Page 133 of When The Rain Falls

My heart’s deepest desire is 5’11”, with size 12 feet, hair the color of rich earth, broad shoulders, stormy eyes, and the biggest heart I’ve ever met.

Finn lets me control the stereo as we drive out of Maple Court and turn onto an empty rural road framed by tall pine trees. Before long, he’s pulling into a local park and parking in the back of a secluded lot. We’re the only ones here.

“What are we doing here?” I ask, slightly confused.

“I packed a picnic,” he says before stepping out and rounding the vehicle to open my door. I guess the comment about chivalry got to him.

“Darling,” he says seriously as he takes my hand and guides me out of the van, “I need you to know that this isn’t a typical first date.” He pulls me close and guides my hands around his neck.

“I’m really glad you told me this,” I say sarcastically as I playfully roll my eyes and lift my face to his. “Because I’d have never guessed that on my own.”

“I’m serious,” he continues. When both his hands settle at the small of my back, I press my hips into his. “This isn’t a typical first date because I’ve never been on a first date with someone that I already loved.” He pauses before continuing. “And that I knew would be my wife.” The sentence just falls out of his mouth like it’s nothing. We haven’t talked about anything like marriage yet. But I’d marry the shit out of him.

“Oh really?” I tease. “You think I’m just going to be your wife now?” I sway from his neck and lean back so we can get lost in each other’s eyes.

“Oh, I know you will be.” His expression is all mischief and arrogance. “But I can’t ask you yet. Not officially. Because this is just our first date. And I’m going to have so much fun dating you first.”

I throw my head back and laugh. But there’s more than laughter in my chest. My heart is filling up with warmth at the thought of being his. Officially. Formally. Forever. In his arms is where I first felt wanted. In his arms is where I first felt love. Real love. And in his arms is where I want to be forever.

“Well, this isn’t a typical first date for me, either,” I respond. “Because I’ve never been on a first date where I knew it would be my last one.”

Finn brings his nose to mine. “It’s settled then,” he says. “All that’s left to discuss is kids.” Then he matter-of-factly adds, “we’ll have five.”

I blink up at him. “Ok, Mr. Lawyer. I hope that’s just your opening offer, because,nope.”

Finn runs both hands down the small of my back before slipping them into my back pockets. His fingers splay across my backside.

“You know what?” he says. “Don’t answer right away. We’ll talk later. Maybe when your sweet little body is beneath mine and you’re practically begging for me. That’s when I’m most powerful.”

Motherfucker. He knows my weakness.

Finn leans in to kiss my nose when a giant raindrop falls on my shoulder. We both look skyward at the blanket of dark clouds looming on the horizon.

“I hope you have a plan B,” I tease, thinking about our picnic.

“It’ll be fine,” he assures me. “This is how I like my meals. Spread out in front of me and soaking wet.” His eyes narrow into heated slits and forge a trail of scorch marks across my body. I can almost smell my flesh burning.

“You’re a monster,” I murmur. “And I love it.”

“If you love this, wait until you see what I have planned for our second date.” He presses against me and I can feel his desire rising.

“Finnius Albert Hudson. How can you be so sure you’re getting a second date?” I cluck at him. “After you just eye-fucked me in the most ungentlemanly manner?”

“Darling, I have this datein the bag.” He nips at my ear. “I cut the sandwiches into tiny little triangles. You’re going to think it’s adorable. And then you’re going to tell me how cute I am. And then you’re going to?—"

“Can you shut your arrogant mouth and kiss me already?”

“Typically that happens at the end of the date,” he corrects me.

“This isn’t a typical date, remember? And I want to kiss you.” My thumbs flitter across the back of his neck. I tease the short hairs at the base of his head and a comforting shiver runs through me.

“Well, Iwasplanning on roughing you up in the back seat later, but we can do that first, if you insist.”

“I’m going to like that.”

“Oh, you’re going to like it. Multiple times,” he urges. I bite my lip as I imagine all the different ways I’m going to like it. Finn lifts his arm to the van. The key fob seems to have appeared out of nowhere.

I’m thinking about how I’m going to pry that stupid thing out of his fingers, when the slider door creeps open. It opens to reveal that the last row of seats have been replaced with an air mattress, blankets and pillows. Decorative lights are strung from the top and I wonder how I missed that earlier.

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