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Her sarcastic laughter shouldn’t be able to incite something real. Unfortunately, it does, and I cave a little bit over her, unable to restrain myself.
“Hey,” she protests. “That sunshine is blocking out my night sky.” She pokes me in the nose. “Where’s the dimmer on this thing?”
I catch her hand before she can stab me with her nail again. Despite the calm of this moment, a hay ride isn’t the most smooth, and I’m not eager to lose an eye.
“Finn?” she says when I’ve gone too still, perhaps when I’ve drifted too close, certainly moments after I’ve begun thinking of the technical difficulties involved when it comes to kissing her in this sort of position. My stomach flutters at the sound of my name on her lips. Again.
It’s the fourth time.
I’m almost certain I’ll lose my entire soul come the fifth.
“Yes?” It takes everything to keep breath entering my lungs.
“Would you like to go home and play Stardew Valley with the girls?”
I smile and try not to mourn the loss when she pulls her hand free. “Nothing would make me happier.”
Except, perhaps, marrying you.
Chapter 17
These schemes spark joy. Get it? Spark?
– Marcella
“You’re an awful boyfriend,” I say, riding home with Finn from a dinner meeting. I’m in my assistant garb, despite his threat that I’d be attending these boring things as his date at some point in the future. My relief knows no bounds as I have zero interest in being someone his boring partners and business bros feel obligated to talk to.
Finn’s brows rise. “I am?”
“Yes.” No. He’s the best boyfriend I’ve ever had. Although, to be fair, every other guy I’ve ever gone out with was more a single date sort of thing, less an official boyfriend one, which would make him the only boyfriend I’ve ever had. Therefore, he is simultaneously the best, and the worst.
Relaxing with his arm propped on the car door, he plants his chin in his hand and does that thing where he loosens his tie and pops the first button of his dress shirt. “Does this have anything to do with my insistence that bullying you seems unethical?”
“No, but now it does. Keep adding crimes, and I’ll have to take a vacation to my island.”
“Would you like to honeymoon there?”
My back straightens, and I look up off my tablet. I was organizing notes from the business dinner. Now, I don’t remember a thing about it. I’m almost positive watching Finn take his food apart didn’t bother me as much as normal—because he ordered an appetizer just for me and I was too busy counting to thirty before taking each piece, so others had time to share with me if they wanted. Even though no one did. Man, I ate that entire thing by myself, didn’t I?
Maybe I should have counted to a minute each time. Or…started counting after I swallowed.
“I can have it refurbished to look like Ginger Island by the end of November,” he murmurs, all…sultry…and loose-tied. “We can spend our time planting crops, fishing, cooking…”
“But can you put in a volcano and fill it with monsters for me to attack?”
His gaze drifts, considering. “I’m not certain I want to give you a sword.”
“Wow. A third thing to add to my awful boyfriend essay.”
“Lovely. A Baconian. I look forward to reading it.”
I set my LeoPad down beside me, lace my fingers together, and lean forward. “Finnegan.”
A touch of heat crosses his cheeks. “Yes, dear?”
“What day is it?”
“I’ll have to check with my assistant. All I know is it’s not the weekend, else I’d be playing Stardew with my darling girlfriend and her friends.”
