CHAPTER ONE
I still had hours of work to do, and for a Wednesday night, that made me happy. It meant I had something to keep my mind occupied. It meant Oasis was fully up and running.
It meant I was fully immersed in this job—this life—and that was the most wonderful place to be right now.
And then there was Finn.
Just thinking about him brought a chill of excitement to my whole body. Since we had gotten engaged last week and I’d had my run-in with John, we’d been inseparable. Finn had hardly left my side and I’d hardly minded.
Which made me wonder why he hadn’t been to my office in the last few hours.
I rolled back in my chair, checking the time on my phone. After 6:00.
Frowning, I stood and stretched. It was too quiet in here—even Leslie had gone home already after confirming our plans for this week even though she usually stayed until Finn was finished with his day.
I exited my office and caught sight of Dustin walking into the breakroom. He paused.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“Fine. I didn’t see you come up.”
“Finn asked if I’d come up at six to escort you home.” He pulled a bottle of water from the refrigerator.
“Just me?”
He smiled. “Both of you, I mean.”
“Oh.” Relieved, I nodded. “I’ll check and see if he’s ready.”
Leaving Dustin in the breakroom, I wandered toward Finn’s office, slowing when I heard his voice. I peered inside the partially closed door and spotted Finn pacing in front of the window.
“You should be consulting with Charlotte on this,” he said, voice firm.
At the response on the other end of the phone, he pressed his fingers to his forehead like he was trying to rub away a headache.
“I’ve told you where I stand. No, where we stand. It’ll help both of us to stay professional about this—”
Finn stopped, listening. Then he sighed heavily, his strong shoulders rising and falling with the motion. The weariness on his face, in his stance, made me feel guilty for eavesdropping, and I eased the door open. Finn caught the movement out of the corner of his eye and straightened.
His voice grew terse again. “I’ve got to go.”
He ended the call without another word and slipped his phone into his pocket. He’d shed his jacket and unbuttoned the top few buttons of his work shirt, drawing my gaze to his collar.
But I didn’t move from the door. Something inside twisted, made me suspect his call was about more than he was going to tell me.
“Who was that?” I asked.
He smiled easily. “No one important.”
“The whole truth.”
He released another sigh. “We can’t monitor all of each other’s calls, you know.”
I stared at him, surprised. “That’s not what I’m trying to do. You said my name so it’s clearly got something to do with me.”
Finn strolled in my direction, his eyebrows lifted. “You were listening?”
Defense flickered, and I straightened. “I was coming to get you. Dustin’s here. I can have him bring me back to the apartment since you’re finishing up important business—”
“Don’t do that.” He caught my hand, pulling me inside his office and shutting the door.
“Finn,” I warned. I yanked my hand away and folded my arms. “Tell me the truth.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, then turned to his desk, effectively breaking our connection. “It’s business.”
“You don’t usually look like that when you’re handling business.”
“Like what?”
“Affected. Usually you’re composed. You’re—Finn, look at me.”
He turned, propping his hip on the edge of his desk, unable to hide the flicker of amusement on his face. “Yes, ma’am.”
“This isn’t funny.”
“God, you look hot when you’re chiding me.”
I hated that the deep timbre of his voice made me hot when I was trying to get answers. “Damn it, Finn,” I growled. He was impossible.
Shaking my head, I turned for the door, my hand connecting with the knob. In a flash, he was behind me, hand closing over mine.
I gasped, my breath catching in my throat. “Finn.”
He reached his other hand around and set it flat on my belly, pulling me back against him. His breath found my ear. “Don’t be mad.”
“Don’t be secretive,” I answered in a breathless voice.
His body was like a statue behind me, hard lines and firm muscles. Immovable. But it was warm, and it molded around mine like we were meant to fit together. His cock pressed hard against my lower back, evidence of how turned on he was right now.
When his lips brushed my shoulder, I shivered. And then a thought occurred to me and I tensed. “It was Tracy, wasn’t it?”
A long breath of silence hung between us. And then, “Yes.”
I turned, faced with over six feet of pure man. “You’re an asshole.”
“Is that so?”
Pressing my hands against his chest, I tried to shove him back a step, but he wouldn’t move.
“Finn!”
“Listen to me a minute,” he commanded, gripping my hands in his and backing me to the door.
“Get off!”
“Charlotte, damn it! Cool down, okay? I was going to tell you.”
I squirmed against him when he caught my hands between us, holding me still and blocking me in against the door. “Sure, you were. You were probably going to walk straight into my office after you were done and—”
“No, I was going to tell you after dinner.”
