You Make It Easy: A best friend's brother romance (Love in Everton Book 5)

by Fabiola Francisco

  “I’ll see you on Tuesday.”

  “Yeah,” Abbie sighs, unlocking her door. “Thanks again, Finn.” I wait until she’s inside before hopping in my truck and driving away.

  As soon as I get home, I dial my sister’s number, deciding not to wait until tomorrow morning. “Hey, were you sleeping?” I ask when she answers.

  “No, I’m trying to convince Eli to watch How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days.”

  “Good luck,” I chuckle. “Anyway, I needed to talk to you about something.”

  “Is everything okay?” I hear the worry in her voice as she gives me her full attention.

  “Yes, but don’t freak.” I sit back on my couch, lifting one foot onto the coffee table.

  “Sure-fire way to get me to freak before you tell me anything, Finn.”

  I take a deep breath and go with the straight-to-the-point approach. “I wanted to share some news with you before you heard it from someone else. I went on a date with Abbie tonight.” I cringe as I wait for her response, glad I’m doing this over the phone. I’m a chicken, sue me.

  “Abbie? As in Abbie Murphy?” Her voice is low. I hear Eli ask her what’s going on, but she must wave him off. “How did this… When… I didn’t know you liked her.”

  “It’s new. We’ve been talking more since she moved into the house, and one thing just led to another.”

  “Oh God, did you already sleep with her?” Averly screeches.

  “No. Seriously, Averly, cut me some slack.”

  “No offense, big bro, but you’re the guy who once drove hours to see a woman.”

  “I really liked her,” I defend though it’s a lie, and we both know it.

  “I just don’t want Abbie to be another one of your conquests.”

  “She’s not.” I shake my head even though she can’t see me. “I like her. For real. Anyway, I wanted you to hear it from me and not some nosy busybody around town.”

  “I know you’re not a jerk, Finn,” Averly relents. “You could be good for her.”

  “I think she’s good for me,” I tell my sister.

  “Thanks for telling me. I appreciate not being blindsided while I’m waiting for my coffee in Cup-O-Joe. So, you and Abbie, huh? Is that weird?” Averly begins to relax, and Eli’s voice booms in the background, “What?”

  I chuckle. “It actually felt completely normal.” I tell her where we went and running into Ainsley and Knox. Averly seems okay with this, and I’m glad I called tonight instead of tomorrow morning. Ready for bed, I wish her luck with convincing Eli to watch a chick flick and hang up.

  As I lie in bed, I grab my phone and open the Perfect Match app.

  Mr.Cowboy: I had a great time tonight. Goodnight beautiful

  I put my phone on the bedside table, thinking Abbie might already be in bed when my phone pings.

  BookishAbbs: Goodnight handsome

  I smile and place my hand behind my head, looking up at the ceiling as I watch the fan spin around. Yeah, Abbie is definitely good for me.

  Abbie

  I run around the house, putting laundry away and rinsing the plate I used for lunch before shoving it into the dishwasher. This is what happens when I get so focused on work that I lose track of time. Finn will be here any minute, and I barely had time to jump in the shower and put on jean shorts and a flowy tank top. Scanning the house, I make sure everything is in order before slumping on the sofa. My chest rises and falls as I try to catch my breath.

  My hand reaches up to my hair, and I sigh. There is no way I’ll have time to dry it. I walk into the bathroom and grab a hair tie from the drawer, braiding my hair and drying my bangs with the blow dryer. I bring my braid over my shoulder and smile.

  As soon as I put the dryer away, a knock echoes around the house. I take a deep breath and stare at myself in the mirror. I’m much less nervous than my first date with Finn, but staying in can lead to more…intimacy.

  I open the door with a smile.

  “Special delivery,” Finn says playfully.

  “Whoa. Let me help you.”

  “I got it.” He walks into the house, carrying a pizza box and two bags. After he places the pizza on the counter, Finn holds up one bag. “I got garlic rolls from Romano’s since you loved them so much on Sunday.” He holds up the second bag. “And berry crumbled bars from The Mad Batter.”

