Highways & Hostages (37 page)

“Hi,” was all she managed to squeak out.

Finn smiled. “Hi.”

Silence stretched between them.

“You can come closer,” he said. “I don’t bite.”

Stella took a few cautious steps forward. “What are you doing here?”

“I was in the neighborhood, so I decided to stop by and visit.”

Stella’s eyes narrowed. “How did you know I was working here?”

“I went to The Leaky Stein first and ran into your sister and Valerie. When did Phoebe start working there?”

“Phoebe decided to stay here in Las Vegas for the school year so she could apply to Vegas Academy of the Arts as an in-state resident. Why were you at the Leaky Stein?”

Finn raised an eyebrow. “So Phoebe’s living with you? You guys best buds now?”

“We have a mutual understanding,” Stella said, then shook her head. “I know you didn’t show up just to ask me about my relationship with my sister. Why are you here?”

The smirk left Finn’s face. “Obviously, I came to see you.”

Stella’s breath caught in her throat as the words echoed in her head.
Obviously, I came to see you
.

“Well, here I am,” she said.

“Here you are.” Finn didn’t move.

Stella crossed her arms over her chest. “What do you want?”

Finn moved around the bar until he was so close to Stella, she could smell the spicy scent of his aftershave. She took a deep breath to steady herself, but instead she felt heady.

“I want you.”

The breath whooshed from Stella’s lungs. “And what if I don’t want you?”

One corner of Finn’s mouth lifted as he moved closer still and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You’d be lying. I talked to Valerie, remember?”

Damn Valerie’s big mouth.

Stella tried to look anywhere but his lips. “What took you so long? You didn’t answer my last letter—”

Finn kissed her. Stella let herself forget that she was at work, surrounded by strangers and coworkers, and melted into his embrace. When she finally pulled back, she punched him in the arm.

“That’s for not writing back. I thought you didn’t care anymore, but I hoped…”

“I was always going to meet up with you again, Stella. Why do you think I let you make that smart-ass comment—‘If you’re lucky’? You know I can’t let you have the last word.”

“God, you’re such a punk.”

“And you’re a brat, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Stella smiled. Finn leaned down and kissed her again.

Where to begin?

Writing this book has been a long and sometimes arduous process, but it’s never been a lonely one. I am so grateful to have a tribe of people who have supported me along this crazy journey!

Many, many thanks go to my critique group members: Jeremy, Kristen, and Jenn. Without you all, this book would have never seen the light of day!

Who’s got the best beta readers in the world? That would be me! Thank you so much to: Cyntra B., Phil L., Stephanie P., and Melissa Z.

Special thanks goes out to my cheerleaders Paige, Jenn, Rachel, and Tracy! I adore you ladies to the moon and back.

Thank you so much to Leah at Invisible Ink Editing for your impeccable eye for detail. Without you, this book would have been only slightly above a hot mess.

Cynthia L. and Melissa S., thank you both for helping me figure out my cover design and putting up my crazy indecisiveness.

And finally, thank you to my family who have always believed in me and told me to reach for my dreams! I want to thank Tyler and TinyDog especially because they’ve been neglected quite a bit over the last couple of years as I’ve worked to get this book out. Love you all to infinity!

A DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA NATIVE
and graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Jax Abbey bleeds Carolina blue. By day she molds the young, bright minds of the future, but at night you can find her furiously pounding the keyboard as she funnels the zany ideas and quirky characters from her brain to the computer. When Jax isn’t telling preschoolers to keep their hands to themselves or telling her characters to simmer down, she loves to spend time with her significant other, Tyler, and her TinyDog.

Visit her online at:

Website:
http://www.jaxabbey.com

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THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING
Highways & Hostages. If you liked Finn and Stella’s adventures, feel free to leave me a review at your favorite retailer.

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Hope to connect with you soon!

xo
Jax