Page 36 of Arranged Control

“Aren’t we all criminals underneath the thin veneer of civil society?”

“It’s amazing how philosophic you get when it comes to thirsting after a hot guy.”

“To thirst or not to thirst—that is not really a question because I amparched.”

“Seriously. Kira. What’s he doing here?”

“I really don’t know,” she admits, sitting down on a stool and leaning her elbows on her knees. “Maybe he just needs a new wardrobe?”

“Highly doubt it.”

“Why not go ask him?”

I consider it. That’s probably the easiest thing to do. Except a part of me doesn’t feel like playing this game. I want Seamus to be simple and straightforward for once instead of making everything difficult.

“He’ll come to me eventually,” I say, turning back to the accounting software.

“I see you’re leaning into the stubbornness,” Kira whispers.

Finn appears around the corner a few moments later. He’s in a pair of Italian loafers, artisan-crafted chinos, and a slubby denim button-down. He looks like a hipster leatherworker, and I hate to admit that it really works.

“How’s this, ladies?” He beams, boyish and good-looking, and does a little spin. I catch Kira’s jaw drop open as she looks at his ass.

“You look fantastic,” she croons, coming around the counter. “Very handsome and masculine. That outfit’s stylish without being overwhelming.”

“I am all about being subtle.” He glances at me. “Do you agree with her, sister-in-law?”

“Sure, whatever Kira says about fashion is the gospel,” I mutter, not returning his smile.

“Come on, I have other ideas.” Kira leads him away.

For the next hour, he keeps trying on clothes. Eventually, Kira loses interest, which actually took longer than I expected, but Finn’s still hanging around. He keeps wandering, picking things up, pretending to care about them, looking out the front window, wandering some more, and generally being the most conspicuous person imaginable.

He glares death at the few shoppers we get. One of them is just some regular guy, but Finn treats him like a straight-up criminal and follows him around the whole time, at least until he gets scared off. The few women that show up are shadowed by him, though one doesn’t seem to mind. I’m pretty sure she propositions him at some point before leaving in a disappointed huff.

Another hour passes that way. Even Kira starts to get frustrated. She approaches where he’s leaning near the front door, his little pretense at shopping basically dropped. Her arms are crossed over her chest.

“What’s your deal? Why are you lurking like a stalker?”

Finn only gives her a charming smile. “Stalkers don’t lurk out in the open. Trust me, I’d know. Have you ever noticed me around your house before?”

Her mouth drops open. “Uh, no?”

“Exactly.” He brushes a hand down his sleeves. “My stalking is very subtle.”

Kira instantly retreats back behind the counter. “He’s terrifying,” she whispers furiously. “And really hot. He can stalk me anytime.”

“Stop it,” I hiss, doing my best to pretend like my brother-in-law isn’t acting like a total creep.

After hour three, I finally lose it. I don’t know how he’s pretending like this is normal. When Kira leaves for her lunch break, I approach him, heart hammering in my chest.

“Why are you here, Finn?”

His eyebrows raise in surprise. “We’re actually doing this?”

“You’ve been hanging around my store all morning. What the hell is going on?”

“I figured you were just ignoring me.”