  “Yum,” I moan, tipping my head back. Finn chuckles, and I look up to meet his eyes, heat rising up the back of my neck.

  “I’m glad I delivered the perfect meal.” He takes a step forward.

  My teeth dig into my bottom lip. “You did.”

  “Hi.” Finn’s lips tilt up in a crooked grin as his hand lands on my hip. My heart drums as he leans in and brushes his lips against mine.

  I couldn’t conceal the shiver that runs down my spine if I tried. The warmth of his lips against mine makes my insides melt.

  “Now, that’s a better hello.” Finn grins.

  “Yeah,” I sigh with a nod.

  He chuckles and rubs his hands together. “Shall we eat before the pizza gets cold?”

  “Yes,” I hiss.

  “Hungry?” He lifts his eyebrows.

  “When it comes to Howdy’s pizza, I’m always hungry.” I move around the peninsula and grab two plates from the cupboard and place them on the counter. Then, I reach for two glasses.

  Turning toward Finn, I ask, “What would you like to drink? I’ve got beer, wine, water, or pop.”

  “A beer would be great.”

  I nod, placing the napkin holder on the counter with the plates and open the fridge to grab two beers. When I turn toward the counter again, Finn’s arranged the plates and napkins in front of the two stools.

  Smiling, I take a seat next to Finn as we eat our pizza and garlic rolls. I tell him about the family photo shoot I had yesterday and how cute the kids were. Finn smiles as I gush about the twins. Realizing I’m probably going a little overboard, I clear my throat and take a sip of beer.

  “How was work today?”

  “Good, although it felt never-ending since I was counting down the hours ’til I got to see you.” Finn opens the pizza box, offering me a slice and grabs another one for himself.

  I wipe my mouth with my napkin and turn toward him. “I was excited to see you, too. Although I won’t lie, I got sucked into editing the photos I took yesterday that I lost track of time. I guess it worked out better that way, so I wouldn’t check the time every few minutes.”

  Finn smirks and surprises me with his next comment. “I spoke to Averly last night.”

  “What did she say?” I bite my lower lip.

  “She was surprised, but she took it well.” Finn’s smile widens, and he reaches for my hand.

  “Good,” I sigh in relief.

  “Yeah. Now, how about we finish eating so we can find two strangers to take pictures of?” His eyes light up like a little kid staring at an all-you-can-eat candy bar.

  We finish eating and clean up our plates before moving into the living room with the berry bars and two small plates. I place a cushion on the floor and sit using the coffee table as a tabletop, turning to Finn.

  “Do you mind if we sit on the floor? I can sit on the couch instead.”

  “Not at all.” He places a cushion next to me and takes a seat, his jean-clad thigh brushing against my bare one. “Are these the pictures you took yesterday?” Finn asks, angling the laptop toward him.

  “Yeah.”

  “They’re great.” He scrolls through a few with a wide smile.

  “Thanks,” I answer sheepishly.

  “Okay… How do you want to do this?” Finn asks, spreading the plates and serving a berry bar on each. I pick at a crumble on top and pop it into my mouth.

  “I was thinking of posting the idea on my social media pages and asking those that are interested to send me a private message, so they remain anonymous until that day. If I have more than one man and woman, I can choose two people at random.” I gauge Finn’s reaction.<
br />
  “Leaving it up to fate, huh?” His eyes widen. “I like it,” he nods with approval.

  “Do you believe in fate?” I lift my brows.

  “You may not believe me, but yes, I do,” he gives me a confident nod.

  “You’re not the type of person I took for a believer,” I tease.

  “Maybe you don’t know me all that well, after all.” His eyes pierce mine in a meaningful stare.

  “I guess not.” I smile, wondering how many layers there are to Finn.

  “Let’s do this.” He claps his hands, tapping his fingers against the keyboard.

  We work together to draft the post, making sure the wording is clear and add a deadline when we’ll stop receiving responses. We. As if this was our project instead of my own. I guess the moment Finn got involved, it did become a team effort. A small smile crosses my face at the thought of that.

  “Ready?” Finn asks, his eyes glimmering.

  “Yes.” I take a deep breath and hit publish on my post. “Now, we wait.” I lean back on my hands.

