Finn blinked back at me until his smile dimmed.
My frown deepened.
“Don’t go telling me you believe everything you hear, Cupcake,” Finn said. He reached out and gently flicked the end of my nose. I flinched back, sending him a glare that lacked any heat.
“I’m not accusing you of anything,” I said honestly, “but is there something I should know?”
Finn sighed and stuffed his hand back in his pocket. His foot jiggled restlessly against the floor, and I bit my lip to stop from pointing it out. It was kind of cute.
“Okay, so I spent a night behind bars before my ticked-off dad bailed me out the next morning.” Finn shrugged, and it rankled me how unaffected he seemed. Then the mischievous smile was back as he leaned forward. “Is this the part where you find my criminal ways disarmingly attractive? Should I get a little closer in case I need to catch you when you swoon?”
I shifted back with a snort as his grin widened.
“I don’t think we’re in danger of that happening.” I crossed my arms and focused on the quasi-interrogation. “Is that what you’d call yourself—a criminal?”
Finn’s smile dipped again before vanishing completely. “I’m one of the good guys. I’ve done some things I’m not proud of, but you can trust me when I say I’m not the bad guy you’re building me up to be in your pretty little head right now.”
I swallowed around the other questions begging to pop out and settled on a nod for now. Teresa had some strong opinions about Mr. Everton’s son, but since when did I blindly trust rumors? I could judge his character myself. Aside from the brutal crime of stealing and eating my cupcake—which I wasn’t completely overlooking but was pretty sure the statute of limitations had already passed on—Finn hadn’t done anything I would call incriminating.“If you say so.”
Finn clapped his hands together. “Good. Now that’s enough seriousness for one day. I have something that’ll cheer you up.”
His smile was back, and I liked it a little too much.
But I couldn’t fight off a frown of suspicion.
He looked a littletooexcited. More excited than most teenagers would be at a swanky country club party on a weekend afternoon. Teresa’s warnings were still lurking around the back of my mind, and Finn’s shining eyes mixed with his jittery legs were as clear as day. Which could only mean…
“I don’t do drugs, Finn,” I said carefully, glancing sideways down the hallway.
Finn’s slack jaw was almost comical when I turned back to him.
He let out a strangled laugh. “I’m not sure whether to be relieved you feel comfortable standing up to me or offended that you think I’d offer you drugs.”
My lips pursed. I wondered if he was trying to play off his offer as a joke since I’d already said no. “I remember a detective saying the people most likely to offer you drugs are your friends.”
“… Are you talking about McGruff the Crime Dog? Thecartoon?”
I blushed, fighting back the urge to lower my eyes. “He was based on real statistics…”
He let out another disbelieving laugh. He looked down the hallway as he rubbed a hand over his clean-shaven cheek.
“It’s not drugs. Okay, sugarplum?”
I frowned. “Do you have a thing for nicknames?”
“A thing?”
“An obsession or… a fetish or something.”
His lips twitched. “I have an obsession, all right.”
I needed to get back to my buffet table.
“I promise you’ll like it.” His smirk foreshadowed all kinds of trouble, and I snorted at the presumptive imp. He moved before I could answer, leaning forward as I tipped back in reflex. “It’s a kiss.”
My jaw dropped, and it was safe to say I was at a loss for words as my fingers twitched beside my thigh. They weren’t sure if they wanted to punch him or applaud his ability to continuously shock me.
Finn’s eyes lit up, and his hand reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear so fast my breath hitched.
