Finn turned his attention back to Emma. “You know, if Charles has been sending you a bunch of letters, we could file a police report and get a restraining order. I’ll go with you.”
“I didn’t say Charles sent all the letters,” Emma said. “Just that I keep getting letters. I have no idea if they’re from the same person.”
“Why don’t you let me look at them? We know a handwriting-analysis guy. He could take a look.”
“Why?” Emma asked. “The letters aren’t exactly threatening. The authors just want me to know I’m a horrible person and that I’m going to burn in Hell. They really needn’t bother. I already know that.”
Emma’s face was sad and drawn. Finn desperately wanted to offer her comfort – a hug – anything that would help relax her guard. He remained where he was sitting. “Do you want to at least try and get a restraining order?”
Emma shook her head. “I’m not interested in getting one of my father’s victims arrested, or questioned by the police, for that matter. It’s really not a big deal.”
“It seems like a big deal to me,” Finn said.
“That’s the difference between you and me,” Emma replied. “My days all suck, so it’s only out of the ordinary when something good happens. Looking like you, living like you obviously do, you want to fix everything that sucks. That’s not possible in my world. Sometimes things just suck – and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Eight
Another weekend, another derogatory modeling gig, Emma thought as she looked around the ice festival in downtown Mount Clemens dubiously.
She’d spent the better part of her week pretending the events at the boat show hadn’t gotten to her. After her bitter interlude with Finn Hardy at her apartment, he’d made a hasty retreat. She didn’t blame him. In fact, she was kind of relieved. If he continued to be nice to her, she’d have no choice but to return the sentiment – and that was something she didn’t want to think about.
This weekend’s gig was outdoors which – thankfully – meant she was fully clothed for a change. She was sporting items from Aspen Snow & Ski, while posing with a few other models, and trying to entice shoppers to buy snowmobiles and downhill skiing gear. As modeling jobs went, this was one of the better ones.
Temperatures had decided to cooperate for this first time this miserable winter – climbing to a downright balmy forty degrees under clear skies. With the downy, fur-lined jacket and snug ski pants separating her from the cold – Emma was actually comfortable, bordering on toasty.
That’s when a familiar face popped into view.
“So, you’re busy every weekend, huh?” Finn asked.
Emma couldn’t force down the small smile – or the little flutter that tickled her stomach – when she caught sight of him. “Are you following me?”
Finn’s face was all innocence and light. “This is a festival,” he said. “I’m here to do … festive things.”
Emma glanced around at the festival, which was filled with ornate ice sculptures on every corner, an inflatable winter slide for the kids, and more food booths than she could count. “What kind of festive things are you here to do?”
“Me? I’m just hanging around with my family,” Finn said. “It seemed like a reasonable way to burn a Saturday afternoon when absolutely nothing else is going on.”
“And why is your family here?”
“One of my brother’s girlfriends is covering the festival for the Daily Tribune,” Finn replied. “The other is working as a volunteer in the booth that’s handing out coats and hot chocolate to the homeless.”
“And that means you had to come?” Emma asked, still suspicious.
“That meant my brothers wanted to come,” Finn clarified. “Since I wasn’t doing anything, I didn’t see the harm in it. It’s actually a good cause. We ran out of coats already, so my brothers went to buy some more. I was going to go with them – but that’s when saw I you.”
“And you decided you’d rather spend time with me than help the poor?” Emma challenged, arching an eyebrow.
“I’m fairly certain I can do both.”
Emma rolled her eyes, but the grin she sent him was heartfelt. “Well, I guess I can’t be mean to a guy who is braving the cold to help the needy.”
“Are you sure? You seem to want to try,” Finn teased.
“I’m sure.”
Finn glanced around. “How long do you have to stay here?”
“I have another two hours,” Emma said. “I’m about due for a break, though.”