A New Leaf (Hemlock #1)

Chapter 26

Chapter Twenty-Six

Finn

After being sick for a couple of days, my body feels completely wrung out, but I'm thankfully on the mend. Following the departure of Charlie’s caretaking services, which deserve five stars across the board, I sent her a text to make sure she didn’t catch what I had. Thankfully, she told me that she felt fine and that her immune system must be resilient after being exposed to “the human Petri dish” all day.

She’s a feisty one.

And I can’t get enough.

Sitting at the edge of my shop’s long countertop, I’m leafing through resumes for additional staff when a rush of cool air and the chime of a bell fill the space.

“Oh, WOW! I love what you’ve done with the building!” Aunt Donna bursts through the door with enough force that every patron in my shop takes notice. I tilt my head to the side and raise my eyebrows, giving her my What the hell are you actually doing? look. She shimmies up to the register and stares at the chalkboard menu on the wall.

Getting up, I stand behind the counter with my hands at my side, patiently waiting for whatever eccentricity is to come. I love her because she’s family, but I still stand by the idea that she could benefit from less caffeine and more social awareness.

“Hey, Aunt D, how was the trip? Will you be having the usual?” I force a smile. Alarmed by Charlie’s distress about the Harvest Festival, I’ve made it my personal mission to take some of the burden off of her. The only obstacle in my way is Donna and her approval of Charlie and I sharing a booth at the festival. She’s very set in her ways. Donna loves to say no with a smile on her face and a loving pat on the shoulder. From years of experience, I’ve learned that, in order to get what you want, you have to lay it on thick.

“Oh, it was lovely! Steve and I had the most wonderful time.” Her smile is wide as she drones on about her trip.

Feigning an interested expression, I make her favorite (albeit annoyingly complex) drink and slide it across the counter to her while she talks. Rounding the corner of the countertop, I pull up a chair next to her.

I nervously run a hand through my hair as I turn to her. When she pauses for breath in the midst of a story about her attempt to smuggle an exotic plant in her luggage, I take the opportunity to interrupt her. “Aunt D, I wanted to talk to you about something.” The words cautiously escape my lips.

“Yes, Finny? What is it?”

I hate that fucking nickname.

“The Harvest Festival is right around the corner. It’ll be a first for me and I’m just not totally comfortable being alone at my own booth.” I’m totally comfortable being alone at my own booth, but my life would be significantly enhanced if an overalls-wearing brunette is by my side. “So, I was wondering . . . since Charlie did such a great job showing me around Hemlock—which, thank you for setting that up, by the way—is it possible that she and I could share a booth? You know, just so she can help show me the ropes.”

Her speculative eyes narrow and I’m really hoping she can’t smell my bullshit. My demeanor stays calm and unassuming as she considers my proposition.

“You know, Finn, we’ve never done that before. Each business always has its own booth. The festival has been set up the same way for the last decade, and I don’t like to?—”

Stopping her mid-sentence, I put my hand on hers. “Yes, I totally understand. I was hoping this could be a one-time exception. Just so I can get my bearings at the festival. I’m a little nervous, you know? With me being new in town and all . . .” I flash Donna a pleading smile, hoping that she remembers that I’m her second favorite member of the family.

Despite how loud the coffee shop is, Donna’s disapproving silence is louder.

Sighing heavily, I level her with a serious look. “If you do this for me, I’ll slip you an extra hundred bucks in your Christmas card this year.”

“Deal,” she says finally.

Do not look too happy. Do not look too happy.

I breathe a sigh of relief, grasping both of her hands in mine. “Thank you so much. You’re my favorite aunt.”

She’s not.

Her hand goes up to pat my cheek. “Of course. I just want you to be comfortable. It’s so nice to have you planting roots here.” She takes a sip of coffee. “Plus, the extra cash doesn’t hurt.”

A smile spreads over my face as I release her hands and glance down at the floor, willing myself to not smile in front of her. Little does she know there’s one person in particular who knows a thing or two about planting roots—someone I wouldn’t mind growing roots with someday.

