Page 73 of Something Unforgettable

Pops frowned. “That sounds nice, but I don’t need a place to live.”

Here came the hard part. “You would if you sold the store,” Finn said.

Pops’s pale white eyebrows went up. “You want me to sell the store?”

“I want you to think about maybe retiring in the next couple years. And maybe in the meantime, live in a really nice guest house that doesn’t have any stairs to fall down.” Finn would have crossed his fingers if he had a hand free. He held his breath instead.

Pops sat, looking into space. “You know, my retirement plan was always to drop dead at work someday.”

“Pops!” Finn said. It was his turn to be aghast.

“Well, it’s true,” Pops returned. “But maybe my world needs to get a little bigger, too.” He raised a staying hand when Finn started smiling. “I’m not saying yes. Not yet and not for sure. But I am willing to let you convince me.” He looked thoughtful. “Grace and I talked years ago about her buying the store someday. I said no at the time, but maybe we can talk about it again.”

Finn’s jaw wobbled and he hugged Pops again to hide it. The relief and the feeling of possibilities opening in front of him was overwhelming. He reached behind himself blindly until Xavier squeezed his hand. He was more than ready for whatever came next.

TwoMonthsLater

The late December snow was just deep enough to turn the fields white, moonlight reflecting off the landscape. Finn’s boots crunched in the powder. That, and Xavier walking next to him, was all he could hear, everything else muffled by the snowy blanket.

“Are you sure we didn’t need to bring anything?” he asked for the second—okay, maybe it was the third time. It was a party, after all, and he’d feel better if they brought a gift.

Xavier lifted Finn’s hand and kissed the back of it, which made Finn smile, even though he couldn’t feel it through his glove.

“Nick made me promise not to,” Xavier said, pausing to open the gate that separated their small field from the driveway up to the ranch. “He’s vetoed us spending any more money on them this year.”

Finn shook his head, amused. Xavier had commissioned Archer to paint a portrait of the three of them on horseback. Finn hadn’t seen it yet, but Micah said it was perfect. Finn didn’t have trouble believing that. The one of Micah and Lex that was hanging in Xavier’s New York City apartment was so gorgeous that several of Xavier’s friends had asked for the artist’s contact information. Archer was going to be a busy guy.

As they got closer to the farmhouse, the familiar scent of woodsmoke mixed with the crisp air. Finn took a deep breath, filling his lungs. He loved the mountains in winter. He’d missed it while they were away.

The house was so pretty, all lit up with white twinkle lights wrapped around the porch columns and draped over the bushes. There was a wreath with a big red bow on the door and inside a Christmas tree glowed, warm and inviting.

Xavier squeezed his hand as they climbed the front steps. “Okay?” he asked.

Finn turned when they reached the top and tugged him down for a kiss. Xavier’s lips were cool from the wind, but his tongue was warm when it dipped into Finn’s mouth. Finn smiled when the kiss ended.

“I’m okay. I never worry as much when you’re with me.”

Xavier’s eyes creased at the corners as he returned the smile. “Good.”

“Finn!” Micah said, pulling open the door and releasing a wash of warm air. “Xavier. You made it.” He stepped out, hissing when his bare feet touched the cold wood of the porch. Finn met him halfway for a hug. “Crap. You’re a popsicle,” Micah said, his warm cheek pressed against Finn’s cold one.

Finn laughed and pulled back to kick the snow off his boots.

“We walked,” he said. “The snow was too pretty.” He let Micah hustle him inside, then stepped out of the way so he could get his wet boots off. Xavier was doing the same behind him while Micah announced their arrival to the rest of the guests.

Micah disappeared into the other room, so once they were out of their winter gear, Finn closed the door against the cold, took Xavier’s offered hand, and followed.

Several people called out greetings as they stepped into the open space. Finn relaxed when Xavier’s hand found the small of his back and nudged him in the direction of the bar. His Daddy knew Finn felt better about social situations when he had something to do with his hands, and a drink worked nicely for that.

Ryan greeted them as they walked up. He was straining a frosty-white drink, garnished with a sprig of rosemary and a handful of cranberries, into three low glasses.

“Mistletoe Kiss?” he asked, offering Finn one of the glasses.

“Are you trying to make Xavi jealous?” Finn teased as he took the drink.

Ryan laughed. “Did you need me to?” He handed Xavier the other drink, then held up the third for them to clink. “Happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year,” Finn echoed, even though it was still several hours until midnight. He sniffed his drink before taking a sip. It was astringent and only slightly sweet, kind of like a vodka lemonade with a pine tree undertone—probably from the rosemary. He tried not to wrinkle his nose.

---