head.
“No. I Want to.”
She smiles for me.
I like Finn’s smile.
I’m not stupid; I know on some other level, I’m avoiding my mother’s house, but since the cost of that avoidance is to spend more time with the one woman who keeps things refreshing around here, I’m okay with that.
I tell her I need to get my jacket first and she taunts me.
“It’s only fifty-five degrees out, Mr. Stone.”
I grin because she’s got a point. Although I’m not blind to the fact that living in Florida has thinned my blood out over the years, but I’m still getting that jacket.
When I make it back downstairs, she’s leaning against the hood of the car, watching birds hover over the trees in the distance. I notice her outfit for the first time today.
The shorts she’s wearing are a direct contradiction to her hiking boots in my opinion, but I’m getting used to her odd choices in clothing. It’s the shirt that worries me. The baby blue tank top has barely enough material to be counted as swim wear and I’m certain I won’t be able to keep my eyes from wandering to the woman’s cleavage today. She does have a sweater on. I think it’s just a formality though.
I’m not complaining. She’s perfectly Finn. I wouldn’t ask her to change a single thing at this point.
When she catches me staring at her I overcompensate, jerking my eyes away from her as I head for the car.
“Let’s go,” I call out as I barrel toward the driver’s side door. She picks a bag up off of the hood and hikes it over her shoulder, smiling.
As we drive away from the Camilla Rose, I don’t ask Finn how she got there today or where we’re going. I’m simply glad I’m not all tied up in knots anymore, so I just drive and try to make some small talk.
“What’s in the bag?” I ask her.
“Camera.”
“Oh yeah? Are we taking photos today?”
She shrugs. “Maybe.”
That’s all she says for another ten to fifteen minutes. I don’t make any more attempts to chitchat. I’m tired anyway. And chitchat is overrated.
“You can park anywhere downtown, we can get to where we’re going on foot from there,” she says as we enter Salem.
Walk . I immediately begin to do a quick rundown of all the places I think she might take me as I find a city parking lot that isn’t full yet.
Once I find a spot, I turn the car off and catch a glimpse of Finn as I open the door. She pulls her hair back and ties it into a knot behind her, showing off more skin along her neckline.
She’s sexy as hell. I don’t think I’ll last the whole trip without wanting to touch some part of her if she’s going to keep exposing the majority of her body to me.
“I bet you think you wanna see Gallows Hill,” she says once we’re outside. I think to myself, what a typical tourist place to start. It doesn’t seem like Finn, but I go along with it.
“Why wouldn’t I?” I laugh and it must come off more sarcastic than I intended because Finn gets defensive with me when I say it.
“Look, if you don’t wanna see it—”
“No it’s fine, Finn I was just having a moment. No coffee yet.” I smile, trying to make up for my attitude and she rolls her eyes.
“Well if that’s the problem, let’s get you some.”
She takes me to a street vendor she seems to know and it’s got to be the best damn coffee I’ve had in ages. Maybe even longer. As an added bonus, there’s food. Good breakfast type comfort food. I make a note of where he’s selling and tell myself to be sure and come back sometime during this trip.
Finn waits patiently while I guzzle down the coffee and swallow my food whole. When I toss the wrappers into the trash, she asks if I’m ready and I give her a resounding, “Yep.”
I’m already walking toward where I know Gallows Hill is located when I realize Finn is no longer beside me.
I look back at her. She’s got her head tilted and is staring at me with what appears to be confusion. It takes me a minute but then I realize, I’m
“No. I Want to.”
She smiles for me.
I like Finn’s smile.
I’m not stupid; I know on some other level, I’m avoiding my mother’s house, but since the cost of that avoidance is to spend more time with the one woman who keeps things refreshing around here, I’m okay with that.
I tell her I need to get my jacket first and she taunts me.
“It’s only fifty-five degrees out, Mr. Stone.”
I grin because she’s got a point. Although I’m not blind to the fact that living in Florida has thinned my blood out over the years, but I’m still getting that jacket.
When I make it back downstairs, she’s leaning against the hood of the car, watching birds hover over the trees in the distance. I notice her outfit for the first time today.
The shorts she’s wearing are a direct contradiction to her hiking boots in my opinion, but I’m getting used to her odd choices in clothing. It’s the shirt that worries me. The baby blue tank top has barely enough material to be counted as swim wear and I’m certain I won’t be able to keep my eyes from wandering to the woman’s cleavage today. She does have a sweater on. I think it’s just a formality though.
I’m not complaining. She’s perfectly Finn. I wouldn’t ask her to change a single thing at this point.
When she catches me staring at her I overcompensate, jerking my eyes away from her as I head for the car.
“Let’s go,” I call out as I barrel toward the driver’s side door. She picks a bag up off of the hood and hikes it over her shoulder, smiling.
As we drive away from the Camilla Rose, I don’t ask Finn how she got there today or where we’re going. I’m simply glad I’m not all tied up in knots anymore, so I just drive and try to make some small talk.
“What’s in the bag?” I ask her.
“Camera.”
“Oh yeah? Are we taking photos today?”
She shrugs. “Maybe.”
That’s all she says for another ten to fifteen minutes. I don’t make any more attempts to chitchat. I’m tired anyway. And chitchat is overrated.
“You can park anywhere downtown, we can get to where we’re going on foot from there,” she says as we enter Salem.
Walk . I immediately begin to do a quick rundown of all the places I think she might take me as I find a city parking lot that isn’t full yet.
Once I find a spot, I turn the car off and catch a glimpse of Finn as I open the door. She pulls her hair back and ties it into a knot behind her, showing off more skin along her neckline.
She’s sexy as hell. I don’t think I’ll last the whole trip without wanting to touch some part of her if she’s going to keep exposing the majority of her body to me.
“I bet you think you wanna see Gallows Hill,” she says once we’re outside. I think to myself, what a typical tourist place to start. It doesn’t seem like Finn, but I go along with it.
“Why wouldn’t I?” I laugh and it must come off more sarcastic than I intended because Finn gets defensive with me when I say it.
“Look, if you don’t wanna see it—”
“No it’s fine, Finn I was just having a moment. No coffee yet.” I smile, trying to make up for my attitude and she rolls her eyes.
“Well if that’s the problem, let’s get you some.”
She takes me to a street vendor she seems to know and it’s got to be the best damn coffee I’ve had in ages. Maybe even longer. As an added bonus, there’s food. Good breakfast type comfort food. I make a note of where he’s selling and tell myself to be sure and come back sometime during this trip.
Finn waits patiently while I guzzle down the coffee and swallow my food whole. When I toss the wrappers into the trash, she asks if I’m ready and I give her a resounding, “Yep.”
I’m already walking toward where I know Gallows Hill is located when I realize Finn is no longer beside me.
I look back at her. She’s got her head tilted and is staring at me with what appears to be confusion. It takes me a minute but then I realize, I’m
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