10. Naked Bootleg
Naked Bootleg
T he next few days creeped by at a damn snail’s pace. Finn was waking up early to shower in peace, but even that wasn’t enough. He even sent a preemptive payment to the water company before Pops saw the bill.
Haley came to the pub twice that week, but not every night, as it was probably already getting obvious that she was there for him and not the food.
And equally obvious when she was there, he worked at half his normal pace, as when he wasn’t visiting with Haley, he was watching her.
Not in that creepy way, of course, he just, well, she was nice to look at.
Her eyebrows were about two shades darker brown than her hair; neatly shaped but a few strays caused a tweak at the edge that she smoothed when she thought no one was paying attention.
When she couldn’t think of what she wanted to type, she scowled and tapped her fingernails rapidly on the keys, not pressing hard enough to commit to a letter.
And he couldn’t help but watch the door every sixty seconds when he knew she was coming in.
Thursday afternoon, she called him. Not that he’d been waiting for the call, but, yeah, he totally had been. Traipsing into the kitchen after a run, his knee already barking at him, he was heading for an icepack when she called.
“Hey,” he answered on the first ring, grinning like an idiot.
“Hey,” she answered with that flirty confidence. He could picture her wicked smile as she spoke.
Zoe and Evan sat at the kitchen island and went dead quiet the moment he picked up the phone so eagerly.
Like a couple of Labradors waiting on their dinner, their heads didn’t move, their unblinking eyes watched his every movement.
He grabbed the icepack from the freezer, tossed it in the air before catching it again, then flashed a wink at his sibs as he backed out of the room.
As he rounded the bend, their jaws dropped to the countertop.
Limping up the stairs, he closed himself in his room and hopped on the bed. He propped his knee up with a pillow and almost cried when the ice cooled his knee.
Haley paused her thought when he groaned. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Just got back from a run and my knee is fucking killing me. It’s getting better, but I am still completely dependent on my daily icepack.”
She giggled on the other end of the line, half his pain fading away at the delight in her tone. “There are worse addictions out there.”
“Too true. I’ve seen guys get hurt so bad they can’t function without their habits, and not just pain pills.”
“But you can run on the knee okay? Didn’t you have two surgeries?”
“Yeah, but the second was because I didn’t do the physical therapy the first time and didn’t heal right; didn’t exactly seem as important as sticking with Mom. But… wait a sec, I knew you were a fan, but now I’m wondering if ‘stalker’ is more appropriate,” he teased.
She laughed again, pure and hearty and always a glimmer in her eye. Damn, he loved that sound. “Hey, I worked from home and had a cheating bastard of a husband. Spending my lonely nights fantasizing about the NFL’s hottest player? Hell yeah.”
He laid back on the bed, his abdomen shaking as he laughed with her. “I should be creeped out, but I’m actually a little turned on right now.”
“Please tell me you don’t wear a shirt when you exercise. Just workout shorts that barely stay on your hips and running shoes?”
Glancing down, he chuckled again. “Okay, maybe you are a creepy stalker.”
She sighed, “Just a healthy imagination.”
“Then please tell me you’re still wet from the shower again and aren’t wearing anything but those lace panties I got a good feel of the other night.”
“Nope, sorry. I am wearing paint-stained overalls and a ripped-up cotton t-shirt.”
“Fuck, I want you so bad, that sounds even sexier.”
“Really? I’ll wear it when you come over for dinner.”
“Overalls only. No t-shirt underneath. And skip the overalls.”
She laughed again.
“Wait, did you invite me over for dinner?”
“I was working on it, but I hadn’t gotten there yet. Finn? Would you like to come for dinner?”
“Hell yes. I’m off tonight.”
“I know. I’m stalking you. Kidding. Sort of. I bumped into Zoe at the grocery store this morning. She said something about you stealing all the hot water?”
Clearing his throat, he sat up and ran a hand over his short hair. “Uh, yeah, about that. Have you considered investing in an on-demand hot water heater for your shower?”
“I am so confused, but I’m willing to try one so I can find out why you go through so much hot water.”
“Oh, I think you’ll find out.”
“Really?” she chuckled. “Anyway, I’m not going to say I’m a great cook. I mean, I’m okay, but it’s not restaurant worthy.”
“Haley?”
“Yeah?”
“I would be happy to eat canned spaghetti if it meant an evening with you. Not that I’m passing judgment on your cooking, I’m sure I will actually enjoy whatever you’re fixing.”
“I’m not sure if I’m offended or flattered. I’ll let you know.”
