Page 21 of The Nicest Thing

"I still can't believe this is happening," I mumbled.

Grandma Rose glanced at me with raised eyebrows. "There's a lot going on, mi carino. You'll have to be more specific."

"We leave the day after tomorrow for the book conference, yaya. There's still a lot to do. This could've waited until we got back."

She was already shaking her head before I even finished.

The movement was all neck with a finger-shake thrown in for good measure.

It was actually kind of hilarious, but I didn't dare laugh.

Yaya's topaz eyes which appeared even more striking due to the shadow and eyeliner told me she meant business.

The way her red lips pinched was another clear sign.

She'd even asked me to help her apply false lashes which she only did on very special occasions.

Guess meeting my best friend-book husband-one-day fake finance-travel buddy fit that bill.

"If you think I'd let a young man I've never met before take you in a car out of state for an extended period of time, you don't know me at all," she said with a sniff.

"But yaya," I said reasonably, "I've told you everything about Finn."

"Yes, but I needed to lay eyes on him. Take his full measure. Make sure he's on the up and up. If he wants to take my granddaughter anywhere, he needs my approval first."

"Technically, I'm an adult. And I'm taking him to an author event, so…"

The look she shot me was icy with a side of withering.

"But I guess, it's fine," I said quickly.

She gave a curt nod. "This is the best way. You'll see."

Looking around Derek's backyard at our large extended family, many of whom were drinking, talking, and having a grand time, I tilted my head.

Nothing too crazy had happened yet. Finn was currently in the bathroom, washing his hands before dinner—he was that guy, which was just another thing I loved about him.

I also thought he might've needed a second to summon his courage to face this crew.

"I just hope they don't intentionally try to drive him away," I mumbled, watching as Angelo started roughhousing with Carlos.

"Please." Yaya scoffed. "Of course, they will."

"Then I hope they don't succeed."

"He'll be fine."

"You're right. I mean, it's just one dinner."

I started to feel a bit better.

"What could possibly go wrong?"

"Famous last words, my little Rose." My grandmother sent me a soft smile. "But seriously, if your Finn can't handle this, maybe he's not the one for you."

Finn joined us before I could say anything back.

"Sorry, that took longer than expected," he said and ran a hand through his hair, wearing that genuine smile that dazzled everyone within a five-mile radius—or me at least. "A young girl got her hand stuck in the toilet. She was trying to rescue one of her toys."

Yaya narrowed her gaze. "What did she look like?"

"Dark hair, light blue eyes, cute with a dimple in the left cheek but a little mischief in her eyes," Finn said. "Reminded me of Emmy when she was younger."

"Desandra," grandma and I both said at the same time.

"Yep, that was her name."

I bit my lip. "You okay?"

"Yeah," he said with a laugh, "it was touch and go there for a minute. But I was able to help her save the little ponies. Turned out there were a couple down there."

"She probably did it on purpose, to see if they could swim."

Finn shrugged. "It happens. My brothers and I used to put ninja turtles in there."

"Did you have to put your hand in the toilet?"

"I may have…"

Finn turned to Yaya and nodded.

"But I washed thoroughly afterward. Promise.

I knew I was going to meet Grandma Rose, and I didn't want to do it with dirty hands.

Then after the pony rescue, I ran into Aunt Margot, Uncle Raphael, Uncle Samuel, Aunt Maria, Collette, Monique and her little boy Trevor. Anyway, sorry it took me so long."

When he finished, Finn held out a palm to her.

"Nice to finally meet you," he said. "Rose talks about you all the time."

Grandma Rose's eyes twinkled as she took his hand in hers.

"Not as much as she talks about you, Finn," she said, causing me to blush.

"Ah, I don't know. You're the person she loves and looks up to most."

"And yet you're the one who has her heart."

"Yaya," I muttered.

She looked at me then leaned away from Finn, gently dropping his hand. "And by that, of course, I mean in the metaphorical sense. Since the two of you are best friends."

Finn nodded. "We are that."

Her eyes looked him over from forehead to foot, and when she came back to meet his eyes, I knew she was going to say something inappropriate before she spoke a word.

"My, oh my," she breathed.

"Grandma," I cautioned.

"What?"

"Please just…don't."

"Don't what?" Her voice was far too innocent. "I was just going to compliment Finn on his fine physique. It's obvious that he takes pride in what he looks like."

