“Two coffees, please. And…” Finn looks at me, his grin widening, “What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to cake?”
I blink, caught off guard by the question. “Um, I’m not sure I know what that means, but if I had to choose… something chocolatey?”
Finn holds up a finger in triumph. “A woman of taste. I’ll take the same. We’re on the same wavelength already. I knew it.”
He winks, and I shake my head, half laughing, half blushing. This man knows how to turn the simplest moment into a flirtation.
Once we’ve gotten our order, Finn leads me to a small table near the window, where the light from outside spills in. He sits across from me, his posture relaxed, but his eyes never leave mine.
“So?” He runs his eyes up my face. “The cake… what do you think of it? Life changing, right?”
“You were right,” I say, taking a bite. “This… definitely changes everything.”
Finn’s grin widens, pleased with himself. “Told you. This town’s got its charm, but the cake? That’s a whole different level of magic.”
I laugh, feeling the heaviness of the day finally start to lift. Finn’s easy energy is utterly intoxicating—the way he makes everything feel so light and effortless draws me in. I didn’t expect to find this kind of distraction today, but it feels good. It feels right. For once, I’m not thinking about what’s next or what I’m supposed to be doing. I’m just… here.
“So,” I say, setting my fork down and meeting his gaze, “how do you do it? You just… glide through life like it’s one big adventure. What’syoursecret?”
Finn leans back, stretching slightly, his arms resting across the back of his chair. “Secret? There’s no secret. It’s all about taking life one day at a time and knowing exactly what you want. And, of course,” he adds with a grin, “knowing how to keep things fun.”
I laugh, half rolling my eyes. “So, no big, deep philosophies? Just wing it?”
“Exactly.” He gives a mock serious nod, then adds with a wink, “Works for me. Maybe you should try it.”
I shake my head but can’t help smiling. The way he talks, so confident and carefree, makes it easy to let go of everything else. For just a few minutes, I’m not the woman carrying grief and unanswered questions. I’m just a woman, sitting in a bakery, eating cake, and enjoying the company of someone who doesn’t make things feel so complicated.
"Maybe I will," I say, and the words are an invitation. Maybe it’s exactly what I need.
The conversation ebbs and flows, light and fun, and as we finish our coffee, I feel like I’m beginning to breathe a little easier. Finn’s presence is easy—he’s just a part of the scenery here. Not like the world is waiting for him to solve everything, but he’s here to remind me that maybe life doesn’t need to be so heavy all the time.
As we walk out of the bakery, Finn flashes me that trademark grin, and I can’t help but feel a little lighter just by being around him. "So, what's next? How about a ride?"
My eyes widen slightly, intrigued. "A ride?" I ask, my heart doing a little dance I don’t quite understand. “On what, your wildly impressive bike?”
Finn laughs, his eyes lighting up. "You bet. I’ll take you on a quick spin around town, show you a few of the sights, and maybe, just maybe, you'll fall in love with mywildly impressivebike."
I raise an eyebrow, amused. "Guess I’ll be the judge of that."
“Deal,” he grins, already walking toward a sleek motorcycle parked nearby. "Hold on tight, though. I’m a wildly smooth rider."
I can’t help but chuckle, following him. “I’ve got a feeling you’rewildlyexaggerating.”
He tosses me a teasing glance over his shoulder as he mounts the bike. “You’ll see.”
I walk over to the bike, my stomach fluttering with the mix of excitement and the undeniable sense of being swept up in his energy. Finn helps me onto the back, and as I settle behind him, the closeness sends a shiver through me. My hands instinctively rest on his waist, and he glances back over his shoulder with a grin that makes my heart race.
“You good?” he asks, low and teasing, making me think that maybe he’s aware of the effect he’s having.
“Yeah,” I reply, trying to sound casual, though my breath hitches a little as I try to get comfortable. “Just try not to kill me, alright?”
“Relax,” he laughs. “You’re in safe hands. Just hold on tight and enjoy the ride.”
Before I can even respond, Finn revs the engine, and we’re off, zooming down the quiet streets of Coyote Glen. The wind whips through my hair, and I have to laugh at how much of a rush it is. For a town that feels like it moves at a slow pace, it feels oddly exhilarating to be on the back of his bike, with nothing but the open road ahead of us. Finn’s confidence is contagious, and I find myself relaxing into the moment, the world around us fading into a blur of trees, buildings, and streetlights.
“Not bad,” I shout over the roar of the engine, feeling a bit of that wild energy he's promised me. “You really are a smooth rider.”
Finn grins wide, his face lit up with the freedom of the moment. “Told you! I’ll take you on more wildly fun adventures if you’re up for it.”
