A New Leaf (Hemlock #1)

Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

Charlie

Halloween is the worst holiday of the year. Small children running around with their sugar-induced energy, wearing obnoxious costumes, and wreaking havoc everywhere they go. It’s pure nightmare material. And don’t get me started on those creepy, prepubescent teenagers wearing freaky masks, wielding faux weapons, and manically laughing as they terrorize people—hard pass.

Even though I hate Halloween, when Finn invited me over to his place, he radiated such optimism and hope that I couldn’t say no. I like the gentle giant so much that I’m willing to be with him on the worst day of the year, even if it means being terrified of every trick-or-treater that comes to the door.

Does he look like he could protect me from the little sugar-high hellions in costumes? Yes.

Does he look like he could protect me from the scary teens with fake knives? Absolutely not.

Finn may be tall and lithe, but some of those teens have at least fifty pounds on him. Then again, maybe there’s some muscle hiding under all those sweater vests.

Either way, I accepted his invite. And now I need a costume. Ugh.

My parents loved Halloween and would dress up every year. They would even dress up Vera as an aloe vera plant.

Cringy and cliché . . . and cute.

Because our town is so small, we close early for holidays, meaning I closed the shop about an hour ago and called Marnie to help me with my costume emergency. We’re currently going through my closet and trying to figure out what in the world I should wear.

I’ve ended up in my own personal hell.

Marnie’s currently lying on my bed with a snoring Vera. Meanwhile, I’m frantically rummaging through my closet. Clothes are strewn everywhere as I search for something that could be considered a costume.

“Do you have anything slutty?” Marnie asks with a mouth full of candy, piling the empty candy wrappers neatly on the corner of my bed.

“When have I ever been slutty?” I poke my head out of the closet, blowing a loose strand of hair out of my face.

“True. You do kind of dress like a grandma,” she replies with her mouth still full.

“I’m ignoring that.”

“But you’re a cute grandma!”

I head back into the closet and yell, “That doesn’t help!”

A pair of navy blue coveralls catches my eye. How I acquired these, I’ll never know. I think maybe it was that time I drank too much tequila and thought it was a great idea to shop online for things I definitely didn’t need.

I pull them off the hanger. “I have an idea!”

Marnie laughs, and I hear her mutter, “Oh, I can’t wait to see this.”

After consuming too much candy, talking about books, and relaxing on the couch, I decided that it’s time to get ready for the evening. Looking in the mirror, my eyes roam over my reflection. I have my hair up, with a red bandana tied around my head, and the sleeves of my blue coveralls are rolled up. The coveralls are unbuttoned just enough to give the slightest hint of cleavage. Not enough to be indecent, but also enough to say, “ Hey, I can be kind of hot! Look at my boobs! ”

When I finally emerge from the bathroom, Marnie yells, “FUCK YES. You make a HOT Rosie the Riveter! I bet Finn’s a history guy. This is totally his wet dream.” Wiggling her eyebrows, Marnie gives me another slow look from top to bottom, really taking in my costume, and nods with approval. “Oh yeah, he’s definitely going to want to peel that off of you with his teeth. Amazing job. You’re doing the Lord’s work for all the history nerds out there.” She gives me an exaggerated salute.

How fitting.

“It’s amazing how I still keep you around,” I remark on an exhale.

“I know, right? Every day, I wonder if you’ll ever get rid of me.” She shrugs. “You can’t get rid of me though. I’m such a delight.”

“And humble,” I mutter.

“Duh.” She winks.

I have to leave for Finn’s in about fifteen minutes, but he lives in the next neighborhood over, so it’s a quick walk. It’s still light enough outside that we can make it to his place without too many pint-sized monsters scaring me half to death.

Before Marnie leaves, she crouches down to Vera and holds her face. “Be good for your sister, okay? And make sure she uses protection?—”

I prop one hand on my hip and cock my head. “Is this a joke?” My tone is flat while Marnie snickers at my displeased face.

She covers Vera’s ears, afraid her words will corrupt the poor dog.

“Two years without sex is two years too long. He’s cute. You’re hot. You’ve got great tits. Go for it. Climb that tall man like you’re a koala and he’s your favorite tree.”

“You’ve overstayed your welcome. You can leave now.” My voice is rushed as I motion for her to come to the front door.

“Fine, fine. I love you!” She walks out the door, heading to her car.

“I tolerate you!” I holler back, my way of saying I love her.

“Keep me updated, Rosie! I need to know if his flag is at full staff!” Marnie cackles as she gets into the driver’s seat.

I whisper-shout to her, “Shut the fuck up! People can hear you!” I slam the front door shut, pretending she didn’t just yell that out loud and hoping my neighbors didn’t hear any of that.

