Falling for Finn (Maplewood Falls #1)

Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN

OAKLEY

DAY 5

The steel rod poking my lower back tells me it’s morning before I even open my eyes. When I do, sunlight peers in through the skylight.

Finn’s warm body presses against me, and there’s no doubt he’ll wake up pissed when he realizes our position. But I can’t move without waking him since his strong arm is wrapped around my bare waist.

Deciding to taunt him, I wiggle my ass.

Perhaps it’ll get him to release me so I can get up.

He doesn’t move, but his dick does.

And it’s more than just morning wood .

Arching my body, I push harder into him and rotate my hips. If that doesn’t work, I’m declaring him dead.

His hand goes to my hip, and he squeezes hard . Then his mouth finds my ear. “You better stop that or else .”

I’m tempted to ask him what else implies, but he slides out of bed before I can.

“Get dressed. We have a lot to do today,” he demands.

I whip off the covers and slide to the edge of the mattress, realizing I’m in my lace pajamas. They barely cover my stomach and legs.

“Is there somewhere you can take me to get a wider view of the farm?” I ask, standing and fixing the bed covers. “I need it for my painting.”

“Yeah.” He sighs, grabbing clothes from his dresser before spinning around to face me. My eyes are drawn to the tent he’s sporting, and as soon as he realizes, he covers his groin and turns.

I don’t even bother holding in my laughter as I go downstairs to get ready. He may hate driving me everywhere, but his body likes me nice and close.

Neither of us speaks as we travel toward the inn. I take a few pictures with my phone, though I hope to get some better ones later.

After he opens my door, I’m reminded we’re on as a couple. I take his hand, and we go inside.

“Shit,” Finn mutters, brushing his free hand through his hair.

I glance over, assuming he’s referring to Aspen, but it’s a woman and a man coming toward us.

“Hey!” the girl greets.

“Morning. Didn’t expect to see you guys here,” Finn says.

“Came to visit Grams and have breakfast,” the guy tells us.

“Who’s this?” The woman smiles at me.

That’s my cue.

I release Finn’s hand and wrap my arm around his waist, pulling him closer.

“Hi, I’m Oakley.” I hold out my other hand. “The girlfriend.”

“ Girlfriend ?” The woman shakes it, then glances at Finn. “When did this happen?”

Finn scratches along his scruffy jawline. “She’s the painter, and we’re pretending until Aspen leaves.”

The woman crosses her arms in amusement. “Oh, I can’t wait to hear how this happened.” She laughs, then looks at me. “I’m Jessa, Finn’s younger but smarter cousin. This is my brother, Sebastian.”

“Nice to meet you both,” I tell them. “I got roped into this.”

Finn stiffens, and I release my hold on him. “It’s a long story. Just run with it for now,” he pleads.

“Alright, I’ll play along. But only because I never liked Aspen,” Jessa says.

“Saw the big shiny ring on her finger,” Sebastian adds. “I can already guess how this happened.”

I snicker, and Finn glares.

“It’s not like that,” he spits out.

Jessa’s eyes widen. “Heads-up, she’s coming in.”

Finn quickly grabs me and pulls me against his side. Before I can even grasp what’s happening, Jessa and Sebastian burst out laughing.

“Damn, you’re way too easy.”

I look over my shoulder and see an older woman and her husband entering.

Finn releases me and his arm drops. “You’re gonna pay for that,” he threatens Jessa.

She rolls her eyes with a snarky smirk. “If you get sick of Finn, let me know. Give me your cell, and I’ll program my number.”

I pull it from my pocket and hand it over. Once she’s done, I send her a message, so she has mine too.

“Cool, thanks. See you two lovebirds later.” She gives us a little finger wave, and we continue to the buffet.

“Don’t hang out with her,” Finn tells me once we’re seated with our coffee and food.

“Why not? She seems cool. Sebastian too. Don’t see the family resemblance, though. They have…what’s it called…a personality ?”

He shoots daggers at me as I grin.

“I assume they work on the farm too?” I ask, trying to make conversation as we eat.

“Yes, they do. They’re my aunt Paisley’s kids. Jessa handles most of the PR, marketing, and social media stuff for the orchard. Sebastian deals with the wholesalers and distributors we sell the fruit to.”

“Sounds like you got stuck with the dirty jobs.”

“I prefer it. I’d never want to work in an office or be forced to deal with strangers on the phone.”

“You don’t like talking to people? I’m shocked,” I taunt.

“You love getting on my nerves, don’t you?” He stabs his sausage link and pops it into his mouth.

