9. Rushing
Rushing
A fter failing to take it easy on his daily run, Finn hobbled into the shower.
Zoe was already leaving for work, so he snickered and cranked up the hot water.
Within minutes, a fist pounded on the bathroom door.
“Don’t you have to work tonight?” His dad’s voice thundered through the thin wooden door.
Groaning, he shut off the faucet and stepped out. “No. I worked it out with Pete, remember?”
Long pause. Scott continued, “Oh yeah. Okay.” Another pause. “How come?” He’d totally remembered that Finn had switched shifts, he was just looking for an entry to ask for details without sounding nosy.
No privacy. No secrets in the Halseth family. Finn secured his towel around his waist and opened the door. “I just did, okay?” Damn, he felt like a teenager sneaking out to take his girlfriend parking.
“Huh. You usually like working Friday nights. Keeps you busy.” Scott shrugged, but didn’t leave the doorway. “I’ll get another steak out to thaw then. Thought it was just me tonight.”
“No, Pops, I’m, uh, I’m heading out tonight.” He rubbed a hand through his sopping wet hair, wondering when he could close the door and get ready for his date. Haley didn’t need the heartache of wondering if she was going to get stood up.
Scott backed up a step. “Great. That’s great. Out with the gang again? I’m so glad you reconnected with some of your old friends.”
“No. I, uh…” He didn’t want any secrets with his family. “I’ve got a date.”
Poor Scott looked like he was attempting the New York Times Sunday crossword. “I thought you and Trace broke up because you weren’t ready to be involved. And she’s out of town. Moving on a bit quick, aren’t you?”
Shit. And this is why he was taking Haley far from Foothills. Trace didn’t need the gossip mills wondering why he was dating someone else so quick. “Nothing serious. Really. Just a rebound.”
“Rebound. Huh. She know she’s a rebound?”
“Yeah Pops. Actually, I think I’m the rebound. She’s wrapping up a divorce.”
Scott visibly grimaced. “You sure about this? Getting in the middle of a divorce? Things can get messy when a married couple splits.”
Oh man, this conversation was becoming so much more complicated than he had anticipated.
And he was still wearing nothing more than a freaking towel.
Scott wasn’t about to let him off the hook now.
“Yeah. It’ll be final in a few weeks. The jerk cheated on her, leaving her with no friends.
And she’s new in town. Neither of us are looking for anything serious. Just some good company.”
Scott backed up another step and scratched his head. “Well, I guess you know what you’re doing. And if you hooking up with this girl will save on the hot water bill, I’m game.”
Finn closed his eyes and exhaled slowly.
Maybe his family was a little too honest. His dad headed down the hall and Finn was finally able to finish getting ready.
A bit tighter of a timeline, he shoved Zoe’s hair dryer and makeup and things he didn’t know the name or purpose of into the drawer, then quickly smoothed down his hair, brushed, flossed, and dashed down the hall to his bedroom.
Tossing his towel on the chair that served more as a laundry receptacle than an actual seat, he opened his closet. Fuck, he should have donated all these suits. He hated the damn things, but it had gone with the territory.
He tossed on a pair of slacks and a charcoal gray button-up.
Hated the cuffs, but he buttoned the stupid things anyway so he could skip the tie and jacket.
Black leather belt, black athletic shoes, and he was ready.
Yeah, he wanted to impress Haley, but he really, really couldn’t bear to wear slippery, ass-wipe dress shoes.
He hopped in his Shelby and tore off toward Haley’s. Easing off on the gas when he saw how efficiently he’d gotten ready, he slowed to half the speed limit. Such a fine line, too early versus too late, or looking suspiciously punctual.
He pulled in the driveway only seven minutes early. Checked his phone; no new messages or emails. Reviewed the traffic report; all clear. Triple checked his gas tank was full.
At five minutes ‘til, he couldn’t take it anymore. Stepping out of the car, he dashed up to the front door. He raised his hand to knock when the door swung open.
Like a fresh summer breeze blasting him back until he was high on giddiness, Haley stood in the doorway, that flirty lopsided smile knocking him on his ass.
Hot as fuck, pretty as a picture, Haley stood in a silky pink dress that was playful and feminine.
Her long legs reminded him of how she’d ensnared him against her that night on the bar.
Her rich brown hair was down, a few inches past her shoulders with long curls.
A simple teardrop necklace framed her neck.
And those lips. Damn, he could go on and on. He should wait. End of the date thing, remember?
