LOGINShare
55. The Coldest Month
Last Updated:
2021-09-14 05:10:53Another winter storm and Finn and Lili were stuck in the house together.
Not that they were complaining about being alone!
No interruptions! No uninvited visitors!
For both of them, life finally started to feel normal. She was back to writing daily and Finn was working out at the ranch or was doing paperwork at the house on snow days.
Today was a paperwork kind of day and he was buried in numbers when Lili bound in. He was glad for this distraction as she whispered in his ear. He stop what he was doing upon registering the news.
He turned and kissed the tip of her nose and said, "Hmmm! Best get married before we start a family anyways. It just means that we can keep on trying my love."
He knew that she was disappointed that she wasn't pregnant but they were getting married in April so he wasn't in a rush to start their family.
"I know but just the thought was so th
Related chapters
Protecting My Heart 56. Forgiveness Without Conditions
The next day the winter winds were whipping up again and it looked like another storm might be heading their way. Lili wasn't in the mood to write so they took the snowmobiles out and headed over to Russ and Reese's house. The exileration of flying across the frozen fields was amazing as they were bundled underneath their winter layers. The ride was amazing and Lili teased, "It's like going over the hills and through the woods to Grandma's house, we go!" Finn laughed at her silliness and to hell with the cold attitude. It felt amazing as they raced along for the short ride to Russ and Reese's house. Someone by the name of Finn, might just have done a few cirlces in the snow and maybe a figure 8. He felt like a little kid as they raced along. Parking the snowmobiles, they took off a few layers before they walked in and scared everyone. Finn said, "Here's hoping Russ doesn't pile on more work
Last Updated : 2021-09-15Protecting My Heart 57. The Wedding Dress
Spring was around the corner. Along with wedding bells and ... dress shopping with her friends. Lili looked amazing as she stood all in white as Reese and Stacey watched her in the mirror. "Wow! This is so ridiculous. That dress is nicer than the other one." Stacey blurted out. Reese chimed in, "Well, unless you prefer the first one she tried on." "I don't know. This is so hard. I only didn't like two of the dresses so far." Lili whined. This was her seventh dress and the decision was just getting harder to make. "Nothing stands out as special." she was starting to whine and get frustrated. She was a ball of confusion and finally Reese opined, "Lili, you are beautiful and the important thing is that Finn will love you on that day no matter what you are wearing." "Oh, I know but pictures last forever!" They all laughed at the face that she made
Last Updated : 2021-09-16Protecting My Heart 58. City Nights
The city was alive. This was going to be such a great night. Life was almost normal for Finn and Lili. That's if you can define normal... That said, the group was standing around outisde of the Ritz on Broad Street waiting for their limo. Lili was holding Finn's hand and she whispered, "Something is up with Stacey and Anders. Do you know what's going on?" "He asked her to marry him, but they are keeping it secret until we get home. They don't want to intrude on our weekend." Finn replied back. "Oh, that's wonderful. They don't have to hide it. I don't need to hog the limelight." "If I announce it, Anders will kill me," Finn said with a mischievous grin. "Yeah, but it's Stacey that you better watch out for. She's the real killer." Lili was giggling when she caught Stacey's eye and gave her a big grin. Lili then yelled, "Stacey, I want to see the ring
Last Updated : 2021-09-16Protecting My Heart 59. Midnight Confessions
The group arrived back at the hotel after dinner and headed straight up to the penthouse suites.No one was drunk or disorderly.This was a very conservative group and trouble wasn't expected.Except...There was trouble lurking behind one of the bedroom doors after midnight.There would be words said, that could never be taken back.Never fixed...Even if forgiveness could be given...This damage ran too deep and for way too long.In essense, this wrong was unforgiveable but waited for a midnight confession to be revealed.She locked the door and sat on the bed with tears streaming down her eyes.She was sober and a wreck.How was she going to tell the tale that needed to be told?She new that she would be gone within a few hours and that their relationship was finished.He had friends! A career. A life outside. She wasn
Last Updated : 2021-09-17Protecting My Heart 60. Brokenness
Finn kept knocking on the door to Drake's room and after ten minutes without an answer, he barged in and found Drake curled up on the bed in his jeans and shirtless. Drake was in the exact same position that he was in when Claire left the room at 1:25 am. He was conscious, barely. Finn ran over to the bed and picked up his arm and found a pulse. He screamed for Lili to call 911. Drake needed help and stat! "No! No! It's just shock. Pain. It just hurts all over. My heart is broken. I might die of a broken heart but it's ok. Just let me go." Drake babbled as Finn tried to revive him. "What are you talking about? Drake, where is Claire?" "She left me for William. Apparently, I was a worthless and absent lover." Drake managed to say. "What? You two were so in love. I saw it when I lived with you!" Finn was appalled! Just then Lili walked into the room but stayed by the d