Christ. That woman needs a muzzle or something.

After that joke, my cheeks are flaming hot.

If I can’t handle a penis joke, how am I going to handle the real thing?

Maybe two years is two years too long.

Vera and I stroll over to Finn’s place as the sun sets. The dark, moody, gray sky is the perfect backdrop for Halloween. A soft gust of wind blows a few leaves across the pavement, causing Vera to chase after them as we approach Finn’s bungalow. His home is lightly decorated outside, with a skeleton holding a pumpkin and strands of orange fairy lights weaving around the stone pillars that frame his front door.

Taking a deep breath, Vera and I make our way up to his door. My hand goes to knock, but the door opens forcefully. Jolting back, my throat makes an embarrassing, squeaky yelp of surprise.

Worst. Holiday. Ever.

My hand flies to my chest as I close my eyes, trying to catch my breath. “You scared the shit out of me! Were you watching out your window for us?”

His deep voice surrounds me like the cool autumn breeze. “S-sorry. Frank and I are excited for company. No one’s been here since we moved in.” He pauses, and a deep chuckle emanates from his chest. “You can open your eyes, you know. There will be no more jump scares.”

With my eyes sealed shut and hand clutching my chest, any hope of me playing “the unbothered girl” has gone right out the window.

I’ve never been an “unbothered” girl. I’ve always been very much “bothered.”

Unclenching my hand from my chest, my eyes flutter open and connect with Finn’s. He cracks an infectious wide smile, with dimples on full display. My stomach flutters as I stand nervously before him.

Finn’s eyes roam over my body, taking in my Rosie the Riveter costume. He slowly nods as he bites his lip and quietly mutters, “ Nice” under his breath.

Looking at him, the steady beat of my heart begins rapidly picking up its pace.

Mirroring his actions, I take in his entire costume, giving it a slow perusing from shoes to hair. Embarrassingly, my brain decides to start thinking about what's under his costume.

How the weight of his body would feel on top of me.

What his warm lips on my soft skin would feel like.

Whether he’s gentle or dominant between the sheets.

Fucking Marnie. I blame her and that flag pole innuendo.

Standing on the porch, I’m on the precipice of being overwhelmed by these thoughts about Finn that are swirling around in my brain. I start feeling lightheaded, my skin is on fire, and my lungs are devoid of oxygen.

His smile drops, looking concerned. “Are you okay? You look a little flushed. Do you need some water? Here, come in.” Finn waves for me to enter, which most definitely doesn’t help my flustered state. Firmly placing his hand on my lower back, I can feel his assuring touch burning through my clothes as he ushers me over to sit on the couch.

“Don’t move, I’m getting you water,” he says, making his way to the kitchen. I hear Finn’s sharp whistle for Frank, calling out to the pup. “Frank, go sit by Charlie and keep an eye on her.” He pauses, realizing his mistake. His voice drops low as he says to his dog, “Sorry, bud, it’s a figure of speech. Just keep a nose on her, okay?”

Watching Finn apologize to his dog, not wanting to offend him with his words, causes my smile to break free. Frank prances over to me and lies down on top of my feet. Practically anchoring my legs to the ground with his heavy weight. Looking around, I realize my dog is not beside me, making Frank a more loyal companion than Vera. I lean over the side of the couch to get a better view of the kitchen and notice Vera is in there with Finn, following his every move. She’s watching him with such intensity that you’d think he was performing magic. Faint murmurs come from where Finn’s standing, and I’m wondering who he’s talking to when I realize it’s Vera.

He’s talking to Vera, and her big, blonde tail swishes with glee.

My mom always said that people who talk to their dogs as if they’re human are trustworthy people, and I’d have to agree with that. I look down at Frank and smile, thinking about how lucky he is to have a good owner.

“What’re you smiling about over there?” Finn approaches me on the couch, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

My head perks up. “Oh. Nothing. Just thought of something my mom once told me.”

He settles beside me, our knees brushing up against one another. “Oh yeah? What did she say?”

“People who talk to their dogs like they’re humans are trustworthy.”

“That’s a very wise woman.” Finn hands me the glass of water. “Did you eat today? I brought you something in case you didn’t,” he says, placing the granola bar in my other hand.

I look around his living room, which opens up to the kitchen. The lights are dimmed, and soft music fills the home. My eyes catch on a few familiar potted plants scattered around his space, which makes me smile. It’s cozy, warm, and intimate.

Feeling more relaxed, my tense shoulders finally drop as I settle into his plush couch. A sense of calm washes over me when I take in the dogs at my feet and Finn beside me with a concerned gaze as if he’s afraid I’ll break.

With a bit of courage, I shift my body toward his until our knees touch. Though I feel the warmth of his body against mine, I don’t pull away.

