I set the glass down with a soft thud, leaning forward a bit, my jaw tight. “What do you mean by ‘heavier’?”
My voice comes out rougher than I intend, but Finn doesn’t seem to notice. He’s lost in the thought, his grin gone, replaced by that look, the one that says he’s half tempted to dig deeper than he should.
“You know,” Finn continues. “I could feel it. She didn’t say much, but she didn’t have to. It’s in the way she moves, the way her eyes dart around like she’s expecting something bad to happen at any second.” He shrugs, as if it’s no big deal, but I can tell he’s intrigued. “And I don’t know… she just clicked with me. She’s got this warmth, this quiet kindness, but there’s a sorrow underneath it all. It seems unresolved.”
I swallow back a hard lump, the sense of unease gnawing at me. This is exactly the kind of thing we don’t need around here, especially if there’s any chance she could pull us into a fight we’re not ready for. Coyote Glen may look peaceful on the surface, but this town’s got more history buried under it than most people realize. And the last thing I need is some sweet tourist turning into a liability.
I don’t let my expression change, but Finn notices. He’s got this uncanny ability to read me; he can feel when I’m about to snap.
“So, what happened?”
He smirks. “I went back to her place, and we had one hell of a night.”
“Yet, you’re here.”
“I couldn’t sleep, and I didn’t want to keep her up.”
“So… it’s a one-night stand? Because we don’t need distractions right now. Not with everything hanging over us.”
Finn looks at me, really looks at me. I can see the question in his eyes. Why I’m so stiff about it. His lips curl into that trademark grin again, but it’s softer now. More thoughtful.
“Relax, man,” he says, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “I’m just saying, it was a good night. She’s not some problem. But I could see it. I know you’re worried about… other things, but not every new face around here is a threat.”
I turn away, grabbing another bottle and setting it on the counter. I can feel the past creeping back in, heavier now than before.
I may not have a lot of control over what’s coming, but there’s one thing I can control. The people I let into this world. And if anyone’s going to get hurt, it sure as hell won’t be me or my own.
Especially if Cole is sniffing around.
CHAPTER THREE
Aurora
“Finn?”I murmur as I pat the bed beside me. “Why is it sobright?”
The words are slow, I’m trying to wake from a dream that feels too real to shake off. I squint at the sunlight streaming through the window, squinting even harder because I expected to find Finn’s mess of hair on the pillow, or maybe his arm thrown across the bed like it had been last night. But nope.
The bed’s empty.
I sit up quickly, and then I realize, of course it is. Finn’s not the type to stick around. He probably slipped out in the middle of the night, right after I dozed off. I blink around the room, noticing that the space next to me is just, well, empty. It feels like the room’s been quiet for hours.
I can’t help but feel a little bit of a total idiot.
Of course, it didn’t help that last night was… well, honestly, probably too much of everything.
Grief, heat, laughs, good vibes. It was a romcom without the predictable ending. Finn and I? We didn’t even make sense. But in the heat of the moment, it felt like maybe we did. And here I am, alone, with only the faint smell of whiskey in the air to remind me that I probably shouldn’t have let him kiss me theway he did. Or smile at me the way he did. Or look at me the way he did.
But it’s fine. It’s all fine.
I reach over and find the little note he left on the pillow.
Had a great time, Aurora. Don’t worry, I’m not the kind of guy to make things weird. Don’t be a stranger. And don’t forget to keep laughing, okay? Finn.
I stare at it, a weird little smile tugging at my lips. It’s almost too polite. But I can’t deny the way it makes my chest feel a little fluttery in the most ridiculous way possible. The note isn’t just sweet, it’s almost a perfect little Hallmark ending. The guy leaves, but it’s with a wink and a promise to not make it weird.
I tuck it into my wallet, folding it carefully. I’m definitely not keeping it for sentimental reasons, right? Even if it’s with my special things. It’s just a note. A polite, kind note from a guy I met last night. Totally nothing special. I definitely won’t think about it all day and then re-read it tonight when I’m alone in my cabin… nope. Not at all.
I shake myself out of that thought, standing up and moving toward the window, throwing on my boots like I have a whole life planned out. Gotta keep moving.
