Chapter 19
Finn
“Davide texted me,” Finn said as he added sugar to his latte. “He said you’d called by and met Valentina.”
Sam nodded. “You never told me you’d bumped into him.”
Finn grimaced. “Sorry—I meant to. But Valentina, eh, what about that?”
“She’s lovely,” Sam said. “Perfect for that big old grumpy bear.”
Finn laughed, making Sam smile again. “You’re so right. She’s a honey.”
“I see what you did there, Finn Bradley—bear, honey.” Sam grinned.
“I can’t eat any more.” Finn dropped his pizza crust on the plate. He leaned back and patted his lean belly. “That was the best pizza I’ve ever eaten.”
“You’ve said that about every pizza you’ve had since you got here.
” Sam laughed. She picked up his crust and took a bite.
Finn shook his head in wonder. Who was this Sam sitting beside him—relaxed and calm, with a hint of something about her that he couldn’t figure out.
It was as if she’d won the lottery and hadn’t a care in the world, and it was a far cry from the Sam he’d left at the ski center not long ago.
He gazed at her, as she watched the world pass by around them.
The snow was still coming down, and the server passed them some warm outdoor rugs so they wouldn’t get too cold.
They were sitting at an outside table, cozy, under an awning and outdoor heaters.
She looked adorable with her blonde braid sat on one shoulder and her nose matching the cute pink hat she was wearing.
She seemed to be lost in a daydream, staring into space, sipping her hot chocolate and wrapped up as if she was about to set off on an expedition to the North Pole.
She smoothed out the outdoor rug that she’d pulled over her knees.
A smile lit up her face as she watched a couple walk down the street, arms wrapped around each other and oblivious to anyone else.
He knew it, always had since the very start—she was a romantic at heart.
The way she looked right now, it was the way she’d looked that very first day that they’d met.
She’d been wearing a pink hat that day too, and her smile, her voice, her laugh, the way she’d stomped that course without breaking a sweat. He stretched out his legs and reached for his latte, sighing happily. Sam turned to him, her smile making her eyes sparkle.
“What?” She nudged him with her knee. He nudged her back.
“Nothing,” he said. She slow-blinked at him, and he laughed and ran his hands through his hair as he sat up. “Okay! Okay! I was just remembering the very first time we met.”
Sam’s smile widened. She looked down and traced the rim of her mug, as if she was trying to distract herself.
“At the park.” She bit her lip. Finn’s heart beat a little faster.
“You stomped it,” he said, his voice low. “Every feature—you owned it. I’d never seen anyone make it look so easy.”
Sam glanced up at him, a gleam of recognition in her eyes.
“You,” she said, nudging his knee again. “You were standing at the barrier—trying not to look impressed.”
“Oh, and I failed that. Mightily.” He laughed. He licked his lips and took a breath. “How could I not be impressed by you?”
Sam looked up, her green eyes wide and searching his face. “Finn—”
He raised his hands. “I know, we’re not supposed to talk about it—or think about it, or break the pact we made, but hell, Sam—I can’t do anything but think about it. The other night, and last night …”
She sat back, her eyes still locked on his.
Damn, his mouth went dry. God, how had it all gotten so complicated?
And why the hell had he opened his mouth—talking about those two moments—as if that was all he wanted from her.
He picked up his latte, and put it back down again, trying to find the right words, trying to find the perfect way to tell her that yes, he’d fallen for her the moment he saw her, but that it was the years since that had made him fall in love with her.
He ran his hand through his hair again and sighed deeply.
A tight knot formed in his chest as Sam, facing him, scooched closer and reached up to smooth down his hair.
The scent of jasmine and vanilla, of her, took him by surprise—he closed his eyes and inhaled.
Her hand brushed his cheek. Without thinking, he grasped it as if to steady himself and pulled it to his lips in a fleeting kiss.
Opening his eyes he caught a change in her expression, like someone had lobbed a bomb between them.
Wait, don’t say it, don’t tell me to back off.
His stomach lurched at the thought that he’d messed up. She took his other hand gently in hers.
“Wait,” she said before he could say a word. “Let me talk.”
Finn nodded, his hands tingling as she squeezed them gently. She looked nervous, biting her lip and blushing. She took a deep breath and looked down at their hands. He stiffened. Please don’t, please don’t say there’s no hope.
A gentle smile played on her lips as she raised her eyes to his. “You have no idea how weak at the knees you made me that day. You were a smash!”
“What?” He gaped.
Sam gave a small shrug, her cheeks reddening adorably. “I could hardly string a sentence together. Remember how I stammered?”
