Chapter 19
Finn
Millie’s face as I stuck her finger in my mouth has been replaying in my mind constantly for days. The memory of her plush
lips popping open on a gasp has me stifling a groan as I lower myself into my desk chair. I wave my computer mouse to wake
the monitor and spend the next few minutes responding to emails.
While reading a particularly long message from a museum guest who’s grumpy about not being able to rent out the planetarium
for a movie showing, something tickles my hand. When I glance down, I squeak loudly—and very masculinely, of course—and whip
the unsuspecting spider off my desk.
Once my heartbeat returns to a normal rate, I compose an email.
TO: Millie Oaks
FROM: Finn Ashford
SUBJECT: Afraid For My Life
Millie,
A frightening, albeit small, spider has taken up residence near my desk. I thought you might be able to identify the specimen and inform me of the future safety of my office. If I must evacuate, it’ll take a while to move everything into a secure location.
If you have time this afternoon, I would be relieved to have your assistance with this matter.
If you hear anyone mention a squeal that erupted from my office, please know that it was a different person in my department.
Being the proud and dedicated feminist that I am, I call on my heroic female entomologist to save me from this peril.
Sincerely in need of a gallant rescuer,
Finn
TO: Finn Ashford
FROM: Millie Oaks
SUBJECT: Re: Afraid For My Life
After laughing until my abs were sore, I have recovered enough to inform you that I do have time in my schedule to save your
office from said spider. The image in my mind of an impressively strong and sturdy man jumping and screeching because of a
spider has given me a great deal of joy this morning.
I do think I heard that squeal you mentioned all the way on my side of the museum, and I thought it was the elevator malfunctioning.
Have you contained the offender? Hopefully you have not started vacating the office yet, because it’s likely harmless.
Your gallant rescuer,
Millie
TO: Millie Oaks
FROM: Finn Ashford
SUBJECT: Re: Re: Afraid For My Life
Peter Parker is contained inside a coffee cup on my desk. In full disclosure, I should clear up some confusion. The “impressively
strong and sturdy man” was, in fact, me.
I will also mention the spider was gently, carefully tossed away upon initially finding him or her on my hand. However, I
quickly apologized and have since given them a pleasant coffee-scented home for the morning. Since he is contained, I will
bring him to you. Maybe he can find a nice home in entomology to continue his life.
Your malfunctioning elevator,
Finn
***
Armed with a pastry bag from Maggie’s and the coffee cup containing Peter Parker, I walk down the hall toward Millie’s office.
When I reach it, her brows are furrowed in concentration as she types something on her keyboard.
The surprise package crinkles as I slowly pull it out, and her eyes snap from the monitor to laser focus on the brown paper.
“Is that what I think it is?”
There was one almond croissant left when I got to Maggie’s this morning, and I bought it without thinking twice. Because,
apparently, I have a weakness for seeing Millie’s face light up.
“That depends. Are you thinking it’s a spider in a coffee cup?”
She huffs and purses her lips.
“Oh, this thing?” I hold up the pastry bag. “Mmm, this is mine. I just wanted to show you I got one.” I bring it under my nose and inhale the sweet, almondy aroma. “I think you have a little drool.” I point to the corner of my mouth and nod toward her.
She shakes her head with a glare. “That better be a joke, Spock.”
I narrow my eyes, dropping the package into her waiting palm. “I liked it better when you were comparing me to Kylo Ren.”
“Too bad.” Her eyes turn greedy as she pulls out the croissant. “You’re amazing,” she says, eyes on the pastry as she takes
a big bite. She looks up at me, nodding and chewing. “And you’re amazing too. Pull Micah’s chair over here, and we can share
it.”
I slide into the seat and roll over to her desk. “You don’t have to share with me,” I say, setting the spider coffee cup beside
her keyboard.
“I know, but you said you were addicted too. I don’t want you fiending for it all day. You might resort to biting a museum
guest.”
I press my lips together to keep from saying the thought that comes to my mind.
You’re the only one I want to bite, and it’s not because I’m hungry.
She pulls the croissant apart down the middle, oblivious to my thoughts, and hands me the bag with the bottom half.
As I take my first bite, I soak in all the details of her office. It looks like an outward expression of her personality.
She has happy plants on every surface and a few on the ground around her desk. The walls are covered in framed insect art
and a picture of Millie with what I assume is her family. A sweater that looks like butterfly wings adorns the back of her
chair.
Millie lifts the lid of the coffee cup, peeking at the spider inside. “Harmless wolf spider. Your office is safe.”
I nod. “So I should have that moving crew put all my stuff back?”
She laughs. “Definitely okay to return your things. We can take him out to the pollinator garden, and he can track down a good lunch for himself.”
Leaning back in her chair, she stretches her arms out to her sides with a low moan. The movement pushes her breasts against
the yellow-and-white-striped fabric of her dress, drawing my eyes there like a magnet.
Fucking hell.
Save my poor soul and stop doing that.
I search her office for anything to distract me, and my gaze lands on the empty desk that used to be Calvin’s. It sits in
the corner, awaiting the new department director.
Millie has never mentioned her job interview to me. She has never asked me a single question about it, and I admire her for
being able to shut those thoughts down around me. But I’ve been dying to talk to her about it. I tried to the last time she
was at my house, but she put her fingers over my mouth to stop me.
“How are you feeling about your second interview?” I ask, and her eyes snap to mine.
She swallows her bite. “Well, I have my week in charge in like”—she clicks the button on the side of her phone to bring up
the date—“ten days. I need to get ready for that first.”
“Ah, yeah. I forgot about that step.” I nod, waiting for her to continue the conversation.
But her eyes look anywhere except at me, and her knee bounces rapidly, making me think she doesn’t want to talk to me about
it. So I change the subject.
“Do you have plans tomorrow?”
Her leg stills and she lifts her brows. “Pretty sure I leave my Fridays open for you now.”
My heart swells. “Well, I have a surprise idea if you’re interested.”
“Perfect. I miss my girls.”
And that’s all it takes. My heart reaches the point where it won’t fit in my chest anymore.