“I get it. We were just having fun, Willa. Please let him know that,” he laughed. Willa gave him a knowing grin and stood, walking toward Finn’s table. She took the seat next to him and stared at him.
“You’ve been frowning at me all night, Finn. Do you want to tell me why or am I supposed to guess at what I did to piss you off when you’ve barely spoken to me?” said Willa.
“You didn’t do anything. And don’t cuss. You’re too young for that,” he said twirling a butter knife on the table.
“Too young?” she laughed. “What in the world is wrong with you? Finn, I’m twenty-three, almost twenty-four. I’ve finished my degree in nursing, almost done with my master’s work. I work at the clinic, saving people every damn day. I make my own money, live in my own cottage and I’ve been waiting for five years for you to notice me.”
Finn looked up at her, shocked by her statement.
“At least Brian Talbot had the courage to ask me to dance. He’s nice, he’s fun, and he treats me well.”
“So, you’re dating him?” frowned Finn.
“God, you are so dense!”
She stormed out of the tent, her backless dress only serving to ignite him further. He followed her, the eyes of everyone in the room tracking the retreating couple.
When she got outside, in spite of the cold, Willa took off toward the gardens hoping to hide from Finn. But she knew she couldn’t. He was very good. She should have just headed to her cottage but it was a long walk and she was freezing.
Finn found her seated on the cold stone bench, her shoulders shaking from the chill in the air. He took off his jacket, gently placing it over her shoulders.
“Thank you,” she sniffed. “You can go back to the party.”
“Do you want me to go back to the party?” he asked.
“Finn, do you ever take hints? Am I not communicating anything to you? I mean, I can try to do better but you’re seriously starting to piss me off,” she said staring at him. That earned her a grin.
“Well, let me see if I have it right so far. You’re more than old enough for me at the ripe old age of twenty-three, almost twenty-four. You’re intelligent. Accomplished. Fully employed and not dating Brian Talbot. Do I have it right?”
“Yes,” she said grinding her teeth together.
“And,” he said pulling her closer, wrapping his arms around her, “if I’m reading your anger properly, you may actually be interested in me.”
“Give the man a prize,” she said quietly, relaxing in his embrace and warmth.
“I’ve got the prize, Willa. You. You’re the prize I’ve always wanted.”
Willa looked up at his handsome face and shook her head in disbelief. He was unbelievably annoying but he was so damn handsome and sweet, she couldn’t help but love him. She’d always loved him.
“Yes, Finn,” she said calmly. “I’ve been interested in you since I turned sixteen. I was smart enough to not say anything then. I thought you would look my way when I turned eighteen. But you didn’t. So I waited. Then I hoped you would look my way at my twenty-first birthday. But you didn’t.”
“I danced with you,” he said with a smirk.
“You’re annoying me again,” she frowned. He chuckled, nodding his head.
“I do that sometimes. You should know that about me. Willa, I didn’t make an advance toward you because I didn’t think you were ready. Maybe I wasn’t ready knowing I would continue to be deployed. I didn’t want to be the man that broke you.”
“You wouldn’t have broken me, Finn. I’m a lot stronger than you think. I can handle more than you know.”
“I know you are strong,” he said pushing her beautiful chestnut curls from her face. She had the features of her grandmother but she was tall and strong, like her father and mother. “You’re one of the strongest women I know and I know about a hundred or so.”
She could only laugh, shaking her head at him.
“I’ve waited, Finn. You’re the only man I’ve ever loved even if it was from a distance. I knew that you were the man for me.”
“I am, huh?” he smirked.
“Yes, you are,” she smiled. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, folding her legs on top of his thighs. “I’m cold, Finn. Either take me back to the tent or walk me home.”
