introduce him to celebrities whenever he’s in Los Angeles.”
The rest of the day passed in a whirlwind of activity for Fin. When she called Ronnie and asked her to be her maid of honor, her friend insisted on opening her mother’s store to find the perfect wedding dress. Ilsa, Skye, and Eden agreed to be her bridesmaids, and before Fin knew it, she was neck deep in girlfriends and beautiful dresses at the boutique.
Ryan headed back to Boston for his tux, his groomsmen and best man. His mother, brother and two sisters as well. It was nothing short of a miracle everyone made it back to the house in time to share the evening meal.
Christmas dinner became their engagement party. Wine flowed, the table laden with roast turkey and all the trimmings. Fin loved Ryan’s family and looked forward to having them in her life, especially since she and her mother didn’t have any family of their own.
“I can’t believe how lucky I am.” She sat at the table beside him, surrounded by the people she cared most about in the world. “I’ve never been so happy.”
“Hold that thought, because I have something to tell you.” He kissed her lips, warm and inviting. “Besides the fact I love you to distraction.”
“What is it?” She sensed his unease and knew this was serious. “You can tell me anything.”
He moved his chair back from the table and took her hand. “Come into the library with me.”
Fin entered the room and stopped dead. Her financial backer stood at the bank of windows, looking out at the snow-covered lawn. He was a tall man with regal bearing, his suit perfectly proportioned to his wide shoulders. Turning toward her, he appeared nervous and off-kilter, his hand shaking on the handle of his cane. Fin felt her heart constrict in her chest. “Thomas? What’s wrong? I tried calling you earlier. I wanted you to attend my wedding.”
Ryan eased her forward until they stood before him.
“Fin.” Thomas reached for her hand and moved to the couch. “Please, come sit with me.”
She did, Ryan sitting on the other side of her. “Thomas has something to tell you, sweetheart. It can’t wait any longer since we’ll be married tomorrow. I don’t want to have any secrets between us.”
She focused her attention on the older man, wondering what had upset him so much. “Have you decided not to back my restaurant after all?”
“No, there’s no chance of that.” Thomas inhaled sharply as he loosened his tie. “I planned to wait before talking to you, but Ryan insisted. I don’t know how else to say this, so forgive an old man for making a total ass of himself. I-I’m your father, Fin. I’m the son of a bitch who had an affair with your mother and never darkened your doorstep all these years.”
“Oh. My. God.” She couldn’t believe it. She’d read the newspaper articles she’d found in Poppy’s desk. Her father had been an IRA terrorist, supposedly killed in a bomb blast. “I thought you were dead. Poppy raised me by herself!”
“I know, and I deeply regret it. I should have been there for you.” Thomas had tears in his eyes, she could see them. “I was undercover for the CIA back then and almost died in an explosion. When I recovered, I had to stay away or risk placing you and Poppy in danger.”
“Because of the rings,” Ryan added. “The IRA was desperate to get hold of them, decipher the symbols on the bands in order to find their money.” He crossed to the bar to pour them drinks. “Thomas had to disappear for a long time.”
Fin was incredulous, didn’t know what to say. But her father was wrong about one thing. He hadn’t deserted her. “Thomas, you followed me all over Europe after I graduated from chef’s school. You introduced me around and got me internships in the finest restaurants. It’s because of you I’m able to open a five-star restaurant of my own. You were there for me.”
“Thank you for saying that.” Even so, she could see he blamed himself for her
The rest of the day passed in a whirlwind of activity for Fin. When she called Ronnie and asked her to be her maid of honor, her friend insisted on opening her mother’s store to find the perfect wedding dress. Ilsa, Skye, and Eden agreed to be her bridesmaids, and before Fin knew it, she was neck deep in girlfriends and beautiful dresses at the boutique.
Ryan headed back to Boston for his tux, his groomsmen and best man. His mother, brother and two sisters as well. It was nothing short of a miracle everyone made it back to the house in time to share the evening meal.
Christmas dinner became their engagement party. Wine flowed, the table laden with roast turkey and all the trimmings. Fin loved Ryan’s family and looked forward to having them in her life, especially since she and her mother didn’t have any family of their own.
“I can’t believe how lucky I am.” She sat at the table beside him, surrounded by the people she cared most about in the world. “I’ve never been so happy.”
“Hold that thought, because I have something to tell you.” He kissed her lips, warm and inviting. “Besides the fact I love you to distraction.”
“What is it?” She sensed his unease and knew this was serious. “You can tell me anything.”
He moved his chair back from the table and took her hand. “Come into the library with me.”
Fin entered the room and stopped dead. Her financial backer stood at the bank of windows, looking out at the snow-covered lawn. He was a tall man with regal bearing, his suit perfectly proportioned to his wide shoulders. Turning toward her, he appeared nervous and off-kilter, his hand shaking on the handle of his cane. Fin felt her heart constrict in her chest. “Thomas? What’s wrong? I tried calling you earlier. I wanted you to attend my wedding.”
Ryan eased her forward until they stood before him.
“Fin.” Thomas reached for her hand and moved to the couch. “Please, come sit with me.”
She did, Ryan sitting on the other side of her. “Thomas has something to tell you, sweetheart. It can’t wait any longer since we’ll be married tomorrow. I don’t want to have any secrets between us.”
She focused her attention on the older man, wondering what had upset him so much. “Have you decided not to back my restaurant after all?”
“No, there’s no chance of that.” Thomas inhaled sharply as he loosened his tie. “I planned to wait before talking to you, but Ryan insisted. I don’t know how else to say this, so forgive an old man for making a total ass of himself. I-I’m your father, Fin. I’m the son of a bitch who had an affair with your mother and never darkened your doorstep all these years.”
“Oh. My. God.” She couldn’t believe it. She’d read the newspaper articles she’d found in Poppy’s desk. Her father had been an IRA terrorist, supposedly killed in a bomb blast. “I thought you were dead. Poppy raised me by herself!”
“I know, and I deeply regret it. I should have been there for you.” Thomas had tears in his eyes, she could see them. “I was undercover for the CIA back then and almost died in an explosion. When I recovered, I had to stay away or risk placing you and Poppy in danger.”
“Because of the rings,” Ryan added. “The IRA was desperate to get hold of them, decipher the symbols on the bands in order to find their money.” He crossed to the bar to pour them drinks. “Thomas had to disappear for a long time.”
Fin was incredulous, didn’t know what to say. But her father was wrong about one thing. He hadn’t deserted her. “Thomas, you followed me all over Europe after I graduated from chef’s school. You introduced me around and got me internships in the finest restaurants. It’s because of you I’m able to open a five-star restaurant of my own. You were there for me.”
“Thank you for saying that.” Even so, she could see he blamed himself for her
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