Page 29 of The Nicest Thing

I sucked at mixing and mingling.

I never knew this about myself before, having always felt comfortable around my small group of friends.

But put me in a room full of strangers? And I was like a fish out of water.

A silent, awkward, curvy fish. One who couldn't swim—who was drowning slowly because she realized too late that she was more dog (or at least dog lover) than fish.

I'd lost count of the amount of internal sighs I'd given since arriving at the book conference.

The one I would've never been invited to if it wasn't for the man on my arm.

He'd applied for me, knowing I wanted this so much.

Inadvertently, he was also a big reason why I got accepted.

And now, he was charming everyone in the room.

If there was a title for best fake husband, I was sure Finn O'Brien would win it hands-down.

Not only did he play the part well, he did so while showering me with genuine affection. People approached us because of him, drawn by his magnetism. When he met a new person, he somehow managed to make them feel like an old friend. He also included me and my books in every conversation.

Have you read Liv Lamoreaux? Her romances are my favorites.

If you love sports romance, you should give Liv Lamoreaux a try.

Whenever I get down, I pick up a Liv Lamoreaux book. Always cheers me up.

I think a lot more men should read romance, and I think they would if they tried her books.

Have you met my wife, Rose? She writes under Liv Lamoreaux, and she's amazing.

The worst part—or the best—was that I knew he meant every word.

It made me love him even more.

It made me remember his confession.

The one he thought I slept through because I let him think that.

Finn was in love with me—or he thought he was.

The distinction mattered to me before, but now…it didn't seem so important.

Part of that was because Finn made faking it look way too easy.

He was good at everything. Casual touches that set my skin on fire?

Check. Flirtatious glances that made me feel like the sexiest woman in the room even though I knew I wasn't? Check.

Kind words that embedded themselves deeply into my heart?

Check. Though everyone seemed to want to impress him, Finn didn't even look like he was trying.

He was comfortable in his own skin, and something about that was insanely attractive.

Finn was making me crazy. Everything he did stoked the fire inside me, a fire he'd lit, until it felt like I was burning with words left unsaid.

"Hey, you look a little flushed," Finn said, raising a hand to my cheek. "Want to call it a night?"

"Sounds good," I said.

The trip to our room was a short one. The conference kick-off was still going strong, so it wasn't hard to catch an elevator.

We walked into our room, and I input a few words here and there, just to let Finn know I was listening.

But honestly, I was lost in my thoughts.

I had to tell Finn I heard what he said.

I needed to know if he still felt that way or if it was just the cabin atmosphere talking.

And regardless, I needed to tell him how I felt.

But how would he react? Was it better to keep the secret I'd held for so long?

My heart demanded one thing while my head hesitated.

But as I turned around and saw Finn standing by the bed over his suitcase I knew it was now or never.

I'd just opened my mouth when Finn cursed.

"What?" I said in concern.

"I told him not to do this," he muttered.

"Him who? Finn, what's going on?"

He faced me, wearing a longsuffering expression, holding something square in his hand. "Baylor. He left me these. No idea how he got them in my suitcase."

I narrowed my gaze to see better. "Are those…?"

"Condoms," Finn confirmed.

"Wow."

"I know. Cherry flavored if you can believe that."

I laughed as he shook his head on a sigh.

"Dammit, Bay."

"How do you know it was him?" I asked between laughs.

"We had this whole conversation about it." Finn lifted a piece of paper from his bag and presented it to me. "Plus, he left a note."

"Have fun, brother! Love, Bay" I read aloud. "Well, that was thoughtful of him."

"It's creepy, Rose I told him not to," he added. "Didn't want you thinking…"

"What? That you only came on this trip for sex?" As he gave a curt nod, I sent him a smile. "I know, Finn."

"Good."

"If that's all you wanted, you could get it from nearly any of the single women on campus or the authors you charmed the pants off of downstairs," I added.

Finn looked away, sounding embarrassed. "I think you're overestimating my powers of seduction."

"I'm really not," I said then turned back to reach into my suitcase, "and just so you don't feel bad."

I held up my own box.

Finn's eyes went round. "What the…?"

"Found these in my bag the other night at the cabin," I said, cheeks turning pink at the memory. "I was surprised, didn't know what to say. Apparently, your brother isn't the only one trying to meddle."

"So, you didn't buy those yourself?"

"Ah, no."

"Who are they from?"

I pulled out the little note I'd found and handed it to him.

