Дебби Макомбер - Starry Night

“Unsavory types?”

“Shhh, just let me kiss you again.”

Carrie wasn’t about to argue with him. They were completely consumed with each other when the elevator stopped on the twenty-fifth floor and the door glided open. Finn reluctantly broke off the kiss and thrust out his arm to stop the doors from closing on them.

Using her code, Carrie let them into her apartment, wondering what Finn would think when he stepped inside the ultra-exclusive high-rise. It was a one-bedroom unit that she’d rented because of its close proximity to the newspaper office and the incredible views of the city it offered.

Staring out the picture window, Finn stood with his back to her. “I’m a bit out of my element.”

Wrapping her arms around him, she pressed the side of her face against his back. “I think we’re both way out of our comfort zones.”

He chuckled and folded his rough, muscled hands over hers. “True enough.”

“I’m so glad you’re here.”

“It was either fly to see you or go slowly mad wondering about you and that pretty boy.”

“You saw Dave?”

“I saw you hug him. He’s darn lucky he didn’t try to kiss you; otherwise, I would have been forced to drag him out of that car and send him flying into the closest snowbank.”

Carrie laughed at the mental picture. Dave was a pretty boy, but he wouldn’t have stood still for Finn’s he-man tactics.

“You think I’m joking?”

“Oh, Finn, if only you knew how close you are to my heart.”

He turned and nearly crushed her in his arms before he slowly released her. “I’ve never been the jealous sort, but Carrie, you … you make me feel things.” Frowning, he rubbed his chest. “One kiss just before Sawyer took you away and you unbalanced my entire life. I hardly know myself any longer.”

“Do you like having your life unbalanced?” she asked, noting how dark his face grew with the confession.

“I don’t know. It’s never happened quite like this.”

She kissed him, letting her lips linger over his. When she pulled away, he groaned softly. “Perhaps I could grow used to it,” he whispered.

“I’m thinking I could as well,” she confessed.

After a while she brewed them each a cup of coffee, and then they sat and talked away half the night. They bounced from one subject to the next as if it’d been months since they’d last spoken. It felt as if they’d known each other their entire lives. Finn talked about the second book he’d written. It was finished, but he wasn’t sure it was as good as the first one.

“That’s a problem when a first book is such a success,” she said thoughtfully.

“How do you mean?”

“Well, there’s all this pressure for you to repeat the performance of the first book. That alone is intimidating enough.”

Finn agreed. “New York keeps asking me when they can see this second manuscript, and I’ve been putting them off, although it’s been finished for quite some time.”

“Would you like me to read it?” she asked.

“Would you?”

“Of course.” It was an honor that he trusted her enough to give her this opportunity.

“You’ll be honest with me?”

“If that’s what you want.”

“I do.”

With anyone else she would have doubted their sincerity, but not with Finn.

It must have been close to three in the morning before Finn announced it was time for him to go back to his hotel. Carrie resisted the urge to ask him to stay. They both knew that it wouldn’t take much encouragement on either of their parts to convince him to spend the night. She had to go to work in the morning but would be off early. Most of the staff would be away from their desks for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Reluctantly, Carrie walked him to the door.

“Can I see you tomorrow?” he asked, his arms around her.

“Please.”

“Any more social obligations I need to know about?”

“Nope. The entire holiday is free … well, other than church. The choir is singing. You’ll come, won’t you?”

He frowned and then nodded.

Carrie rewarded him with a lengthy kiss. “Church might actually do you some good, and then next week is the party.”

He frowned again. “What party?”

“The Christmas one Sophie and I are throwing right here. You must come, you really must.”

He certainly didn’t look keen to join in the festivities. “The first week of December? You’ll be here, won’t you?”

“Ah …”

“See if you can change your flight, Finn. I need to prove to everyone that you’re real. If you think you’re the only one who’s not himself, then you’re wrong. My friends claim they hardly know me anymore.”

“Carrie, I’ll never fit in with your life here.”

She didn’t argue. Instead, she pressed her hand to the side of his jaw, her eyes round and pleading.

Finn snickered softly, and Carrie knew she’d won.

“Could I refuse you anything?” he asked.

“Good to know.” She hugged him, fearing if they kissed again they wouldn’t be able to stop.

He grumbled but didn’t argue.

“I promise the rewards will be worth any discomfort.”

“Rewards?” His dark eyes brightened.

“Yes. We can talk about those later.”

He left her then, and while she was practically asleep on her feet, Carrie was far too happy and excited to let go of the exquisite sensation of knowing Finn was only a couple of blocks away, and would be with her for several days.

Chapter Eleven

Late Wednesday morning Finn unloaded the last of the groceries into Carrie’s refrigerator. Shopping for their Thanksgiving dinner had been an experience he never wanted to repeat. While she was at the office he decided to make good use of his time and get what they needed for their meal. If ever he wanted a lesson in the differences between their lives, this was it. The trip to the grocery store had taken him hours.

Finn knew his way around a kitchen, his father had made sure of that. But the meat he was most familiar with didn’t come from a food market. He found the selection of vegetables and fresh fruit mind-boggling. He had to admit he was impressed. It was like walking into the Garden of Eden. In Alaska, especially at this time of year, fresh fruits and vegetables were at a premium. They were available in limited quantities, but the prices were astronomical.

He glanced at his watch. Carrie should arrive home anytime now. Just thinking about her produced a sense of lightness that he’d rarely experienced. His decision to fly to Chicago had been last-minute. If he’d been smart he would have planned this trip much earlier.

After all Carrie had gone through in order to find him, he was determined she not be alone over Thanksgiving. She was close to her family, which was something Finn had never experienced. His father had been his only relative, though Carrie would be quick to remind him that his mother was living. But she’d been out of his life since he was a kid and he had nothing to say to her. He loved hearing Carrie talk about her family and their traditions. It made him feel good to know how deeply she valued these relationships; it was something he envied. The more he got to know Carrie, the more he cared about her. He tried to ignore the feeling that he was starting to care more for her than he should. More than was wise for either of them.

Finn pushed those thoughts aside for now. He was determined to make this a Thanksgiving they would both remember.

The door opened and Carrie breezed in, breathless and excited. “Finn?” she called out.

“In here.” He had the turkey in the sink and the counter-tops lined with a variety of food.

She rounded the corner and came to an abrupt halt, her beautiful blue eyes widening. “What in heaven’s name is this?” Not waiting for his answer, she launched herself into his arms and buried her face in his neck.