Chapter 4
Finn
W ell, once again, my foot went straight into my mouth when interacting with Riley. I don’t know what it is about her that turns me into a teenage boy, in more ways than one. It started out so well and then, as soon as I started to get nervous, I tried to turn on the charm, and as I have already learned, it just doesn’t seem to work with her. Which I should be grateful for, but it just makes me more nervous, and the ugly cycle starts all over again.
The fact that she doesn’t seem to fall prey to my charm shows that she values something deeper, and I just don’t know that I have that much depth. Sure, I have a mind for business, but I have always worked with my hands. Manual labor is something that has always fulfilled me. However, if I am being honest, it’s also something that I have been embarrassed about. Which I know is ridiculous, because when I look at others, those I admire most work hard with their hands. Since I was young, it’s been ingrained in me that I should have gone to college and that those who don’t are lazy. It left a lasting effect on me.
When talking to Riley, I feel myself becoming even more self conscious, and I just turn into a bumbling idiot. I need to keep myself in check the next time I see her, or I’m really going to screw this up for good, and the fact that she works at Evergreen Hardware has me even more intrigued. What are the chances that our paths would cross this way? I can tell that I am going to need a mid morning pick me up, so I head two doors down to the Pore Over for a coffee before heading back to my truck to go to the site.
The bell on the top of the door chimes as I walk in, and I see Chloe’s smiling face.
“Hey, Finn, medium Americano?”
“Yea, thanks Chloe, that would be awesome. I’m also going to need something for lunch, so can I get one of those awesome turkey paninis as well?”
“Sure thing, those are one of my favorites. I’ll have that right up for you.” She smiles and then continues, “Riley hasn’t come in today, just so you know. In case you were wondering.”
“Oh, I know. I just had a run in with her at the hardware store, actually.”
Her eyes widen in surprise. “Oh, really? How did that go?”
The look on my face probably tells her that it didn’t go very well. “Well, it started out okay, but then I put my foot in my mouth again and acted like a buffoon.”
Chloe winces. “It couldn’t have been that bad. You’re always perfectly nice and normal when you come in here.”
“I know, but when I’m around her, something in my brain short circuits and I get all nervous and don’t know what to say. She looks at me like I’m an idiot. So I try to turn on the charm and it offends her even more.”
Her gaze softens at that. “Listen, Riley is my best friend and my loyalty lies with her always, but I usually have a good read on people, and I have a feeling that you could be really good for her. I have spent too long watching her be alone. Which wouldn’t be the biggest deal, except I get the feeling that she’s also a bit lonely. Her story is not my story to tell, and I would never betray her trust like that, but she is the way she is for a reason. Beneath all of that frost are beautiful wildflowers, and I think you might be just the person to thaw all of it out.”
“Thanks, Chloe. It really means a lot for you to let me in on all that when you don’t even know me. I’ll be here a while working with Mason, so I definitely won’t be giving up.”
She seems to blush at the mention of Mason’s name. “Oh, right, that’s awesome. Well, remember what I said. I’ll have everything ready for you at the pickup station in a few minutes. Take care, Finn.”
“Bye, Chloe.”
I grab my coffee and sandwich and head out to the job site. The trees are still blooming and beautiful in downtown. The air is crisp, and the asphalt still smells wet from the rain we had yesterday. It’ll warm up in the afternoon, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still rain on and off. I get lost in the scenery as well as my thoughts.
The talk I had with Chloe didn’t curb my curiosity about Riley; it only piqued it more. What happened to her to cause her to be so distant and stand off-ish? I feel protectiveness swirl in my chest, which is odd. The thought of anything bad or painful happening to her almost makes me lose my mind. It definitely makes me want to melt away that ice and watch her bloom.
The next week seems to blur together, waiting for all the supplies to come in. Each day, I get up, go to the Pore Over, go to work, and help the guys get ready to start the build, then I get dinner at the local diner and go home. All while anxiously waiting for the next time that I’ll get to see Riley.