He chuckled again. Damn, had he ever laughed as much as he did when he talked with Haley? “Need me to bring anything?”
“Nope, I got it. Just bring yourself.”
“What about this bulk box of condoms I picked up a few days ago?”
“Oh, bring that. I got overwhelmed in the vagina aisle at the store and grabbed the box closest to the checkout instead. I’d never bought condoms before; it’s very daunting.”
“Vagina aisle?”
“Yeah, you know, the one with all the tampons, pads, vaginal medications, pregnancy tests, and, the item on today’s list, condoms.”
“Huh. Vagina aisle. Maybe you can show me your vagina aisle tonight.”
“You are really horny, aren’t you?”
“God yes. I don’t think my dick has calmed down since that first kiss, and definitely not since I had my hands on your spectacular ass.”
“You know, I’m sure I should be offended. Your dick and my vagina have entered many of our conversations. Yet, I am somehow unoffended.”
“That’s a relief, because those two particular parts of human anatomy, yours and mine specifically, have been on my mind pretty much nonstop since you walked into my pub.”
She laughed out loud again. He completely forgot about his knee, the icepack having slid off a while ago. “Now don’t take too long of a shower. I’m putting dinner in the oven in a few.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
He clicked off and took a record-fast shower. Tossing on whatever pair of jeans was on the top of the pile, an old USC t-shirt, mismatched socks, he grabbed the nearest pair of sneakers and dashed out of the bedroom. He was halfway down the stairs when he remembered the box of condoms.
His knee about collapsed at the one-eighty midway up the stairs, letting him know on the way back up that he still had a long way to go before he was fully recovered. Ignoring the twinge, he hobbled down the stairs and plopped onto the bottom step to put his shoes on.
Zoe and Evan walked into the entry, extra slow as if a ghost sat at the foot of the steps.
Zoe’s eyes looked from him to the massive box of condoms and back to him again.
Evan raised an eyebrow at the mismatched socks and ripped up college shirt.
Pops appeared behind them a moment later, his mouth opening and closing like a salmon gasping for its last breath.
“Uh,” Pops said. “Going somewhere?”
Biting his tongue, he grinned sheepishly at the trio. “I’ve got a date.”
Evan crossed his arms over his chest, nodding as he pretended to be okay with Finn’s sudden change in demeanor. “Kinda gathered that bit. No offense, but are you sure you’re ready for… that many condoms?”
“Well not all tonight. We’ll save some for tomorrow morning.
” He picked up the box and juggled it in the air.
Damn, wouldn’t that be fun? Despite his nonstop hard-on since meeting Haley, especially since getting that first taste of her, he didn’t think he could make it through all forty condoms so quickly.
Too bad. “Guys. It’s a fling. A rebound.
Haley’s not looking for anything, and neither am I.
But she’s fucking hot, and she wants me.
So, you all have a lovely evening, but I’m outta here. ”
Pops nodded slowly. “Well, I guess, uh, have a good time.”
Finn flashed a wink and backed out the front door.
H aley realized she’d invited him over way too early. It wasn’t even three in the afternoon. Dinner was most certainly not in the oven, and she was still covered in paint. She’d meant to say, come over in two hours, but she was greedy and wanted him now .
She was getting out of the shower when she heard his car.
Wrapping her towel around her, she dashed to the door to the garage and clicked the automatic opener.
Taking the hint, thankfully, so she didn’t have to run out in a towel to let him know her plan, he pulled into the empty stall next to hers.
As he hopped out of his car, he caught sight of her standing in the doorway… in just her towel. “Uh…” he held his massive box of condoms in one hand, slowly closing the car door with his other.
Laughing out loud at her predicament, she waved him in. “I didn’t mean to invite you over so early. But picturing you all sweaty and in nothing but your running shorts, well…”
Crossing the garage and leaping up the stairs to the house as if he had springs in his feet, he closed this distance between them in half a heartbeat.
Leaning down, he took her mouth with his and pulled away again, running his tongue over his lip to taste her one more time.
“I was a little impatient and didn’t mess around in getting here. ”
She backed a few steps into the house. Finn closed the door behind him. He nodded down the hall past the stairs. “Your bedroom at the end of the hall?”
“Yeah.”
Throwing the box of condoms straight down the hall in a perfect spiral, he had his mouth back on hers before the box slid to a stop in her bedroom. As he scooped her up, her legs wrapped around his hips. Her towel loosened, sliding down between them; her wet hair dripped onto her shoulders.