CHAPTER 37

DAY 75

Friday Evening

Not to be morose, but the only nice outfit I'd brought was what I'd worn to Miss. Odette's funeral, black skinny jeans, grey sweater, and black low-heeled dress boots. It was too hot for the sweater now, so I'd have to come up with another top to wear. I chose a teal blouse I'd picked up at Target a couple of weeks ago while in town. It was simple but flirty with three-quarter flounce sleeves. It'd been a spur-of-the-moment purchase, but maybe instinctually, I knew I'd need something for an occasion just like this. I put makeup on for a change and spent time on my hair, which grew quickly and almost reached my shoulders. I could even stand to look at my curls now. Still, I preferred to use the round brush and my hair dryer to smooth everything out.

I exited the bathroom and found Finn reading a book in the living room. He quickly got to his feet and came to stand in front of me. "You look amazing. Simply amazing." He said it with such resoluteness that I didn't question his words.

Giving him a head-to-toe perusal, I took in his gray slacks and dark blue button-down with sleeves rolled up to reveal his forearms. "I could say the same about you." My praise had his eyes lighting up. He always seemed surprised when I complimented him. It was as if he didn't quite believe I found him handsome. I aimed to change that.

"Shall we go?" He handed me the keys to his precious ride, and my smile went wide.

During the ride to town, we listened to the Eagles 8track and talked. He seemed relaxed riding shotgun and didn't correct my speed or driving techniques. I asked a couple times what was in the package that was so important we had to make a special trip to town to pick it up, but he wouldn't tell me. He put it in the Charger's trunk and got back in the passenger seat. "Where do you want to stop for dinner?" I asked as I pulled back onto the highway.

"We could go back to La Cocina De Mama'?" I cast him a sideways glance, and he shrugged. "Last time we were there, I noticed a sign saying they had a live band and dancing on weekends." He's given this date plenty of forethought. I was pleased.

Pulling into the restaurant's parking lot was like going back in time a little. It had only been six weeks, but so much had changed, or rather, I'd changed since then. As soon as we walked inside, I felt the difference in ambiance. Coming here in the evening for dinner was a whole different experience than it had been for lunch. A live band was playing in the corner, and several tables had been cleared away to make room for a small dance floor. But the dancers weren't contained to that one area. They were winding their way around the restaurant in between the tables in a conga line. In a word… it was lively. My hips started swaying along with the music, and I looked at Finn. His body was moving as well, but his rhythm was off. He gave me a slightly pained smile when he noticed me watching, and I bit my lip in delight. He wasn't an accomplished Casanova. This was way out of his comfort zone, but he was determined to go along.

He must have called ahead because we were directed to the same back corner booth. We knew each other better this time, so we ordered the sampler for two, a Prickly Pear Margarita for me and a dark Mexican lager for Finn. I would only allow myself one margarita and then switch to water for the rest of the evening. I was driving us home and didn't want to get sloshed, but also because I didn't want to be hungover tomorrow.

I dipped my chicken flautas in guacamole and took a bite, moaning as my taste buds came alive. Finn stared at me with lust, and I knew he would deliver when we got home. If we made it that long. "Tell me something embarrassing," I asked.

He took a bite of carne asada before speaking. "You mean in my personal life or at work?"

"Interesting. Pick the most embarrassing thing that happened to you on the job." My job had landed me in plenty of embarrassing situations, so I always wondered if other people struggled too. Ranger made it look easy.

He thought for a moment and then seemed to settle on something. "My partner at the time was this older fellow, Ray. He had been mentoring me since I was fresh out of the academy. One morning, we were given a list of people we needed to interview. Ray knocked on the door of the first name on the list. As soon as the door opened, this bulldog ran from deep in the house. He latched himself to my leg." I was sure I knew where this was going, and I had to say that I was feeling giddy at the thought of a young Finn being violated by a bulldog. He looked down at his almost empty plate, trying not to smile. "He got pretty excited, and there might have been groaning and whimpering."

"From you or the dog?"

"The dog." He gave me a pointed look.

"What did your partner do?"

"He laughed and laughed, never once offering to help. I'm not even sure if he interviewed the lady. I was busy trying to save my virtue. I ran all over the yard, trying to shake the dog loose. Finally, I headed for the safety of the car, but since the dog was hanging on for dear life, I dragged him with me. I finally pried him off and closed the door. When Ray got back in the car, he started cracking jokes about Buster being 'in love.' Everyone knew by the time we made it back to the bureau, and I was known as Buster's Girl for a while."

I couldn't breathe. Tears were streaming down my face. "Buster's Girl? That's—"

He joined me in laughing. When I finally composed myself and dried my tears, he said, "Your turn."

