“I don’t understand,” Iris said. “I thought you managed his campaign, not his appearance.”
“They are one and the same. Welcome to politics,” Henry said.
With another reminder of the next day’s itinerary, he was off.
Finn led him to the door, and when he came back, he heard Iris hiss, “Triton’s beard, Monty, what iswrongwith you?”
When he rounded the corner, he saw her lifting his cat into her arms andawayfrom the pelican, who had a bit of fur clinging to his beak.
“I’m impressed. He won’t even let me pick him up.”
Iris said nothing to that as she sat down on the sectional, trying to put the cat to her side, but he climbed back onto her lap and immediately started to purr.
“He’s vibrating. Is that a good thing?”
“That’s a very good thing. He likes you. And that,” he said as the cat started to press his paws into her thigh, “is called making biscuits. I only know that from the extensive cat research I had to do when Henry made me take him home, not because he’s ever done it to me.”
“Henry is … a lot. And that is coming from someone with an older sister who is taking her future on the throne with a grave sort of determination and thinks everything I say or do is embarrassing or inappropriate.”
“Did he insult you?” Finn asked. He was surprised by the way his stomach boiled at the idea.
“Oh, only about everything about me,” she said, sighing. “I’m too fluid. My voice is too wishy-washy. My toes are weird. I don’t know what talk shows, town halls, or diners are …”
“Your voice is not wishy-washy. It’s a little sing-song, but in a charming way. I think your gait is like night and day from yesterday. Talk shows, town halls, and diners are on his mind because they’re on my itinerary in the coming weeks and months. But there is plenty of time to learn about them. As for your feet,” he said, moving to sit on the coffee table in front of her. “May I?” he asked, gesturing to her feet.
She offered him a shrug, so he reached down to pull one foot onto his leg.
“Wow. Your toenails are naturally pink?” he asked, looking at the shimmery nails.
“That is something Henry liked. He said it would save a lot of time on pedicures. Whatever those are.”
“Then what’s the problem?” She had perfectly nice feet. Petite, even.
Iris sighed and spread her toes.
“Oh,” Finn said, surprised. There, between each of her toes, was a small amount of light, pearlescent webbing.
He couldn’t stop his thumb from moving out, teasing across the webbing, finding it warm and smooth.
A gasp escaped Iris, making his gaze shoot up.
Was that surprise?
Was she ticklish?
Or was it something else entirely?
He knew he needed to keep his hands to himself. He didn’t want to overstep a line. Especially when he didn’t know how willing a participant she was in this arrangement yet.
Yet, there was no stopping himself from letting his finger do one more innocent swipe.
Iris stiffened as she sucked in her breath.
Watching her face, he saw the furrowed brows of confusion, but the hooded lids of desire.
“Are your land legs new to you?” he asked, his head tipped to the side.
“Yes. Yesterday was the first time I’ve ever really used them.”
