“Hi, Chloe. This is Liza. It’s nice to meet you, albeit not face-to-face.”
“You, too.”
“We’ll make it official when I see you tonight. I do hope Finn mentioned the gala this evening and that you’ll be joining him?”
“Umm…”
“He forgot to tell you.”
“I think he might want to attend by himself.”
“And be subjected to unwanted attention from all the single women?” She laughs. “Doubtful. He likes to leave that to his brothers. I’m guessing it slipped his mind is all, so if you could let him know we’ll see you both by eight o’clock, that would be great.”
“I’ll tell him, but—”
“Thank you, darling. Oh, and please remind him it’s black tie. Goodbye.” She hangs up before I can decline her invitation. I stare at Finn’s phone, unsure how I feel about this. On the one hand, Finn doesn’t have a date.Yay!But on the other hand, his plus-one is me.Boo!That my feelings are so mixed up when it comes to him is proof I should stay away.
A Friday night anything with Finn is asking for trouble. My safety zone is daylight hours. Things change when stars twinkle in the sky. Defenses are lowered. Romantic notions can overrule a girl’s self-reliance and determination to keep her distance from the male species.
“You’re still here,” Finn says from the bottom of the stairs, his vexed tone accompanied by a deep wrinkle bisecting his forehead.
On second thought, it will be easy to hang out with this jerkface after the sun goes down. “Gosh, how does any girl resist your charming personality?”
“Is that my phone?” Mr. Grumpy asks. His prickly temperament is unfortunately offset by how attractive he looks with wet hair and a clean-shaven jaw. Not to mention how delicious he smells.
“I just spoke with your mom.”
“You did what?”
Sylvie sidles up next to him. “I suggest you take a chill pill,” she says.
I press my lips together so I don’t laugh.
“Two things you need to know,” Sylvie continues. “Chloe is on your side and she is trustworthy.”
Finn stares down at her. Sylvie is petite in size, but it’s obvious she’s a giant when it comes to holding his respect. That she sang my praises is something I will honor in return long after my three-month contract is up.
“Listen to her and talk to her.” Sylvie squeezes his arm then leaves the room.
“Thank you,” I call after her. I try not to get choked up. I wish I had a motherly figure like Sylvie looking out for me. Although, I guess I just did.
“I’m—” Finn and I start at the same time. “Go ahead,” I say.
“I’m sorry. I was rude to you, and you didn’t—don’t deserve it.”
“I’m sorry, too, if I made you uncomfortable in some way.”
He walks around the breakfast bar, lifts Drew’s mug off the drying rack and pours himself coffee. His palms dwarf the handmade cup and I picture him at age seven or eight drinking hot chocolate with hands much smaller.
“So, you talked to my mom?” He leans against the counter, cool and casual in light blue jeans and a white waffle-knit Polo shirt that molds to his well-sculpted muscles.
I remind myself I’m immune to muscles and stay focused on his face. Not that that view is any easier to deal with. “Yes. She told me about the gala tonight.”
He frowns. “She wants me to be there?”
“She wantsusto be there.”
“Us?” He ponders that, his eyes roaming around the kitchen like one of the shiny stainless-steel appliances will spit out a formal invitation addressed to Finn Auprince and Chloe Conrad. “Are you available?”