Page 25 of Work and Play
I swear the temperature in the room just went up ten degrees. My cheeks are warm, and my heart is pounding so loudly, I’d be shocked if Finn can’t hear it. But before I can formulate any type of a response, the moment is broken by someone else yelling down the length of the barn.
“Hey Finn, we’re all done unloading the tanks.”
Finn turns to face the man who’s come up to us, oblivious to the fact that I was seconds away from doing something embarrassing, like grabbing Finn and kissing him. Good grief, I can only imagine how well that would be received by the man who can’t seem to decide if he wants to snap at me or flirt with me.
“Okay, I’m coming.” He turns his head over his shoulder at me but doesn’t make eye contact. “There you go. That’s how we make wine.” Then he’s gone, and I’m left slightly less clueless about how white wine is made, but a lot more clueless about Finn McNeil.
By the time I get to Mila’s house, I’m completely fried from overthinking every second Finn and I spent together. What the hell did he mean by “more than great?” Why would he even say that if he didn’t want to do it again?
Gah! I’m so freaking confused.
“You look like you need a drink.” I glance up from where I’m putting my keys into my purse to see Abby walk up beside me on the sidewalk outside Mila’s house.
“I certainly do,” I reply.
“Same. I never realized running a farm involved so much damn paperwork. Pretty sure I’m going cross-eyed.”
“A…farm? Did you say a farm?”
Abby laughs. “Oh yeah, I forget you aren’t from around here.” At the look of confusion I’m sure I’m giving her, Abby reaches out a hand to touch my arm. “Take that as a compliment, you fit in so well with everyone. Anyway, I moved back here to help my Uncle Steve. He has a farm just outside of town. We grow pumpkins, Christmas trees, and some fruit. And we’ve got some animals, so we host school tours and stuff as well. I honestly had no clue what I was in for when I came over to help him out. But damn, licenses and permits and food orders and vet bills. It just never stops.”
I have no clue what to say, so I just make a random noise that I hope conveys sympathy. Thankfully, Mila opens her door just as we step up to it. “Get in here, ladies, there’s wine in the kitchen and gossip to share.”
Mila’s vibrant energy reminds me so much of Sarah. She left Vancouver right before I found my ex Tyson cheating on me, in fact. She almost flew back from Toronto to beat his ass up, but I told her not to be stupid. He wasn’t worth it, and he never was. She moved for her dream job, and even though I miss her, I know she needed to leave. Hanging out with these ladies is a pretty good alternative, though.
Over a couple of glasses of wine and some amazing puff pastry things Mila made, I gradually feel the stress of the day lift away. It’s been so long since I had a group of friends to relax with, I forgot how much fun it is when women get together and just laugh. Paige, with her serious nature and pragmatic approach to things, shouldn’t fit with the chaotic conversation flowing around us, but she does and the one-liners she contributes are pure gold. Serena has dragged Summer up from her seat and is trying to teach her how to twerk, much to all of our amusement.
When the song finishes, Serena and Summer drop back down to the couch. “Alright, alright. You can’t avoid it anymore, Ashley.” Summer’s eyes are dancing. She obviously doesn’t realize quite how reluctant I am to talk about Finn. “We know something’s going on. So spill.”
“To be fair, we don’t know anything for certain,” Paige interjects, pushing her tortoiseshell glasses up on her face. “However, we have all observed clear signs of a significant attraction between you and Finn.”
“And you guys were all alone at axe throwing. Tell me something happened,” Mila adds.
Serena clasps her hands over her chest. “He’s so damn sexy, and hello, free wine. You better get in on that.”
“What’s that face for?”
Crap. Guess I’m not as good at hiding my reactions as I thought. “Nothing. I just don’t get what the big deal is. Yeah, he’s attractive, but he’s also a total ass.”
Mila gives me a strange look. “Umm, hello, are we talking about the same person? Finn McNeil couldn’t hurt a fly, loyal, generous to a fault, complete charmer — that Finn?”
I shrug, uncomfortable with how she’s describing him. “That’s not been my experience at all. He’s been pretty rude and scowly to me, and gives more mixed messages than a magic eight ball.”
Now they’re all staring at me like I’m crazy.
“Wow. Ashley. That’s weird. Like, really weird,” Summer says. “Finn’s a great guy. Tons of fun, total charmer and ladies’ man. I’ve never heard him described as scowly.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “Well, I guess I’m just lucky then.”
“He has romantic feelings for you.”
My traitorous heart skips a beat at Paige’s simple statement. “Haha. I don’t think so.”
“No, I think Paige might be on to something,” Mila says slowly. “I’m not sure why he would act rude and scowly as you put it; that’s definitely not the Finn we’re used to. I do know he was in some kind of relationship in California, and Ethan’s mentioned it didn’t end well, but I haven’t seen him with anyone since he moved back. He and Reid used to go to Victoria to meet women.” She winces apologetically at Abby, who’s dating Reid. “Sorry, girlfriend but it’s true. They aren’t players, but when they wanted a hookup, they went outside of town so it wouldn’t be awkward. Anyway, that means I honestly don’t know how Finn would behave around a woman he’s interested in. All I can say is, the way he looks at you, that man wants in your pants.”
I chew on the inside of my cheek, thinking about what she’s saying. I have no clue what gives them that idea, that Finn wants to be with me, but they do know him better than I do. Still…it doesn’t add up. “I don’t know what you guys see, but honestly he treats me like nothing more than a co-worker. And I’m only here for a few weeks.” I almost admit that we kissed, but choose not to. There can’t be anything good that comes from fueling their idea that Finn and I should be together.
Thankfully, I’m saved from having to say anything more by Abby. She shoots me a sympathetic glance before standing up. “Who needs more wine before we talk about the book?”
