Page 10 of The Nicest Thing

As he closed the space between us, I waited for his lips to meet mine.

It felt like he was going to kiss me. Should I stop him?

Did I want to? Absolutely no to both those questions.

Ever since last Christmas, when Finn had kissed me breathless, I'd wanted to do it again.

I wanted it now—even though in the back of my mind I knew there was a reason we shouldn't do this.

Finn paused a breath away.

A moment later, I heard the lock click into place behind me.

He took a slow step back, shoved his hands into his pockets.

"So we won't be disturbed," he said.

I nodded, snapping out of it, his words acting like a glass of cold water thrown in my face. "Yeah, good idea. I…we should…yes."

I could feel Finn's eyes on me as I walked past him, taking the moment to regulate my breathing and cool off.

All the rooms in the shop were dark, sterile, quiet, and cold.

I'd just forgotten that last bit because Finn made the space feel warmer.

We used the rooms mostly when a customer wanted a piece or piercing done in an intimate area.

I'd suggested us meeting here at a time when I knew my cousins would be out because I thought it would give Finn and me the most privacy.

"We have a lot to do," I said.

Finn stepped up to my side.

"Sounds good," he said, gesturing to the table I'd set up. "What's all this?"

"A few props I thought we might need. I asked June, figuring she'd have a better idea about all the social media stuff than me."

June had helped Baylor—one of Finn's older brothers—to rehab his reputation when he needed it most. She planned and implemented a strategy that successfully helped him get where he wanted to be, using her marketing and social media know-how.

The fact that they fell in love along the way made it that much sweeter.

Although, truthfully, she'd been in love with him all along, pining after her best friend's older brother.

Baylor had been too, though he refused to admit it. It had seemed hopeless…until it wasn't.

I smiled.

I loved a good happily-ever-after.

"What are you thinking about?" Finn asked.

"Nothing, just June and Baylor," I said. "I'm glad they figured it out."

"Yeah, me too. It's hard sometimes."

"Love always is," I said with a sigh then refocused. "Anyway, June suggested creating several reels at once, batching them in one session. It'll give us more content and make the most of our time."

"Smart."

"I came up with several scripts. Now, we just have to get the footage."

"Okay," Finn said with a grin. "What's up first?"

First was Finn reading a book.

He looked far too sexy doing such a basic task.

But that was kinda the point.

When I asked him to walk away from me then look back over his shoulder with a smile, he chuckled, then got it on the first try.

Freaking perfectionist.

He balked slightly when I asked him to take his shirt off.

"Slowly," I ordered.

"Yes, ma'am," Finn said.

We had to do it twice because I thought I pressed record but didn't. I was too captivated by the sight in front of me. How did he make that look so…mouth-watering? Delicious? Damn, I was a writer, and even I didn't have the words.

And on it went.

Finn shirtless doing pushups.

Finn typing on his phone.

Finn leaning against the wall and looking up at me with a smolder.

Not going to lie. I felt that look right between my legs.

Finn wearing a button-down shirt, rolling up the sleeves to his forearms and putting on a watch. Trust me, it was a thing.

Finn with a cowboy hat, white tee, and jeans.

Finn in a baseball cap and jersey with a baseball bat over his shoulders.

There wasn't one scene that didn't work.

"Jeez, Finn," I said with a soft laugh.

"What?" he said.

"I should've known you'd be perfect at this."

"Come on, Rose. I'm not even doing anything," he said then threw me a wink. "Except what you tell me to."

"All the book girlies and guys are going to love you. They'll go crazy for my best friend."

I didn't know why that made me feel so conflicted. Delighted and deflated for some reason. Maybe Finn wasn't the only one who didn't like sharing.

"Rose," Finn said, and I shook off my weird emotions, looking up at him in question. "We have to do at least one together."

I frowned. "I didn't have that planned. My research shows romance reels do better with just the male MC."

"I insist."

"But…"

"Set the phone up and get over here."

Okay then.

Reluctantly, I did as he asked, pressing record and walking over to him. He took my hand with a smile.

"I'm serious, Finn," I said. "I don't think people will like seeing me."

"Why not?" he asked.

"Because they want to imagine themselves as the main character. Also, people can be super judgy, especially when it comes to plus-size girls."

Finn nodded. "Fuck those people."

My laughter bubbled up and out of me before I could stop it.

"Seriously," he said. "Fuck them, Rose."

I smiled as he started swaying with me in his arms. "Not sure my readers will appreciate the foul language."

"Not sure I care."

"You know I'll probably never release this, right?"

"That's okay. Then we can keep it for us."

Finn grinned again, spun me out and pulled me right back to him.

"Just dance with me, Rose."

I did, and even if it was the stupidest thing I'd done in my life, I pretended just for a moment that he was mine.

Ana interrupted us before it could get too far, shouting that she was closing up.

It was a good thing. I completely lost track of how long we'd been dancing.

And when I went to bed that night, I could still feel Finn's arms wrapped around me.