Page 25 of Fluttering Heart

Waiting in the lobby of one of the huge high rises of the city for Lou to come down so we can get our date started.

I texted Beau to distract myself from the butterflies—butterflies!I’ve never felt those before, but my brain has apparently found a way to connect every thought, every idea, every situation to Lou.

He’s so deeply ingrained in my brain after less than a week, that I think me becoming obsessed before a month has passed is a serious possibility, so love isn’t that much of a stretch.

Not with the way we connect when we talk, when we kiss, when we fuck...

Aaaand I need to think of something else. This definitely isn’t the place to get a boner.

“Finn.” I hear his beautiful voice and my lips just stretch on their own.

He looks so damn good, smiling as he power walks out of the elevator. I grab him as soon as my arms can reach him, and kiss the living hell out of him until a feminine throat clearing reminds me where we are.

“Sorry,” Lou says sheepishly. His cheeks pinken slightly and that just makes me want to find a supply closet where I can have my way with him. There has to be one of those around, right? But his next words stop me. “Finn, this is Clarice Wells, my boss. Clarice, this is Finn, the man I told you about this morning.”

He told his boss about me?

I’m gonna marry this man.

An unhinged thought if I’ve ever had one, but I feel it in my gut.

“It’s an honor to meet you, ma’am.” I hurry to speak when I fear I’ve gone into my head for too long. I offer her my hand and she shakes it—strongly. “I’ve been a fan for many years.”

“Have you?” she asks, clearly surprised, and maybe a bit... skeptical? That’s fine by me. It means she cares about Lou and wants me to prove myself.

I like that he has her in his corner.

“I have,” I confirm simply.

“That’s a good start. I won’t keep you, but I just needed to make sure my best employee is well taken care of.” She looks formidable and is clearly threatening me, so I’ll do my best to reassure her.

“I think he takes great care of himself, but I consider it an honor that I can be there for him when he needs support.”

There, that was okay, wasn’t it?

By the blinding smiles I’m getting, I think I nailed it actually.

Clarice turns to Lou and her smile softens a little. “I know you probably won’t, but please don’t forget that conference call with the UK office tomorrow, okay?”

“I won’t,” he says confidently. “You’re also supposed to be retired, so why don’t you considernotjoining that meeting since Clara, the CEOyouappointed and trained, and your daughter, can handle it.” I bite my lip so I don’t smile at how adorable Lou looks, trying for stern but he’s adorable. And it’s clear Clarice thinks the same by the indulgent smile she answers with.

I know what meeting he’s talking about since he told me this morning, and that’s why I had Beau doing me that favor.

“Great. Have fun visiting Crushville. It really is a great town. My husband and I go up at least once a month.”

She’s gone before I can ask her about it, but I get it.

It’s the end of the workday and everyone just wants to get home.

“I’m ready for soup,” I announce and gallantly offer Lou my arm. He giggles adorably and takes it.

We get there easily enough—it’s just two blocks away—but winter isvery realin Chicago and we need defrosting by the time I open the door for him.

Lou goes for a ramen soup that’s apparently new, and I go for a classic onion soup. It’s really good soup.

But the company’s even better.

He tells me about his day—how Clarice was definitely not supposed to be there, but he knows it’s because of him. He can’t hide how happy that makes him, but I’m not mean, so I don’t point that out, and since his job is fascinating I’m listening intently and riveted the whole time. I try to dissuade him from talking about my work, but he’s interested as well, something I know very few people are.

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