Finn's Fantasy (Maine Men #1) - K.C. Wells Page 0,89

Megan could say a word, he got in first. “You used your cat?”

She chuckled. “Hey, it was all I could come up with on short notice. Do you know how long it took me to get her to stay there? I had to put pieces of tuna all along the branch.”

“Wait—you put her up there?”

“Yup, about half an hour before you arrived. You took so long getting here, I was starting to panic. I was sure she’d find a way down before you walked through the front door.”

“And the sprained ankle?”

Another chuckle. “It had a miraculous recovery as soon as you left. Go figure.”

“You sneaky—and was Lynne really at her mom’s?”

Megan snorted. “She was hiding in our bedroom the whole time, trying not to laugh her ass off.”

“You do know I’m never going to believe a word you say, ever again. And—”

“Hey!” She interjected. “Let’s not forget, I climbed a tree for you. If that isn’t love…” Megan cackled. “Have a good night.” Then she disconnected.

Joel pocketed his phone. Finn was gazing at him in obvious amusement. Joel raised his eyebrows. “You’ve gone to a lot of trouble.” What made his heart beat so fucking fast was the feeling that this whole scenario screamed romance.

Then Finn sealed the deal. “I wanted tonight to be special.”

Jesus fucking Christ.

Joel couldn’t have named the song playing as he’d approached, but he certainly knew the next one. Etta James’s beautiful voice filled the night air with those perfect opening words. At last…

Words that spoke to his heart.

Finn stepped closer. “May I have this dance?”

Joel bit his lip. “There’s not a lot of room out here for dancing.”

Finn’s smile lit up his eyes. “Then we’d better dance real close.” Joel caught his breath as Finn looped his arms around his neck, their bodies almost touching. “Like this,” Finn murmured. Joel placed his hands on Finn’s waist, and they moved together, a gentle sway that made his heart sing.

“Love the tux,” he murmured.

“It’s rented. I had to drive all the way to Alfred to a bridal shop yesterday to find one.”

Joel chuckled. “When do you have to return it?”

Finn snorted. “Tomorrow, so make the most of it. I don’t put on a tux for just any man, y’know.” He paused. “I’m glad you like it.”

“You have no idea what the sight of you in it is doing to me. And that’s not my dick doing the talking.” Joel stroked Finn’s back. “You look amazing.” The tux added to the magic—to the romance of it all—and Joel allowed himself to fall under its spell. “And it is a special night.” A night where Joel might finally find the courage to open his heart.

Finn leaned in and brushed his lips over Joel’s ear. “You remember when we talked about my past relationships, and you said I didn’t deserve to be messed around like that. Well, the truth is… that’s not how it was, not really.”

“Oh?”

Finn drew back, nodding. “They didn’t mess me around. I just moved too fast, that’s all. I was so in love, I didn’t stop to check they were too. Which brings me to you.”

Joel’s breathing quickened and his pulse sped up. “Okay.”

“I didn’t want to make the same mistake. I wasn’t gonna rush in and bare my soul, if there was even a chance you didn’t love me…” Finn’s gaze met his and he swallowed. “The way I love you.”

Holy fuck.

Joel stopped dancing and brought his hands to Finn’s face. He looked him in the eye, shaking a little. “You love me?”

Finn nodded. “And I gotta tell ya, I’m scared to death right now.”

Joel couldn’t leave him hanging. “Don’t be. Because I love you too. And—”

Finn’s lips met his, and Joel lost himself in the sweetest kiss he’d ever known. Etta sang on, oblivious to them, as Joel held Finn under a ceiling of white lights, growing brighter still against the sky that was turning all shades of orange and gold, just for them.

When they finally parted, Finn murmured, “Wow.”

Joel found his voice. “Wow indeed.”

Finn smiled. “Not talking about the kiss, although it was pretty epic. That was sort of a whoa-he-loves-me-back wow.”

“Need to hear it again?” Joel cupped Finn’s head and drew him closer, until their lips were almost touching. “I love you,” he murmured against them before taking Finn’s mouth in a lingering kiss.

When they parted, Finn let out a sigh. “Still wow.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Finn cleared his throat and pulled back. “Well… now we have the important stuff out of the