Page 13 of Time to Stirrup Love (Harmony Glen #10)

Chapter

Eight

M argaid was still a bit stunned that Finn had asked her out.

Was it the wisest idea? Probably not, because if it didn’t go well, she still had to work with him.

She was thrilled, but surprised. Right now, she wanted to live a little and she really enjoyed being around him.

She also couldn’t help but think about what Finn said about his mother and the amigurumi charms. She didn’t tell him exactly what her dreams were about.

They weren’t strange, just detailed and intensely erotic. And they involved him.

Don’t think about it.

Margaid couldn’t dwell on the intensity of those dreams. She had to focus on the road and driving Phineas home. He’d worked so diligently for her all day and had been interested in everything she did. He was a sweet young man and she felt a kinship with him.

“Thanks for taking me home, Dr. Davis,” Phineas chirped.

“You can call me Margaid. If we’re going to work together, I insist on it.”

Phineas smiled. “Thanks, Margaid.”

“What did you think about the work?”

“It was interesting but…” He trailed off and rubbed the back of his neck.

“But what?”

“I’m worried about Finn’s business in respect to your findings.”

She softened. “I’m doing this study to help Finn’s business. This is about longevity and health of the lake and all the watersheds around Harmony Glen.”

“Finn told me you were against sportfishing,” Phineas stated bluntly.

“Oh, well it’s not my favorite thing. So you’re right, but I wouldn’t shut him down because of that. Not permanently.”

“But for a time?”

“If the lake was unhealthy, yes.” She glanced over at Phineas who looked a bit worried.

“Try not to worry, Phineas. The lake here looks good. And I would give Finn resources to help. I’m not the enemy.”

“Even after you leave?”

The question caught her off guard. Who would be in charge after she was gone? What if they didn’t care about Harmony Glen, or Finn?

I could transfer here.

“I’ll make sure Finn, the lake, and everyone are protected.”

Phineas smiled, but his usual bright smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m glad. Sometimes I find it hard to trust humans.”

“I’ve heard. And I’m sorry about that. You’re safe with me though.”

He nodded. “I know. I’d like to go to school. I’d like to go to college for aquatic horticulture and business, or something like that.”

“That sounds really good.”

Phineas shrugged. “It’s just outside…you know what happened to my parents?”

“I do. I wish I could say the outside world was a safe place. It mostly is.” She pulled onto a long gravel drive that wound its way through a marshy yet forested area.

At the end was a wooden house built up on stilts.

Like something out of a bayou. The roof was alive with plants and there were flowers blooming.

Even the swamp around it had big beautiful water lilies blooming.

Was every place in Harmony Glen cute?

“Thanks for the ride, Margaid. So tomorrow you’re out on the boat?”

“Yes. Finn’s taking me to Sandbar Island. Do you want to meet us there in the afternoon?”

Phineas perked up. “Yep. I’ll swim out there and meet you. Later!”

She waited as he got out of the truck and bounded up to his house before turning around and driving back to Harmony Glen.

Phineas had been such a big help to her.

She could see why he was so well liked around these parts.

As she was driving back, there was a ghoul walking along the side of the road, slowly.

It was Magnus. She found it strange he wasn’t floating.

He looked a bit gray, not his usual pale self.

Slowing, she rolled down the window. “Hey, Magnus.”

“Oh. Hey,” he said, quietly. He looked down, which was weird.

“You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” It was a dumb joke for someone trying to open a Dead and Breakfast and who had the qualities of a ghost. He stopped dead in his tracks and crossed his arms, looking unimpressed.

“Sorry,” she said. “Bad joke. Do you need a lift?”

“Thanks. I could use one. I had a date from hell.”

“Literally?”

“Close to it,” Magnus mumbled as he climbed into her truck.

Margaid pulled back out on the road. “Thought you and Sven could appear anywhere?”

“Only in Harmony Glen. Just walking dead when I leave the confines of Harmony Glen,” he sighed.

“How so?”

“We can leave for a short time, but if we don’t get back, we kind of rot.”

Margaid made a face. “You’re not going to drop body parts in my truck, are you?”

“No.” Magnus frowned. “Ever hear of a revenge date?”

“No. I can’t say that I have.”

“Me neither, until now,” he groused. “Serves me right.”

It was clear Magnus wasn’t going to talk more about it and that was fine by her. She was not the town therapist and she had to mentally prepare for tonight, but she was glad to help out someone she knew.

As they drove over the town line, he brightened up and shimmered.

