Falling for Finn (Maplewood Falls #1)

Chapter Fourteen

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

FINN

DAY 12

Waking up with Oakley in my arms is something I’m getting too comfortable doing. I have to constantly remind myself it’s only temporary. It’s a fling, an itch to scratch, someone I most definitely cannot fall in love with.

But that doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy her while I can.

We made plans to go into town today so she can take pictures and get an idea for the mayor’s painting. But when she climbs on top of me naked, I no longer have the desire to rush us out the door.

“If you don’t stop being so fucking perfect, I’m gonna put my baby inside you.” I palm her tits as she grinds against me.

“Does an old man like you still have good swimmers?” she taunts, her messy hair flying everywhere.

I lower my hand to her backside and give her ass a hard smack. “Keep doubting me, and I’ll prove it, you little temptress.”

Wrapping an arm around her waist, I quickly flip us over until I’m on top. Then I slide back inside her wet pussy and thrust hard.

“Sounds like you wanna keep me?” she teases, crossing her ankles behind my back as I drive in deeper.

“I think your smart-ass attitude would put me in a nursing home or an early grave. Not sure I wanna risk it.”

She moans as I pinch her nipple, something I’ve learned she loves. The rougher, the better, but she also likes it when I’m sweet and gentle.

“Well, as soon as I’m gone, you can always go back to your hand.”

I slide out and kneel between her thighs, my eyes narrowing on her. “Turn over, Oakley. You’re gonna pay for that one.”

She licks her lips, knowing damn well what she’s doing. Seductively, she sticks out her ass and shakes it in my face. I give both ass cheeks hard slaps, watching as her pale skin turns red. With each smack, Oakley moans and begs for more.

I fist her hair and pull her head back slightly before crashing my mouth to hers. “We’re about to break our record, Sunshine. You better hang on.”

As I fuck her sweet cunt, driving her to the edge over and over, I realize she’s crawled so far under my skin that I can’t imagine being with anyone else.

And how once she’s gone, there’s going to be a bigger hole in my heart. Something I’m not ready to admit.

We spend the next hour tangled in bed, and by the time we crawl out, I’m covered in sweat. We’re on a time crunch, so we shower together, but it leads to more fucking, and we end up running late anyway.

Since everyone already thinks we’re dating, being close isn’t a hardship. Not like it ever was. It’s undeniable how perfectly she’d fit into this small-town lifestyle, but I keep those thoughts tucked deep inside. I’d never want to be the one to hold her back. There aren’t too many commission jobs for her to pursue, and I understand how important her career is. California has a variety of opportunities for artists, and Vermont can’t compete.

Not to mention, we’re at two different places in our lives. I was ready to settle down, get married and start a family, and spend the rest of my life with one woman.

Oakley’s only twenty-three and has her entire life ahead of her. As far as I know, she’s not looking for some old guy to slow her down. The more I think about it, the more I realize that this being temporary is for the best. It gives us time to have some fun, then move on with our lives.

But if she wanted the same, I’d take back my never getting married mantra for her.

I park my truck in front of the diner and open Oakley’s door. She grabs her sketch pad as she gets out, and we hold hands while strolling down the sidewalk. Since we skipped breakfast, we eat before walking around.

“Well, if it isn’t the newest couple in Maplewood Falls,” Greta singsongs as she hands us menus. “You two are adorable.”

“Thanks,” I say, flipping through the pages.

Everyone saw us at the centennial celebration, and Grandma announced it during the painting reveal, so there’s no point denying it. Once Oakley’s gone and the dust settles, they’ll figure we broke up and will move on to some other gossip.

We place our order, and while we wait, she flips open to a blank page in her book. She moves the pencil from one side to another, and I admire her focus. Watching her work is mesmerizing because she makes it look easy.

“Here you go.” Greta quickly returns with our drinks. “Food should be ready soon.”

“Downtown during fall looks like it fell straight out of a Hallmark movie,” Oakley tells me. She said the same thing when she first saw the inn, and I give her a look. “I know, I know. Every tourist says that.”

I shrug.

“I wish I could paint a series of landscapes in Maplewood Falls. Every canvas would be vibrant with colors but also different.”

“Too bad you won’t be around to see it during the winter. It looks like a wonderland when there’s a fresh coat of snow on the ground and the sun is high in the sky. The views are like nothing else. Ski tourists travel from all over to experience it.”

“You’re making me want to start a Christmas landscape.” She playfully pouts. “I bet it’s gorgeous here.”

Greta delivers our plates and we make small talk while we eat. I chat about the festival and some of our traditions. Then she shares her plans as I promise to show her my favorite parts of downtown. Her excitement is contagious as she scribbles down her ideas.

Once we clear our plates and I pay, we make our way down the street.

“There are so many shops!” She sounds amazed. “The town I grew up in has mostly vacant buildings. After the recession, a lot of local businesses went under. It was sad to see,” Oakley tells me.

