove him back to the bar stool and put another pint before him.

Petey nods, his shoulders slump, and he sits down and takes a long swig of his beer.

"Smart choice," I growl, pile up the pints on a tray to take over to my buddies, and make it known Lola is off limits. The last thing she needs is a bunch of rugby players duking it out over her. She's not prepared to deal with men like them.

Like me.

"Who's the new lass?" My best friend, Connor, smiles, wiggles his brows, and takes a swig of his beer.

I grunt. "She's off limits." I stare each of the four guys in the eyes, and they laugh.

"Oh shit, does Finn have a wee crush on the bonnie tourist?" The men let out a boisterous laugh, and I fight back a growl.

"Watch it and leave Lola alone."

"Lola, eh? What a great name," Connor states as he stands, puts his arm around my shoulders, and watches Lola dancing. "It's already getting around about her and how she's got your undivided attention."

It's not worth saying anything. The more you deny something, the more people dig in. I shrug my shoulders and grunt.

"Now, Finn, I get it. She's juicy and ripe for the picking."

I slam him against the booth and table. "Watch it."

Connor laughs. "Yup. The rumors are true, boys. Our Finn is finally moving on."

The men lift their glasses. "Here, here."

"About fucking time."

"Thank God."

Without another look, I stomp off to their laughter, ignoring Lola and her wide smile as she moves closer. Her smile wavers when I don't return it, and she sets her shoulders and stares at me in a challenge. Then, she tosses her wild hair over her shoulder, heads to Ma, and grabs a glass of water.

Annoyed with everybody, I get back behind the bar and continue to serve pints as nothing else doesn't seem to get drunk much around here. Even though we have a fully stocked bar of the finest liquors imaginable, these locals like the consistency of the local brewery's finest ales.

"So, what's up with Mr. Sunshine over there? What's with his sunny disposition?" Lola asks Connor. The bastard doesn't heed my warning and decides to chat it up with her.

"You don't need to worry about Finn. He doesn't know how to have a good time." He looks over and winks at me. I flip him off, and he chuckles while I turn around.

Out of sight, out of mind, or at least that's the dream. It doesn't work when Lola's laugh penetrates the whole pub and sets my skin ablaze. I want that laugh only for me.

"Something tells me, though, Finn will be a lot less surly from now on." Connor continues saying. I can't walk away. I need to know what they talk about because if he hits on her, I don't care if he's my best friend; I'll fucking kill him.

"Oh really? Why is that?"

"Oh, just a hunch," Conner chuckles. "Now, what's a gorgeous lass like yourself doin' in Dublin? Has Finn offered to take you around and show ye the beauty of Ireland?"

"Finn? Ha. That's funny. He doesn't like me too much. But I've gotten a lot of offers from others who want to show me around once the rain lets up."

My heart falls into my stomach as I hear her say she doesn't think I like her. I even caught a bit of forlornness from her, and I hate hearing it. She's made to laugh and always be happy, and the idea that I don't like her makes her sad, guts me in a way I never felt before.

Until recently, I never cared if people knew I liked them or not. It's not my concern, but hearing her think I don't like her makes me want to correct it quickly. The problem isn't liking her. The problem is liking her too much. Then add on the fact that she's a tourist here for a limited time. The history with my ex. I can't get involved with somebody who's going to leave.

"Don't worry about Finn. He doesn't like anybody, and I'm his best friend. As for the men around here, don't give ‘em the time of day. Ye need a real tour guide. I'm more than happy to show ye around this gorgeous country of ours."

I turn around and glare at Connor, who grins widely at me. Lola has a smile on her face as she looks up at the handsome, smooth-talking rugby star who used to be my best friend.

"Now, ye obviously love to dance, so let's get ye back on the dance floor."

"Oh, yes, please. It's so much fun." Lola hops off the bar stool, and Connor rests his hand on her lower back. He lifts his brow at me in question.

Ma slaps a towel on my chest. "Now don't make me think for one second I raised an idiot."

