Chapter 14
"Did you buy that suit for this ?" She asked reaching over to take his hand just after they reached Highway 2 North to Calgary.
"Everything but the boots, Grandpa insisted, you ?"
Amy smiled "Everything I'm wearing was bought just for you."
"So, a lot riding on this date huh ?"
"Just being asked on an actual going out date is special for me Finn, Ty and I really never did this."
"Seriously, even when you were married ?"
"Wasn't our thing I guess, though I probably would have loved it. No hiding it, I have no idea how to do this."
"Then I'm glad we're doing it together, you should be a part of special things Amy."
"I'm glad we're doing it too." She said softly moving her fingers between his seeing he had moved his closer and turned it to accept hers readily.
She felt his thumb gently rub over hers a moment after their fingers intertwined. The familiar goosebumps he brought her running up her spine again.
"So the paint and stuff is all waiting at the house ?"
"And the crew is raring to start taping first thing tomorrow, I guess we'll be moving in within the month or so."
"Still excited ?"
"On a bunch of levels, I'm looking forward to, well, a host of things actually."
"Nervous too ?"
"Maybe a little but not really, to be completely truthful a lot of that has gone away. Lyndy's positively giddy, Grandpa and my dad are pretty much on board, Clint's anxious for it to happen as are the kids and Renata is great."
"So what are you looking forward to the most ?"
"I'm not sure, actual alone time is pretty high on the list."
Finn smiled and glanced over "doesn't sound too promising for me."
Amy smirked and squeezed his hand "alone time with you is pretty high on that list too Finn Cotter."
"Actually looking forward to that porch swing myself."
"I'm sorry Finn."
"You have nothing to be sorry about Amy."
"You're Ok with well, us, I mean the timing, the uhm, status of us as a couple ?"
"I'm fine waiting for the alone time and you Amy, I'm not going anywhere and there isn't a hotel room I'm planning on springing on you later, I'm happy."
Amy sighed "I wasn't sure I'd ever feel this happy again."
"That's good to hear and this is probably not the best timing but I'm going to need this hand in a minute."
He looked over and saw Amy pout but disentangle her fingers from his and take her hand back.
"We'll be there soon."
"Have you been before ?"
"Nope, going on reputation alone."
"Cass had been twice, she say's it's nice."
"Let's hope Cass and the rep hold up then because we'll be there in a minute, it should be right up this road."
Finn pulled through the entrance and up to the front where they were immediately approached by two men. One opened Amy's door and held out his hand for her and one went around to the driver's side and handed Finn a card as he stood.
Amy waited at the foot of the stairs for Finn and put out her hand for him to take as they walked up to the doors where a young lady was waiting to hold it open for them.
Once up the stairs Finn immediately put his arm around her waist and she was happy to tuck herself into his side and lean up for a kiss before they stepped over to the small desk.
"Reservation ?"
"Finn Cotter."
"Yes sir, right here, table for two, it's a nice night and we have an outside table under the eve by the lake, would that suit ?"
Finn glanced over for Amy's smile and nod and then back to the young lady. "Perfect."
"Excellent then, if you'll follow me this way."
When they entered the restaurant they were led through some tables and Finn never took his hand from her body but simply shifted it so that they could walk single file to the double doors to the outside terrace where they were led to a table for two against the rail by the lake where a small candle was lit while Finn pulled out her chair and got Amy seated.
Before moving away he leaned over for a kiss and she took a second to raise her hand to his cheek.
"This is beautiful Finn."
Before turning he took her hand and kissed her palm then took a step and sat down across from her where she immediately laid her hand on the table between them for him to take.
"Your waitress will be by in a second, will you be having wine with dinner ?"
Finn looked at Amy for a second and smiled "We're not really wine drinkers but I'd love a drink."
"Then we'll forego the sommelier and your server will take your drink order. It's a nice night, enjoy your dinner."
"So what's your drink ?" Amy asked looking around and noticing the sunset over the lake "This is really beautiful."
"It's a nice night, anyway my drink changes, before dinner I'll have a Manhattan usually and an unsweetened ice tea or water with dinner. Burgers get a beer. Mostly music place either a beer or a margarita. I don't drink much and don't have a problem being the designated driver. Was Ty a drinker ?"
