"If it hadn''t been for him stepping in back then, Fiona and Elowen would have chewed me up alive."


    "Well, maybe, but treating him like your real grandpa? You''re way too good to that old man."


    "Oh,e on, what''s the point of bringing that up now? Just go change your clothes, look at how filthy you are."


    Amara gave Keith a yful shove. He chuckled helplessly and headed off to change.


    Finnian returned to his room, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it onto the couch. Though he wasn''t one for daytime drinking, he had called room service for a bottle of red wine. Pouring himself a ss, he wandered over to the window, taking a slow sip.


    He stared out, his eyes unfathomable. Before he could finish his ss, there was a knock at the door. "Finn, are you in there?"


    It was Liliana. He crossed the room to open the door. "What''s up?"


    Liliana stepped inside, biting her lip as she inquired, "Finn, did you just go out with Ms. Sullivan? What did you two talk about?"


    "Nothing," Finnian replied nonchntly. "Is something the matter?"


    Liliana''s fingers tightened, words momentarily escaping her. It had been a whirlwind of eventstely. First, Finnian''s car ident, where he hadn''t asked for her to look after him, instead choosing Amara.


    Then, there was the incident with Amara falling into that sinkhole, and Finnian rushing to her rescue without hesitation. People were still buzzing about that one. Even earlier, during filming, they''d been paying attention to the scene and yet suddenly gotten up and headed into the grove for a private chat.


    Liliana was worried sick but didn''t know how to voice it. But then she thought it over. Finnian and Amara were divorced, and honestly, with Amara''s face, she couldn''t imagine any sane man being interested. No need to stress over nothing.


    She raised her head, smiling. "Oh, nothing really. Just checking in on you. Finn, I''m truly touched that you put aside your work toe help with the filming."


    She walked over and looped her arm through his, resting her head gently on his shoulder. "Thank you, Finn."


    Finnian''s expression remained neutral. "It''s nothing. Don''t worry about it. You''ve got more scenes to shoot, you should head back."


    "Alright," Liliana replied, understanding, and let go of him. "I''ll get going then." She was almost at the door when Finnian called out, "Wait a minute."


    Liliana stopped, turning back with a hopeful look. "Yes, Finn?"


    Finnian set his wine ss down on the walnut side table, moving over to her. He gazed down at her for a moment before asking suddenly, "Do you really want this child?"


    Liliana''s heart lurched. She couldn''t fathom why Finnian would ask such a question, but she was sharp enough to know she couldn''t afford any misstep in this conversation.


    Thinking quickly, she replied, "Of course I do, Finn! Why would you ask that?"


    She looked up at him, her eyes a perfect mix of concern and slight sadness, calibrated just right.


    Finnian gave her a long look, rubbing his forehead as he responded, "It''s nothing. Go ahead with your thing."


    Liliana''s eyes flickered with thought. While she couldn''t discern why he''d asked, pressing him now wouldn''t be wise. It was better to leave for now. She nodded, slipping out the door.


    Once outside, she paused, leaning against the wall, her hand over her chest,


    trying to calm her racing thoughts.