He’s gorgeous.
The truck settles into park, and he’s out of his seat immediately, already rounding the front of the vehicle, eyes locked on me the entire time. There’s a hint of a cocky smile on his mouth, subtle but unmistakable.
He opens my door before I’ve even unbuckled my seatbelt, offering me his hand. I turn toward him, place my palm in his, and step onto the lift. Before I can register what’s happening, he places my hand on his shoulder and slides his to my hips, lifting me easily and setting me down on the pavement.
“Whoa,” I say, surprised. “I could’ve jumped.”
“Aye, lass,” he replies, amusement dancing in his eyes. “But that wouldn’t be nearly as fun.”
He winks, shuts the door, and offers me his hand again.
“Too soon for hand-holding,” I tell him, adjusting my jacket.
“Right.” He nods easily. “Fair enough.” A small smile tugs at his mouth as he gestures toward the entrance. “Let’s go have dinner.”
The restaurant is packed when we walk in, buzzing with conversation and clinking glasses. A beautiful blonde hostess greets us, looking Finn up and down once… and then again.
“Officer O’Donoghue, welcome. How may I help you?” Her voice dips just a little too deliberately.
“I’ve got a reservation for two.” Finn slides his arm lightly around my back.
I could move. Probably should. But it’s clear he’s making a point, and honestly, I’m not in the mood for being the bigger person tonight.
Her attention shifts to me then, eyes flicking over me in a way that’s anything but friendly before she pastes on a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. I don’t bother returning it.
She glances down at her tablet. “Follow me.”
We weave through the crowded restaurant, and for a Wednesday night, it’s surprisingly full. But when we reach our table, I understand why.
Most of the dining room faces the ocean, perched right at the edge of the cliff, the sun beginning its slow descent. The sky is streaked with pinks and oranges that reflect off the water below, the entire view looking like something pulled straight from a postcard.
Finn pulls my chair out for me, then helps me slip off my jacket once I’m seated, every movement easy and practiced, like this is simply how he operates.
Okay.Points for effort.
He takes the seat across from me, settles in, and looks at me with a smile that feels genuine and unhurried.
“Thank you for coming out to dinner with me, lass.”
Finn glances at the menu one last time before setting it aside, his attention settling fully on me.
I smooth my napkin in my lap, aware of how quiet it suddenly feels between us.
I have to admit, I was dreading coming out with Finn tonight.
I don’t do dinners. I don’t do dates. In my entire life, I’ve had two boyfriends, and with both of them, there were always friends involved. Dinner was a group thing. Dates were double dates, or birthdays, or excuses to be around other people, so the pressure never landed squarely on me.
I’m more of an introvert than most people realize. Being the middle child meant I rarely had to sit across from someone and just… be. April and June have always filled every room they walkinto, their personalities big enough to carry the conversation for all three of us. I’ve spent most of my life tucked comfortably between them, letting their noise become the background of mine.
It never felt like hiding. It just felt easy.
I’ve learned to speak up when I need to—at work, in meetings, in the moments that require it. But when there’s a choice, the quieter part of me usually wins. The part that’s perfectly content to listen, to observe, to let the louder people take the lead.
Somehow, Finn has made this easy.
He’s cocky as hell, and the man clearly knows exactly how handsome he is, but he’s also surprisingly easy to talk to. He talks openly about his life, about home in Ireland, about growing up near the water, about every place the Coast Guard has taken him—California, Texas, now the Pacific Northwest—and he does it without hesitation, without trying to impress me.
I don’t have to fill the silence. I don’t have to perform. I mostly just listen, learn, and laugh.
