Дебби Макомбер - Starry Night

“Just how many times have you watched this silly movie?”

“It isn’t a silly movie,” she insisted, knowing that he enjoyed teasing her.

“Have you ever seen The Replacement Killers ?”

“Yuck, no.”

“Yuck? It’s a great movie.”

“Tell you what,” Carrie whispered, tilting her head back and kissing the underside of his clean-shaven jaw. “I’ll watch it with you one day, as long as you promise to hold me just like this.”

He smiled down on her. “Deal.”

The phone rang shortly after the movie ended. It was Sophie. “A group of us are going to Logan’s for drinks. Can you meet us?”

“Let me check.”

“Check?” Sophie repeated.

“I have company. F—Paul is in town.”

“Seattle Paul? The guy who’s got you walking around with your head in the clouds Paul?”

“One and the same.” Finn eyed her closely. Carrie was sure he was able to hear both sides of the conversation.

“You didn’t say anything about him coming to Chicago.”

“I didn’t know. It was a surprise.”

“Well, bring him. I, for one, am dying to meet this guy.”

“Hold on.” Carrie pressed her cell against her chest. “What do you think? Do you want to go out tonight?”

“Do you?”

She shrugged. “I’d like you to meet my friends.”

He hesitated and then nodded. “Okay.”

She leaned forward and kissed him soundly on the lips.

“I could grow accustomed to these little rewards you so willingly hand out,” he murmured as he gripped her hand.

Carrie smiled and brought the cell back to her ear. “What time?”

“Does eight work for you?”

“Perfect. See you then.”

Sophie hesitated. “Does Paul have a friend?”

“No, and, fair warning, hands off. Got it?”

Sophie laughed before the line was disconnected.

“Who’s Logan?” Finn asked.

“It’s a bar about six blocks from here. A few of us from the newspaper hang out there when we can.”

“Noisy?”

“Afraid so. Sorry.”

Finn chuckled. “It won’t be so bad if there are rewards involved.”

Carrie smiled. “I imagine there will be more than a few.”

“Then bring on the noise.”

For the rest of the afternoon they simply hung out together while a medley of Christmas songs played in the background. It seemed they never ran out of things to talk about. And as promised, Finn gave her sections of his new book to read and critique. Carrie found it as good as, if not better than, Alone and told him so.

They left the condo around seven forty-five and with her arm tucked in Finn’s they walked the six blocks to Logan’s. The noise was explosive the instant they entered the bar. Sophie and Bruce already had a table. Bruce worked for the newspaper, and he’d been dating Sophie for the last few months, following his divorce. According to Sophie, it wasn’t a serious relationship, and after seeing them together a couple of times, Carrie had to agree.

The noise level made it nearly impossible to talk, but they managed by yelling across the table to one another. Finn ordered a beer. Sophie and Carrie had their favorite dirty martinis before another couple joined them. Introductions were made and a second round of drinks was ordered. Finn stayed close to her side and contributed to the conversation, although it was difficult with the bar so crowded. They left an hour later.

“I enjoyed meeting your friends,” he commented when they were outside in the relative quiet of the street.

“But the crowds and the noise bothered you.”

“Not bothered, exactly,” he said, and reached for her hand. “I’m just not accustomed to it to that extent. We get plenty rowdy in Fairbanks ourselves, you know.”

“But this is different.”

He grinned and nodded. Soon they had their arms around each other as it started to snow again. They took a leisurely stroll down Michigan Avenue on the way back to Carrie’s place. On a side street they walked past a bookstore, and Alone took up the entire window display. Finn paused and did a double take.

“How does it feel seeing that?” she asked.

He took his time answering. “I’ve seen it displayed before, but nothing like this. It leaves me feeling a little … I don’t know, weird, I guess.”

“A good weird, though, right?” She felt proud for him and for all that he’d accomplished, proud to be with him. Carrie knew the phenomenal sales of his book had shocked Finn. He didn’t seem to understand what it was about his book that fascinated readers. When he’d submitted the manuscript, he’d been amazed at how quickly it’d sold. Then to have it shoot straight to the top of the bestseller lists and remain there for months on end was beyond the scope of his imagination.

“I can see your mind working,” he said, and, leaning down, he kissed her brow. “I know what you’re thinking.”

“So you’re a mind reader now.”

“You’d love to write that article about me, wouldn’t you?”

To deny it would be a falsehood, but to confess that she’d composed it a half-dozen times in her mind, even still had a rough draft on her laptop, would give him the wrong impression. “That’s a moot point. I would never destroy the trust you have in me. I wouldn’t submit a word until you gave me the approval to do so.”

He was silent for a long time and then said, “Fair enough.”

They held hands as he walked her to her condo and kissed her good night.

“Come upstairs with me?” she asked.

He shook his head. “I think I should go back to the hotel.”

Carrie held on to his hand. “Is everything all right? You’re not upset about anything, are you?”

Finn brought her back into his arms and hugged her close. “You’re far too tempting, Carrie. If I came upstairs with you now, I wouldn’t be leaving until morning, and we both know it.”

Carrie went into her building with a happy, excited sense of anticipation and relief. She would see Finn tomorrow. He’d met her friends and not a one had even suspected her Seattle Paul was Finnegan Dalton.

Chapter Twelve

“When is Paul leaving?” Sophie asked on Saturday afternoon. Finn was in her kitchen, fixing sandwiches for their lunch. Carrie had been bringing down dishes when her friend had called.

“His flight is scheduled for Monday. I mentioned our Christmas party, and I hope he’ll be able to change his plans so he’ll be staying for that.” He’d used her laptop to see about alternate flights and to check his emails, but it didn’t look promising that he’d be able to delay his return to Alaska.

“Do you think he might?”

“I don’t know.” The thought of him leaving filled her with dismay, but at the same time she appreciated that city life was completely foreign to him.

And she would need to return to work Monday morning and he’d be restless in the city, although there would be plenty for him to see and do.

“How come you left so early last night?” Sophie pressed.

“Too noisy,” she explained, as she strolled into the kitchen. “It was difficult to hold a decent conversation, and Paul and I had been out and about all day.”

“I have an idea,” Sophie returned cheerfully, as if she was the most brilliant woman in the universe. “I’ll have the two of you over for dinner this evening. I’ll ask Bruce, and we’ll have a small dinner party with just the four of us—nothing fancy.”

“Good idea, but I’ve already got a roast in the Crock-Pot.” A good portion of the leftover turkey had gone into the freezer, and she’d made up plates with turkey, stuffing, and the other side dishes to distribute to her neighbors who were widowers.