"He's had too much but never really to excess, at least with me. One too many beers when he did, couldn't drive but not mushy or slurry. I've never really known him to do shots or stuff like that, again at least with me. The current drinkers in the family prefer wine, Georgie beer. My dad had a drink and drug problem, I guess he still does but he's been sober for years."
"Yeah my grandpa's also sober but had a problem years ago."
Amy watched as a young lady walked through some tables and smiled at her when she stopped at their table.
"Good evening folks, I'm Eva your server so if there's anything you need just catch my attention" she said laying two menus on the table.
"Need a drink menu or do you know what you want ?"
"I'll have a cranberry and soda with some lime please."
"Excellent and you sir ?"
"Manhattan, rye please, two cherries, on the rocks."
"No problem, let me get these for you and I'll be back for your orders."
They both took the single sheet menus and scanned down the dishes.
"Do you like fish Amy ?"
"I do and don't eat enough of it, mostly salmon. Grandpa fishes a lot but it's all pretty much catch and release though at the fishing cabin it's dinner sometimes."
"Feel like splitting an appetizer, we could try the Lake House Fish Plank ? It's mostly local smoked fish it seems."
"Sounds good to me, how about mains ? The Wild Boar Chop looks good to me, I think I'll get that, seems weird to order beef being that it's kind of our business."
"Well, the steak Jack made was great so no argument here. How about I get the Marinated Bison Flat Iron Steak ?"
"That sounds good too, how about we promise each other a taste or two ?"
"Share my bison huh ? Hmmmmm, I guess that would be Ok."
"And we'll choose desserts after ?"
"I guess we'll have to share those too."
"We'll see, I kind of like my desserts."
"You do like your sweets."
"You got me there."
"I'm kind of sweet."
"I do like you Finn Cotter." She said putting down her menu and putting her hand back across the table to be immediately taken by him. She loved his touch and thought again how gentle it was considering the callouses expected from his work.
"I'm afraid they're not soft."
Amy took her eyes from looking at their hands and smiled "And I was just thinking how gentle they were."
He had an absolutely adorable grin which showed up every now and then when he pushed his flirting a little, it was another thing about him that she loved.
"So you think about my gentle hands often ?"
"Often enough."
"Good thoughts ?"
Now it was her turn "they give me goosebumps."
They were interrupted and brought back to reality by their server who brought their drinks. She waited until they each took a sip and brought up her iPad.
Finn looked at Amy "me ?" She smiled and nodded.
"Ok then, we'll share the Lake House Fish Plank for Two and my girlfriend will have the Wild Boar Chop."
"How would you like that cooked ma'am ?"
"Medium rare please."
"Very good and you sir ?"
"I'll have the Bison Flat Iron Steak, I guess also medium rare."
"Excellent, I'll be back to check in on you in few minutes."
They both nodded at their server and both took second sips of their drinks when Finn put his hand out for her to take "dance ?"
"Nobody's dancing Finn." Amy said looking around. There was a trio and a singer and even a small dance floor but there seemed to be no interest at the moment.
"You know how it is Amy, everybody waits for the first couple. C'mon." He said standing with that grin of his.
She smiled and stood still holding his hand as he stepped aside and let her lead them to the dance floor. She noticed that as before he simultaneously shifted from holding her hand to having a hand on her waist. It was a good feeling and one of those things that was new to her. Dating as an adult was completely different than what she was used to. She's wasn't sure if it was better but it was certainly more comfortable and honest, at least to her.
Finn surprised her when he turned her gently and moved her perfectly into a classic waltz stance.
"You know how to dance don't you ?" She leaned back slightly and asked before closing the gap between them.
"Know is a relative word I guess, mom likes to dance and taught me the basics. You ?"
"My friend's and I taught ourselves when we were 13 thinking that some boy or another will one day ask us. Do you like dancing ?"
"Never did much of it honestly but I kinda like this"
"I kinda like it too." She said softly and then glanced around and saw two other couples who had joined them and giggled "It really is like high school."
She smiled and looked up at him and Finn leaned forward for a kiss to which she was happy to reciprocate. "One more ?" He asked when the song ended.
"Mmmmmm," she murmured laying her head against his chest for the few seconds it took for the trio to start another song. As the song was ending Finn saw the waitress signal to which he nodded acknowledgment. "I think our food's ready."
