Page 46 of The Dangers of Daydreaming

“Well, no, but I don’t think that’s really something you schedule into your planner… it’s more of a surprise situation. And it’s better to be prepared.”

“But you never prepare.”

“What do you mean?” There was a crease between his dark brows.

I picked up my duffle and put it on the other bed, sitting down with a plop. “You know. You couldn’t even tell me which locations you were going to this week. You said you don’t like to plan ahead.” I didn’t mention everything about selling the Barn and Breakfast, since it was likely still a sensitive subject.

He shoved his hands into his pockets. He did that a lot. Nervous tick? His shoulders lifted in a shrug. “If you’re going to go all Dr. Phil on me, then you can go ahead and have the other bed. I’ll climb out the window while you fight off the bad guys.”

My lips twitched. “So much for chivalry.”

“You can only press so many buttons before I break.”

I grabbed my toiletry bag and a folded set of pajamas from the top of the duffle, using the conversation to hide that I didn’t know what to do with myself here. I was aware of what happened in books when the main characters had to stay in the same room. Of course, usually there was only one bed, so I was at least doing better than those heroines.

“I’m going to get ready for bed. Knock if there are any bad guys?” I asked.

Finn’s lips lifted into a lopsided smile as I moved past him. He was standing at the foot of the bed, and I had to fit myself between him and the dresser at my back as I turned sideways. That smile of his stayed in place as he looked down on me, holding me there for the barest of moments. Caught by his stare. Caught by whatever was deep down there.

Except it wasn’t some unnamed emotion. I knew exactly what it was because he’d told me. What I was seeing was attraction. Appreciation.

And I’d said no to a date.

I was starting to regret that decision. But that in itself was reason to stick to it. I couldn’t let attraction—because yes, I could admit I was attracted to Finn—cloud my logic.

I averted my eyes, making it the last inch and a half past him, then beelined for the bathroom. It didn’t feel fully safe until I had the door closed behind me and the bright lights above the mirror providing much-needed clarity. I had seen time and again, in myself and in others, what falling too hard, too fast did. I was watching it play out in real time with my mother and her fiancé. Add in a guy in another country? How could that possibly work?

No, I’d be better off pretending nothing had happened in that lighthouse and finishing what I came here for. I may not know him well, but I did know that Finn never seemed completely serious about anything, and he had said himself that it didn’t matter what happened after a date between us. It might not matter to him, but I wasn’t up for a little fling. Not only would it be pointless and go nowhere, but it would distract me from my real goal: getting the promotion. When I got home in a week, it wouldn’t matter if I’d had a good date or even four or five; it would matter if I had a good presentation to get me the job. That’s where my focus needed to be.

I got ready for bed, definitely not lamenting how I’d chosen to pack sweats and a faded T-shirt that saida book a day keeps real life awayrather than something cute, took off my makeup, threw my hair on top of my head, and exited the room.

Finn was readingPretenseon his bed when I came out. His legs were crossed at the ankles, and he was wearing black joggers. The bathroom had apparently been a buffer, not a cure, from my feelings, because seeing him relaxed like that sent electricity down my spine. Why was a man holding a book so attractive?

As I tucked my things back into my bag, his eyes flicked up over the top of the book. Slowly, they dropped down the length of me, then landed on my hair piled on my head. His lips quirked up.

“You’re cute,” he said.

I shook my head, pulling my phone charger from my bag and plugging it in.

“What?” he asked. “Is there something wrong with complimenting a woman?”

“Yes, when you’re just teasing her.”

“I would never joke about how cute you are, Luce.”

“You’re doing it right now.”

His eyes were on mine, his lips still lifted in a dangerous smile. “No, I’m not.” He set the book down, pages splayed open on the white comforter. “Is it the adjective you take issue with? I could come up with a different one. Pretty. Attractive. Bea—”

“Okay, okay, you make a good thesaurus, I get it.”

“Guess that means we’re a good match,” he said. “Those can be our first Halloween costumes: Dictionary and Thesaurus.” He was sitting on the side of the bed now, leaning back with hands on the blankets and a crooked smile on his face.

“I’ve got some work to do,” I said, deciding that ignoring him was my best bet. Obviously, I couldn’t engage anymore—with that grin on his face and that fire in his eyes, I wasn’t about to win any conversation, no matter how advanced my vocabulary might be.

I pulled out my laptop, lay back on the pillows, and stared at the screen. It took me several long moments to remember what I was supposed to be doing.

“I’m going to take a shower,” Finn said, standing.

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