It’s the night before the Harvest Festival and I’m working tirelessly in my office trying to finish the last-minute preparations. I check my watch and see that it’s almost time to meet Charlie for our Friday night walk when I hear a gentle knock on the shop door. My body reacts in anticipation, knowing exactly who it is. Shamelessly, I haven’t been able to get Charlie’s lips out of my mind.

Or the feeling of her body pressed against mine, her soft curves in my hands.

Or hearing her soft moans when I went back to kiss her again.

Not to mention seeing how her cheeks flushed and pupils dilated when we pulled away to look at each other, completely breathless.

Our kiss was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. It was magnetic. Utterly intoxicating. Every one of my senses was overwhelmed by her presence.

At that moment, the world went quiet around us and Charlie, wrapped in my arms, felt heavenly.

Between that kiss and my sexual fever dream, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her, her incredible body, and how good I’d make her feel if she ever allowed me the privilege.

I wonder how she would react if I hauled her to my back office and we made out like two sexually deprived adults? There’s a battle brewing between my two brains—one wants to take her and make her forget her name, while the other yearns to uncover every tiny detail there is to know about her. However, my cock seems to be winning this battle, as I daydream about dragging her into my office by those fucking overalls, pulling her curvy body snug against mine, and claiming her. I can picture her on my desk, knees parted with my name escaping her lips on a breathy moan as I pull aside her?—

The knock on the door grows louder and more impatient, causing me to startle. My jeans are painfully tight as I shake my head to tear myself away from my fantasy. I take a moment to compose myself before I really scare Charlie away. My face is flushed with desire as I try to get my mind back in the headspace for innocent conversation and maybe a casual kiss with her tonight. Even though the thoughts lurking in the shadows of my mind are anything but innocent or casual.

Rushing out from the back office to the front door, I find Charlie standing there with her cheeks glowing, nose kissed with pink, and eyes sparkling warmly when she sees me.

God. She’s so beautiful.

She gives a small wave, and I hear her muffled voice say, “Hurry up! It’s cold out here!”

Unlocking the door, she and Vera rush inside. Frank hears the commotion and makes a speedy beeline for Vera. A few squeaks and tail wags later, they’re off doing whatever they do, completely out of sight of their parents.

“The temperature really dropped. I’m freezing my ass off,” she says, wrapping her coat around her tighter for warmth. “I knew it was silly to wear a skirt today,” she mutters under her breath, looking down at her outfit.

Charlie gazes up at me and abruptly stops, tilting her head. Her face twists with concern. “Are you feeling okay? You look a little flushed. Are you still sick? Here, crouch down.” She waves at me to lower myself down to her level. “Let me feel your forehead. I don’t think your cheeks should be this red. I thought your fever broke a few days ago?”

Little does she know that the reason I’m flushed is because I was thinking about fucking her in my office.

I crouch down, refusing to make eye contact with her because if I so much as glance into her dark eyes, we’ll be in the back christening the desk. I’m at an awkward angle, with my legs bent and back hunched over, so she can touch my cheeks and forehead. Her coat falls open, and underneath, she’s wearing a burgundy cardigan with a few of the buttons undone.

Fuck. Me.

I can see right down her sweater to the lacy black bra that she’s wearing. My eyes trace the outline of her stunning curves. Every bit of my restraint is needed to keep my composure at the sight of her soft breasts that are barely contained by her bra. Hands down, this woman has the most immaculate cleavage I’ve ever seen. I silently thank the universe for the good karma that it has bestowed on me this evening— this is worth every good deed.

I take a deep breath to steady myself, but her intoxicating scent isn’t helping my barely contained composure. Sure, I was turned on before she arrived, but now I’m so aroused that I’m aching.

Still crouching and still inches away from Charlie, I close my eyes in a weak attempt to redirect my thoughts to reduce even an ounce of tightness in my jeans.

Alright, let me think . . .

Coffee? Would love to lick it off of her.

Not helping.

The weather? It’s getting colder. Sharing body heat with her naked, tight against me sounds incredible.

This is pointless.

When I look up at her, our eyes connect instantly.