"Thanks," Finn said gamely. "My brothers are all professional baseball players, so I'm tiny compared to them."

A scoff. "With those big, strong hands, I'd bet you're anything but tiny."

And there it was.

Grandma Rose had just insinuated that Finn had a big dick.

I peeked up at him from beneath my lashes, wondering how he'd take it.

As I watched a bit of redness tinged his cheekbones, but other than that, he didn't flinch. God bless him.

"I have been told I have nice hands," he replied.

"By who?" I asked.

His brows furrowed, and I realized my tone was a little sharper than intended.

But who the hell had been complimenting his hands?

"Uh you, for one," Finn said.

"I've never said that." I sniffed and crossed my arms. "You must be thinking of someone else. Another girl, maybe?"

His smile was slow. "Last year, at book club, we were doing a massage circle. I was behind you. Your neck was so tight it felt like a cement block."

My eyes widened as I remembered.

"You were deep into your WIP, Don't Ice My Heart."

I'd been writing on a deadline.

And I was struggling.

I didn't think I'd make it.

But then Finn just said—

"I told you to relax. Reminded you that you'd completed a ton of other books."

"I wouldn't say a ton," I put in.

"Relax, and let the words come. Those were my words. You moaned and said, 'Finn, you have the best hands in the universe. Don't stop.' And I didn't. You finished the book that night if I recall correctly."

My jaw was hanging by the time he stopped.

"You remember that?" I asked.

He gave a small shrug.

"Amazing."

"You wrote over 10,000 words in one night. Pretty sure that makes you the amazing one."

"You're good for my ego," I said.

"That's nice," he said. "But I'd rather hear I'm good for you. Period."

That too, I thought.

Finn nudged my arm, and I nudged his back.

Grandma Rose sighed, and I looked over to find her staring at the two of us. Her expression was a hard one to pin down. Happiness was there for a sure, a little sappiness too, and a hint of sadness. If I had to put a name to it, I would've called her look wistful.

"Yaya?" I asked, laying a gentle hand on her arm. "Are you okay?"

She shook her head and smiled. "Yes, yes, don't worry about me. The way you two are together, it just brought me back. My mind went to your grandfather Eduardo, God rest his beautiful soul, and I got a little—what's the word? Ah, verklempt."

At that and the way she was looking at Finn, my throat grew tight.

"Finn O'Brien," she said.

"Yes, ma'am?" he replied.

Grandma Rose gave a curt nod as if she'd come to some decision. "I like you."

Her voice was strong without a trace of indecision.

"You make my little Rose smile," she said. "Keep doing that."

"The feeling is mutual, Mrs. Rodriguez," he said then looked to me. "And I absolutely will."

In only a few minutes, Finn had won over my tough-as-nails grandmother. It was a mini miracle. But I knew she was a big believer in first impressions. Apparently, my best friend made a good one—which wasn't a surprise at all.

Unable to hold Finn's stare without blushing, I looked off and caught Grandma Rose discreetly wiping away a tear.

"Yaya, do you need something? Food maybe?" I asked.

Finn perked up at that. "I'd be happy to go make you both a plate," he said. "It smells delicious out here, and I've got one hand for each of you."

Yaya waved us off. "Ana can help me with that."

She called out, her strong voice carrying across the yard, caught my cousin's eye, and Ana jogged right over. Unfortunately, this also drew the attention of Carlos. Louis looked over next, and the two immediately started whispering. We were now in their sights.

"You called?" Ana said.

"I require an escort to the snack table," Grandma Rose said.

"Sure thing, Yaya. Anything for you."

"Let's leave these two alone." My grandmother's eyes traveled over first me then Finn, and she said, "You two keep enjoying each other's company."

To me, she said, "Eres mi todo."

"No, eres mi todo," I said.

Her voice fell to a whisper.

"él es encantador y muy sexy."

I felt my cheeks fill with heat.

"Tú y él están bien juntos. Tendrás los bebés más hermosos."

She patted my shoulder then walked away, arm-in-arm with Ana, after dropping that bomb.

My face was hotter than the sun. I couldn't believe my grandma brought up babies—or actually I could.

She loved being a mother and grandma and looked forward to meeting even more of her great-grand kids.

But gah. At least, she'd done it in Spanish, so Finn couldn't understand. That was my only saving grace.

"Hey, Rose," Finn said.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Who are those guys, and why are they glaring at me?"