Very few people tolerated Mrs. Runither, but Finn had always embraced her.
He didn’t mind that she was a dirty old bird and completely unprofessional in the way she violated her customers.
He shrugged it off.
That was the beauty of Finn.
He didn’t take life too seriously.
I hoped he’d never change. He was the eternal Peter Pan.
But he didn’t always understand my internal clock and the timeline pressure I felt to achieve the things I wanted out of life.
“Oh, that’s right. You two are bumpin’ dirties now, aren’t you?” she purred, and I couldn’t help but zone in on her tangerine-colored lipstick that was drawn so far outside the lines of her lips that it looked like clown makeup.
“I mean, look at her. Do you think I could contain myself around her?” His tongue swiped out to wet his lips, and Mrs. Runither groaned as she watched him.
Damn. He really was a good actor.
“Okay, Finn, we should probably get to our table,” I said, anxious to sit down and get away from this awkward conversation.
“Yes, baby,” he said. His tone was so sexy that my eyes widened. “Her ex isn’t here, is he? We don’t need any fights breaking out in this fine establishment of yours.”
He’d always been good at getting information out of people.
“Not that I’ve seen today, but he and his new lady friend do come here often. Christy Rae Lovell is a big fan of my mac ‘n’ cheese.”
“Well, if they do come in, we’d appreciate you sitting them far away from us.” Finn kissed her cheek, and I swear I could see hearts appear in the woman’s eyes.
This was why women needed to be careful with Finn.
He’d broken more hearts than either of us could count, but he’d always managed to walk away still loved. He didn’t lie about who he was, and women found that endearing.
She led us to the table in the back, and I stopped to say hi to several locals. Matilda, the owner of The Tipsy Tea, jumped to her feet to hug me. She’d always been one of my favorites in town.
“I’m so happy you’re back home, Reese,” she said as she hugged me tight. My favorite birthday party of all time was the tea party at her shop when I was eight years old. Of course, Finn had been the only boy in attendance, and he’d been just fine with it. She’d owned that store for as long as I could remember.
“It feels good to be home.” I pulled back and smiled at her.
“And this,” she said with a wide grin as her gaze moved from me to Finn. “I always suspected you two would end up together.”
A sharp pang hit my chest at the realization that we were lying to a lot of good people. Before I could react, Finn’s arms wrapped around me from behind, and he nipped at my ear, which made me squeal.
What the hell was he doing?
He didn’t need to pour it on this thick when Carl wasn’t even here.
“I always suspected it, too, Matilda. I just wasn’t mature enough to recognize it before now. But the heart wants what the heart wants. And I’m all in.”
I dug my nails into his hand in warning.
And for the love of God, I felt his massive boner press against my lower back again.
I knew my best friend was a big fan of sex, but this was out of control.
“Well, there’s nothing better than finding your soulmate and holding on tight. You two enjoy yourselves, and please stop by the store next week so you can tell me all about London.”
“I will. I’m looking for some office space downtown this week, so I’ll definitely come by and see you.” I shoved Finn back as casually as I could and hugged her one more time.
He chuckled as we walked to our table. I dropped my butt into the booth, and he slid in beside me, which was not the norm.
“Why are you sitting on the same side of the booth as me?” I said under my breath.
“Because we’re lovers, Miney.” He chuckled as his lips grazed my ear again.
“Carl and I never sat on the same side of a booth.”
“Exactly. I’m a much better boyfriend than he is. I don’t like any distance between me and my woman.”
“He’s not even here. Tone it down,” I said over my laughter.
“This is a small town. Everyone talks. I can’t have people thinking I’m a selfish lover,” he whispered before leaning back in the booth and grabbing the menu on the table.
I leaned close to him. “Speaking of selfish lovers… I think you might need to see a doctor about that situation you’ve got going on. That cannot be comfortable. Chewy Junior was poking me in the back again.”
He barked out a laugh before leaning close again and talking just above a whisper. “It’s been a while for me. The longest I’ve ever gone in my adult life without sex. So, you’re going to have to deal with it. You’re in a relationship with a horny dude now.”
I glanced around to make sure no one was listening. The place was going off as usual. There was an Elvis Presley song playing from the jukebox, and conversations were going on all around us.
“I’ve gone a year, and you don’t see me acting like a teenage horndog.”
“What can I say? My girl does it for me.” He smiled so wide that I couldn’t help but smile back.
Because Finn Reynolds really was my favorite person on the planet.
seven
Finn
Reese and I stepped outside of Cottonwood Café, and I reached for her hand when the cool breeze hit us right in the face. She stopped, her back pressed against the brick building, and rolled her eyes.
“I swear you just let Mrs. Runither round second base with that hug she gave you when she said goodbye,” she said.
I chuckled and reached for the zipper of her coat, tugging it all the way up.
“Do you even know what rounding second base means? An ass grab does not count as a base.” I saw something out of my peripheral vision, and my head turned the slightest bit before I realized who it was. On instinct, I leaned forward and covered her mouth with mine.
She gasped against me, her hands gripping my coat as my tongue slipped inside and tangled with hers.
Only Reese could taste minty after eating a Cottonwood Café burger. The girl was always prepared with mints and lip gloss and sunscreen.
I shouldn’t be surprised.
But I didn’t know she would taste so good.
I liked the way her lips felt, the way they melded with mine.
My dick was out of control, and this kiss was the equivalent of a missile launch countdown. He was ready.
I definitely needed to get laid. Between no sex for the last year, and then not even so much as a make-out session with a woman since Jessica launched this psychotic campaign against me, and now fake dating my best friend—there was no light at the end of this tunnel.
Or should I say, light at the end of this missile launch.
“Reese,” a voice growled, and I smiled against her mouth before pulling back.
She blinked up at me several times before her gaze slowly moved to find her ex-boyfriend, Carl, standing there.
He stood with his arms folded across his chest.
Christy Rae Lovell was beside him, her eyes moving between us.
“Carl,” Reese said, clearing her throat and squaring her shoulders like she was preparing for battle.
Atta girl.
“Hey,” he said awkwardly, raising a brow at me as he moved closer as if he wanted me to step back so he could hug her.
That wasn’t going to happen.
She was mine now, at least as far as everyone knew, and I wouldn’t do anything to help him out.
Reese would have to make the move if she wanted to hug him.
Of course, she shot me a look and slid away from me, giving him the world’s most awkward hug.
Well, second to my hug with old lady Runither, who goosed me on my way out the door.
She stepped back quickly and then nodded at the woman beside him, and they both said an awkward hello.