"'In case things get spicy,'" Finn said. When his eyes got to the bottom, he threw me a grin. "It's from The Book Club."

"That it is."

"But we're part of the club."

I shrugged. "Guess our friends wanted to make sure we're safe."

"Guess so." Finn took the box from my hand and chuckled.

"What?" I asked.

"Extra-large," he said, looking up at me with a cocksure grin. "Not sure how they knew, but good guess."

"But with the cherry, there are so many choices."

"This says made for her pleasure. I'd go with this one."

I blinked. "You would?"

"Yeah—if we were going to have sex." He tossed the box, so it landed perfectly back into my bag. "Which is absolutely not going to happen."

Trying to hide my disappointment, I said, "It's not?"

Finn gave me a strange look then turned back to his case. "'Course not. Besides us being strictly best friends"—I could've sworn there was a little frustration in his voice—"you're the one who put that in the original contract. No sex, remember?"

I watched him.

"No unnecessary intimate acts," he added.

"I remember."

Finn was rummaging around in his things, presumably searching for a shirt. Watching his back muscles tense and release was the last straw. I couldn't take it anymore and finally found my voice.

"Did you mean it?" I asked.

"Mean what?" Finn said.

"What you said the other night."

His back tensed. "You'll have to be more specific. I say a lot of things, so—"

"I'm in love with you. I love you, Rose," I recited from memory.

Once I'd started, I couldn't stop.

"I want to keep you forever."

Finn turned and met my eyes. His were burning.

"You and me"—I swallowed—"we're that hit-it-out-of-the-park kind of love."

"You heard," he said. Not a question, a statement.

"I did," I said.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I wasn't sure what to say."

Finn stared at me.

"So, did you mean it?" I repeated.

For a moment, he didn't respond; it didn't even look like he was breathing. Then Finn shrugged.

"Yeah, I meant it," he said.

His words made me feel like flying.

Finn crossed his arms. "I'm sorry, Rose. I hope you don't hate me."

"I don't hate you," I said, crossing the space slowly. "I couldn't even if I tried."

He watched me as I stopped right in front of him.

Reaching up, I placed my hand against his cheek.

"What are you doing?" he asked, voice deep.

"Making the first move since you're too much of a gentleman," I breathed.

"Rose, you don't have to…"

"I know." His arms fell to his sides as I leaned up on my tiptoes. "I want to."

"But—"

"I'm yours, Finn."

His eyes flared. "You are?"

"I always have been," I whispered, our mouths close enough that I knew he felt the words. "You're mine too. Aren't you?"

"You know I am."

"So, show me. Take me. Love me, Finn."

He groaned quietly, and I wasn't sure who moved first, but our lips met in the most perfect kiss.

It started soft, delicate—then quickly turned into something else entirely.

The fire burning in my soul for him spread into a wildfire.

Finn was lost too. His hands caught me behind the thighs, gripping me there, lifting until I wrapped my legs snuggly around his waist. His mouth never left mine.

He licked at my lips, and I opened immediately, wanting to touch him in every way possible. Our tongues danced, tangling together. My fingers entwined in his hair to hold him close. Finn seemed to like that as another groan left his lips.

I felt so out of control. I didn't even know we were moving until Finn laid me back on the bed. He followed me, still pressed deliciously against my front. The only thing separating us was the soft material of my shirt.

Finn reached for the hem, but I put a hand on his wrist.

He stopped, pulling back slightly to look at me.

"Rose?" he said.

I cleared my throat. "Sorry, I just…maybe we should leave that on. Or turn the light off?"

"But I want to see you."

Finn's face was so close, his expression and tone so sincere and piercing, his voice nothing but a rasp.

I bit my lip, and his eyes followed the movement.

"What if you don't like what you see?" I said quietly.

Finn shook his head slowly. "Not possible."

"But—"

"Every part of me loves every part of you."

Oh God.

"Okay?" he said.

I felt like I was going to cry but managed to get out, "Okay."

Finn had me undressed, wearing only my bra and panties, in under a minute.

In any other situation, I would've made a joke, said something to lighten the mood.

But my throat went dry at the look in his eyes.

As I watched him watching me, taking in every part of me from forehead to foot, I waited with bated breath for his reaction.

"Damn," he whispered finally.

I should've known Finn wouldn't disappoint.

Swallowing a smile, I said, "That's a good thing, I hope."

Finn shook his head.

"It's not?"