Page 1 of Falling for Finn

CHAPTER ONE

OAKLEY

DAY 1

A blue rusticChevy truck that looks like it fell straight from an old film slows down in front of me. My brows rise when I see the Bennett Orchard Farms logo on the door and then meet the deep-brown eyes of the man driving.

Whoever he is couldn’t look less thrilled about being here if he tried. Deep frown lines and a tense jaw. He could model for a constipation ad.

I flew from Northern California to Maplewood Falls, Vermont, and after two connecting flights, several coffees and bathroom breaks, I’m finally here. The Bennetts insisted they drive me to the farm from the airport, and after pricing a rental car, I agreed.

His gaze moves up and down my curves before he leans out the window.

“Oakley Benson?” he barks in a smooth, deep voice.

“Yep, that’s me,” I say politely.

He jerks his head. “Great. Get in.”

I lift my carry-on and duffel to put them in the back but struggle with my oversized suitcase. Although it’s in the lower sixties and I’m wearing light clothing, I’m breaking into a sweat trying to deadlift it. After two minutes of failing, the guy who couldn’t look less excited to be here gets out.

He’s tall, wearing a plaid flannel shirt, jeans, and boots. Scruff grows along his chin and jawline, and when his tongue darts out to lick his plump bottom lip, I have to force myself to look away.

I take a step back, and he grabs my hard-shell suitcase, then tosses it into the back of the truck with a heavy thud. Based on his body language, he’s not thrilled about being my ride. This isn’t the reaction I expected after he drank me in a few moments ago.

“Hey! Things in there could break.” I scoff, but he ignores me.

“We don’t have time to stand around all day. Get in.” He taps his knuckles against the roof of the truck before climbing in and slamming the door. No hello, nice to meet you or even a friendly introduction. Not even the hint of a smile. First impressions are important to me, and he failed. He’s a grump who’s acting like someone pissed in his apple cinnamon oatmeal this morning.

One of my biggest pet peeves is being rushed, but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. I try to push my annoyance aside because I’ll have to deal with this guy for the next hour.

After we drive for a few minutes in silence, I open my purse and grab some gum. “Want a piece?”

He looks at the package, then at me before returning his gaze to the road.

“Okay, guess not,” I mutter, shoving one into my mouth. I keep my eyes focused away from him, but then I remember I need to text my sister so she knows I made it okay.

Oakley

I’m alive in Vermont!

Tiernan

Oh good! Don’t forget to send me pictures of all the pretty leaves! I need to live vicariously through you since I don’t know what fall looks like anymore.

I snicker. My sister’s sixteen years older than me and lives in Florida with her husband, Everett. She’s told me it’s either warm, hot, or scorching, and the four seasons we were used to in the Midwest don’t exist down there.

After snapping several pictures of the gorgeous trees, I send them her way.

Now that I’ve seen the bright oranges and burnt reds, I’m even more excited to paint the Bennetts’ orchard farm for their centennial celebration in ten days.

Oakley

The guy who picked me up from the airport is a jerk. And of course he’s hot. All the hot ones are rude.

Tiernan

Damn, that sucks. Scale from 1-10, how hot are we talking?

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