“Whoa. Okay. Your face looks even more flushed. Also, your pupils are slightly dilated, which I’m sure isn’t a good combination with the fever.” Her voice is laced with concern. “How about we get you sitting down, okay? Do you want to sit out here or in the office?”

That fucking office, my lust filled brain, and my hard cock will be the death of me tonight. I don’t say anything, which probably concerns Charlie even more. Without a word, Charlie takes the initiative, grabs my arm, and guides me to the back office.

As soon as we step inside the room, she turns on the desk lamp and forces me to sit in the armchair nestled in the corner of my office. Frantically, she begins shuffling things around in her purse. “I think I have some Tylenol in my bag?—”

I gently grab her wrist to stop her, and her breath catches at the sudden, unexpected contact. My eyes are fixed on my hand, gently encircling her delicate wrist. Softly, I run my thumb back and forth on her smooth skin, completely hypnotized by the motion. Her breathing falters briefly before I pull my eyes up to her. Charlie’s gaze is fixated on the spot where we’re touching.

Still smoothing my thumb back and forth on the tender flesh, I rasp, “Do you have any fucking idea how beautiful you are?”

It’s the first thing I’ve said to her since she stepped inside here. We are almost at eye level, with me sitting and her standing. She doesn’t say anything, but I see her nervously swallow.

The delicate column of her throat moves ever so slightly. “Charlie, did you hear me?”

Her eyelashes flutter as she nods. “Yes,” she says, her voice barely a whisper.

My resolve is depleted. I’m so intoxicated by this woman.

I circle my arm around her waist, pulling her between my parted legs. She looks at me with intensity as my hands slide underneath her jacket, touching the soft fabric of that teasing sweater. The air in the room feels so thick that I can barely take a full breath. I know she feels it, too, because her breaths come out in sharp, shaky pants.

With one hand anchored on her waist, my other cradles her cheek. My thumb caresses her warm skin as our eyes lock on each other.

Her face is flushed, but not from the cold. Charlie licks her pink lips before whispering, “You’re going to kiss me now, aren’t you?”

My eyes dart back and forth between hers before I finally murmur, “Yeah, Charlie. I’m going to kiss you now.”

The hand cupping her cheek now weaves into her silky hair. Pulling her down to me, I capture her lips with a slow, thorough kiss that’ll leave us both gasping for air.

My tongue dips ever so slightly between the seam of her lips. When she parts her lips, allowing me to enter, Charlie moans softly into the kiss. Her fingers clutch onto my hair at the base of my neck, evoking a deep groan from me. Our kiss takes a desperate and demanding turn when she settles herself onto my lap, her body pressing against mine. A perfect fit. Despite her being physically on top of me, I need her closer. I need more. Pushing her heavy wool coat off her shoulders, it falls to the ground with a soft thud.

Much better.

My hands roam eagerly under her sweater, feeling her skin burning up with need. She moans at my touch, causing me to press her even closer to me. I tighten my arms around her, bringing her body flush against mine, and she melts into me. We’re devouring each other like it’s the last thing we’ll ever do. An intense longing fills the air of this cramped office space. A frantic combination of hands touching everywhere, lips pressing together with intensity, and an overwhelming desire to be close to one another.

My lips stay tightly pressed to hers as I undo three more buttons on her sweater, revealing her flushed, heaving chest. The sweater falls open and off her shoulders—my fingers ache to touch every part of her. Moving my hands upwards, I gently trace the soft curve of her jaw with my fingertips before gliding them down to her chest. My hand lightly settles over her wildly beating heart.

Our lips still haven’t broken apart, but I’m dying to lick my way down the newly exposed skin I’ve uncovered. Forcing myself to break away from her lips, my mouth trails down the soft column of her neck. I nuzzle my face into her silky skin and breathe her in like I need air. With force, her hands clutch my shoulders as she grinds herself against my throbbing cock, letting out a soft whimper as she does.

Something inside me snaps.

I pull away, panting. She looks beautifully disheveled and aroused. As I look into her large, alluring eyes, I push a stray strand of hair out of her flushed face.

“On the desk. Now.”