Last Updated : 2021-09-17Protecting My Heart 61. The Ruination of a Detective
Oh the evidence was good and the alibi was shaky. Or was it the other way around? The detectives on the case were intent on nailing a dirty detective and Drake was going down. The broken detective was so wrapped up in despair that he was too far gone to defend himself. Nor did he care. He didn't even bother to call Finn or the others. His Claire was dead and so was his baby. If it was his. He just sat in the jail cell alone and stared into the distance. Drake wanted to die and give it all up. Without Claire it didn't matter. How did it come to this? Why? Was there any reasonable explaination? He didn't have the answers and in the end, he didn't really want them. Life could go on without him and it wouldn't really matter anyways. *** The group was sitting around laughing when they heard a persistent k
Last Updated : 2021-09-18Protecting My Heart 62. Innocent
Finn stared at the photo and just remained silent as he studied every feature of the picture. Keeping his eyes down he just stayed focused. He was starting to think that Gus was the dirty cop that was gunning for Drake and not the other way around, but he wasn't going to let on. "So, how do you explain this Thomas James Finnegan? That is you and Drake in the throes of passion?" Gus was gloating and Finn saw victory in his eyes. His response was not what Gus was expecting, "If you think that is Drake and I then try to prove it in a court of law." Gus gave Finn an odd look as he tried to figure out what Finn was saying. Finally he replied, "Oh, I will." Finn thought, 'Actually you won't but I am not telling you your one big major mistake.' "Now that you have seen the proof, do you want to confess to your affair with Drake?" "No!" Finn replied definitively.
Last Updated : 2021-09-18Protecting My Heart 63. Midnight Correspondence
Somewhere in Philadelphia, someone knew the truth but for now, the detectves were clueless as to who was behind the killing of Claire and William.Who knew that she was pregnant and who's child was it?Was Drake a killer in a jealous rage or was this crime committed because of William's sinister behaviour?Leah and Jim were starting to think that the revenge was from someone on William's side as his finances were out of control. He had mounted debts that he couldn't pay based on his income and the messages that they found on his phone were vile.William was not a good man.Full stop!Then why would Claire leave Drake for him?He was not her type from what they had already uncovered.What was she playing at?All of Drake's friends insisted that they had a good marriage and that they loved each other.No one was aware of any issues between them and those that knew Claire insisted
Last Updated : 2021-09-19
Latest chapter
Protecting My Heart 79. Epilogue
"Jordan and Stephen! Give that back to your sister right now!" Lili scolded as they walked through the amusement park. Morgan, who was just three years old, was crying because the boys took her stuffed bear that Finn just won for her at the cheesy boardwalk clown game. Finn scooped her up and calmed her tears as Lili talked to the boys for the fifth time this afternoon. Drake and Claire walked over with Gia and Max who were pinching each other when their parents were not looking. Drake asked, "Has anyone seen Anders and his crew?" "Yeah, they went to the first aid hut to get Leah's hand cleaned. She fell when Justin pushed her." "Well, I think that after three days of this, we just need a little R&R back at the house and maybe some time around the pool," Claire said matter of factly. "Oh, Claire! Yes, that is just what we all need!" Lili sighed at the thought of relaxing
Protecting My Heart 78. Accident or Sabotage
The guests all watched in horror as the crystal chandelier above the grand ballroom started to sway violently. A deafening crack filled the room as wires snapped one by one and sparks flew around the ceiling. Someone yelled, "Look out!" And another screamed, "Get out of the way!" as loud as they could over the music. The band realized what was going on and as calmly as possible told the guests to get off of the dance floor and move to safety. Chaos won the day as the chandelier suddenly fell about a foot closer to the ground. The snapping of the wires contunued until it finally let loose in a freefall crashing to the ground. Guests that had scurried to the sides of the room started to scream in fear as crystals projectiled around the room. The chandelier was one thing, but then they smelled a thick acrid smoke that permeated the room. Many of the guests started to panic an
Protecting My Heart 77. Down the Aisle
Lili rolled over and reached for Finn, but he wasn't there. His side of the bed was cold as she felt the sheets. She felt like a piece of her was missing since he was always there to snuggle in the morning before they started their day. But today was different. She would be in his arms tomorrow morning! After the rehersal dinner, he went to stay at Anders so that they would not see each other before the wedding and Stacy stayed in their guest bedroom. Lili just stayed still and let her mind run through all of the tasks of the day. So much to do before 2 pm. Would she get it all done? Oh the nerves of a bride. Her wedding day! She was so excited and couldn't believe that she was marrying this man, her Finn and then they were taking off to Europe for a few weeks. Praying to herself that this day would be filled with happy memories and no stress from family or foes prete