“Nearly happened here too, but the mayor gave grants to help them stay afloat until the economy picked up.”

“Wow, that’s amazing. I can tell it’s a tight-knit community here.”

“Always has been,” I admit. “Everyone knows everyone. We all have a lot of history here too. In fact, that candy store on the corner is where I had my first kiss.” I point at Kari’s Kandy Korner.

She laughs. “Do you remember her name?”

“Gabby Jameson. The owner’s daughter.”

Oakley’s mouth drops open, and she bursts out laughing. “Scandalous.”

“Oh, it was. At the time, I was dating her older sister, Madeline.”

“Finn!” She smacks my chest. “You were that guy in high school?”

“No! To be fair, I was thirteen, and we were playing spin the bottle in the back office when Madeline was closing the shop.”

“With a whole bunch of other kids or what?”

I scratch my cheek and purse my lips. “Uh, no. It was only Gabby and me…”

“Spin the bottle with two people?” She gives me a knowing look.

“Like I said, I was thirteen. And mostly horny.”

She snorts as we move closer to the candy shop. “Small-town shenanigans. Guess I can’t be that shocked. My friends and I used to have weed circles in the middle of fields.”

“Jesus. Here I am getting scolded for a kiss and my fake girlfriend’s a pothead.”

Oakley rolls her eyes with a grin. “We lived very different small-town lives. Never mind I was a teenager only like five years ago. Don’t act like it’s illegal . Has tons of medicinal purposes!”

“Your parents didn’t smell it on you?”

“Nah, I always carried a bottle of body spray and some breath mints. As long as I wasn’t being escorted home by the sheriff, they let me do whatever I wanted. Mostly, I sketched and painted. When I was seventeen, I got a job at the local sub place. It smelled like feet and hadn’t seen a health inspector in years, but the owner let me draw when it was slow.”

“Got paid to draw before your job commissions, then?” I tease.

“Ha! Pretty much. I love my parents, but I didn’t want to stay in my hometown. Way too small.”

“And no opportunities for a brilliant artist like you,” I confirm.

“Right. I couldn’t wait to go to college. Now I’m twenty-three with a master’s degree and have to figure out my living situation before I’m on the street. Living the dream!”

“What do you mean?” I ask as we cross the road. The movie theater is a block away, and I can’t wait to show her the inside.

“I’d been living with a roommate for the past two years, and when the landlord announced the rent was increasing, she bailed and moved in with her boyfriend. Claimed it was cheaper. So my lease ends on November fifteenth, and I have to decide if I’ll renew or not. Another option is finding a one-bedroom that I can afford,” she tells me, and I can hear the stress in her voice.

“I had no idea you were facing that,” I say, somewhat disappointed she hadn’t mentioned it sooner.

“Honestly, I’ve been trying not to think about it. Tiernan told me to move to Florida and live with them until I found my own place. It would give me an opportunity to save some money and be there when the baby’s born. And I could probably help out too. I’m not sure if it’s a good idea, considering I have so many contacts in California, but if I can’t find another apartment, I might not have a choice.”

I almost suggest Vermont as an option, but I’m not stupid enough to think she’d pick me over her sister and niece. It would force us into a conversation I’m not sure we’re ready to have.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry you’re dealing with all that. I can’t even imagine what the cost of living is there.”

“It’s more expensive than Florida, that’s for sure.”

As we walk under the marquee with the times and latest releases displayed, I slow down and open the door to the theater. “I want you to see this.”

“Whoa…” She glances around, taking it all in.

The smell of buttered popcorn fills the foyer as kids play on the old pinball machines in the game room.

“I worked here one summer before I decided I’d rather be outside in the orchards than deal with customers.” I chuckle.

“This puts my hometown theater to shame.” She spins around in awe.

“It was remodeled last year. The orchard held a fundraiser for the owner, who was undergoing cancer treatments. She was so focused on maintaining her health that this place was in disarray and on the verge of closing. Everyone in Maplewood Falls came together and rallied to bring it back to its original state. Not only did we raise enough to replace the carpet, seating, and concession equipment but all her medical bills were covered too. A bunch of local carpenters volunteered to fully remodel it, and since it reopened, it’s been nonstop busy. She even hired ten new employees to help run it properly.”

“Oh my gosh, that’s amazing! I love hearing stories with happy endings like that.”

“Yeah, what’s even better is that her cancer is in remission.”

We continue walking around, and Oakley’s eyes light up when she spots a large mural that fills an entire wall.

“Incredible, isn’t it?” I say behind her as she stares at the portraits interlaced with embellishments of bright colors.

“That’s an understatement. I bet this was a dream piece to create. I can tell it was painted with care and respect. The shading is incredible.” She slides her hand over the wall, feeling the layer of paint on the bricks.

“No one knew about it until we showed up at the grand opening. A Vermont artist heard about the theater and asked the owner if she could paint the faces of different business owners and leaders in the community. One day, this will be a part of our Maplewood Fall’s history.” I smile wide.

