Page 57 of Wintertime Love (Holiday 2)

Shyness suddenly overcomes me, so uncharacteristic that it has me bewildered, as I try to look everywhere but his eyes. “I never said I wanted to get rid of you.”

“You keep asking me when I’m leaving.”

“Well…” I fidget with his sleeve, picking up his habit. “It’s just – I don’t – I might be – also – with you.”

Finn stares at me as he shakes his head. “I’m sorry, what?”

I swallow, meeting his gaze, and then seizing onto a strand of escaping courage, I growl, “I love you, too, you idiot.” Then my entire face burns and I want to hide it from him.

Finn doesn’t let me. He holds me in place, looking stunned. “Say that again.”

I really don’t want to.

“There’s nothing wrong with your hearing,” I mutter.

He tightens his hold on my face, repeating insistently, his voice dark, “Say that again.”

I have no place to escape to and I end up having to repeat the three words that he is determined to get out of me, “I love you.”

His chest is heaving and there’s a strange emotion in his eyes, as he demands, “You mean it?”

I bite my lower lip and nod.

“Say it again!”

Now I glare at him. “Why? Are you going deaf?”

His face is breaking out in a broad smile. “You don’t have a single romantic bone in your body, do you?” And even as he says this, he’s kissing me senseless, laughing all the while.

My chest flutters as he repeats those three words against my lips, in my ear, against my cheek and by the end of it, my heart is beating so loudly, I’m sure that the next town over can hear it!

I have to push Finn off of me, mindful that we are still in front of a cemetery and I take a few deep breaths, my cheeks are flushed, my heartbeat uneven. “Let’s-“ I try to compose myself and fail, “Let’s go to the park and talk. Less people around.” If we go to the diner, people will start showing up.

“Or…” Finn is watching me with a small smirk that doesn’t hide the happiness on his face, “…we could go to my new house.”

I stare at him.

Hamilton Point was named after the original owners who built this large house. It used be a grand place till it started going into ruin when the previous owners found themselves unable to maintain the place. The large driveway is surrounded but thorny bushes which have shed their leaves to the bitter cold. The place is in desperate need of a paint job but I can see that a lot of repairs are in progress.

Nick has been working hard.

I turn to look at Finn who’s standing next to me. “You bought this place? Then the call from the realtor the other day-?”

“My assistant has been handling all the details and that was just to sign the contract.” His eyes move over the proud looking house that is struggling to survive.

“But why?” My voice is low.

“Why do you think?”

For me? But this seems a little arrogant. I purse my lips. “Because you have a lot of money to throw away?”

Finn gives me a look.

I relent, looking away. “Sorry.”

He starts walking and I follow him after a beat. His voice is thoughtful as he makes his way towards the front door, “I like this town. I like the people. It reminds me of home. My first home.” He inserts the key in the lock and turns it, before looking over his shoulder, his gaze darkly possessive.

This make a sliver of thrill run down my spine.

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