The people sitting at the bar laugh and snicker, but they start coughing when I scowl at them. I can't keep my glance away from Lola too long, watching her dancing with Connor and the two holding each other close. It lights a fire beneath me, and without thinking, I make my way over and pull Lola out of his arms, spin her around, and pull her into me.

She gasps, laughs, and then rests her hands on my chest as I glare at Connor over her head. Connor lifts his hands in surrender and smiles as he swaggers off to the table and high-fives our friends.

"What's all this about?" Lola caresses my chest. Heat sears beneath my skin, and my cock hardens further as I absorb her heat and inhale her soft scent of lavender and clean cotton sheets. I imagine lazy mornings wrapped up in sheets and her. I pull her tighter to me.

Lola gasps again and sighs as she raises her hands to wrap around my neck and rests her head on my chest. The music is a slow song, so we sway to it as I close my eyes, shut out everybody in the pub, and soak in Lola. My pulse pounds hard, and this need for her has me aching in a way I've never experienced before. I've never wanted a woman so badly in my life.

The room grows quiet, and when I open my eyes, I stiffen as Shannon Dowling stands drenched from the rain, glaring daggers at Lola. My protectiveness takes root. Lola turns her head, spots Shannon, and smiles, but then it halts as Shannon beelines for us.

"What the hell are ye doin' with me fiancé?"

Anger builds within my chest, and it grows bigger when Lola gasps and falls out of my arms quickly. The music stops playing, and you can hear a pin drop as everybody watches the show.

"What the fuck, Shannon? Ye have no right to come into my bar and start mouthing off. We're not engaged anymore, so back off."

I loop my arm around Lola's waist to get her away from Shannon, but Shannon snags my arm.

"I heard the rumors that ye have a new floozy hangin' around, but seriously, her?" She points at Lola and scoffs with mean laughter.

"Shannon," I grit my teeth. "Get out of me pub and don't fuckin' come back. If I ever hear ye talk about Lola like this again, ye won't like the consequences."

The whole room stares, and I hate being the center of attention, especially this kind. But who the hell does Shannon think she is? It's been a couple of years since we split, and she's the one who left me.

"Leave."

"No, I won't." Shannon crosses her arms over her chest and takes a seat at an already-occupied booth. The people sitting there stare at her like she's crazy.

Annoyed, I turn to Lola and soften my gaze as she keeps looking back and forth between us. There's sadness and confusion in her gaze, and it hurts as I see her doubt herself and the situation. I do something I rarely do, giving her a small smile. "Don't worry, Lola. Ye stay here with Ma. I'm goin' to get rid of Shannon, but trust me, I'm not engaged. I'm not with anybody." I need her to hear me because I can't let her go after dancing with her and holding her in my arms. It's not feasible. "I'm single."

Lola gazes into my eyes, and her only reaction is that she nods. But then she turns around and walks away, and I hold back a breath as it hurts to see her turn her back on me. But I shake myself of those thoughts and turn around, and with determination, I head over to Shannon, pick her up, and throw her over my shoulder—something I wish I were doing with Lola instead.

I head toward the door, and one of the band members opens it for me. I nod at him. As soon as Shannon is out of the pub, the crowd cheers. I walk while Shannon screams and hits my back, but the rain and winds silence her. Eventually, she tires herself out, and I'm at the front of her flat and let her down.

"Back off, Shannon. Ye don't have a say in anything I do anymore. Ye left me. Ye broke off the engagement. Do not enter my pub again. If ye do, I'll call the cops. Got it?"

Shannon looks taken aback. "Finn? Ye don't mean that."

"I for sure fuckin' do. Leave me alone, Shannon. I don't want ye anymore."

Leaving her on her front stoop, I turn around and go for a walk. I have a lot of thinking to do because Lola has danced into my life and changed things. I need to clear my head to make sure I know what I'm doing because if I pursue this with Lola, I need to ensure she's okay with staying in Ireland. I want forever with her, not just a couple of late nights. And I can't leave Ireland for the States. I can't leave Ma behind.

The rain pelts me as I carefully think everything over.