Skin (McCullough Mountain 2) by Lydia Michaels

Erin—”
    “Since we broke up you just figured you’d
fix me up with the next best thing?”
    “I don’t want you to go back to her, Finn.
She doesn’t appreciate the good catch you are.”
    His brow arched. “You think I’m a good
catch?”
    Duh. “You’re a great catch.”
    “And this Kelly is good enough for me, but
Erin’s not?”
    She cleared her throat and wiped her mouth
on her napkin. “Kelsey,” she corrected. “And yes, I think she’d be
more your type than Erin.”
    “And what’s my type?”
    She shrugged. “I don’t know. She’s
nice.”
    “There are lots of nice girls in Center
County. What makes this one right for me?”
    “She’s pretty.”
    “Lots of pretty girls too. I want to know
what—specifically—made you see this girl and think, oh, she’d be
perfect for Finn.”
    She frowned. “I don’t know. Forget I said
anything.”
    “I don’t want to forget about it. I’m
curious. Is it because I’m a charity case?”
    “No! Of course not! I just thought you might
want to take her out.”
    “I don’t.” He eased back in his chair and
crossed his arms.
    “You haven’t even met her. How do you
know?”
    “Because I already have my eye on someone
else.”
    Her nose crinkled. “Who?”
    “Don’t worry about it.”
    Her mouth opened and closed. “Okay.
Fine.”
    She stood and collected their plates. At the
sink she turned on the faucet and began scrubbing the remnants of
dinner down the drain. She jumped when Finn stepped behind her.
Close. Very close.
    “You forgot my fork,” he said, voice husky
as he leaned around her shoulder and dropped it in the sink.
    Her body tightened and her eyes widened as
she stared at the water rushing over her soapy hands frozen in
place. Her breath quickened as he seemed to lean into her a moment
longer than necessary.
    When he pulled back, she let out a breath
and needed a moment to find her bearings. She was overreacting. She
was totally overreacting. All he did was bring her a utensil and
her whole body was on fire.
    Maybe she needed to masturbate. That was it.
She just needed sex. It had been a long, long time since she’d had
any action and she was being overly sensitive. He probably didn’t
even realize she’d had that reaction.
    You’re pathetic.
    After the dishes were done she sat on the
couch and watched the news with Finn. He wasn’t sitting on the side
like he usually did. He was hogging the middle and she remained
stiff so as not to inadvertently touch him.
    When the news was over she stood.
    “Where you going?”
    “I have to get my clothes ready for
tomorrow.”
    “You spend an abnormal amount of time
thinking of things to wear.” He lounged over the other two
cushions, making himself at home.
    She really wanted to see if she had
batteries, but she couldn’t tell him that. “I’ll just be a
minute.”
    A minute turned into twenty. She was
debating over a pair of shoes when Finn walked into her room. She
jumped as he approached her.
    “Minute’s up,” he said and she blinked up at
him. He was acting strange.
    “Sorry. Which shoes do you like better?”
    He stepped close and removed the shoes from
her hands, glancing briefly at each one. “The gray ones.” He tossed
both shoes on the floor.
    “Wh—what are you doing?”
    “You’re making me crazy, Philly.”
    She shook her head. “What…what do you
mean?”
    “Stop talking.” His head lowered and his
mouth found hers.
    She jerked back, her fingers trembling over
her lips . “What are you doing?”
    “I’m trying to kiss you?”
    Oh my God he’s horny and Erin isn’t
around. She stepped back. “Don’t.”
    He frowned. “Why not?”
    “Because I’m not Erin.”
    His head drew back. “Oh, I’m quite aware
you’re not Erin.”
    Yes, it wasn’t likely he’d confuse the two
of them. That would be like mixing up a penguin with a water
buffalo. Suddenly something deep in her chest began to ache. She
stepped back again and her knees met the bed. He