Finally, the day arrives, and it’s time for me to do the pickup. After getting my coffee, I stroll on down to Evergreen Hardware and freeze outside as I gaze through the window at Riley. Her head is down as she works, and her gorgeous short hair keeps getting in her face, so she runs her hands through it repeatedly to move it out of the way. Man, is she gorgeous. What I wouldn’t give to be able to tuck that strand of hair behind her ear right now.
I figure I shouldn’t just stand outside staring at her like a creeper, so I walk into the store. She’s so deep in concentration that the chime of the bell on the door doesn’t even cause her to look up. I walk up and peek over the counter at what she’s looking at. She has her tablet laid flat on the desk, and she seems to be working on some sort of collage. There is a mixture of colors and patterns and furniture and fixtures. It all goes together so seamlessly and feels warm and inviting.
“Whatcha working on?” I ask.
“Ah!” she shrieks. “You scared the crap out of me. How long have you been standing there staring at me?”
“Well, I wasn’t staring at you.” Lie. “I was staring at your collage. I don’t know what it is, but I like it.”
“It’s a mood board,” she mutters.
I just stare at her blankly for a few seconds.
“Explain.”
“It’s an interior design mood board. It’s basically where I take a room and give it an aesthetic, a feel, a mood. It may not be the exact products that will be in the room, but the feel and mood I want it to have. The colors, the textures, whether I want it light or dark, what kind of metal I want the finishes, the type of artwork that ties it all together.”
“Wow, Riley, that’s incredible, and it looks amazing. You’re really talented. What room is this project for?”
She turns a deep shade of crimson, and my brows furrow. I hope I didn’t put my foot in my mouth again. We’ve gotten off to a good start so far.
“Oh, it’s not for a real room. I’m not a real interior designer. I’ve never done it professionally, anyway. I just like to put mood boards together and play around. It’s relaxing. I designed my own home, I suppose, but my work is here at the store and I like it.”
I stare at her for a moment, wondering how she can’t see how much talent she has.
“Well, if you ever change your mind, I think you should go for it. I’m sure there’s a need for it in a small town like this, this far from a big city. I bet businesses, or even homeowners, would love to work with you. You could even offer it as a service here at the store and get the best of both worlds.”
Now she is staring at me. “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. Enough about me, though. You’re here to pick up your order, right?”
“I sure am.”
“You brought someone else with you, right?”
“What, you don’t think I’m strong enough to take care of it on my own?”
Her cheeks flush again as she looks at my biceps. She clears her throat and replies, a little flustered, “Oh, no, I didn’t mean that. I just mean it’s a lot of stuff—a lot of heavy stuff—some of it is on pallets, and it’s like three hundred pounds of lumber.”
Smirking at her, I reply, “Riley, relax. I’m just busting your chops. I have the big work truck and a couple of my guys pulled around back, ready to load up.”
“Oh, good. That’s good.” She seems to be lost in her head.
“Riley?”
“Yeah?”
“Supplies,” I say, smiling at her.
She seems a bit startled and replies, “Oh, yes, just sign here for your order and head to the back. Craig will meet you with the checklist to make sure nothing was forgotten.”
I smile even wider. “Sounds great, Riley. Thanks so much. Oh, and keep it up with your mood boards. I really do think you could do something with it one day.”
“Thanks, Finn. I’ll talk to you later.”
I walk away smiling and hope that we will talk later. I definitely felt something shift with us in that conversation. It was the first time that nothing felt forced or tense or awkward. It truly felt like I was just getting to know her a bit better. The way that she got shy when talking about interior design tells me it really is something that’s important to her.
The way she was concentrating when I walked in, so lost and immersed in her work, told me it was something more important to her than a hobby. Her eyes also seemed to light up when she was talking to me about it. That is, before I mentioned doing it professionally, and I could tell that her self doubt had her shutting down a bit. I don’t know what it is that makes the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever seen so insecure, but I’m determined to find out.