“I not having dinner with you if—”
His hand clamped over my mouth. “That’s enough.”
Was he serious? That’s enough? I sent him a murderous glare.
“I get your point,” Finn said, rolling his eyes. “I wasn’t going to keep Tracy from you. I just didn’t want to start off our evening with a fight, which seems inevitable whenever she comes up.”
Trying to even my breathing, I relaxed in his grip.
Finn noticed the change, and his body relaxed as well. His hand slid away. “I swear I was going to tell you.”
“You make me crazy, you know that?”
His lips curved in an almost smile. “Can’t help that. If it helps, you do the same to me.”
“It doesn’t help. I’m still mad at you. You can’t just force me to stay in here with you. Just because you’re stronger—”
“Ah, Charlotte,” he whispered, touching my cheek and staring into my eyes with such intensity, I couldn’t say a word. “You’ve got my heart in your hands. You could do whatever you wanted with it and I’d be helpless. Who’s stronger now?”
I lifted my chin, and that was the only invitation he needed. His mouth was on mine in an instant. A soft moan slipped out, making Finn’s urgency heighten. He released my hands and pressed his entire body against mine, trapping me against the door in the grip of his passion.
“Finn,” I whispered, panting. “Hold on.”
His fingers flexed possessively on my hips. “That means nothing to me right now. Gibberish.”
I laughed and then closed my eyes when he kissed me again, letting his lips trail down to my jaw, then my shoulder. He smelled like soap and promises, and it wouldn’t take much to lose myself in him right now. But losing myself meant we wouldn’t get home until late, Dustin would have to keep waiting, and we wouldn’t deal with Tracy.
“Stop thinking,” he instructed, gripping my chin and lifting my mouth to his again.
“Finn. Wait.”
“No.”
“Finn. What’s going on with you?”
He released a breath. He propped both of his hands on the door above my shoulders, dropping his chin to gather himself. “It’s…”
I touched his cheek. “What?”
His eyes met mine. “A feeling. You ever get a feeling like…things are about to change? That you need to hold on tight to what you have, what you love, because tomorrow everything might be different?”
I nodded. “Yes. Finn—”
“Don’t worry about it.” He flashed a sly smile. “I can’t help it if you turn me on. Especially after a long day at work, knowing you were waiting for me in there, but there were still things that needed to get done.”
Frowning, I said, “You’re being cryptic. What things?”
He straightened, snatched my hand to kiss my knuckles, and then checked his watch. “It should be ready now.”
“What? Wait, Finn—”
But he was already turning to grab his jacket, his shoulders looking more relaxed.
“You’re not telling me anything,” I said.
“Because I have to show you. Let’s go.”
He opened the door to our apartment, murmuring something to Dustin as I walked inside, my hand over my mouth.
I turned, eyes wide. “You did all this?”
Finn shut the door, grinning. “I had help, obviously, but they needed more time so we stayed at work late.”
Turning around again, I took in the space, everything from the new curtains to the couch and chairs, to the glass cabinets in the kitchen, holding full shelves of dinnerware and wine glasses and everything else we’d need.
The fabrics were plush, soft, neutral without being boring.
“This is…” I spun in the space, my gaze taking everything in. When we’d left for work this morning, we’d still been sleeping on mattresses on the floor and using boxes for tabletops. We’d planned to finish furnishing the place, but not until this weekend, or whenever we could find the time.
Finn leaned against a column just outside the open concept kitchen, a relaxed smile on his face. “I had to steal your magazine,” he said. “The one you keep looking through for decorating ideas. I had a friend take a look and she said it was enough to get a sense of your style.”
“And she did all this?” I asked.
“She had help, but yes. If there’s anything you don’t like, we can change—”
I walked straight to him, cutting off his words with a kiss. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I tangled my fingers in his hair and ran my tongue along his lips. “We’re not changing anything,” I whispered. “It’s perfect.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it. It’s our home and we’re here together. It’s…” I swallowed a sudden flutter of emotion but my voice still broke when I spoke again. “It’s perfect.”
“Charlotte.” He brushed his thumb on my cheekbone. “Are you crying?”
“No. No,” I said more firmly, easing from his grip. “I’m happy. I didn’t think—”
I broke off, wandering to the romantic dining area, lit by the low glow of an ornate hanging light. Places were already set for dinner, wine glasses paired with slate gray plates and bowls. “Can we eat here tonight?”
“That’s the other thing,” he said, pushing away from the column and heading toward the kitchen.
“There’s more?” I asked. “I’m pretty sure my heart can’t handle it.”
He grinned. “Then we’d better get the big thing out of the way first.”
“What big thing? Dinner?”
