Page 15 of Grump of Misty Mountain

“You tell ‘em, Sami.” Her encouragement was just what I needed.

John looked from me to Finn and back again. “Who’s this guy to you?”

“I’m the guy sharing her bed. And even though you were a world class prick to her, I’m hoping she won’t let that keep her from giving love another shot. With me.” Finn had been looking at me the entire time he spoke.

Everyone, all the noise in the cafe, faded to the background as I looked into Finn’s eyes. I forgot what else I wanted to say to John. It didn’t matter. I could demonstrate just as easily how little he no longer meant to me.

Reaching for each other at the same time. I stood on my toes to meet Finn’s lips as he covered mine in a very not safe for work kiss.

How long we stood there, I didn’t know. How long before John stormed out, I couldn’t say. But I did know how long I wanted to be in his arms, sharing these toe-curling kisses.

But this wasn’t the time or the place to tell Finn how I felt about him. Because there was a secret that needed to be addressed and it wasn’t mine.

TEN

FINN

Sami askedme to give her a day, maybe two, to work through everything that had happened at the cafe with her ex. That was three days ago, and I was just about ready to drive to her place and bang on her door to let me in when my cell chimed with her text asking to meet at our place in an hour.

That could mean only one location. Whispering Falls. I’d never been so nervous in my life. Not faced against the enemy, not when I’d retired and now even when I didn’t know what the hell I was going to do with my life when I’d only known the Army for my adult life.

When I arrived, I took note of a few other people around the falls, but Sami had claimed the bench. She hadn’t noticed me yet, so I took the opportunity to look my fill as I approached. Déjà vu hit me as I thought back to the first time I’d found her here. And just like then, she was so damn beautiful. My heart may have skipped a beat.

But she was also smart, funny and kind. I couldn’t imagine my life without her in it. And I was to beg if I had to. I knew webelonged together. Our connection was so much more than great sex.

When she finally noticed me, her face lit up, and damn if my heart didn’t do that old school cartoon thumping. I wouldn’t be surprised if my eyes had big fat hearts shooting from them, either. Relief washed over me as she held my gaze.

Scooting over to make room for me, she patted the wood. “Hey.” Her soft greeting welcomed me, reminding me of each time she sighed my name as I entered her body. And yeah, I had it so damn bad for her.

“Hey back.” Breaking eye contact was difficult, but I wanted to give her time and space to tell me what she needed to say without worry of me losing control and touching her.

“So.” Sami sighed.

“So.” I parroted, then chuckled.

She joined me, then let out another wistful sigh. “Sorry. I thought I knew what I wanted to say. How I wanted to say it, but….” Sami shrugged her shoulders, then started again. “The way you’re looking at me is not helping.”

“You told me you like the way I look at you. Many times. And I like looking at you—a lot. Especially when we’re both naked.” I was going to use everything in my arsenal, especially seduction. God, I hope it worked.

“I did. I do. But I need to get through this without it turning into a make-out session, okay?” Sami’s stern sounding words didn’t quite match the need in her eyes, and it gave me some hope she wasn’t going to end things.

“Okay. I promise to keep my hands and my lips to myself.”

“Thank you.”

“For now.” I added, grinning.

She rolled her eyes, then looked off toward the falls. The sun had begun to dip behind the ridge, and pink and purple splashes began painting the sky. “I love this spot.”

If she wanted to gaze at the sunset and the falls till dark, I was content to watch her do just that. No longer in a hurry, I’d wait until she was ready to talk.

“Do you think the falls got its name because of the sound it makes, or because it’s a good place for whispered secrets?” Sami asked, her soft voice wrapping around my heart. And I knew exactly why’d she’d phrased her question that way. She’d somehow found out about my pen name. I had no other secrets.

“Maybe a bit of both. I would say this place is also perfect for whispered confessions. In fact, I’ve got one to make.” Without breaking my promise, I leaned in, placed my mouth as close to her ear as I could without touching, and whispered, “I write the O’Sullivan series.” I blew into her ear for good measure.

Sami shivered. Her reaction filled me with male pride and triumph. Whether she was planning to walk away from me or not, there was no denying our chemistry. “But you already figured that out, right?”

Nodding, she licked her lips nervously. “The other day, before I left for work, I went looking for some paper to write you a note. I noticed your office door was ajar, which it never had been before, so I went in thinking if you didn’t want me in there, you would have made sure to close it, right?”

---