Page 61 of Wintertime Love (Holiday 2)

Lucia and Nick are now staring at us but I can’t even be bothered but them, the implication in Finn’s words is seizing me by the throat.

Why does that sound like a marriage proposal?

I don’t know that I’ve said the words out loud till Finn raises a brow and responds, easily, “Because I intend to marry you.”

Lucia’s loud gasp flows by my ears and I can’t even be bothered to glance at her, frozen in my place. “What?”

Finn reaches out and taps on the ring finger on my left hand. “I plan to put a ring on here.”

I immediately cover my hand protectively, my eyes wide with shock. “That’s a little sudden, isn’t it?”

And yet why is my heart beating so wildly and my face feeling so hot?

“Is it?” Finn shrugs. “I’ve always been the type to go after something once I decide on it.”

“Well, I’m not an ‘it’,” I stammer out, cradling my hand to my chest, eyeing him with no small amount of caution.

He rakes his eyes over my body, deliberately, and I flush, as he says, “No. What you are is mine.”

“That’s – You –“ I try to say something but nothing comes out and I’m left spluttering, so stunned that I can’t even form a single sentence in my blank mind.

The way he’s claiming me so openly, it should make me angrier, right?

Yet, I can’t find a single spark of irritation inside of me, his words just feel right.

“I’m not marrying you!” I declare, feeling cornered and my defiance rearing its head. When he doesn’t say anything, I have the urge to hit him, and I snap, “Stop looking so smug. I mean it. I’m not!”

Finn moves his broad shoulders in a careless shrug that smirk still playing on his lips. “I got you to go out with me, didn’t I?”

A giggle bursts out of Lucia’s mouth.

I glare at her.

She says, “He wore you down, eventually, you’ve got to admit.”

My jaw tightens. “That and this are two different things!”

Finn doesn’t look too conce

rned, reaching out to grab a menu. “No, it’s not.”

“Yes, it is!” I nearly shout and I have to lower my tone with effort.

Finn gives me a puzzled look that is laced with hurt. “Why don’t you want to marry me? Is it something I did?” His brows draw together as he adopts an injured air. “Am I not good enough for you? Or am I just not good enough to marry?”

His wounded words make me flounder, the hurt look in his eyes, making me say, hastily, “Of course not! That’s not it! You’re good enough to marry! There’s nothing wrong with you. I just…”

He smiles in satisfaction, his entire act evaporating. “So, we’re on the same page. Good.” He stands up, not giving me a chance to get a word in edgewise. “I have to run, Darlin’.” He leans over the counter, smacks a kiss on my parted lips and gleefully escapes.

I gape after him, feeling like I’ve just lost both the battle and the war.

Nick and Lucia are staring at me.

I slowly meet their gazes, stunned. “Did that just happen?”

Nick lets out a whistle. “Well, damn. And I thought I was smooth.”

“Shut up, Nick,” I growl.

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