“You’re the one walking around with a stick up your ass. Should pull it out so it’s not so easy to rile you up.”

“I’m tempted to let Jessa and Sebastian deal with you for the rest of the week.”

“You’re lying. I know you love talking about the farm and taking me around. Plus, I doubt Jessa or Sebastian would be as good a snuggle partner as you.” I grin, then take a sip of my coffee.

“You’re the one who scoots to my side of the bed. Maybe if you slept on the couch, like you’re supposed to, it wouldn’t be an issue.”

“Oh, sorry . Should we make a pillow wall so there are no more”—I lower my eyes to insinuate his morning wood—“ issues ?” I muse, noticing the blood vessel on the side of his neck is about to burst.

He scrubs a hand over his cheek, fuming silently as his jaw ticks. “Let’s go.”

Finn stands, taking his half-filled plate, and I quickly follow, setting our dishes in the tub.

As we go to his truck, he doesn’t take my hand or open my door. I don’t bother to ask where we’re going next, so I silently look out the window as he drives.

He turns down a road I haven’t seen yet, and I take more pictures. The colorful leaves are breathtaking, and I can’t believe I’m here at the perfect time of year to witness their beauty.

“Wow…it’s gorgeous,” I say as he throws the truck into 4-wheel drive, and we climb higher up the hill.

“It’s where I planned to propose,” he says quietly, almost as if he hadn’t wanted me to hear. I don’t bother responding, but he continues anyway. “I even looked at rings.”

“How long were you together?” I ask.

“Over five years.”

“Was she your first long-term girlfriend?”

“No, I dated someone in high school, and we stayed together a few years while she went to college. Long distance didn’t work out.”

“So no disrespect, but if you’ve had previous relationships before, why did this last one make you so jaded?” I ask, turning to look at him.

He keeps his eyes on the road. “She was the first person I ever imagined a future with. I thought we wanted the same things.”

“Here’s a hard truth for you.” I clear my throat, hoping he won’t reach across the truck and strangle me. “She wanted those things. Clearly, she got engaged not long after you broke up. But not with you.”

His jaw clenches as if he’s holding back a scream, but I quickly add, “And I know that’s harsh, but isn’t it better to know before you proposed? Better to find out before you invested not only your heart but also your money into something she wouldn’t have given her whole self to?”

“You talk like you’ve experienced a lot of breakups. How’s that possible at your age?” he asks with sincerity.

“Just because I’m young doesn’t mean I’m stupid. In fact, I was at the top of my classes from elementary through grad school. That’s not to brag. It’s a fact. Creatively brilliant but not always people smart. Did you know that was a thing? Well, anyway, I don’t have to personally experience heartbreak to sympathize with how it must’ve felt for you.” I breathe out slowly. “And FYI, I’ve had some relationships end badly. Not close to settling down type of breakups, but they still hurt.”

“What kind of guy would break up with you?” he asks, then winces as if he hadn’t meant to say that aloud. “Never mind.”

“Oh, come on, we’re fake dating. We should be able to talk about previous real relationships.”

He cracks the tiniest of smiles. “Fine. Tell me what scrawny idiots you used to date.”

I burst out laughing at his assumption. “One was an MMA fighter, six-two, and over two hundred pounds of muscle.”

“So why’d you break up? He suck at fighting?” He smirks.

“Ha! Nah, we didn’t have much in common outside of sex.”

He swallows hard. I knew that’d get a reaction out of him. We’re silent for a few awkward seconds.

Finn clears his throat and points. “Look.”

I follow his finger and gasp at the view. We’re at the summit of the hill. I can see the orchard farm, Finn’s house, and even the inn, which is miles away.

As soon as he parks, I jump out and rush to take it in.

“Careful!” he shouts as I move toward the steep edge. “There are no barriers out here.”

“It’s…I don’t even have words. It’s beautiful. I’m adding this into my painting somehow.”

I snap photos from every angle, wanting different perspectives of the trees that overlook the farm.

“Oakley, I’m serious. Be careful.”

“If you’re so worried, why don’t you come closer and make sure I don’t fall?” I inch toward the edge.

“Dammit, woman,” he mutters, and I quickly feel him at my back.

I pretend to take another step forward, and he grabs my waist, pulling me against him.

“Look at you being all heroic and trying to save me. Proof that you care.” I close my eyes when the cool breeze brushes against my cheeks, and I breathe in the fresh air.

He snorts. “The last thing I need is people thinking I murdered my new girlfriend.”