Once again Amy turned towards the table and she felt Finn's hand slipping onto her waist to guide her and maintain contact. She turned into him when he moved behind her to help with her seat and leaned up to kiss him.
The waitress smiled and stood waiting for Finn to seat himself before moving the smoked fish platter between them and point out the different bites available.
"I could ask them to hold off on firing your entrees if you'd like a couple dances between courses ?"
Amy smiled and looked at Finn across the table "that would be wonderful Eva, thank you."
"Fill-up ?" She asked taking Finn's empty high ball glass.
"Unsweetened iced tea ?
"Not a problem." She said turning to Amy.
"I'm good, thanks."
"So we like the dancing ?" He asked when Eva turned away.
"I like the touching part." Amy answered reaching for a taste of one of the fish slices. "Oh, this is so good."
"It is good." Finn answered swallowing a bite of his own.
As soon as they were done they left the empty platter and headed back to the dance floor. It almost seemed to Amy that he held her just a drop closer than earlier and she wondered if he could feel the effect that being so close to him had on her. During their last dance before Eva signaled that their entrees were ready Amy lay her head against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her waist while her hands snaked around his neck. When she looked up at him and craned her neck up their kiss sent shivers up her spine.
They sat through dinner, playfully passing bites to each other for tastes. They gave their dessert orders of a Dark Chocolate Marquis and a Sticky Toffee Pudding along with a carafe of fresh dark roast coffee before heading back to the dance floor. In the end they were one of the last couples to leave with a wave and a bright smile from Eva.
"Did you have a good night Amy ?" Finn asked as their hands joined on the way back to Hudson.
Amy sighed and squeezed his hand "I thought the whole night was dreamy, I don't really have the words, you, the dinner, the place, it was wonderful."
"I guess maybe the Lake House can sort of be our place for special occasions."
Amy nodded, "definitely a contender, especially the dancing part."
"Yeah, definitely my favorite part."
"Thank you so much for tonight Finn."
Finn smiled and lightly squeezed her hand. He switched off the headlights after turning into the ranch and pulled up to the house slowly.
"It's so peaceful and quiet at night." Amy said waiting for Finn to come around to her side.
"Feel like sitting ?" He asked as they headed up the porch chairs.
"Sitting would be nice." She said moving over to the bench they seemed to prefer. When they sat she tucked herself into his side as his arm moved around her shoulder gently following her body.
After a minute he leaned over and kissed her head.
She smiled and moved herself a bit so her hand could sneak under his jacket and she laid her head against his chest and sighed when his hand followed her body over her back to her waist.
"You know, you don't smell like horses."
Finn laughed "uhm, thank you ?"
"No." Amy said giggling "I mean we always pretty much smell like horses but not tonight."
He laughed again "yeah, I get what you're saying. Horse isn't a bad smell."
"It's the smell I grew up with, it's almost weird not to was the point I was making."
"To be fair, I noticed that you didn't smell like horse either."
It was almost simultaneous that she lifted her head and he shifted to the side so that they fit together comfortably when their lips met. Her head swam as they kissed and she could feel his hand move gently on her back which she naturally reciprocated. She loved his touch and her body reacted. She couldn't totally concentrate but Amy felt good and happier than she'd been for a long time.
She didn't know exactly when they slowly pulled away from each other but after looking at him for a few seconds she reached up and touched his lips with her finger and then leaned up to kiss him one more time.
"We have an early morning coming up." He whispered.
"Mmmmmm." She murmured straightening up and then smiling, ran a finger across his brow to neaten up a droop of his hair.
They walked to the door with his arm around her and Amy's arms wrapped around his waist. At the door they shifted and he held her close with his hands on her waist with her arms around his neck. Their kisses were slow and deliberate and they were both lost in each other's space.
His voice was a whispered croak and he was lost in her eyes as she was in his.
"Text me when you leave tomorrow and I'll meet you at the center."
"With the crew."
"It'll be a good start, I took off Monday and I have most of Tuesday for painting."
"You didn't have to do that."
"Cabinets Wednesday and plumber Friday, I'd feel better knowing everything was ready."
Amy laughed "Just can't wait to get me on that swing can ya ?"
"I love you Amy."
It was the first time either of them had said the words and she had a warm sensation spread over her. "I love you too Finn Cotter."
He smirked leaning down to kiss her and murmured "Just like high school."