Emily's father was back in town meaning the family Thursday dinner tradition was back on. 

As she took a martini off the silver platter, Emily sighed. It was only three members tonight. Ben had a fever so Beth and Lance had stayed home. Lucky them, thought Emily.

Without the married couple there, the dinners took on a slightly bitter skew for Emily. Mary and her father cattily dissecting the latest gossip of the muckety mucks in their circle. Emily wasn't even sure what circle that was anymore.

After years of money troubles resulting in the loss of a lot of the high life they had once enjoyed, including her beloved lake house, her father was more of a hanger-on of coattails. Without money, his status depended on relying on the kindness of friends and family. Or sucking up to them.

"Oh father," Mary dolled out the last word. "You'll never guess who had dared to show his face after all these years."

Emily glared at Mary. She was not sure where this was going, but she had a good idea.

"Ooooh, my darling, do tell. Who has graced us with their presence?"

Emily's stomach rolled before Mary said his name and after. "Finn Wainwright."

Her father's lips protruded in confusion. "Do I know this Wainwright?"

Mary cackled. "Hardly. He was the stock boy at the Waterfront Bar."

Emily felt her nails dig into the palm of her hand. Of course, Mary would define Finn by his job. How he made money and how much he was worth financially was all Mary noticed.

Tilting his head in thought, her father continued his perplexed stance. Mary prodded, "The one in Bridgetown. The townie Emily had the hots for."

Her father shook his head. "Don't think I ever met him."

But Emily knew he had.

Emily was not sure Finn was having a good time. Inviting him over to spend the day lounging by the pool had seemed a good idea. But as soon as he entered the foyer something seemed off. His shoulders were hunched and he had an expression painted on his face like his shoes were too tight.

Hoping to make him more comfortable, Emily had invited Finn upstairs. Trying to convince herself a smaller setting would help him relax. Laughing at herself, Emily admitted she just could not wait to get her hands on him again. Or rather Finn's hands on her.

Sleep eluded Emily last night after returning home. Her mind and body were electrified by her evening with Finn. It had not been her intention to have sex with him, she was happy to simply spend time with Finn. It just felt right.

Actually, it felt fantastic. Dancing had seemed like a way to make up for Finn's lack of prom experience but the proximity of him, his hands on her waist ignited something in Emily she could not dampen. When Finn had cupped her breast with his perfect, manly hands, his long fingers squeezing Emily knew she had to have him.

She wanted those fingers to work their magic again. Now.

"What's so funny?" grumbled Finn.

Oh dear, this was not good. Emily reached up on tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. She whispered into his ear with what she hoped was a sexy voice. "How much Mary is going to hate what we're about to do."

A lopsided grin slowly spread across his face. "What's that?"

Emily stepped back and twirled in the soft pink bedroom. "This is her room." She stopped facing Finn and winked.

For his part, Finn's eyes popped wide, perhaps in shock or maybe excitement, Emily was not sure. He took a step closer to her. "And what are we going to do in here?"

Reaching out, Emily took his hand and led him to the bed. The soft surface gave under his weight as Emily pushed Finn down onto the hot pink comforter. Climbing onto his lap, she slid her hands into his hair as he grabbed her by the waist to keep her from falling. Taking his mouth with hers, her body leapt to attention at the heat rolling off of him.

"Em...maybe we shouldn't."

She pulled back, confused. His body was most assuredly saying yes so where was this coming from. "Don't you want to?"

Finn reached up and brushed a lock of her hair from her face, curling it around his finger before tugging it lightly. She felt the same pull deep down inside.

"Oh, I want to. So much. But..."

Before he had a chance to continue, a male voice called Emily's name, causing her to jump. Finn froze. Emily swore.

"Is that..."

"My father?" Emily sighed and pulled herself away from Finn. "Yes." Fixing her shirt which had somehow gone askew, it was her turn to grumble. "He knows we're here. We better go down and say hello."

The pinched look returned to Finn's face and he rubbed his chest. Emily placed a hand on his, stopping it over his heart. "Come meet him. It'll be fine."

At least she hoped it would be. Her father was mercurial at best. Philip Montgomery was supposed to be golfing this morning, an event which usually took hours - most of which was spent in the clubhouse hob-knobbing with the other club members. If he was home early, it might be a bad sign.

Hand-in-hand they went downstairs. Emily introduced Finn to her father. There was an awkward handshake among the two males and a short interrogation of the who, what and why of Finn. For his part, Finn answered openly and honestly. Her father looked bored.

It was time to pull the cord on the situation. Figuring the day by the pool was now out, Emily explained Finn was here to pick her up for a date and they were just leaving. Unfortunately, she didn't have any shoes on. Leaving Finn with her father for a few moments, she ran upstairs, grabbed a few things, including a sleeve of condoms from Mary's bedside table drawer.

When Emily returned, Finn was nowhere to be seen, but the front door was wide open. Running through it, she saw Finn standing by his truck, his back to her.

"Ready," she announced.

Finn didn't turn around. Slipping her arms around his waist in a backward hug, Emily felt Finn bristle, the tension bunching in his muscles. She squeezed tighter. Finn let out a ragged breath but started to relax.

"What did he say?"

"Nothing." Finn placed his hands on hers.

"Finn. It's obvious my father said or did something. Tell me. Please."

Another ragged breath left Finn. Emily pressed her head against his back, pleading silently for him to talk to her.

"He told me you'd get bored of me. Said you'd leave me for better prospects."

Emily was stunned. She expected her father might be rude like her sister. They were so alike. But never in a million years did she think he could be so cruel.

Letting go of Finn's waist, she tried to turn back towards the house. "Okay then. I'm not standing for that."

But Finn would not let go of her hand. He spun around and pulled Emily towards him, touching his forehead to hers. "Don't. Please."

"Finn," Emily pleaded, "He can't say such things to you."

"I...I don't want to be the reason you fight with the only parent you have left."

Understanding flooded Emily. They had talked about what being an orphan meant to Finn, how his parent's death had affected him, feelings of loss and loneliness. In turn, she had shared the devastation of losing her mother last summer and the hole it left in her life and family. Finn was protecting her.

Emily decided to let it go for now. For Finn. Her father could wait until later when she had time to really give it to him. She was going to set the man straight and demand an apology to her boyfriend.

"I won't you know Finn." She squeezed his hand. "I won't leave you. Ever."

"You've met him, father. He was always hanging around, sniffing after Emily."

Emily wanted to wipe the grin off of Mary's face. But she knew it would only make things worse. She was outnumbered here. Years of experience had proven it was best to not say anything, not provoke them and soon their delight would wane and the topic would change.

But her father was not about to let it go yet. Glaring over at her, a strange almost venomous look in his eyes made Emily shift uncomfortably in her seat. His words sounded almost accusatory. "Is this true?"

"That he was my boyfriend," Emily could not help the dig at Mary, "or that he's back in town?"

"The latter," he demanded.

"Yes, father." She explained about the case and how he was a witness. "The trial is next week so I suppose he will be gone soon." The thought made her queasy. She was running out of time.

Sophie's advice had been spot on. Showing up at the base had worked. Finn was completely different around her, almost comfortable. And there had been a moment when he asked about the lake house. She was sure Finn had felt it as well. A flicker of hope Emily was planning to fan on Saturday during the hike. Surely she could find a moment alone with him on a long walk. She would find an excuse. She had to.

"Good." Her father almost spat the word. Then he proceeded to tell them about a set of golf clubs he had his eye on.