“Just admit you’ll miss me when I leave.”

“Miss what? Your loud mouth? You hogging my bed? Chauffeuring your ass everywhere?”

I shrug as if he didn’t hurt my feelings. “I think you’ll miss much more than you’re willing to admit. Don’t think I didn’t hear you in the shower last night.”

His body stills, and I know I’ve got him. Though I’m bluffing, his reaction confirms my suspicions. After he listened to some of my naughty audiobook, Finn rushed to the bathroom. Now I have no doubts he was as turned on as me.

“Did you get enough pics? I need to get back to work.” He releases me and walks toward the truck.

I take a few more, and once I’m satisfied, I meet him inside.

“I’m feeling super inspired now and am ready to get some painting done,” I admit as he drives us.

“Great, I’ll get to work in peace today.” His fingers grip the steering wheel so tight his knuckles turn white. It’s hard to believe this is the same man who opened up about his ex twenty minutes ago.

“I’ll be back later. Text me if you need anything,” he says, parking in front of his house. He’s yet to look at me during the ride here, so I don’t poke the bear.

“Will do, thanks.”

For several hours, I get lost in my work. The summit and gorgeous sky inspired me to tweak my painting, and now it’ll be even more perfect.

I’ve successfully captured the hill of trees above Finn’s grandparents’ red ranch house. Mixing the dark and light colors for the two large barns wasn’t easy, but it’s nearly an exact match to the pictures I took. Though I won’t have enough space to incorporate the large pond, I’ve decided to add some of it at the bottom.

I want this painting to fully represent the family behind the farm and where it started.

It’s kind of sweet how they live so close to one another and work together every day.

I wish I had that family dynamic.

With my sister being sixteen years older, we weren’t close until I was a teenager. Even then, she was married to her ex and living her own life. It was mostly my mom, dad, and me until I moved to California for college.

Then I was on my own.

Needing a shower, I decide to take a break and relax under the hot stream. I’m impatiently waiting for Tiernan to check in since her and Everett’s surrogate is supposed to announce the gender of the baby.

Finding out I was going to be an aunt was an exciting time. My sister has wanted kids for years, though once she left her abusive ex, I wasn’t sure she still did. But once things got serious with Everett, starting a family was all she thought about. He’s her perfect half, and I couldn’t have asked for a better man for her. Even if he’s closer to my age.

Their romance sounds like one of the books I’d listen to while painting a romantic setting. I already plan to paint something for the baby’s nursery as soon as they settle on a name.

Once I’ve shaved and exfoliated every inch of my body, I wrap a towel around myself and head upstairs to get dressed. I look at the bed and wonder if sleeping next to Finn is as bad as he makes it sound. When my head hits the pillow, I’m dead to the world for hours. Where my body rolls to is not always something I can help. He’s the one who curls his arms and wraps his legs around me.

If he weren’t such a damn grumpy asshole ninety-five percent of the time, we could explore the undeniable attraction lingering between us. Still, he’d rather act like I’m the biggest inconvenience of his life.

For someone in his early thirties—not that much older than me—he sure likes to make me feel like a little kid who gets on his nerves.

Ugh . The more I think about it, the angrier I get.

When my phone rings and I see Tiernan’s name, I quickly answer the FaceTime call.

“Hey!” I smile, and my mood immediately shifts to excitement. “Do we have the news?”

“Let me tell her,” Everett blurts out before Tiernan can respond, then adds, “You told Payton!”

Payton is Everett’s sister-in-law who lives in New York with his brother, Theo.

“But Oakley’s my sister! I wanna tell her.”

“How come I didn’t get to tell my brother then?” Everett counters, and my patience wavers as they bicker back and forth.

“Oh my God!” I snap. “Will one of you freaking tell me? Is it a taco or a frank and beans?”

“Ew! Don’t be inappropriate about your niece.”

Everett gasps loudly. “You little cheater!”

Tiernan giggles, and Everett tries to tackle her, but she quickly pushes him away.

“Yay, it’s a girl! Now let’s discuss my niece’s name.”

“You’re not picking it,” Everett blurts out.

“Oh, come on. I’m not having kids for like thirty years. Let me choose.”

“Then get a puppy, and you can name it whatever you want,” Everett says firmly, and I frown.

“You owe me, brother-in-law ,” I remind him, emphasizing every word.

“How so?”

“If it weren’t for me, you would’ve never asked my sister to marry you that day. You probably wouldn’t even be engaged right now.”