“It must’ve been rewarding to be part of something so special,” she tells me. “Without the generosity of the orchard, this might’ve never happened. You should all be so proud to have helped make this place what it is today.”

“My family does what they can and treats others how they’d want to be treated. All the townspeople look out for each other. It’s the way of life around here.”

She beams, interlocking her fingers with mine. “I can see why everyone loves Maplewood Falls so much. I’m even more honored that Mayor Myers asked me. How lucky am I to get to paint something that will be admired for years?”

“We’re the lucky ones, trust me.” I wrap my other hand around our fingers and kiss her knuckles. Damn, I’m going to miss her when she’s gone.

We make our way to the town square, and I hold her sketchbook as she takes pictures. People say hello and ask how we are as Oakley takes in the buildings and scenery. It’s the perfect time of year for tourists to experience fall and enjoy the autumn foliage.

“I could paint at least twenty landscapes of this place. There’s literally no part of Maplewood Falls that wouldn’t be a great attraction. The architecture, cute shops, and street design are an artist’s dream.”

“Wait until you see it this weekend. Tents, booths, pumpkins galore. You’ll be living inside your Hallmark movie.”

She laughs. “Do you mind if we sit for a minute so I can sketch an idea?”

“Go ahead. I’ll grab us some coffee from the café while you get started.”

I lean in and brush my lips against hers for no other reason than because I want to. The lines between what’s real and fake are so blurred I don’t know where it started.

She positions herself on a bench that overlooks the town hall, and I head toward the café a few blocks away.

While I wait to place our orders, I pull out my phone and see an unread text from Levi.

Levi

A little birdy told me that you owe Jessa $800!

I roll my eyes. Of course he’s heard about that.

Finn

She tricked me into betting her, and I stupidly took the bait. I’m gonna pay up the next time I see her. Just been busy.

Levi

Ha! Oh, I also heard Austin and Aspen broke off their engagement. Who’s even surprised?!

Finn

We should invite Austin to hang out so we can make sure he never goes back to her. Help him find someone less crazy.

Levi

Yeah, we should. He seemed cool. Not sure how he got caught up in Aspen’s evil web.

Finn

She has a way of doing that.

Levi

So how’s the “fake” girlfriend? I couldn’t go more than ten feet at the celebration without hearing about the “perfect new couple!”

Finn

Oh, shut up. And it’s going fine. We’re in town now so she can get some ideas for her next project.

Levi

And she’s still leaving after the festival?

Finn

Yeah.

Levi

And you’re just going to let her?

Finn

She has a life to get back to. I won’t be the one to make her choose between me and her dreams.

Levi

Seems like she could get plenty of commissions here. She’s got two already. Plus, there’s a little thing called the internet.

Finn

It’s not the same. She already told me she has tons of connections for jobs on the West Coast.

Levi

And she can’t fly there every once in a while for work? I mean, honestly…she could.

Finn

It’s not only that. Our lives are in different places, too. I was ready to settle down, and she’s just getting hers started.

Now that she’s finished with grad school, she can focus on her career.

Levi

I don’t know, man. Sounds like lame excuses to me.

Finn

Too bad I didn’t ask you.

Levi

I’m your best friend, so you know I’m gonna give you my advice and opinions regardless.

Finn

Keep it to yourself for once.

Levi

Ha! You’re in way deeper than I thought.

I roll my eyes and pocket my phone, leaving him on read. Once I give Marcia my order, I wait at the pickup counter and think about what he said. Levi has a long dating history and still hasn’t found the one , so I hardly consider him an expert.

But I can’t deny there’s truth to what he said.

I am in deep. Too deep.

And I’m fucking screwed.

Fifteen minutes pass, and I make my way back to Oakley, who’s deep in thought. Her pencil moves quickly over the page, and I could watch her like this for hours. Her blond hair blows in the wind as she squints her eyes and nibbles on her bottom lip.

“Here ya go,” I say quietly, not wanting to interrupt her concentration.

“Oh, thank you. Such a perfect fake boyfriend.” She smiles wide over the rim of the cup before taking a sip.

“I’m well practiced,” I reply.

“Wanna see what I have so far?” she asks, setting down her cup.

“Absolutely.” I sit next to her.

She flips her book around to show me. “I’m thinking of painting downtown from this angle to capture the buildings on each side of the street and the cute little businesses here. Then once I see how everything is set up for the festival, I can add in all the small details of the decorations and booths.”

“I love it,” I tell her genuinely. “At the end of the block, a stage for the band will be set up, and the middle of the square will have lots of games, food, and activities for kids.”

“That’s gonna look so cool,” she exclaims, closing her sketchbook. “I can’t wait to go home and get started!”

I wrap my arm around her and pull her in for a kiss. “I can’t wait to see what it looks like when you’re finished. I’m sure it will be incredible.”