Amara didn’t even have to guess who it was.

Who else would come sit outside her gate late at night besides Finnian?

But why was he crouched down like that, with his head hanging low?

And where was his car? How did he even get here? He couldn’t possibly have walked all this way.

With a complicated knot in her chest, Amara pulled her car into the courtyard. Glancing at the rearview mirror, she saw a figure walking in behind her. Finnian had stood up and followed her inside.

She pushed the door open and stepped out. Just as she was about to speak, the figure lunged forward, pressing her heavily against the car door.

His heavy frame made Amara let out a small gasp. Instantly, the overwhelming stench of alcohol washed over her. Amara hurriedly pushed him away, asking sharply, “Have you been drinking?”

Finnian lifted his head slightly, wanting to say something, but the world was spinning too fast. Never mind speaking-he could barely stand. He quickly planted both hands on the car door, trapping Amara between his arms just to keep himself upright.

The position was incredibly intimate. From a distance, it looked as though he were embracing her.

“I’ve been drinking,” Finnian mumbled. “Had a business dinner tonight… talking about buying land for a premium school-district development. Drank a bit too much by accident… I lost my balance just now and bumped into you. Is the baby okay?”

As he spoke, he raised a hand and gently patted Amara’s belly.

Ah, the slight curve of her stomach felt firm and oddly comforting…

And since he was already touching her, he figured he might as well lift his other

hand to wrap around her shoulders, gently pulling her into his chest.

The movements were so smooth and fluid that Amara was furious. She shoved at his shoulders immediately. “What do you think you’re doing? Let go of me! If you’re drunk, go home! Why did you com here?”

“I wanted to find you,” Finnian said, looking down at her. “You are my home.”

“

Goosebumps erupted all over Amara’s arms. What kind of cheesy nonsense was that? It was nauseating!

She pushed hard against his shoulders, snapping in exasperation, “Where did you even learn to say things like that? It’s so cringe! Don’t ever say that again!”

Finnian was perfectly normal when sober, so why did he spout such embarrassing lines the second he got drunk?

Amara rubbed her arms, genuinely feeling a shiver run down her spine.

Finnian rubbed his temples. He was deeply intoxicated, but after getting shoved a few times and scolded by Amara, he sobered up slightly.

He let go of her but kept one hand planted firmly on the car door so he wouldn’t tip over. He looked down at her in the dim light.

Under the night sky, his dark eyes were pitch-black. When he stared at her this intensely, there was a

magnetic, dangerous pull to his gaze that threatened to draw her in completely.

Amara’s cheeks flushed hot. She quickly ducked her head, staring at her shoes, not

daring to meet his eyes.

“Amara, I did drink too much,”

Finnian said sluggishly. “I was upset

thinking about how you refuse to see me kept thinking about it during the dinner, and before I knew it, I’d had way too much. Drowning my sorrows…”

“But even when I got drunk, I still wanted to see you so badly. I couldn’t stop it. I felt

like I was going crazy, so I had Will Zade drop me off…”