Only Mine

Only Mine by Susan Mallery Page B

Book: Only Mine by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online
Authors: Susan Mallery
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really hurt them. Second, he had a feeling someone with the production company would call the police and the situation would go downhill from there.
    â€œYou’re looking fierce about something,” Dakota said, coming up and standing next to him. “Plotting to kidnap them?”
    Finn was impressed by her mind-reading skills. “Want to be an accomplice?”
    â€œI make it a rule to avoid situations that end with me going to jail. I know that makes me less fun at a party, but I can live with that.”
    He glanced at her and saw her brown eyes were bright with laughter.
    â€œYou’re not taking my pain seriously enough,” he told her.
    â€œYour pain is in your head. You know your brothers are capable of making their own decisions.”
    â€œIf we exclude their present situation.”
    â€œI don’t agree with that.” She turned to the stage. “Everyone deserves to follow his or her dream.”
    â€œThey’d do better to finish college and settle down,” he grumbled.
    â€œDid you?”
    He studied his brothers. “Sure. I’m the poster boy for responsible.”
    â€œBecause you had to be. What were you like before your parents died and you were left with two thirteen-year-olds? Something tells me you were a lot wilder than they’ve ever been.”
    She was right, damn it. He shifted. “I can’t remember.”
    â€œDo you expect me to believe that?”
    â€œI might have been slightly less responsible.”
    â€œSlightly?”
    He’d been crazy, he thought, refusing to admit it to her. He’d loved parties and women and defying every law of physics in his airplane. He’d gone beyond testing boundaries—he’d been reckless.
    â€œThat was different,” he said. “We didn’t know what could happen.”
    â€œMeaning they do and should act accordingly? They’re twenty-one. Give them a break.”
    â€œIf they go back to college, I’ll give them a break.”
    â€œSilly, silly man.” Her gaze was both amused and slightly pitying.
    Under normal circumstances, that probably would have annoyed him, but he found he liked spending time with Dakota. Even when she disagreed with him, he liked hearing what she had to say.
    He was aware of her standing close to him in the dark shadows of the back of the soundstage. They would see everything, and no one knew they were there. For asecond, he wondered what he would have thought of her under other circumstances. If he weren’t here because of his brothers. If he didn’t have to worry about their welfare. If he was just a guy intrigued by an attractive woman with a killer smile.
    But these circumstances didn’t allow for distraction. He’d promised himself that once he got his brothers through college, it would be his turn to follow his dream. After eight years of taking care of them, he’d earned it. He didn’t want to spend the rest of his life flying cargo. But that thought was for later—after he’d gotten his brothers out of this mess and knew that they were safe.
    On stage, Geoff shooed everyone out of view. The potential contestants were gathered together.
    Dakota glanced at her watch. “Show time,” she murmured.
    From what he’d been able to figure out, there would be a combination of live scenes and taped segments of the various potential contestants. Whatever it took to drag out the show, he thought grimly. He stared at his brothers, willing them to suddenly come to their senses. Neither of them noticed him.
    The big lights went on, someone called “We’re live in five, four, three…” Cameras were moved silently, then the host began.
    He welcomed the viewers, explained the premise of the show and started introducing the potential cast. Dakota reached for Finn’s hand and drew him throughthe darkness to the other side, where they had a better view of a wide-screen

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