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“Yes, Mom, I realize that I missed an appointment with the director of the foundation but Lance and Haley were still there, so I don’t understand what the issue is.”
Of course he doesn’t understand what the issue is. I roll my eyes. The thought of Finn Vittatoe inconveniencing someone has probably never once crossed his mind. Men like him never hold themselves accountable. His poor mom.
“Keep making an ugly face like that and one day it’ll stick,” says an amused voice from across the bar.
I grit my teeth but take a deep breath, calming my racing heart and clearing my head before turning my attention away from the corner booth. I offer Grandma a smile as she settles onto a stool next to Nia, who slides her half-drank cup of coffee over to my grandmother before I can turn to make a cup for her. Grandma pats her arm gently before swigging from the cup.
It’s sweet–in a very gross sort of way.
“I’m glad you’re here, Mrs. Cooper! Delilah is being very uncooperative about her stalker.”
“Who, Finn?” Grandma asks before twisting in her seat, a smile lighting her face when she spots the man in the corner. He raises his hand to her and she waves back energetically before turning back toward me with a wistful sigh. “Delilah, if you don’t take that man for a test drive soon, I’m going to.”
“Oh, shehastest driven him,” Nia chimes in. My answering blush is fiery and immediate.
“Sugar plum!”I hiss. She laughs and I lunge for her. She slides off her stool, dancing out of my reach.
Nia steps just behind Grandma, hiding her face in her hands as she giggles. My body vibrates with annoyance as she leans over, a look of impish delight on her face.
“They kissed here a few nights ago,” she says in a stage whisper. “And then again in the square yesterday. And Delilah had a very naughty dream about him last night.”
“Sugar plum, sugar plum, sugar plum!”I repeat, snatching a piece of ice out of her water and launching it at her head. I told her about Finn cornering me under some mistletoe in the square yesterday and kissing me until my legs quaked with desire. And Grandmadoesn’t need to know about my wet dreams. Isnothingsacred between best friends anymore?
“Oh, that’s delightful!” My mouth falls open, shock rocketing through me and stealing the response on my tongue. Grandma has always been a little less than appropriate, but calling my spicy dreams delightful?I sputter as she continues, “Tell me, Delilah, is he as good in bed in your dreams as I imagine he is in real life?”
“Anyone that I know?”
Nia spins, a delighted giggle falling from her lips as Finn approaches. He throws a familiar, infuriating smirk in my direction and drops onto Nia’s recently vacated stool, propping his elbow on the counter and offering Grandma a winning smile.
“Finn, darling,” Grandma says as she turns toward him, leaning in and taking a noticeable deep breath. My eyes widen and I thread my fingers through my hair, lacing them behind my head as I count my breaths. She smiles wickedly. “I’ve heard you’ve been kissing my granddaughter all over town.”
“Grandma—”
“And inspiring some rather…spicydreams,” Nia adds conspiratorially, her voice pitching down an octave as she wiggles her eyebrows suggestively.
Someone call the sheriff. I’m going to jail for first-degree murder.
Finn’s heated gaze as he turns toward meshould notsend a spear of want straight to my core. The way his eyes flit over my body in a slow perusal shouldn’t cause my breath to catch in my throat. And I hate that it does.
“Really?” He asks, voice low and heated. My cheeks burn.
“Yes, and I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to make an honest woman of her before it’s too late.”
“Sugar plum, you incorrigible Grinches!”I shout. Heads turn in our direction from all over the restaurant. Margaret and Nellie frown disapprovingly and I gesture angrily in Grandma’s direction. Margaret smiles fondly—always less perturbed by my grandmother’s antics than I am—and I roll my eyes. Can I not get support anywhere today?
“All of you need to leave.”
“Delilah LeeAnn,” Grandma starts, but I cut her off.
“No, ma’am. You’re not behaving yourself and I have a business to run. You can take Nia and go be nuisances elsewhere.”
A deep chuckle meets my ears and I turn narrowed eyes on Finn. He adjusts his cuffs before glancing up at me, a half-grin cocked on his lips. My stomach flutters, and I press my lips into a thin line.
“And what about me?”
“Get lost,” I say as I turn toward the door separating the dining room from the kitchen. “Forever.”
* * *