  “Want to wait with another bar?” Finn holds out the container carrying the berry crumble dessert.

  “Yes.” I reach for one and take a bite. “These are so good,” I say, covering my mouth as I finish swallowing.

  “Everything Mrs. Engle makes is good,” Finn comments.

  “You’re right,” I agree. “Do you think people will respond to the post? I’m okay with them not being from Everton so long as they’re willing to drive out here.”

  “I have a feeling you’ll receive more replies than you think.” Finn shifts his body until he’s facing me. One hand locks with mine as he lifts our intertwined hands and examines them.

  “You know, I’ve never really cared for hand-holding,” he begins talking. “I’ve held hands with women in the past, but more as an automatic action. When I hold your hand, it feels different. Scratch that, I actually feel something. It’s not something I do out of habit. Instead, it’s like I’m actually feeling you. I don’t know how to explain it, and I’m probably butchering the moment.” He chuckles, bringing our hands down to his lap.

  “I think I understand. It’s a sensation.”

  Finn nods. “Exactly. It doesn’t feel like a job, either.”

  “That’s a good thing.”

  “It definitely is.” His other hand holds my face, the pad of his thumb brushing my cheek. “It doesn’t feel weird at all.” Finn’s voice drops an octave. “And I think that’s what makes this right.” He leans forward, the hand holding my jaw pulling me toward him until we both meet in the middle.

  As soon as our lips touch, the tension that’s been building since Saturday evening snaps, bursting with sparks of electricity. I shiver and scoot closer, bringing my arms around Finn’s body and pressing my hands into his back.

  Finn groans, taking my bottom lip between his teeth. Holy cannoli, that’s sexy. I smile against his mouth.

  “Something funny?” he murmurs.

  “One thing I never doubted was that you’re a good kisser.”

  “You’ve thought about kissing me?” His eyebrows waggle.

  “No, but you always know which guys would be good kissers. It’s a girl thing, I guess,” I shrug.

  “I only want you to think about kissing me,” he growls, taking my lips in his again.

  His tongue presses against the seam of my lips, and I open for him, my tongue stroking his. Every insecurity is thrown out the window as I get swept into Finn’s arms and lips. He pulls me as close as we can get, cradling my face with both hands as he angles my head and deepens the kiss.

  I’m ruined for all other men. Kissing Finn alone makes my body tingle. I can’t imagine how I’ll feel if we sleep together. I moan into the kiss just thinking about it.

  Finn slows our desperate lips, guiding us until he drops two pecks on my lips and lifts his head. My heartbeat drums in my ears. His chest rises and falls at the same speed as mine as we both attempt to catch our breaths.

  “We should slow down,” Finn says.

  “Okay.” I nod, dropping my hands from his back.

  “I don’t want to,” Finn quickly adds as my hands leave his body. “But I want to take things slow with you. You’re not just a woman I wine and dine so I can grind.”

  “I think that’s a good idea,” I nod, inhaling deeply and closing my eyes for a beat.

  Finn’s thumbs brush my face and over my lips. “You’re beautiful.” His voice is gruff.

  I blink my eyes open and smile. “Thank you.” Tilting my head, I stare into his dark eyes. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Of course.”

  “Why did you choose to pursue me?”

  “You make it sound like a chase,” he chuckles. “Besides, I already told you why when you asked the other day.”

  “You know what I mean.” I look at him, waiting for his response. Finn takes a deep breath, his expression turning serious.

  “It was like I’d always seen you, but suddenly, you were this bright light —an array of colors. I couldn’t stop looking at you. The girl I’d always seen was replaced with a woman that was independent, talented, and sweet. Something switched on. I tried to avoid it, helping you date other guys, but when I came over the day the pipe burst and saw you in that wet t-shirt, I knew I was a goner.” Finn smiles, brushing my heated cheeks.

  “You looked like a deer caught in headlights apologizing for something that wasn’t your fault, but all I could stare at was the way the shirt clung to your body.” His mouth inches closer, his hot breath fanning across my lips. My heart thrums in my chest at a steady pace as heat floods my body.

