Page 37 of Stirring Up Love
“I can’t.”
“Two days, that’s all I’m asking. Let me help you get back to Illinois in time for your sister’s bachelorette party. What better way to get to know someone than on an epic road trip?”
“No way. You’re not Harry, and I’m sure as heck not Sally.”
“Obviously. Wrong road trip movie.” Finn splayed a hand to his chest. “Clearly I’m the quick-talking, fast-thinking Louise.” He lifted his palm toward her. “And you’re Thelma.”
“Please. If anything, you’re the random drifter who Thelma—”
“Bangs?”
This time Simone couldn’t contain a smile, and Finn’s cheek bulged where he pressed his tongue into it, like he was pleased. She shouldn’t care that she’d made him happy. His joy shouldn’t pull the edges of her lips higher, but it did.
“Back to our predicament ...”
“Mypredicament,” she said, correcting him.
He shrugged, as if the distinction was inconsequential. It wasn’t.
“Driving is the perfect solution. You get back to your sister’s in time. And I get a chance to prove what an awesome, stand-up guy Iam. Next thing you know you’re ready to jump into b—” She shot her eyes toward him, and he grinned. “Business with me. Mind in the gutter much?”
She bounced the rolled-up magazine against her thigh to keep herself from smacking him with it. “And if I decide you’re a despicable human being?” She already had, and no amount of groveling would change that.
“Then back out of the deal. Nothing changes. But Simone, give me a chance.” He clasped his fingers together and held them under his chin. “Please. This is my future on the line.”
There he went with the puppy dog eyes. Not fair. But even though she would probably be able to fly out soon, driving across the country might be the perfect way to find some dirt on him. By the time they got back to Illinois, she could have her ticket to freedom punched.
She stole a quick glance down from his folded hands to his strong, tattooed forearms. At least the scenery couldn’t be beat. “Two days?”
“Two days.”
“No detours?”
“No detours.” One corner of his mouth hitched up, and she prodded his knee with the magazine.
“I mean it, Finn. It’s not a joyride. We drive straight through, and if you don’t convince me by the time we reach Chicago, I pull the plug.”
“Like an overheated toaster.”
Finn shrugged into his red-and-black buffalo plaid jacket and flipped down the collar. He pulled a beanie out of his pocket and slid it onto his head. Wavy hair poked out the front, and Simone willed herself not to swoon. He looked up at her from under the fringe of his hair. “Deal?”
Way too adorable for her own good, this man. “Deal. But I get to pick the ride.”
CHAPTER 15
FINN
“Who rents a convertible in December?” Finn adjusted the mirrors and fiddled with the height of the steering wheel. With the low seats in this ground-hugging sports car, he’d have a crick in his neck before they even got out of the rental lot.
“It was only a little more than the sedan.” Simone didn’t deign to look up from her phone. She’d insisted he drive the first shift so she could take care of some emails. Assumed he didn’t have any work to catch up on, or maybe she just didn’t care. But since he’d been the one to suggest the road trip, he went along with her little power play.
Also, there was his whole convince-her-to-partner-with-him plan. Which meant he should be on his best behavior. Which would’ve been a whole lot easier around anyone besides Simone High and Mighty Blake.
“Because it’sDecember.” He shifted into drive and pulled out of the parking lot, stealing another glance her way under pretense of checking his blind spot. “No one wants to cruise with their top down in the winter.”
Her eyebrows appeared over the top of the sunglasses. “We’re in Southern California. I’m pretty sure that’s standard practice.”
“For now.”
