27. Marley

27

MARLEY

“ S pill,” Fin demands when I get to the office the next morning, flustered and ten minutes late. She’s looking stylish in perfectly tailored jeans and a blue cashmere sweater that definitely rivals the resale value of this building.

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” I gush, fumbling for the keys. My cheeks are burning, my entire body is buzzing, and I think the synapses that used to connect my brain to my body got jumbled this morning in the shower when Liam stepped in and introduced me to the joys of morning sex.

My God, that man’s body. The hard muscles, the hot water, his ravenous tongue… Fin giggles when my keys hit the ground.

She swipes them up in one elegant move and opens the door for me. I follow her like a kindergartener on a field trip.

She leans her svelte form on her desk and crosses her arms. “You seem to be a bit frazzled this morning,” she points out, clearly amused at how I struggle to take my coat off without first removing my crossbody bag. “Want to fill me in?”

Burning bright red, I fight my way out of my coat and throw it across the room like a professional businesswoman. “What do you mean?”

Fin laughs. It’s a gorgeous sound, like a music box. I’m pretty sure I sound like a donkey in comparison, but then everything Fin does is a bit magical. She’s so efficient and eager to work that I can’t even begrudge it. “Let’s call it girl math. I simply added the fact that you had a ‘maybe date’ with your roommate last night to the fact that you arrived ten minutes late with wet hair and have a glow that could power Denver for a year. I figure that might add up to something.”

My shoulders sag. “Is it that obvious?”

“From space,” she answers, pointing toward the sky. “You look stunning, by the way.”

I nearly throw my arms around her but decide not to at the last moment. I know I should be keeping more of a boss-employee relationship with her, but I can’t lie. It’s nice to have a girlfriend. I’ve moved so much in my life that I’ve ended up in my thirties without many and really no one here in Paintbrush.

“You can tell me if and when you want,” Fin goes on, letting me off the hook. “I just want to know if it was everything you dreamed it would be.”

“Oh my God, Fin.” I shake my head, thinking of how to even put it. “I have no words. It was…incredible.”

Her smile is genuine and the little celebratory jig she does makes tears spring to my eyes. She grabs my hands and jumps up and down. "I’m so happy for you. I had my fingers crossed all night. I’m so glad I don’t have to stop over at Redpoint and sucker punch your guy.”

“You would do that?”

She makes a fist that looks about as lethal as a bunny rabbit. “Just say the word.”

Laughing I hug her quickly. “Thank you, Fin.”

“Of course,” she says waving her hand as if it’s no big deal. “I’m going to order some coffee. Want any?”

“Yes. Big. Biggest they have. Cold brew.”

She giggles. “Done.”

“Liam is working tonight,” I tell Fin as we close up for the day. I’ve nearly completed the layout for our first paper, checked on the shipment of our new printing equipment, and Fin has sorted through an entire room of ancient paper, scanning and sorting until her fingers are sore. “Want to stop for a drink at Redpoint?”

Fin’s eyes light up. “That sounds fun. I haven’t been there yet, but I hear it’s great.”

“All I’ve had is the cider,” I admit, “but it is the best I’ve ever tasted.”

“Ooh,” her blue eyes widen. “Love a good cider. I’m not actually that big of a fan of beers that taste like beer, but I could definitely use something after today.”

I chuckle. “Same.”

We walk the five blocks to get to Redpoint, enjoying the gorgeous fall weather. The wind has a crisp edge to it and the leaves of the trees are beginning to burnish. I love it.

“I remember coming here when I was a little girl,” Fin mentions, gazing up at Paintbrush Peak. Its colors have changed from bright pinks and purples to golden and red. It’s breathtaking no matter the color. “I thought for sure a fairy princess lived at the top of the mountain.”

“That’s an easy assumption to make. It feels magical.”

“It does.”

“Did you grow up here?” I ask.

“No,” she says a little sadly. “I came for a few weeks every summer to stay with Grandad. My dad lives in New York, my mother in San Francisco so I was shuttled back and forth across the country every two weeks until I graduated.”

“Oh my God, that must have been awful.” As much as I moved, at least it wasn’t coast to coast every fourteen days.

She shrugs a shoulder. “I didn’t love it, but I also didn’t know any other way. I didn’t realize how nice it is to stay in one place until I went to college. So when Grandad offered me his little summer home here and a chance to work, I couldn’t resist it. My mother doesn’t know I’m working. She would shit.”

I laugh. “I’m glad you’re here,” I tell her, meaning it. “You’re doing incredible work.”

She smiles to herself. “Thank you, you’ve been so kind to me.”

“You’re welcome,” I answer, just as we arrive at Redpoint.

“Marley!” Gus shouts from behind the bar, grinning widely. The entire place turns to look at us. “You came back.”

“That’s Gus,” I tell Fin, “She’s amazing.”

“Cider?” Gus asks, already pulling it for me as we sit at the bar.

“You know it.”

“I’ll take one too,” Fin says.

Gus brings two pints over to us.

“This is Fin,” I tell Gus. “She’s working at the Post with me.”

“It’s so nice to meet you,” she shakes Fin’s hand. “You let me know if you like that cider. If not, I’ll get you something else.”

Fin lifts the glass to her lips, takes a sip, and lets out a moan of satisfaction that silences the entire brewery.

Trace, the other bartender fumbles the pint of beer he was holding and dribbles it right down his crotch.

“I’m going to guess that you like it,” Gus says, amused, half watching Trace race off the men’s room with a bright red face.

“It’s so good,” Fin gushes, pulling her eyes from Trace’s receding form. “Like candy.”

“It’s been a big hit,” Gus agrees. She turns her attention to me. “You wouldn’t happen to know why Liam is in an exceptionally good mood today would you?”

Now I turn bright red. My stomach does an excited little dance knowing he’s just feet from me and in a good mood.

“You should have seen her this morning,” Fin tells her as if they’ve been friends for years. “Late, wet hair, all lit up like a Christmas Tree. And I kept hearing her sigh from her office.” She imitates it.

Gus laughs. “Oh my God, I like you. Liam has been the same way. Humming. Actually humming to himself. Do you know how often I’ve heard him do that in a year?”

Fin shakes her head.

“Zero. Never. I didn’t even know he knew how.”

Fin laughs and my blush deepens. Somehow knowing I put him in a particularly good mood makes me feel like I’m on top of the world. I can’t stop my eyes from flicking towards his office.

As if he sensed I was there, he steps out of said office, meets my gaze and the world stands still. My heart pounds heavily. My core fires up with need, and the grin he flashes—seals the deal. I am his and there is nothing I can do about it.