“Thank you for all this. Sorry, I don’t know what happened at the front door. It’s either exhaustion, dehydration, or starvation—could be all three.” I shrug.

Finn also seems more relaxed when a gentle smile tugs at his lips as he casually drapes his arm behind me on the couch. “Lucky for you, I have food if you’re hungry, drinks if you’re thirsty, and a guest bedroom if you need rest. Tell me what you need and what I can do to help.”

Finn’s voice is calm and reassuring. Similar to the feeling of being wrapped up in a blanket after a bad day. He’s the ultimate gentleman. I need to call his mom to thank her for raising him right.

Finally, I’m taking a good look at Finn’s costume, and I’m having a tough time figuring out what he is. He’s dressed in a brown robe with a hood, paired with a long tan shirt, tan pants, and a brown belt wrapped around his waist.

Taking a sip of water, I eye him suspiciously. “What exactly are you supposed to be? That old guy from the Lord of the Rings?”

Finn’s eyes widen in shock. The look on his face is an interesting battle between being offended and disappointed.

“First, that’s Gandalf. Second, I’m a Jedi, Charlotte . How could you not know that?”

I nearly choke and spit my water back into my glass, trying not to laugh. “Is that some geeky Star Trek thing?”

Now, he gets up and paces around the living room. I’m trying to hold in my laughter. Finn is an endearing, full-blown geek. Much to my surprise, this makes me like him even more.

He stops pacing and clears his throat. “It’s Star Wars , not Star Trek ,” he says, placing his large hands on his narrow hips. Finn’s stare is so intense that a laugh threatens to escape me.

“Cool,” I remark, innocently shrugging my shoulders.

“Cool? Just ‘cool,’ Charlie?” Exasperation lacing his voice.

Watching him get all worked up about this is only adding to my amusement. I continue to flaunt my na?vety to see how close to the edge I can push him.

“Do you go to those little nerd gatherings?” I set my glass on the table and lower my hand to give Frank a head scratch. He makes a little whimper of approval, probably because his dad is losing his shit right now and not paying any attention to him.

“Conventions?”

I give him an innocent smile. “Oh, there’s a formal name for the gathering? How cute.”

“What are you doing tomorrow?” His hands are still settled on his hips, as his eyes narrow and cheeks flush from either embarrassment or frustration.

“Well, I have work, obviously, followed by my afternoon cry session, and then I plan to head home. Why do you ask?”

Slowly, Finn walks over and sits on the coffee table directly in front of me. His legs cage mine as he places both of his hands on either side of the couch cushion I’m sitting on. Finn is very much crowding my personal space. If this were anyone else, I’d probably punch them. But because it’s Finn, I find myself practically leaning in closer to him. We’re so close that I can smell his clean aftershave.

“We’re having a movie date tomorrow.” He leans in even closer. “You’re getting a lesson in the finer points of the Star Wars saga.” Finn’s mouth is so close to mine that I can almost taste his mint toothpaste when he speaks.

“What if I don’t want a lesson?” I murmur. The energy between us has shifted, now charged with attraction and desire.

Finn inhales as he grasps a strand of my dark hair between his two fingers. My silky hair is twirling around and around those long, deft fingers of his. His eyes are transfixed on my strands of hair while my eyes are transfixed on him.

My chest feels like it’s about to implode with how close we’re sitting—our breaths mingling mere inches apart.

Finn’s gaze snaps to mine. Eyes so dark, they look navy blue, bore directly into mine.

“Charlie, rest assured, you’ll want this lesson. I can almost guarantee it.”

He lets out a dark chuckle. The implication hiding beneath his words does not go unnoticed.

Warmth spreads straight down my spine, my body runs hot, and arousal settles in my core. A deep, aching need to be touched. My breathing comes out sharp and ragged as Finn’s demeanor changes. Strong hands move from the couch and grip my thighs, the heat burning right through the heavy fabric of my coveralls. He studies his hand placement, giving my thighs a gentle squeeze.

Finn lets out a deep, satisfied groan that only adds to the dampness forming between my legs. I’m practically at Finn’s mercy right now. He could bend me to his will and I would thank him for it.

That’s how intoxicated I am by him.

He leans in closer, looking down at my lips. I can feel his fast, shallow breath on my lips. My tongue darts out to lick my bottom lip, drawing his gaze to the motion, only urging him to close the space between us faster.

Our lips are now a hair apart?—

“TRICK OR TREAT!”

We jolt apart at the sound of the doorbell ringing and our maniac dogs barking. I roll my lips, biting back a laugh.

Finn drops his head, muttering a curse under his breath. He hastily gets up, grabs the bowl with annoyance, and passes out candy to the spawns standing at his door.