“That’s better,” he sighed.

She dropped Magnus off at Room with a Tomb Dead and Breakfast, or whatever they were going to call it, on Pleasant Street, which she found ironic, and then headed straight for her place to get ready for dinner, which included showering off the hike, algae and dirt from her work today.

As she peeled off her dirty clothes, she picked up the little horse and smelled it. There was a hint of pachouli woven into the fibers, and something else. The thing was, she’d been thinking about Finn since she first met him. She seriously doubted Hetty had imbued it with some kind of love potion.

It had been a long time since she’d been on a date. One, she didn’t have much time, and two, finding someone she actually wanted to date longer than two minutes, which was pretty much never.

However, getting ready to have a dinner at Finn’s made her nervous. She also couldn’t help but think about Magnus and the so-called revenge date he mentioned. Was that a monster thing? Should she be worried? She and Finn hadn’t exactly gotten off on the right foot.

I don’t think Finn is the type to revenge date, whatever that is.

All that aside, she put it out of her mind. She dressed in a flirty casual dress, pinned up her hair, and made her way over to the marina.

As she walked up the dock, her heart was hammering in her chest, beating against her rib cage. Her pulse thrummed between her ears, her stomach knotted in anticipation, and her palms were actually sweaty.

This is ridiculous.

Finn was waiting on the deck of his houseboat.

He was wearing jeans, which was usual, but these were nicer than the ones he usually wore.

His shirt was flannel, but ironed and looked brand new.

He had on boots, but they weren’t his rubber fishing boots.

It was casual, but this shirt showed off his muscles, particularly on his thick forearms, and the jeans hugged to his hips and she thought of a bunch of naughty thoughts.

He’s so damn sexy.

“Hi,” she said brightly.

“Welcome. I’m glad you’re here.”

“Thank you for inviting me.” She reached out to grab the handrail and as she reached out, he took her hand in his and helped her aboard. So different from the day they first met, which wasn’t that long ago, but with this thawing in his grumpy personality she also felt like it was a lifetime ago.

They stood there for a few moments, the sun setting over the lake. It was calm and peaceful, except inside her something was stirring. Something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“I hope you like pasta,” he said, breaking the silence between them.

“Love it.”

Finn smiled and let go of her hand. “Come on in.”

He opened the sliding door for her and she stepped into his home. She’d been here before, when she’d been wearing his clothes and her pants dropped to the floor. That had been an accident, now thinking about that, if her panties dropped, it wouldn’t be a mistake.

Get a hold of yourself!

There was a cute table set up with plates, two wine glasses. The ceiling was strung with twinkle lights. It was cozy and romantic.

“Would you like a glass of wine?” he asked.

“Sure,” she said.

He pulled out a seat for her. All formal and she could sense he was completely antsy.

Margaid sat down and Finn produced a box of wine. She giggled quietly to herself. She hadn’t seen a box of wine in a long time, but she knew they were making a comeback and the wine inside wasn’t that cheap stuff she and her roomies would buy to get drunk in college.

Finn’s hands were so large he was able to grip the box with one hand and flick on the little tap to pour her a glass. It was a merlot, or at least that’s what she thought because it was red, but she was not a wine connoisseur by any means.

He filled his glass next and sat down. “Dinner is almost ready.”

“I’m not in a rush. You’ve done a nice job decorating. Now I’ll have to judge your cooking skills.”

His eyes widened. “Well, I had help from Pearl.”

She grinned. “I did wonder.”

“I’m not much of a dater,” he admitted sheepishly. “My younger days, it was mostly just a one-time thing.”

She suddenly hated all those hookups he had before, which was completely irrational. “I was too busy studying. Few men like a woman who is as smart or smarter than them. It’s not a brag, it’s just what I put up with as an academic.”

“And I stand by comments that they’re douches.”

She laughed softly. “You didn’t need Pearl to help you out.”

“Trust me. I did.”

“This isn’t a revenge date?” she asked quietly.

Finn cocked an eyebrow, completely puzzled. “What’s a revenge date?”

“Okay, it’s not just me.”

“I’m not following.”

“When I was driving back to town after I dropped off Phineas, I came across Magnus walking down the side of the road. He looked a bit downtrodden and he said he was on the worst date, it was a revenge date.”

Finn shrugged. “No idea. Magnus and Sven were cursed and they often see bad omens and consult runes as part of their Viking past. Was he okay?”

“Seemed to be once we got back town. Perked right up. And no body parts were left behind.”