Page 54 of Mistletoe & Magic
The back door creaks open and Finn’s voice booms through the kitchen. “Juniebug! Tell me you got me a fritter!”
Junie grins like the cat who caught the canary. “Sure did, Uncle Finn. And now you owe me ten bucks.”
“Ten?” Finn kicks the door shut with his boot and hangs his jacket, raising a brow. “Whoa, inflation hit hard. Last week it was five.”
Junie shrugs, completely unfazed. “Supply and demand. I’m the supplier.”
I bite back a laugh as she sets the donut box on the counter and pulls out a napkin with dramatic flair.
Finn leans over her shoulder to examine the donut selection. “And what exactly am I paying for, boss lady?”
“You bet me Dad would never kiss Ivy,” Junie says proudly, like she just cracked a case wide open. “And he totally wants to. You can see it all over his face. I bet they kissed this morning when they were in his room with the door…”
“Junie,” Remy groans, covering her mouth.
Junie ignores him, shrugs him off, and takes a giant bite of her sprinkle donut. “So. Pay up, Uncle Finn.”
Finn looks between me and Remy, grinning like the devil. “Well, now I have to see some evidence. Gotta make sure my ten bucks is legit.”
I clear my throat and raise my brows at Remy. “Well? You heard the kid. Is this true? Do you want to smooch me?”
Junie breaks into a fit of giggles, and Finn grins so big he has to brace himself on the counter. Tate and Willa are watching this all with fascination.
Remy just shakes his head and mutters something about meddling, but when his eyes meet mine, they’re dark and warm and full of trouble.
“Yeah, Ivy,” he says finally, leaning closer. “I definitely want to smooch you.”
Junie gasps, and Finn whoops. “That’s ten bucks well spent!” as Remy cups my face and kisses me right there in front of everyone.
Later, when everyone has gone home but Finn and the kitchen still smells like sugar and coffee, Junie bounces on her toes as Remy grabs his coat.
“Come on, kiddo,” he says, pulling his hat on. “Come help me at the farm stand.”
Junie grabs her coat and darts after him. “Don’t forget my ten bucks!” She calls over her shoulder.
The back door shuts, and suddenly it’s just me and Finn.
He doesn’t say anything right away. Just leans against the counter and gives me a look. The kind of look that sayswe’re going to talk.
I think I know what’s coming.
“So,” he says finally, “you and my brother finally got your heads out of your butts.”
My cheeks warm. “Yep.”
He nods like he’s absorbing the news. “I love you, Ivy. You know that. You’ve always been like a little sister to me.”
My throat tightens a little. “I know.”
“But,” he says, holding up a finger, “you mess this up, and I will never forgive you. They’ve been through so much, and they deserve good things.”
I laugh so hard I nearly choke on my coffee. “Oh, Finn. You don’t have to worry about that.”
“Not kidding,” he says seriously. Then he softens, leaning his hip against the table. “Look. Sloane really messed them up for a long time. Junie got the worst of it, but Remy…” He shakes his head. “He held it together for her, but it cost him. He doesn’t do this stuff lightly. He hasn’t been with anyone else. Never took a chance. And he’s had plenty of people interested in him. You are special, and he really likes you. So don’t run off if it gets messy, okay?”
Something in my chest aches. “I’m not going anywhere,” I say quietly.
Finn studies me for a long moment, then nods. “Good. I haven’t seen him smile like that in years. And Junie? She was practically skipping on the way to the barn. You’re good for them.”
