Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 54852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
I waited until he had made the turn into the parking garage to let my curiosity win out. “What happened?”
“You sure you want to skip semi-public making out for my tale of woe?” He gave me an exaggerated leer as he parked the truck. Leaning over, he stroked my thigh with a light, teasing touch that was still enough to have me shivering.
“I’m not really much of a risktaker…” I admitted reluctantly, the urge to be reckless at war with a lifetime of doing the right thing.
“But you wish you were.” Finn’s smile was rather knowing right before he claimed my mouth. He swallowed my gasp, giving me a thorough kiss that had my feet digging into the worn floor mats and my hands reaching for him. However, he broke the kiss and evaded my grasp. “See? You like risk. But we better not. Let’s behave and get food while you think about everything I’m going to do to you once we finally get behind a locked door.”
“Yes, please.”
I didn’t even bother trying to hide my whimper or my eagerness when he gave me another fast kiss before sliding out of the truck. Still dazed, and not entirely sure what was happening, I followed him out of the parking garage. It was a nice night, not too chilly, summer threatening an appearance any day now. Not that I needed any help staying warm. Finn’s promise of later had my pulse thrumming, even as my brain couldn’t shake the need to know more about him.
“So… Your story?”
“I was seeing a professor at the university for a while.” Finn didn’t slow his fast strides back toward the Church Street Marketplace. Even though it was getting late, there was still a fair bit of foot traffic, and I had to work to keep up with him.
Still, a brisk walk wasn’t enough to put me off this line of inquiry. “One of your professors?”
“Come on. Give me more credit than that, Harry.” Finn stopped by a candle shop long enough to give me a put-out look.
“Sorry. I could have phrased that better.” I hated how I always seemed to say the wrong thing to him. He flustered me enough to make me forget my usual careful politeness.
“It’s okay.” Finn resumed walking on the brick path past all the little shops, most of which were closing up for the night. “And Astin was a literature professor I met a few years back when I took Mom to campus for a lecture on mystery sidekicks. We dated for a year or so, then he got a better offer from a school in San Francisco.”
“That’s far away.” It was a common enough tale, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. “Distance is always a challenge.”
“Yup. He was from Manhattan, like you and your mom. Dad was some sort of investment guru, and Astin was never really happy in Vermont, honestly. He’d come on a visiting professor deal, but he leapt at the chance to get tenure somewhere more urban.” Finn shrugged as we passed a bar with a half-full patio of happy patrons, all the clinking and laughing a stark contrast to Finn’s flat tone. “So I wished him well, but in answer to your question, I thought I’d sworn off newcomers.”
“In that case, I’m honored you made an exception.” I kept my voice light because a tease seemed like a better approach than getting all defensive. And Finn did seem rather intent on getting back to kissing, so maybe he didn’t hate newcomers as much as he thought.
“Yeah, well, you’re pretty tempting.” Stopping by a storefront restaurant with yellow curtains, Finn laughed and gave me a warm look, one that made me sure kissing was indeed still on the agenda.
“I’m flattered.” I needed to say more, but my rapidly heating skin was making it hard to remember that this was supposed to be super casual.
“This place work for food?” Finn asked as he gestured at the menu in the window. “I’m not sure what the carryout options are, but they’re usually pretty fast if we want to eat in.”
“Sounds good.” I should have been in a hurry to get back to my place, get back to surer footing about what we were doing and why, but I couldn’t seem to deny myself the pleasure of a shared meal.
“Finn!” The hostess, a young redheaded woman, had an effusive welcome for him, complete with a hug. “It’s nice to see you other than on a Friday morning.”
“This place is one of our egg and meat customers,” Finn explained to me before letting the hostess lead us to a wooden table. The place was small and homey with a rustic feel.
“Yes, and we had extra, so we’ve got a fabulous asparagus quiche on special today.” She handed us menus that were decorated with pen-and-ink drawings of various vegetables.