Before his brain could complete the thought, he closed the narrow distance between them and slid his hand around her waist.
Leaning down, he tasted those lush lips.
Nibbled.
Grazed his tongue along her pouty bottom lip.
Gripping her hand around the back of his neck, she swept her tongue over his. As he eased in, she shifted, wrapping her lips around his tongue and tugging, sucking, releasing then delving back in, the heat of her mouth melding with his, erasing all coherent thought from his one-track mind.
His other hand reached down and palmed her hip, trailing down her dress in a desperate need to find skin. Score. He slid his hand up her thigh, cupping her very, very fine ass.
Sighing against his mouth, she pressed tighter against him, mouth plundering his with even more fervor.
Completely breathless, irreparably rumpled, they managed to pull away. Stepping back, he moved out of reach before he attacked her again. “Hey,” he said on a heavy exhale.
“Hey.” She blinked the haze from her vision.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “You look amazing.”
“Thanks,” she said, smoothing her dress. “So. Hungry?”
Biting his lip, he nodded. “Yes. But let’s have dinner first.”
Laughing, she turned and grabbed a jacket and her purse. He smoothed his hair as she locked up. Dashing around to the passenger door, he held it open for her. With a soft “Thanks.” She swept her hand under her dress and slid in, her sexy heeled shoes moving in at the last moment like a movie star.
As he drove out of Foothills, she angled toward him and said, “I’ve never done this rebound thing. Please say we don’t have to talk about our exes all night.”
“Fuck no,” he answered. “I mean, you can whenever you want to, but I’d much rather get to know you than some asshole that didn’t deserve you.”
She scrunched up her nose in a wholehearted grin. “Good. You can talk about yours all you want, but, agreed, I’d rather hear about you than her.”
T he restaurant looked familiar, but she didn’t think she’d been there before. “Who’s your friend that owns this?”
“What? Oh, old teammate and a good guy. It was in the beginning credits of that movie a few years back.”
“Ah, that’s it. I’ve heard it’s amazing.”
He shut off the engine and was around the car to open her door before she even reached for the handle.
When Nate had pulled this chauvinistic crap, it felt like he was trying to put her in her place as the delicate flower he wanted her to be.
When Finn did it, she knew he was trying to make her feel special.
As he held the door open, she stepped close to him and stood on her toes, brushing her lips over his. “You know you don’t have to open doors for me.”
“I know. I want to.”
Pitter patter, she smiled and shook her head at him. “You are too cute for your own good, you know that?”
“Aw, thanks for thinking I’m cute. I think that’s a first.” He grinned at her, reaching his hand out to link with hers. “We’ve got half an hour before we’re due inside, want to take a walk or see if they can squeeze us in early?”
She scanned the park that bordered the restaurant. “Let’s walk another time. I’m starving.”
“Me too.”
At the ma?tre d’s desk, Finn started to speak, but was immediately recognized. “Mr. Halseth. You are expected. Please, your table is ready. Miss…”
“Please, Haley.”
“Wonderful. Miss Haley. May I take your coat?”
They followed to a private dining room overlooking the valley beyond, the jagged peaks of the Cascades on the other side.
Their drinks were served, a tapas plate moments later, then the server returned to take their orders.
After the constant comings and goings, they finally had the room to themselves.
“This place is incredible. I don’t think rebounds required impressing or wooing.”
“How about we set our own rebound rules? I’ve been meaning to come here for years, but never got around to it. So, allow me to splurge.”
“Good choice.” Nate would hate it. What was the point of a fancy restaurant when you couldn’t schmooze? Privacy with only your wife for company? No way, no how. “I wheedled information about you from my brother. He seems to think you’re a decent guy.”
“Oh man. How’d that go? Let me picture it.” He leaned back in his chair and seemed to mentally paint the image. “‘Grady, I was making out with one of your friends and am wondering if he’s worth sleeping with.’” Grinning at his smartass creativity, he leaned forward and took a gulp of water.
A goofy laugh bubbled up in her chest. “Ouch, that sounds like a no-win conversation. I was much more subtle; really I should be a detective. Or, well, it was easy to bring you up in casual conversation at your pub. Despite my mother’s disdain, Grady had nothing but good things to say.”
Rubbing his hand through his hair, he unwittingly spiked up the cowlick that he must have worked hard to tame. “Oh man, Patricia is a real peach, isn’t she? Grady was everyone’s least favorite house for parties thanks to that witch. I mean… shit, sorry…”