“I didn’t notice,” Finn said, his stomach lightening. “I was too afraid that I was making a fool of myself.”
“You weren’t,” Sam said. She scrunched her nose and leaned forward.
“I was too busy wondering who this hot guy was and trying to figure out why my body was on fire—in places I’d never realized could go on fire.
And if I would ever see him again, and if I did, what would happen.
Because all I could think of was that I really wanted to kiss you—I still do. ”
Finn’s mouth dropped open. His hands felt as if they were clammy, but he didn’t want to let go of hers. He couldn’t let go of her now, not if his life depended on it. She tilted her head and smiled at him. “Say something, please. Don’t leave me hanging.”
He was hoarse when he spoke. “You know I fell for you that day, but Sam …” He paused and let out a small laugh. Shaking his head he continued, “Gah! I can’t seem to get the words out right.”
“Take your time,” Sam said softly. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Her quiet voice stilled him. “Do you promise? Not to go anywhere? Because, Sam, I can’t imagine a world without you in it—next to me.
And it’s got nothing to do with what’s happened between us here, and everything to do with the fact that from the moment I met you, you felt like home to me.
And every day since, every time we talk, train, or just hang out, I fall deeper in love with you—it’s you, everything about you.
How you see things, how you challenge me, how you live—even when you’re struggling—every minute of you makes me want to be a better man, one that you might one day take more seriously.
” He stopped talking and flopped back in his seat as if worn out from saying what was in his heart.
“Damn,” he said suddenly as her face changed from soft, to smiling, to puzzled. “I didn’t mean to tell you all of that. Forget about it.”
“Are you kidding me?” Sam asked, her voice gritty. “Hell, Finn, that’s a speech for the ages. Wow.”
He looked down, rubbing his chin. “I don’t want to put pressure on you.”
“You’re not putting any pressure on me.” Sam leaned forward, her hands on his chest, until she was inches from his face. “Look at me, Finn Bradley. Please.”
Raising his eyes to her, Finn swallowed. It was beginning to snow even heavier, almost a blizzard, and everyone was getting up to leave, but Sam just leaned against him, her face tilted to his, as the rug slipped from her knees.
“I have one regret,” she said. “We should never have made that pact.”
“No?” He quivered as her arms slid around him.
“No,” she said with a giggle. “Finn Bradley, how can you declare yourself so damn passionately to me one minute, and the next act as if nothing was said. Put your arms around me, for God’s sake.” She laid her head on his chest. “It’s not as if we don’t know one another.”
Finn didn’t need another invitation. He pulled her closer to him, snuggling her down into his arms as if she was the missing part of him.
Her soft sighs against his chest filled him with pride, and joy, and the urge to tell Coach Harrington exactly what he could do with his threats.
Finn pressed his cheek against the top of Sam’s head, and the outside world faded away.
“Sam,” he whispered.
“Yeah?” she murmured back.
He paused, letting the moment settle in his heart.
Held back the words he was longing to say to her.
Was this the place to do it—a rustic little bistro in a side street of a small Italian town on a snowy day?
He couldn’t hold in the smile that took over his face.
If this wasn’t the most perfect place in the world then nowhere was.
“Sam, I love you.”
Sam sat up. She gazed at him, her eyes lit up with that emerald glitter that he loved. She grinned at him. “About time.”
A bubble of laughter burst from him, and he held her tighter as his shoulders shook.
“Agreed.”
“Finn?” She touched her nose against his. He held his breath as her lips brushed against his. “I love you too.”
The surge of joy that filled him at the sound of her saying that to him was immeasurable. He wanted to punch the air, to kick up the snow, to yell until the whole of the Alps was an avalanche.
“In the great words of Taylor Swift,” she said as he grinned like a Cheshire cat. “It’s been a long time coming.”
“And I promise you this—you always will be.” He laughed gently, ducking as she slapped him playfully.
“You said it wasn’t about … what we got up to!” Sam joked. “But I sure as hell hope that some of it is …”
Finn shifted in his seat. Something low down in his stomach began to wind tightly. “Like I said—I promise,” he murmured into her ear, hoping he wasn’t scaring her. Was this too much too soon?
Sam’s hands slid up his chest, her fingers soft against the stubble on his jaw. “Show me.”
“Sam.” His voice was hoarse. “What are you doing to me?”
She ran her hands down his back and kissed the side of his neck. “What do you want me to do to you?”
“Come with me,” he murmured, kissing her again before taking her hand. “Let’s go somewhere quieter.”