Page 57 of Finn

“Ha ha.” Sammie rolls her eyes at me. “I know that. But look at how sharp their claws are.”

I tell her, “Don’t worry. I’ll help you crack ’em open. I’ll show you how not to get cut.” I raise a brow. “Do you trust me?”

Her green eyes soften as she says, “Actually, I do, Finn.”

Oh, Sammie, the things you do to me when you say shit like that.

There are moments, like these, when I just want to stop everything and tell her I fucking love her.

And that I want her—in every way possible.

I just may do that someday.

But not now.

The time has to be right.

I feel it’s coming soon, that perfect moment.

I just hope it happens while we’re still here in Alaska.

I keep my promise to Sammie.

The snow crab is no problem, but I teach her how to use the metal crackers in the best possible manner so as not to get stabbed by the spiny shells of the king crab.

She learns quickly and does a great job.

Nodding approvingly, I say, “See, you’re cracking them like a pro, like a true Alaskan.”

“I feel like one,” she shares with a smile. “This is fun.”

Softly, I say, “I’m glad you’re having a good time, Sammie.”

I am.

I want her to have the best time up here.

After we eat and clean up the kitchen, Sammie comes with me outside, where I plan to chop some wood. I have a big stone fireplace in the living room, but we haven’t used it yet. Theweather has been mostly sunny and fairly mild the past few days, though the nights have gotten cold. That’s why we’ve kept the furnace on.

But the temperature really plummeted today.

Tonight will be freezing, like literally. We may even get some snow. I figure that hanging out in front of a roaring fire might make for a nice, mellow evening.

A warm one too.

It may even be a little romantic.

We’ll see.

By the woodpile, even though we’re bundled up in parkas and gloves, Sammie starts shivering.

“Yikes,” she says. “It gets cold in Atlanta sometimes, like in January, but this is some next-level freezing.”

I laugh as I grab a thick log and an axe. “It does get down in your bones up here,” I agree. And then I say, “You can go back inside if you want. This won’t take too long.”

“No.” She flips up the hood of her coat, clearly determined to stay. “I’ll acclimate in a few minutes.”

I shrug. “Okay, if you say so. But if you change your mind…”

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