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 carried that new sense of admiration with me on the drive back. Without the ducks, we were able to go faster, and our conversation flowed smoothly. By some unspoken agreement, we skirted the deep topics and discussed the rice farm and other farms that Finn had bartering relationships with. We had moved onto talking about the book I’d given Finn when we arrived at his farm.
“Now for the tricky part.” His grin was wide and boyish, and I wanted to bottle him up, savor him like the rarest of wines.
“Tricky? Like you need me to help with the animals?”
“Ha. No, we’re not putting you to work. And I traded off evening chores with Rachel, who’s supervising the interns today, but if someone spots me and has a question, that could push back our dinner. And other fun.”
I frowned. “I’m not a little kid. If you’re needed, I understand. I’ve got an entire library on my phone. It’s not like I’m going to get bored.”
“Good.” Finn smiled as he parked back by the animal barn. “But the thing is, you make me feel like a teenager again. Like I’m dying to get you alone, even if that means some jobs have to wait for tomorrow.”
I liked the sound of that a lot more. God knew I was plenty eager too. Felt like we’d been waiting years, not a couple of weeks.
“Wasn’t that you telling me to live a little?” Keeping my voice light, I reached for the door handle. “The work will still be there later.”
“True that.” Finn followed me out of the truck then gestured at the house. “Okay, let’s make a run for it. Follow me.”
He led me on a merry race past the barns, past the greenhouses and sheds, to the other side of the farmhouse, and finally to a little, brown chalet—a tiny cabin with a steep roof and gingerbread trim.
“Now that was fun.” I laughed as I joined him in peeling off our boots on the narrow porch. “You’re right. You make me feel decades younger.”
“Yeah, because you’re so ancient.” Rolling his eyes at me, Finn tucked our boots under a bench. “Anyway, this is my place.” He opened the door and ushered me inside.
The interior was brighter than I’d expected, with white walls and light-colored wood details. A small couch and chair sat in front of a wood stove, and there was a dining nook and what looked to be a galley kitchen in the rear. “It’s nice. Bigger than it looks from the outside.”
“I’ve heard that before.” Finn winked at me.
“I’d tell you to behave, but I doubt it would work.”
“Nope.” Finn approached while I was still studying the space, catching me in a tight hug from behind. Unexpected, but hardly unwelcome, so I relaxed into his embrace.
“Whatever you’re cooking smells good too.” My voice came out all breathy, his nearness both too much and not nearly enough. He was warm, and the cotton of his shirt was soft where it dragged against my arms. The space smelled homey, his woodsy scent mingling with spices and tomato.
“Yeah? It’s a lentil and rice casserole, a slow-cooker recipe I picked from a food memoir I read a while back.” Finn hugged me closer. And he cooks, I could practically hear my mother crowing, and for once, I agreed with her. “I gotta admit, it’s kind of nice having a reason to cook here rather than bumming food off Mom and Rachel by default.”
“I appreciate you making the effort.” There was something inherently comforting about being cooked for, a level of caring most hookups never reached, and it made me more confused than ever about what exactly we were doing here. “We could have just gone out.”
“No, we couldn’t have.” Finn laughed, his breath warm against my ear. He wasn’t that much taller than me, but he was far broader, and all that bulk against my back was so delicious that I had to work to not stretch like a cat.
“No?”
“We keep getting interrupted. I figure if I’m already here, we might have better luck than if someone blows up my phone while I’m in Burlington. At least that’s my hope.”
“I share that hope.” I tipped my head back, wishing Finn would take a hint.
And he did, dragging his lips along the shell of my ear and then coasting down my neck. “Good.”
Holding me close, he nibbled at my neck until I was shuddering from the onslaught.
“No fair,” I groaned as I spun in his arms, pulling him down for the real kiss that I was dying for.
I kissed him like he was a glass of ice water after hours spent parched. Maybe years. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d needed a kiss this much. And as he had the first few times, Finn took over, exactly how I was craving, claiming my mouth with his lips and tongue and teeth. My grip on his shoulders tightened as I moved restlessly against him, perilously close to climbing him like a tree.