Chapter 27 #2
The day passed in a blur of interviews and meetings, fan greetings and half-eaten sandwiches.
Drained, Sam trudged toward the hotel, longing for a hot shower and some time with Finn.
She couldn’t wait to see him—to congratulate him on his second gold.
She just wished she had something to mark the occasion—his second win and their first Valentine’s Day.
Her heart lurched. The stores had been closed by the time she’d finished up.
Empty-handed and filled with apologies, she turned the corner to his hotel only to stop in her tracks.
A horse-drawn sleigh was outside. Its golden lanterns cast shadows onto the snow; a majestic gray horse stood patiently, while the driver, bundled up well against the cold, nodded to her.
She hurried forward, a burble of laughter escaping her as she saw Finn in the back, tucked up under a pile of faux-fur blankets.
His face lit up when he saw her. He waved to her to hurry up, pulling back the blanket invitingly.
Sam reddened as people stopped walking to take photos of them.
This side of her win was proving difficult to get her head around.
Since the world had heard of their Montalier deal, she’d been inundated with DMs, questions, and most of them had been about what designers she might go to see at New York Fashion Week in the fall.
Finn hadn’t been asked about what shows he’d attend.
It rankled her, but her resolve to be more than a clothes horse had been forged at the last round of media interviews, and she was determined to be herself and to show that self to the world.
If she could inspire even just one kid to stand firm in their beliefs, then she’d have done what she’d set out to do.
She climbed up into the carriage, laughing as he grabbed her hand.
“Finally!” He laughed as she slipped in beside him. “I thought you’d never get back.”
Sam sat back, letting him tuck her in warmly as the sleigh driver clicked his tongue and flicked the reins. The horses’ breath curled in the freezing air, hooves crunching on the snow as they glided forward, pulling them away from the crowd and onlookers.
Exhaling slowly, Sam felt her body relax as she leaned against Finn. He handed her a napkin, smiling as she noticed the picnic basket at his feet. He’d thought of everything. A sliver of guilt stabbed at her. She’d completely forgotten. How could she explain that to him?
“Hot chocolate, with marshmallows and a hearty dash of whiskey, or champagne?” he interrupted her thoughts. “And there’s some mac’n’cheese, and a fondue set too, although I’m not sure how we’ll manage that without burning something.”
“What? No Finnomenals? What about a Samwich?” Sam giggled.
“Well, actually, yes,” Finn said, shaking his head as if he was surprised. “But all in good time.”
“I’ll have a hot chocolate, please.” Sam gazed around.
She couldn’t have planned this better if she’d done it herself.
Love was definitely in the air. The town twinkled around them, fairy lights, love hearts, couples …
every cliché of Valentine’s Day all in one perfectly beautiful location.
It was perfect. Too perfect. She sighed; a flash of satsuma caught her eye before it disappeared around a corner.
And then a deep chuckle that sounded like …
No. She was imagining things. Sitting up slowly, she bit her lip.
“How did you pull this off?” she asked Finn quietly.
“Me?” Finn’s brow furrowed. “I thought you did.”
Sam snorted. “Me? No—I, eh, I forgot.”
Finn blinked, then burst out laughing. “Me, too.” His shoulders shook against hers, warm and strong. Sam groaned, pulling him closer to her.
“What are we like!” he gasped. “We’re hopeless.”
“We are.” She laughed, holding the hot chocolate away from her as he kissed the tip of her cold nose. “But maybe that’s why we work.”
“Maybe.” Finn wrapped his arm around her waist, shifting her closer to him, making her heart beat even faster.
“Who do you think did this?”
“I have an idea,” Finn said. “But let’s not spoil it for them.”
Sam grinned and kissed him quickly. “You’re a unicorn, Finn Bradley, do you know that?”
“I don’t know what that means, but I think it’s a good thing.” He smiled.
“It’s a very good thing—the best,” Sam said, laughing as he handed her a rolled-up wrap oozing with cream cheese and pineapple, a piece of jalapeno peeping from the top.
“As is this,” Finn said, his arm tightening around her as the sleigh glided through the streets and into the countryside. Neither of them noticed Maya and Gabe lingering in a doorway, half hidden by a vending machine.
Maya hugged herself, drawing her satsuma coat tighter around her.
“They really have no idea, do they?” Gabe murmured.
Maya grinned. “That’s the whole point.” She nudged him. “Now let’s get out of here. There’s a bartender back there, shaking a cocktail with my name on it. And if you’re a good boy, I’ll buy you a whiskey.”