“Nah, that’s not true,” Everett argues, but I know it is.

“It’s kinda true,” Tiernan interjects. “I mean, we would’ve gotten engaged eventually, I’m sure.”

Everett sighs. “Fine, I will agree to this on one condition.”

I’m immediately giddy. “Okay, what is it?”

Just then, the front door opens and slams shut. I look to the lower level and see Finn wearing an angry expression.

Of fucking course. It’d probably kill him to be in a good mood.

“Great, he’s back,” I mumble with a groan.

“Uh, who?” Everett asks.

“Finn,” I tell them. “The innkeeper’s grandson whose only life goal is to make mine miserable.”

That’s how I explained who Finn was before we started fake dating. I’m still questioning why I agreed to that in the first place.

“The one you’re staying with while you’re there?” Tiernan smirks. We talked about this job for weeks before I flew here. I hadn’t realized I’d have a babysitter the entire time, though.

“Yep.” I grind out between my teeth, then move closer to the screen and whisper, “Please come rescue me.”

They snicker, and I glower at their amusement.

“Oh my God.” I roll my eyes as I watch Finn. “He tossed his boots in the middle of the living room, then flung his shirt on the couch. Oh, now he’s digging through the fridge like a strung-out raccoon. Christ, they’re raising barbarians out here!” I scowl, watching him trash the downstairs area. My painting supplies are on the table, and my canvas is still on the easel, and I almost yell at him to be careful as he storms past it. The last thing I need is his negative aura rubbing off on my masterpiece.

Now they’re both laughing hysterically at my expense.

“Just…give him a chance,” Tiernan says. “They’re culturally different up there.”

I furrow my brow at her attempt to excuse his asshole ways.

“It’s not that he’s a slob, but he’s also a jerk and all-around rude host. He brought a pizza in last night and ate the entire thing! Didn’t even offer me one slice.”

“Did you ask for one?” Everett asks.

“No, but I shouldn’t have to. It’s called manners. Clearly, something he doesn’t have.”

He should’ve known I hadn’t had dinner since I had no way to get to the inn to eat. I’d expected him to at least text and ask if I wanted anything, but he didn’t. When he came home, I smelled pizza and anticipated him offering me some.

He’s either greedy or selfish. I haven’t figured out which yet.

“I’m gonna take a bath. Maybe you should too. Try to relax,” Tiernan suggests.

I scowl at the thought. “I’m not soaking in that tub. It probably hasn’t been cleaned since the day it was built, which was a hundred years ago. How could anyone forget?”

“Then take a walk to blow off some steam,” Everett chimes in.

I exhale slowly. “Shoving my fist in his mouth would help with that.”

“Okay, well, don’t do that. This is a great job opportunity, so don’t mess it up because you want to bang the asshole who won’t give you the time of day,” my sister taunts.

My jaw drops. “That is so not true. He’d probably give me rabies.”

“ Oakley Jane ! Be nice.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine.”

“Bye, sis,” Everett singsongs.

“Wait, don’t think I forgot about our agreement! Bluebell Rayne has an adorable ring to it, don’t ya think?” I blurt out quickly.

“Oh hell no. We’re not naming our child after a flower,” Everett responds, then looks at Tiernan for backup, but when she ignores him, he continues, “Babe?”

“I’ll have you know Ginger Halliwell named her baby Bluebell Madonna.”

“Who?” He scrunches his nose.

I roll my eyes at his lack of knowledge about the Spice Girls.

She turns toward him. “I kinda like it. It’s unique and beautiful.”

“Yes! I win!” I cheer.

“We’ll talk later.” Tiernan quickly tells me goodbye and ends the call.

I smirk, knowing she’ll wear Everett down until we both get our way.

Once I’m dressed, I throw my wet hair into a messy bun, then make my way downstairs.

“What’s your deal?” I pick up his shirt and boots before dropping them on the coffee table with a thud. “Can you at least try to clean up after yourself while I’m here?”

He chugs his beer and glares at me over the rim.

I scoff. “What’s up your ass?”

“This is my house,” he growls. “But if we’re offering suggestions, stay out of my bed for once.”

I place a hand on my hip. “Pretty sure you liked me being in your bed this morning.”

He slams his beer bottle on the table, then stands and walks to the bathroom.

Jesus Christ . Someone must have pissed in his Cheerios because he’s being more of an asshole than usual.

Moments later, I hear the water running and let out a long sigh.

Hopefully, he gets over his problem by the time he’s finished showering because I refuse to take his infant attitude.