Give Me Butterflies (Oaks Sisters #1)

Chapter 9

Finn

Well, fuck.

I’ve spent a week and a half trying to erase the image of Millie bent over my bumper from my mind. The way that tight skirt

showcased every curve has stolen way too many of my thoughts.

But here she is, hands on her knees as she laughs heartily, searing the view into my brain all over again.

I try my best to be a fucking professional, and I don’t stare at my coworker’s perfect ass in those tight jeans.

... for more than a few moments.

I wait for a break in the laughter, hoping Millie or the woman beside her will notice I’m here to pick up the girls from their

last day of camp. But when neither of them looks my way, I clear my throat.

Millie pops her head up, wiping tears from her sparkling green eyes as she turns to me.

My breath catches. She’s shockingly beautiful, uninhibited and happy, and it takes me a second to remember what I’m doing

here.

“Hey, Finn.”

As soon as my name leaves her lips, the other woman turns so fast that her hair whips her cheek. She scans me with dark eyes from my face to my shoes, mouth wide-open and eyebrows almost to her hairline.

Millie reaches over and snaps the woman’s jaw shut. “This is my friend Lena. I’m sorry she doesn’t have manners.” She narrows

her eyes in her friend’s direction.

I reach my hand out to Lena, and she takes it eagerly. “Finn Ashford. I work in the astronomy department.”

“Oh, I know who you are.” She eyes me with a sly smirk, then points to Millie and mumbles, “I want you to know I was right.

And if you don’t want him, I’ll take him.”

Warmth hits my cheeks as Millie splutters for a beat. She shakes her head before steering Lena away from us, forcing her farther

into the room.

“Sorry about that.” Millie bites her bottom lip to stop the embarrassed smile spreading over her face.

Before I can tell her not to apologize, Eloise and Avery squeal from across the room and run to collide with my legs. Lena

follows them over and hands me two small canvases.

Avery untangles herself from me and stands on her toes to see the navy-and-purple painting. “Ms. Lena showed us how to paint

butterflies. Can we put them on the mantel?”

“Of course. They’re beautiful,” I say as I kneel next to her.

Eloise points to her orange-and-black butterfly. “I painted orange because that’s my favorite color.”

“I love them. They’ll be perfect in the living room.” I kiss my nieces on the forehead before I stand.

Lena has her palms on her cheeks as she watches us, nudging Millie with her elbow.

Millie smacks her shoulder and hisses, “Stop it.”

“Are we still making pizza tonight?” Avery asks, tugging on my shirt with sad puppy eyes that always seem to have the power

to bend me to their will.

My brain has been so scattered lately that I completely forgot this promise. “Sure, Ave. We need to stop at the store on the way home, though.”

Eloise cheers with excitement, and my heart warms at the fact that these two keep believing in me. Even after so many failed

meals, they truly trust me all over again the next day.

“You know who makes the best homemade pizza?” Lena asks, wiggling her brows up and down.

With wide eyes, Millie opens her mouth like she might be able to stop whatever Lena is about to say.

But she’s not fast enough.

“Millie does,” Lena says with a beaming smile.

A scarlet blush burns Millie’s cheeks. Lena grins, completely shameless, but I can’t deny that I like where this is going.

Do I think I can make pizza with my kitchen record lately? Probably not, if I’m being honest. I managed to cook our spaghetti

into mush the other day and made a roast chicken that resembled jerky. I’m not too proud to ask for help in the name of pizza.

Millie wipes her hands down her face and looks at me seriously. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” I say, tilting my head. “It just so happens we could use a hand if you want to come.”

A battle seems to play out in her eyes as she weighs what the right answer is. Finally, she sighs and admits, “I don’t want

to intrude.”

“You’re not. I could use the help. I’ve ruined our dinner twice this week already.” I look down at Ave and El, who are pleading

to Millie with the most convincing puppy eyes I’ve ever seen.

Lena doesn’t miss a beat. She kneels in front of the girls and says, “Millie makes the best homemade crust. It’s the most

delicious thing I’ve ever eaten.”

Avery and Eloise resort to jumping up and down, begging Millie to make pizza for us.

Raising her eyebrows, she puts her hands on their heads and smiles. “Okay, okay. I’ll make you the best pizza of your life.”

She grabs Lena’s arm and pulls her up. “You’re done,” she snaps firmly before shoving her away.

“Enjoy your pizza, girls,” Lena calls over her shoulder.

Millie faces me and mouths, “I’m sorry,” shaking her head.

I give her a stern look that I hope conveys my seriousness when I say, “Don’t apologize.” I pull out my phone and hand it

to her. “Give me your number, and I’ll text you my address. Then you can tell me what I need to pick up from the store.”