Protecting My Heart 76. Just One More Day Until Forever
"Come on! We are going to be late." Finn gripped as he stood in the doorway trying to get Lili to walk out the door. He sighed as she slipped past him and he teased, "Are you going to be late to your own wedding tomorrow or is this a plan to ease the tensions when you don't show up?" Lili smacked his arm and walked to the other side of the truck, refusing to answer his brazen foolishness. "Get in!" she yelled as she taunted him with a seductive kiss that she blew in his direction. "Caught it!" he laughed as he hopped in and started the truck. They drove in silence for a few minutes when he asked, "Are you nervous about tomorrow? Any regrets, because now is the time to bail on me when no one is around." "TJ! Are you trying to get rid of me?" she looked at him cross as she folded her arms across her chest. "No, I am serious Lili. I come with my own baggage and I just want to make sure that you
Protecting My Heart 74. Final Preparations
Lili heard the horn blaring and she grabbed her purse and rushed out the door.Stacey was laughing at her friend's frantic pace. She could see the worry all over Lili's sweet little face. Her red hair, flowing in the wind as she raced to the car and jumped into the passenger side.She looked at Stacey with wild eyes as she thought to herself, 'just two more weeks until the wedding and they we are off to the fitting. Always in a hurry these days!'"Calm down. Finn is already totally in love with you and your little one on the way.""Stacey, I know. It's just, well everything. The reading of the will, Claire and Drake, the wedding, my brother, and on and on and on." Lili exhaled as she l
Protecting My Heart 73. The Reading of the Will
All dressed in black. Lili hated wearing black but she was supposed to be in mourning to the rest of the outside world. So, she gave in to customs to pretend that she cared about her father and she was dressed in black from head to toe. Finn on the other hand, loved the dress that she was wearing. The way it showed off her figure and her legs. She had her hair up in a professional looking bun and he noticed her neck. Oh, it drove him insane to know that they were walking out of the house in less than 5 minutes to go the reading of the will and he had other things on his mind, like taking that dress off of her. Did she know what she was doing to him?
Protecting My Heart 72. Free
Waking up at 4 am, Lili got out of bed and crept downstairs and sat at her desk and started to write. The words flowed freely as she poured her heart out. She had just started a new book and she was free from worrying about ... well just about everything. For the first time in her life she was free of the torture that she endured on behalf of her family. She was free! No more demands on who she dated or where she lived. No more legal letters telling her to not write anymore. No more controlling parental guidance. Her father would not be missed and she knew that was an awful thought but her family really was very dysfunctional. Extremely. Lili was so intent on writing that she didn't hear Finn as he walked in and leaned against the doorway. Just watching. His eyes sparkled at he watched his little lilipad typing away as she was lost in her own lit
Protecting My Heart 71. The Art of Letting Go
Anders read the letter and the news shocked Finn. "You're pregnant?" Finn asked again. Lili looked up in to his eyes and softly replied, "Yes, but this isn't how I planned on telling you. I had plans, special plans. Not like this." All of that special nonsense didn't matter to Finn. That wasn't him anyways. Finn forgot Anders was their and kissed her sweet lips and whispered in her ear, "My beautiful little Lili James is going to give me a beautiful lille baby. What's better than that?" Finn felt the magic of the moment and was in his own world with Lili when Anders cleared his throat. Letting Lili go, he looked at Anders and sheepishly said, "Forgot you were here." "Let's grab some coffee in the kitchen and talk through the events of today." Lili looked from Anders to Finn with curiosity. She was so thrilled with Finn's reaction to the baby news that she forgot abo
Protecting My Heart 70. Almost
Two weeks had passed and Finn felt like a piece of him was missing. Drake had always been there, even when he arrested Finn, he supported him when he had been at his lowest. Lili was standing there in the kitchen and knew what was eating him alive and she decided that she needed to do something about it. She put down the dish towel and walked over to him and boldly stated, "I am going to see my father in jail and finish this, for good." "What? You can't do that!" Finn said as he voice cracked. He was not letting her go to see her creepy father. The guy was a miserable man with nothing but hatred flowing through his viens. No wait, even worse than that...vindictiveness ran so deep that he spewed nothing but hate. Lili gave him her puppy dog eyes and walked over to him and said, "Listen, he can't hurt me in jail but he can try to continuously surprise us with one hate filled plot after another and one of them mi
