“Another time,” he pleaded. “I don’t think I can take much more of these crowds, let alone the noise.”
“Okay.” Carrie had no complaints, watching as he once again ran his hand over his smooth cheeks as though he felt naked.
He’d arrived at her apartment that morning clean shaven, and for just an instant she hadn’t recognized the man standing in front of her. She hadn’t asked him to shave and had been both shocked and delighted.
“And you keep staring at me.”
“Sorry, I can’t stop myself. I had no idea you were such a hunk.”
He chuckled as if she’d made a joke, but she wasn’t kidding. The minute her friends took one look at him, they’d be all over Finn, especially Sophie. She frowned, disliking the thought.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, as he paid their tab and collected their purchases. Finn reached for her hand, gripping it in his own as they started out of the restaurant.
It amazed her how easily he read her mood. “What makes you think anything is wrong?”
“You’re frowning.”
“I just got an inkling of how you felt with me spending the evening with Dave.” They wove their way around busy tables toward the front of the well-known Chicago pizza restaurant.
He paused, frowning, his brow folding into thick ripples. “I doubt that.”
“I was imagining my friends meeting you, and I realized they are going to want you for themselves. You’re mine, Finn, all mine.”
His eyes grew dark and serious. His grip tightened on her hand. “No one is going to turn my head, Carrie. It simply isn’t possible.”
Carrie and Finn walked back to her condo, bundles in hand. Until that morning Finn mentioned that the only clothes shopping he’d done in years had been through catalogs or online. It’d been a true test of the strength of their relationship when it came to choosing dress slacks and a sweater for him. All in all, he’d been more than patient, but she could appreciate his unease.
Once back at her condo, Finn collapsed onto her sofa, spreading out his arms along the back cushion. Her tree was up but had yet to be decorated, and although it was only four feet tall, it took up one entire corner of her living room. Finn had placed a gift under it first thing that morning. She eyed it now, wrapped in plain brown paper.
“Curious?” he asked.
“Very.” She picked it up, held it close to her ear, and shook it.
“Any guesses?”
“I doubt it’s a can opener.”
He grinned. “You’re way off base.”
“Do you want to tell me?”
“And ruin the surprise? No way. You have to wait until Christmas.”
Carrie reluctantly set it back down. “You’re taunting me, and that simply isn’t fair.”
“I think you’ll be pleased” was all Finn was willing to tell her. Over the years she’d received a variety of gifts from the men she’d dated, but Finn’s gifts were distinctive in every way. It wasn’t likely she would ever forget that toaster.
Carrie went over to her television and removed a DVD from her collection.
“We’re watching a movie?” Finn asked.
“Yes. It’s tradition.”
“What movie?”
“You’ll see in a minute.”
“Is it a romance? I don’t think I could sit through a chick flick—not after the last three hours.”
“Shush.” She sat down close to him and reached for her remote control, pushing the appropriate button.
Right away he slid his arm around her shoulders and then let it drop. “The Bishop’s Wife?” he muttered as the title flashed across the screen. “It’s in black and white.”
“Have you seen it?”
“Yes, years ago …”
“It’s my favorite Christmas movie.”
“Ah …”
“Shhh, you’ll miss the introduction.”
His arm was back, and she pressed her head against his shoulder. “Just relax and enjoy.”
He grumbled, but she noticed that he was soon into the movie. Every now and again he would lean forward and kiss her temple. Carrie snuggled into his embrace. She loved that they could cuddle and be this close.
“Listen up. This is one of the best lines of any movie ever.” Carrie mouthed the words along with Cary Grant as he spoke to Loretta Young.
Finn sat up slightly. “You’ve memorized the movie?”
“Parts of it. Like I said, it’s one of my favorites.” It thrilled her that he was with her and they could view it together. What she loved was how much he seemed to be enjoying it, too.
“Just how many times have you watched this silly movie?”
“It isn’t a silly movie,” she insisted, knowing that he enjoyed teasing her.
“Have you ever seen The Replacement Killers?”
“Yuck, no.”
“Yuck? It’s a great movie.”
“Tell you what,” Carrie whispered, tilting her head back and kissing the underside of his clean-shaven jaw. “I’ll watch it with you one day, as long as you promise to hold me just like this.”
He smiled down on her. “Deal.”
The phone rang shortly after the movie ended. It was Sophie. “A group of us are going to Logan’s for drinks. Can you meet us?”
“Let me check.”
“Check?” Sophie repeated.
“I have company. F—Paul is in town.”
