Page 39 of Falling for Finn

He’s already left for work by the time I wake up. After being here officially for a week, I’m finishing my first commissioned painting today. I feel proud and accomplished.

It still needs eight hours to dry before being presented at the centennial in two days.

Finn picks me up for brunch. Neither of us mentions last night, and we barely speak until we run into Aspen at the inn.

“Hey! How’s the happy couple?” She beams, glancing at me before her gaze lands on Finn.

“We’re great!” I answer even though she’s ignoring me.

“It was so wonderful dining with you two last night,” she says, meeting my eyes. “Austin and I had afantastictime.”

Finn’s jaw clenches as if he can’t stand hearing her voice, and I’m starting to feel the same.

“Could I have a quick private moment with Finn?” Aspen asks me with a phony smile plastered on her face.

I awkwardly nod, then grab Finn’s face and smack my lips to his. His brown eyes widen, and I flash him a wink. “I’ll be over at the buffet.”

“Okay, save me a spot.”

“Will do, baby,” I singsong, then walk away.

When I grab a plate, I glance over my shoulder and see Aspen nearly glued to Finn as she talks his ear off. Seeing them so close nearly has me dry heaving. She never deserved a man like Finn, and now she’s here, flashing her engagement ring and new man in his space.

“Ineverliked her,” a voice next to me says. I’m relieved when I see Jessa. She’s leaning against the buffet as I scoop diced sweet potatoes onto my plate. “You’re way better for him.”

“We aren’t a couple,” I remind her, keeping my voice low so no one else overhears.

She flashes a mischievous smirk. “Maybe you should be.”

I snort, piling some fruit next to my potatoes. “He can hardly standpretending.”

“Finn doesn’t show emotion well, but I see the way he looks at you. He’s fighting every urge he has. I can tell,” she saysconfidently. “He never looked at Aspen the way I’ve caught him staring at you.”

Pfft.“I find that hard to believe,” I tell her. “We’re at each other’s throats more often than not.”

Not to mention, I asked him to touch me and was denied.

She waggles her brows. “Sounds like foreplay to me.”

Finn breaks free of Aspen, fills a plate, and joins me at the table. I’m tempted to ask what she wanted, but it’s not my business. If he wanted me to know, he’d tell me.

“What did the Wicked Witch of the West want?” Jessa asks, sitting across from us. Apparently, she has no problem asking, and I’m thankful.

The corner of her lips condescendingly tilts up, and I shove food in my mouth so I don’t laugh. Instead, I glance at Finn, who shoots her a glare.

“What? She’s evil.” Jessa shrugs, stealing a piece of bacon from Finn’s plate.

“Don’t you have to go take a selfie or something?” he barks.

She chews loudly to annoy him, I’m sure. “As a matter of fact, I do need to take some photos for our social media accounts today. We’re in peak season after all!” She beams, not at all offended by his question, which I find hilarious. Jessa seems easygoing and gives it as much as she takes it.

“You two always bicker like this?” I ask.

“Oh, this is nothing. Should’ve seen us when we were kids, constantly getting into trouble with my brother and ratting each other out. Though it’d ended with all three of us getting scolded.” Jessa chuckles, then looks at Finn. “Remember when you and Sebastian pushed the trampoline against the barn, then dared me to jump off the roof?”

My eyes widen in horror. “That sounds so dangerous.”

“Oh yeah, I broke my arm,” she says casually. “The boys were grounded for a month.”

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