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I’m lost in his eyes as we stare at each other. The magnetic pull between us grows stronger as my gaze flicks back and forth between his lips and eyes.
“You’re a dangerous creature, Finn.” I groan as he steps away from me and turns in the diner’s direction.
“So I’ve been told,” Finn mumbles as we walk along the street, our hands clasped together in complete silence. Not the awkward silence some people experience on first dates, but a comfortable one. Just two people enjoying spending time together.
“Why didn’t you tell me who you were in the bar that night?” I ask, causing Finn to stop dead in his tracks.
His brows pull down in confusion as he tries to think of the correct answer before he smiles at me. “Would it have made a difference?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I definitely wouldn’t have slept with you,” I respond quickly, knowing in my heart that it’s true.
The pull I feel between Finn and me is undeniable, but he’s from Magnolia. Not to mention he’s my parents’ best friends’ son and used to be joined at the hip with my older sister. Being with him brings complications into my life that I don’t need right now.
“Damn, way to bruise a man’s ego.” Finn grips the back of his neck, chuckling softly.
“I didn’t…I mean, it was…but you’re only here for a sh-short time and—” Finn places his finger over my lips, stopping the stuttered words coming out of my mouth.
“You’re thinking too hard about this, Marissa. I’ve known you since we were kids. Our parents are best friends, and I was best friends with your sister. How could I have possibly believed you didn’t know who I was?”
“But—” I huff, dropping my eyes toward the ground. “You don’t even remotely look like you did before.”
How do I explain to him that I was so wrapped up in my head that I didn’t even notice? But now that I know, I can see everything. Finn may look different, but he’s still the same guy I secretly crushed on before I met Campbell. His eyes are still the same warm chocolate-brown color they’ve always been. His smile still makes my insides melt just a little when it’s directed at me. His voice still wraps around me like a warm blanket, making me feel safe and protected.
“Okay, I’ll admit, I realized pretty quickly that you may not have known who I was, and I should’ve said something, but let me ask you one thing,” he pauses, pulling his hand from my grasp and lifting my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Do you regret it?”
“No,” I respond reluctantly.
It’s true. I don’t regret the time we spent together. It was the first time in years that I felt something other than the simple urge to be with a member of the opposite sex. But the effect Finn is having on me is not something I want to think about right now.
“I can work with that,” Finn responds before stepping toward me and leaning forward.
A shiver runs down my spine as our lips connect, his hand sliding down my arm before he winks at me and threads his fingers through mine again, continuing down the road toward the diner.
I peer at him from the corner of my eye, discreetly checking for any signs of distress on his face but finding none. He’s the picture of ease with a soft smile on his face as we walk in silence. The exact opposite of me. On the outside, I hope I portray the picture of calm, cool, and collected, but inside, I’m a jumble of nerves, barely hanging on by a thread. I need to keep my wits about me when I’m around him. But that nagging voice in the back of my head can’t get over the fact that he chose me.
“How’s your sister doing?” He tugs softly on my arm to get my attention.
“She lives in Nashville and is engaged to a fucking tool bag named Maxwell, never Max.” I scoff, having no desire to talk about my sister and her perfect life. I’ve had enough of those types of conversations with my mother.
“That’s an odd name. Maxwell, never Max. What is he, a secret serial killer?” Finn responds, causing me to laugh loudly.
“No. Apparently, he hates when people shorten his name. He said it makes him sound like some inbred hick.”
“He sounds like a joy to be around.”
“Oh, he is. I don’t have any idea what my sister sees in him. She says she loves him and that I’d understand him better if I got to know him, but neither one of them has stepped foot in Magnolia, and we can’t seem to find the right time for my family to go visit them. Not that I have any desire to be in the city. It’s a great place to visit, but Magnolia is where I call home.”
“I couldn’t agree more. Magnolia has always been home for me,” he responds, pulling the door to the diner open.
“Then why did you stay away for so long?” I ask, instantly regretting it.
I don’t want to give him the wrong idea. This is nothing more than a lunch to allow him to stop bugging me about going out with him, nothing more. However, there is a part of me that wonders why he’s still in town. According to my mother, Mr. Buckley is doing much better and has even gone to see a specialist about his condition. He’s already moving around easier than he was. I doubt Mrs. Buckley still needs Finn’s help to take care of his dad. So why is he still here?
“That’s for me to know and you to find out.” He chuckles as I stride toward him and through the door.