“Seattle Paul? The guy who’s got you walking around with your head in the clouds Paul?”
“One and the same.” Finn eyed her closely. Carrie was sure he was able to hear both sides of the conversation.
“You didn’t say anything about him coming to Chicago.”
“I didn’t know. It was a surprise.”
“Well, bring him. I, for one, am dying to meet this guy.”
“Hold on.” Carrie pressed her cell against her chest. “What do you think? Do you want to go out tonight?”
“Do you?”
She shrugged. “I’d like you to meet my friends.”
He hesitated and then nodded. “Okay.”
She leaned forward and kissed him soundly on the lips.
“I could grow accustomed to these little rewards you so willingly hand out,” he murmured as he gripped her hand.
Carrie smiled and brought the cell back to her ear. “What time?”
“Does eight work for you?”
“Perfect. See you then.”
Sophie hesitated. “Does Paul have a friend?”
“No, and, fair warning, hands off. Got it?”
Sophie laughed before the line was disconnected.
“Who’s Logan?” Finn asked.
“It’s a bar about six blocks from here. A few of us from the newspaper hang out there when we can.”
“Noisy?”
“Afraid so. Sorry.”
Finn chuckled. “It won’t be so bad if there are rewards involved.”
Carrie smiled. “I imagine there will be more than a few.”
“Then bring on the noise.”
For the rest of the afternoon they simply hung out together while a medley of Christmas songs played in the background. It seemed they never ran out of things to talk about. And as promised, Finn gave her sections of his new book to read and critique. Carrie found it as good as, if not better than, Alone and told him so.
They left the condo around seven forty-five and with her arm tucked in Finn’s they walked the six blocks to Logan’s. The noise was explosive the instant they entered the bar. Sophie and Bruce already had a table. Bruce worked for the newspaper, and he’d been dating Sophie for the last few months, following his divorce. According to Sophie, it wasn’t a serious relationship, and after seeing them together a couple of times, Carrie had to agree.
The noise level made it nearly impossible to talk, but they managed by yelling across the table to one another. Finn ordered a beer. Sophie and Carrie had their favorite dirty martinis before another couple joined them. Introductions were made and a second round of drinks was ordered. Finn stayed close to her side and contributed to the conversation, although it was difficult with the bar so crowded. They left an hour later.
“I enjoyed meeting your friends,” he commented when they were outside in the relative quiet of the street.
“But the crowds and the noise bothered you.”
“Not bothered, exactly,” he said, and reached for her hand. “I’m just not accustomed to it to that extent. We get plenty rowdy in Fairbanks ourselves, you know.”
“But this is different.”
He grinned and nodded. Soon they had their arms around each other as it started to snow again. They took a leisurely stroll down Michigan Avenue on the way back to Carrie’s place. On a side street they walked past a bookstore, and Alone took up the entire window display. Finn paused and did a double take.
“How does it feel seeing that?” she asked.
He took his time answering. “I’ve seen it displayed before, but nothing like this. It leaves me feeling a little … I don’t know, weird, I guess.”
“A good weird, though, right?” She felt proud for him and for all that he’d accomplished, proud to be with him. Carrie knew the phenomenal sales of his book had shocked Finn. He didn’t seem to understand what it was about his book that fascinated readers. When he’d submitted the manuscript, he’d been amazed at how quickly it’d sold. Then to have it shoot straight to the top of the bestseller lists and remain there for months on end was beyond the scope of his imagination.
“I can see your mind working,” he said, and, leaning down, he kissed her brow. “I know what you’re thinking.”
“So you’re a mind reader now.”
“You’d love to write that article about me, wouldn’t you?”
To deny it would be a falsehood, but to confess that she’d composed it a half-dozen times in her mind, even still had a rough draft on her laptop, would give him the wrong impression. “That’s a moot point. I would never destroy the trust you have in me. I wouldn’t submit a word until you gave me the approval to do so.”
He was silent for a long time and then said, “Fair enough.”
They held hands as he walked her to her condo and kissed her good night.
“Come upstairs with me?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I think I should go back to the hotel.”
Carrie held on to his hand. “Is everything all right? You’re not upset about anything, are you?”
Finn brought her back into his arms and hugged her close. “You’re far too tempting, Carrie. If I came upstairs with you now, I wouldn’t be leaving until morning, and we both know it.”
Carrie went into her building with a happy, excited sense of anticipation and relief. She would see Finn tomorrow. He’d met her friends and not a one had even suspected her Seattle Paul was Finnegan Dalton.