I gave it some thought because there was a LOT to pick from, but I finally settled on my own embarrassing dog story. "I once climbed a rickety fire escape after a skip. Before I could pry the window open and get inside, the entire thing fell to the ground." I left out the part where Morelli was with me and encouraged me to get on the fire escape to help solve his case. It occurred to me that this wasn't the only instance where he used me for his own purpose and put me at risk.

Instead of laughing, Finn's body straightened with concern. "Were you hurt?"

"My pride." I did a whole body shiver. "I landed in a pile of dog poop, and let's just say it wasn't the solid kind."

He closed his mouth tight, trying not to laugh but couldn't keep it in. "That is bad."

"It was all in my hair. Trust me when I tell you that being covered in garbage is preferable to dog poop." We laughed harder. It was nice to join in the laughter instead of being used as fodder for a joke. Just then, the band started playing Gloria Estefan's Conga. I smiled because I wouldn't be able to sit still. Everyone on the dance floor formed a line and started winding their way around the restaurant. I grabbed Finn's arm when the conga line came by our table. "Come on."

He tried to resist. "I don't know how to dance."

"There's nothing to it." I pulled him behind me and slid into the line of dancers. I took three steps and tapped my right foot to the side with a hip flick and a hand clap. Then three steps again and repeated it all on the opposite side. Back and forth, we wove our way around the restaurant. The more accomplished dancers even threw in shimmies as they got into the whole vibe.

We ended up in the center of the dance floor as the music shifted to something slow, and his arms came around me. While others did the slow sensual bachata, I leaned my head against his chest, letting him set the movement in whatever way he felt comfortable. "This is nice," he said, kissing the top of my head.

"It's better than nice." I'm not sure how long we swayed back and forth, but finally, it was time to leave.

When we got back to the cabin, I changed into my nightshirt but wasn't tired, so I went out onto the back deck. It was so beautiful up here. As I leaned against the railing, looking at the moon reflecting off the water, Finn came up behind me and put his arms around me. "What are you thinking about?"

I turned slightly to see that he'd changed into his pajama bottoms. I leaned back against his bare chest, enjoying how his arms tightened around me. "I was thinking about how peaceful it is up here. How lucky I am that Jeanne Ellen called in her favor and asked you to take me on as a trainee."

"I'm going to have to tell her I'm back in her debt."

"Why?"

"She did me a favor by sending you here, so I owe her one… or two."

A warmth that had nothing to do with the evening heat spread throughout my body. I was seconds away from asking Finn if I could stay longer, but if he rejected me, it would hurt. I couldn't bring myself to do it. Instead, I spoke to him with my body. Pushing back a little, I rubbed my butt over his cock, and he groaned. He was already hard. It was all the invitation he needed.

Inching my nightshirt up my thighs until his talented fingers rubbed over my mound, he paused mid-stroke. "You're not wearing underwear," he stated as if I didn't know.

"I haven't worn underwear to bed in weeks. Why bother when you take them off me as soon as I'm under the covers?"

"Good point." His fingers went back to work, slowly circling but not dipping between my folds to touch me where I needed him most. He was driving me mad with pleasure. Telling him without words that I needed more, I spread my legs. One finger parted my folds, and then he added his thumb to the mix, opening me to the cool night air. It was erotic as hell. I moved as much as his hold would allow, trying to get his fingers where I wanted them, where I needed them, but he kept me where he wanted me. "This is what payback feels like," he whispered.

He was talking about earlier in the day when I cuffed and tortured him with a smoothie popsicle. Bring it on.

He drew his hips back and lowered the waistband of his pajama bottoms. I shivered at what was about to happen. Mistaking my shiver for resistance, he immediately stopped and asked, "What's wrong? We don't have to do this."

In the past, Dickie had used any excuse he could to try anal with me even though he knew I wasn't up for that… with him. That was why I usually avoided doggie style with him. Then, after the things Durant had done to me in the cellar, I didn't think I'd ever want anyone behind me again. But Finn was different. He'd gained my hard-earned trust. I put my hand over his before he could take it away. "I don't want to stop. My mind went to a bad place for a second, but I'm okay." When he didn't immediately continue, I added, "I want this… with you. I promise."

"I'll stop whenever you want. Always."

"I know." Finn had repeatedly shown me he was kind and good. I pulled my nightshirt over my head and tossed it on the deck to show him how much I trusted him. Completely naked, I leaned forward, bracing the railing, and gave him all the power.

He ran his hand down my bare back and put on the condom before slowly sliding inside me. As he pumped in and out of me, one of his hands worked my clit while the other kneaded and lightly pinched my nipples. It felt dangerous yet freeing doing this outside. As we came together in a cascade of pleasure, I felt treasured, worthy, and valued. I hoped I gave Finn as much as he gave me.

AN: Some guest reviewers have suggested Stephanie shouldn't be ready for sex of any kind at this point. All women handle trauma differently. What are your thoughts on the subject? Should Stephanie take her power back sexually as she grows stronger emotionally and physically, or should she behave differently toward sex?