My feet sank into the lush carpet as I padded to the door to head downstairs to him. We had reservations in an hour, and feeling off-balance, I’d been hiding out up here ever since I’d finished getting ready twenty minutes ago.
He liked me and I liked him. As junior high as that thought sounded, it also led me to wonder what we each wanted from this time together. I hadn’t thought out all the ins and outs when I’d agreed to the marriage of convenience yesterday. Admittedly, that was dumb, especially for someone who always overthought any situation. And here I was doing that now…after the horse had left the pasture. After we’d said I do and I was stuck. Not that I felt stuck. I was just confused. About everything.
And I knew if I wasn’t careful, I’d end up in bed with him sooner rather than later—it really did seem like an eventuality now that we’d confessed that we both had feelings and he planned to date me. I’d fall in love. I’d fall more in love. I had to admit, that emotion was already there. Maybe I hadn’t reached happily ever after feelings yet, but God help me when I did.
“Class,” Finn murmured as I got to the landing. He stood in the middle of the living room as if he’d risen to wait when he’d heard me coming. I took in his suit, the same one he’d worn for our wedding. He’d changed out of it earlier when we’d moved my things.
“You look pretty class yourself.” I grinned as I stole his word.
What if this did work out, I suddenly considered. What if we could stay together?
Closing the space between us, he slid an arm around my waist and pulled me in. His other hand cupped my face, and he brushed his lips over mine. A tremble worked through me. This man, my boss, who I’d secretly longed for since I’d started working for him, wanted me. And he was holding me. He looked down at me as if I were everything he’d always wanted.
He mesmerized me. I reached up and ran my hand over the short scruff he wore. “Ready to go?”
“Aye.”
His fingers laced with mine and we headed for the door, my heels clicking on the wood floor leading to the front door. We’d almost made it there when Finn’s phone rang. A quiet annoyed sounds growled in his throat, but he made no move to answer.
“That’s your work ringtone,” I said.
“Aye. Bugger it.”
Turning, I placed my hand on his arm. “You should probably answer it.”
I knew how management was, and if they were calling him after hours on his day off then it must be important. Or they thought so anyway.
Finn yanked out the cell. “Aye? Ah, yes?”
He let go of my hand, his head bending forward as he listened. I took a couple steps away. I heard the voice on the other end, but couldn’t make out what they were saying. It wasn’t good if Finn’s stiffening stance was any indication.
“It can’t be scheduled for next week? My wife and I are—” He closed his eyes and tilted his face toward the ceiling as he was interrupted. “Yes, my wife. We’re about to travel to her family home.”
I couldn’t hear the words, but I had a feeling that we wouldn’t be going tomorrow. I would be. He was being sent somewhere else. Walking up behind him, I placed my palm on his back and rested my forehead next to it to let him know I was here for him. My other arm slid around him, and I reveled in the freedom to do this. Finn flattened his hand over mine where it rested on his belly. His fingers linked with mine, uniting us.
“Aye, I understand,” he finally said. He clicked off the phone. “Fook!”
I squeezed his fingers, feeling him practically vibrate with tension. “It’s alright.”
“It’s the first things I’m doing as your husband, and then this.” He shook his phone.
I took it from his hand and set it on the side table. “I understand. It’s the job.”
“The meeting starts in the morning in California. I have to leave on the red eye to get there in time.”
“No date?”
“I’m sorry, love.”
“It’s alright. If anyone understands how your job works, I do. Is there anything I can do to help you get ready?”
“Naw.” He turned and cupped my face. “I will do my best to be at your family’s home in time for Thanksgiving dinner.”
“If you can’t—”
“I will be there.”
His face was so earnest, I couldn’t do anything but believe him. “I’m going to change then maybe we can order pizza.”
“Aye, I’ll pack up my bag whilst ya do that. I’m sorry, love.”
I lifted my face to his. “Just kiss me. We’ll call this our first marital hurdle. Worse things have happened. My family doesn’t even know you’re coming. If your business lets you, then it’s a bonus and I’ll happily show off my hot husband.”
“Ya think your husband is hot?”
“Have you looked in the mirror or listened to yourself speak?”
“Hmm,” he hummed, and his head bent toward me. My lips parted for him as our kiss deepened quickly. Finn’s arms tightened around me and I melted into him. Thrills sizzled through me, and my core didn’t clench, going soft and wet. I knew right then, staying out of his bed wouldn’t last long. Maybe it wouldn’t be tonight, but it would be soon.
Chapter Five
~ Gia ~
My mind wandered as I helped my mother, aunts and cousins with cooking. I couldn’t keep the small smile off my face while I thought about the night before we’d both traveled. We’d both changed into pajamas, eaten our delivery pizza and “watched a movie.” Though I couldn’t say what we’d watched.
Once we’d had dinner, we’d made out on the couch, keeping our clothes on, but kissing and touching until I’d ended up on my back with him between my legs. We’d moved together until I’d cried out and he’d groaned into my neck. Afterward, we’d held each other, still kissing until we’d both drifted off. I’d woken to Finn carrying me upstairs. I didn’t even question it when I felt him climb in bed with me.
Finn had held me all night, until he’d kissed me in the wee hours and left on his trip. Since then, his west coast and my east coast time hadn’t meshed. We’d texted, but it had limits.
My hand flattened over the rings in my pocket. I wanted them on me, but I didn’t have them on my finger so I didn’t have to explain the man who’d be deemed my fictional husband if he couldn’t arrive.
My mom bumped my shoulder. “What’s up with you?”
“Nothing.”
“You keep smiling. I know you don’t like peeling potatoes that much.”
“Gia,” my sister yelled from the hallway. “There’s some guy at the door who says he’s your husband!”
I jumped. “Oh!”
“Husband!” My mother’s yell didn’t slow me as I skidded toward the front of the house, shoving my rings on my finger. Finally. And there he was in jeans and a black Henley with the sleeves pushed up his sexy forearms. God, Finn looked like every red-blooded woman’s wet dream. And he was mine.
I jumped right into his arms and wrapped my arms around his neck while we kissed. Finn held me up with his hands under my thighs. Our mouths moved together, neither of us giving a care about anything else until a throat cleared very loudly. We parted slightly but I didn’t let him go. “You made it,” I whispered.