  Finn’s eyes follow the trail my tongue takes when it peeks out and licks my bottom lip. On a growl, he pulls me to him, fusing our lips in an explosive kiss.

  “Sitting next to you while you had no idea how stunning you are was torture. I kept telling myself, you’re Abbie. Convincing myself it was a bad idea. But babe, nothing about this feels wrong, does it?”

  I whimper, shaking my head as my wild eyes stare at his honest ones. I pull him to me, and we both fall back, Finn’s muscular body pressing against mine. Parting my legs so he can fit easier, I thrust my tongue into his mouth and kiss him as if my life depends on it. As if I drank poison, and his kiss is the only antidote to cure me. I kiss him as if I’ll never kiss anyone else, and in this moment, I never want to.

  Finn groans, thrusting his hips into me, and my head falls back on a moan. His lips kiss my jaw, trailing down to my neck. My heart pounds in my ears as his breath tickles the base of my throat. His teeth graze the skin right above my breasts, and I shudder.

  “We should stop,” he says against me and drops a kiss over my collar bone. “I want to,” he drops another kiss on the side of my neck. “Go slow.” He leans up on his elbows, staring into my eyes.

  “Yeah,” I nod, my eyes searching his, and my chest rumbles with wild breaths.

  “For the record, I don’t want to stop. This is the most self-control I’ve ever had. You’re worth it, though.” An easy smile paints his lips as he leans back on his heels, extending his hand to help me sit up.

  “I guess I got a little carried away.” I brush back the loose strands that fell from my braid.

  “I like that you did. I like that you don’t hold yourself back or hide from me.”

  I shrug. “I’ve known you for a long time.”

  Shaking his head, Finn says, “You’ve known me as a friend, as Averly’s bother, but never like this. Even if you are comfortable around me, it’d be easy to feel weirded out or shy. You’re not, though. You’re this stunning woman that becomes more alive. You shine.”

  I cross my legs and reach for his hand. “It’s easy with you,” I shrug.

  “I’m damn well glad because if it makes you want to kiss me like that, I’m all yours.” He extends his arms out to the side, and I giggle. Finn wraps me in an embrace and pulls me into his chest, kissing the crown of my head.

  I i
nhale his cologne, that same woodsy scent from the other night, and close my eyes. He feels safe. He feels familiar and yet new. I run my hands up and down his back and look up at him, resting my chin on his chest. A crooked grin greets me.

  “This is good.” He tightens his arms around me in a gentle squeeze. I nod and kiss his chest before cuddling into him.

  Not even in my wildest dreams would I have thought I’d be in this position with Finn right now. He’s right though, this thing between us is good.

  Abbie

  “Hello?” I answer my phone when it buzzes on the counter as I prepare my coffee.

  “Hey,” Finn says. “What are you doing?”

  “Um, making coffee.”

  “Any chance you want to make it to go?”

  I lean against the counter, watching the coffee drip into the pot. “Okay?” I let the question linger.

  Finn chuckles. “Don’t sound so unsure. It’s Lemon Meringue Pie Day, and The Mad Batter is giving a free slice of pie. I thought we could go there, have pie for breakfast, then go for a swim.”

  “A swim?” I look down my body and legs. Thankfully my legs are shaved. “Where?”

  “Arrowhead River. There’s a part that has a rope. What do you say? Want to jump into freezing water with me?” I hear the smile in his voice.

  “When you put it that way…” I tease. I’d love to see Finn today. We haven’t had a chance to see each other since Tuesday that he came over, and I’ve been fantasizing about that kiss ever since. It would be nice to take advantage of the hot day and spend my Saturday with him.

  “Okay, I just need a few minutes to get ready.”

  “I’ll pick you up in twenty. Is that okay?” Finn’s voice rises with excitement, and I giggle.

  “That’s perfect. See you soon.”

  I hang up and run to the bathroom. I turn on the shower and jump in before it warms. Might as well get used to the cold water now. I shiver and grab my razor, making sure everything is how it should be. The idea of seeing Finn in a bathing suit has me giddy as I get ready, grabbing my bikini and putting it on, tying the triangle top around my neck.