“Tammy left something heating in the oven.”
“Tammy’s back?” She’d been out of town all last week visiting her family.
He nodded and gestured to the table. “Will you grab those wine glasses from the table for me?”
I walked over, taking off my shoes on the way and padding back barefoot.
“She doesn’t have to stay if you don’t want her to,” Finn said, stepping into the pantry.
“Tammy?”
He emerged with a bottle of red. “Yes. She’s been with me for a few years, but I understand if that’s something you want to change since it’s our place together now.”
“Does she come every day?”
“Every weekday. Just while I’m at work. To clean, cook, run some errands. She could make a trip to the dry cleaner for you—”
“Oh, she doesn’t have to do that.”
He stopped opening the bottle of wine to smile at me. “It’s not like I don’t pay her, Charlotte.”
I laughed nervously. “You’re right. Sorry, I’m just not used to this. And of course she should stay, if you want.”
“Then she should stay, but only as long as you’re okay with it. I want you to be comfortable here. I want…” He went back to opening the wine. “I want a lot of things for you, but I know it’ll take time for us to work through them all.”
My mind whirled with the unknown. I had no idea what he was talking about, but it was our future. Our life together. Holidays and family and kids even, which I still couldn’t wrap my mind around.
“You look nervous.”
“I am.”
He walked around the counter. “Are you hungry?”
“Too nervous.”
His kiss connected with my cheek. “Then let’s take care of that.”
“Finn.”
He grinned. “That’s not what I meant, but we’ll save that for later.”
My cheeks reddened. “That’s not what I was going to say.”
His fingers kneaded the back of my neck, tangling in my hair. “Should we sit?”
“No. You’re not telling me something and now I’m getting even more nervous.”
“Don’t.” He reached abruptly into his jacket pocket. “Now, remember you already said yes.”
“What?”
He opened the small box to expose an engagement ring.
“Finn…what’s this?”
“I think the word you’re looking for is yes.”
“No—I mean, not no. This is a different ring—it’s not—”
It wasn’t the one he’d given me last week at the cabin. It looked simpler but older. More traditional. Beautiful. The one he’d originally given me had been taken by John, and I had no idea where it was now.
“It was my mother’s,” he explained, pulling it out of the box. “And the one I wanted to give you originally, but I didn’t have enough time. And I wanted to talk with Jake first since…older brother and all.”
I wondered if Jake minded. Wondered if it was something he wanted to give to the woman he might marry someday.
“He wanted you to have it,” Finn said. “I already talked with him. And Mom, too. They both think it’s perfect for you.”
“For us,” I murmured. “What about the other one?”
He shrugged off the question. “I said I’d deal with it. It’s taken care of. So, stop keeping me suspense.”
I laughed, nervous and giddy. “Yes. Again.”
He smiled, kissing me before he slid the ring onto my finger. “Now, that is what it’s supposed to look like. The other one was just temporary.”
The ring sparkled just slightly and fit perfectly. “It’s beautiful.”
“So are you. Wine?”
Laughing again, I said, “You just want to lavish me with gifts and get me drunk.”
His eyes smoldered. “I want a lot more from you right now but I’m willing to let you eat first.”
I shivered, the heat in his voice enough to make me forget dinner, the wine—even Tracy.
“I really think I should thank you properly first,” I told him as he returned to the kitchen.
He glanced over his shoulder, angling his head. “Oh yeah?”
I reached for the top button of my blouse and undid it. His eyes followed my movements, hungry and focused, which just turned me on even more.
I continued with the buttons until my shirt came loose. “Enjoying the show?”
“Is viewer participation encouraged?”
Grinning, I slid down the zipper on my skirt and stepped out of it. “Only after I’m completely naked.”
He walked around the counter to see me fully, his eyes roaming the length of my legs, the swell of my breasts, and appreciating every other inch of me. “This is one of the best thank yous I’ve gotten in a long time.”
“And I’m not even finished yet.”
When I undid the latch on my bra, he took another step closer. “Charlotte,” he breathed.
“Almost there,” I murmured.
I let my bra drop to the floor. Finn’s eyes didn’t waver. They locked on mine with so much heat, I almost melted to the floor.
“Hurry,” he said.
I bent to pull off my panties, joining them with my discarded bra. I held out my hand, letting the diamonds of the ring sparkle. “Does it turn you on that I’m wearing nothing but the ring?”
With a growl, he pounced, snatching me in his arms, mouth hot on my neck. “You haven’t stopped turning me on since you walked into my office tonight.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Then do something about it.”
“I am,” he murmured, lowering his mouth to mine and making good on his promise.