“Duh. That’s why I’m asking.”
Finley shakes his head, making me beg him to tell me the riveting tale of when he almost didn’t make it to the restroom at a State dinner. The rest of the date is light-hearted and, well, fun. We finish the nature walk while bantering back and forth with the occasional topic change when he asks me to talk more about what it’s like for me being autistic. We visit the local library where he shows me his favorite philosophy books and historian authors. Then, around eight, after a quick dinner at the hibachi restaurant where I got to know his PPOs a little more (I couldn’t let them eat off by themselves; it felt rude, plus I wanted to vet Gabriel a little. He checks out.), he takes me on a private tour of the Adeline House.Naturally, these tours always happen at night due to the haunting factor, but I didn’t know he booked the entire place for us from eight to ten.
Of course, I find no evidence of a haunting, though I did find out that Finley kindly asked the staff not to initiate the usual jump scares that they do to toy with guests. My heart warmed at his consideration.I didn’t even have to ask for it…
As he drops me back off at my apartment and walks me to the door, hugging me gently, I remember that I was supposed to scare him off.
But instead, I think I had one of the best nights of my life.
Chapter Thirteen
Finley
Humming the lyrics of “She’s Got It All” by Kenny Chesney, I shut the door of the Mustang and walk down the little dirt path from the parking area and onto the dimly lit porch. My PPOs are still in the black sedan on a phone call with my father. I’m reaching for the door when laughter sounds from the side of the porch.
“Someone had a good night,” Mason comments, Karoline snuggled up beside him on the wide porch swing. I didn’t even see her car when I pulled in.
“I love that song,” Karoline coos. “And your humming is quite melodic.”
“Hey, now.” Mason cuts a look at his fiance. “I’ll get jealous. Don’t go complimenting the crown prince’s singing voice.”
Karoline lifts her head so that her chin is resting on his chest. “Nobody sings better than my Peppermint.” She kisses his cheek after using his strange nickname, and Mason beams with pride.
“I love you, Vroom.”
Yeah, her nickname is even stranger.
“I love you.” Mason cups her face for a kiss.
“Okay,” I say, wrapping my hand around the door knob. “While you two snog, I’ll be grabbing a late night snack.”
“Bye, Finley!” Karoline waves.
I close the door behind me and continue my humming. Maybe one day that’ll be me and Lorelei. I will have a swing installed by the chrysanthemum flower display that I will plant in the Royal Garden. Every morning or every evening, we can cuddle on the swing amidst her favorite flowers and kiss.
Kiss…
When Lorelei tripped and I caught her, those pink, plump lips were too close for comfort. It took every ounce of restraint I had to not carve a trail of kisses across her lips and neck. Images of kissing her rooted in my brain, and I had to spend the rest of the night trying to disregard them.
I grab a cup from the cupboard and fill it up with water from the spout on the refrigerator. It’s cool going down my throat, and I guzzle the entire cup in one go.
After filling it up again, my thoughts return to the date.
Amazing. It was utterly amazing. Lorelei was herself, I restrained my desire to touch her, and we had so much fun learning about each other.
“Thank you, Jesus,” I whisper with a slight victory fist pump. Then in Korsan, I continue. “Please continue to work on her heart and mind. We were created for each other; I know this in my bones. You have led me to her. Let me be patient while her feelings catchup to mine. Thank you for this lovely, captivating woman You have brought into my life.”
“Talking to your people?” Mason’s voice echoes through the house as he walks inside.
“No, just praying.”
“Oops, sorry.”
“You’re good.” I make my way into the living room where Mason has switched on the corner lamp. “I was just finishing.”
Mason sits on the chair and I take the couch. Gabriel and Anders finally come inside with twisted looks on their faces. Gabriel says, “We were still in the car, Mason. Next time, make out with your girl behind closed doors.”
“Agreed,” Anders says with pursed lips as Mason roars with laughter. I can’t help but smile. I want to be in a place where my girl and I are so in love that we freely make out on a porch swing.
