Flirting with Finn

  Flirting with Finn

  Camp Firefly Falls # 13

  Violet Vaughn

  Copyright © 2017 by Violet Vaughn

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  Cover by Lori Carter

  Editing by Jodi Henley and Red Adept Publishing

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  Contents

  About This Book

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  About This Book

  FLIRTING WITH FINN

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  by Violet Vaughn

  Meg was glad to return to Camp Firefly Falls for another summer as head chef when a fire put her restaurant temporarily out of business and her ex left her for a previous love. She needed the magic of camp life to soothe her soul, and reconnecting with Finn, her college crush, was a pleasant surprise. But the deeper Meg delved into a relationship with him, the more her old insecurities resurfaced, and she became paralyzed with fear.

  Finn may have appeared to be larger than life in college, but the truth was he didn’t think he was good enough for smart, serious Meg, and he never asked her out. When he found her again ten years later, he wasn’t going to let a second chance slip away. But as they grew closer, Meg’s wall grew higher, and he learned there was more to their past than he knew. Could he break through her barrier and convince Meg to let him into her heart?

  Chapter 1

  My stomach flips as I clutch my cell phone to my chest. Finn O’Connor’s deep voice can still make my knees weak. He’s going to be here a day early to go over the details of his company’s retreat at Camp Firefly Falls, and he called to confirm our meeting later today. After weeks of planning the menu for his session, I’ve rekindled my crush on the college football star turned real estate agent.

  Maybe I’m being stupid. Finn tortured me with meaningless flirting in college and broke my heart. But this time feels different. He invents reasons to call me, and we end up talking about subjects that have nothing to do with his retreat.

  I turn to the screen door of the kitchen as it squeaks open. I purposely don’t oil the hinges on it because I like the warning when someone enters my domain. The morning sun is streaming in, and I see the tall, willowy silhouette of my pastry chef, Lexi. The fact the woman has a body like a model kills me. Who creates to-die-for desserts and stays skinny? There should be a rule against it.

  She steps out of the sunlight toward me, and I notice her red face is beaded with sweat. Okay, so maybe Lexi’s six-mile run every morning, along with whatever else she does to train for triathlons, might help with her figure more than my two-mile walk helps with mine.

  “I saw you walking this morning. Isn’t it beautiful out there today, Meg? The sun sparkled off the water like glitter. And—” She glances at my chest, where I’m still holding my phone, and asks, “Finn?”

  I shove my cell into my back pocket, and heat rises to my cheeks. I would pretend she’s wrong, but she knows all about the huge crush I have on the man from my past. I shrug. “Maybe.”

  “It’s a good thing he gives you good voice, or else I’d make sure you hated him for the ten dessert samples I have to get ready.”

  I chuckle. Finn managed to get nearly twenty different meals out of me, which is way beyond what I’d do for anyone else.

  A dollop of mustard splashes into my hollandaise when I drop it, and my whisk rasps against the large metal bowl. I grab a clean spoon and taste my sauce. A slight tang lingers in my mouth. I lick my lips and let out a small moan. “Perfection.”

  I sigh as guilt forces me to ponder a more intense exercise routine or at least a diet. I could stand to lose ten or more pounds. I lick my utensil again, and the rich flavor of butter makes me close my eyes for a second. Nope. I like food too much to cut back.

  Besides, at almost five feet ten inches, I’m curvy, and I manage to have relationships despite my fluff. Although the last one was painful. Being left for an ex-wife a few months ago hurt more than I thought it would. I grimace at the memory before I hold up a fresh spoon of hollandaise and say to Lexi, “Taste.”

  She takes the utensil from me and puts it in her mouth. She lets out a sigh as she licks it slowly. “Oh my God. So good.”

  I glance over at Ethan, the recent high school graduate whose knife is tapping steadily as he cuts fruit. This week’s camp session is about getting back to nature. The physical activity level is high, so I’ve been making hearty breakfasts loaded with protein to give the campers energy. I typically feed my staff the same meals the customers get, so I ask Lexi, “Ready for breakfast?”

  “Please.” The spoon clatters in the sink where she drops it as she heads to the walk-in refrigerator.

  I think about Allie, last summer’s pastry chef and my business partner. The two of us started a restaurant in Boston after the camping season was over last year. It was a huge success until the place next door caught fire in the middle of the night. The fire destroyed our space too. Fortunately for Allie, she also has a bakery, so she stayed in the city to run it and oversee the restaurant renovations. I could have stayed in Boston and worked with her, but I don’t have the precision baking requires, so I decided to come back for another season at Camp Firefly Falls instead.

  I take a moment to gaze out the window at the lake and notice how blue the water appears under the clear sky. This place is magical, and my soul needed some of its healing to help me get over my ex, Randal. Returning to camp this summer had an added bonus. I don’t think I’d have run into Finn O’Connor again if I hadn’t.

  I picture the headshot from his website, which I have committed to memory. I know real estate agents’ photos are often altered to make them appear more attractive, but Finn doesn’t need help. He’s grown even more handsome in the ten years since we graduated from college. His cheekbones are more prominent, and he wears a suit well.

  Still working on breakfast, I crack some eggs and drop them one by one in simmering water to poach.

  The happy flutter of nerves in my stomach gives way to a hard knot as I wonder what Finn will think when he sees me. I’ve never been a thin girl, and in my younger days, I was embarrassed by it. In an attempt to fade into the background, my university attire had been bulky sweatshirts, a messy bun, and not a stitch of makeup. I’ve since accepted I’ll always have curves and learned to make the most of what I have by wearing clothes that flatter me and letting my thick, wavy locks be my best feature.

  But that wasn’t enough for my ex. The vision of Marcy, the ex-wife Randal went back to, makes me squeeze my eyes shut, and the burning sensation of jealousy floods my body. I know in my heart Randal left me for more than her size-four body and long legs because he’d married her before he met me, but the pain of our breakup brought up old insecurities. I’m afraid my weight is what held Finn back from asking me out in college and will continue to do so now.

  Lexi comes to stand next to me, and plates clatter on the count
er as she sets them out for our meal. As if she can read my mind, she says, “You should wear your hair down when you meet with Finn. It’s pretty when it frames your face.”

  I give her an embarrassed grin. “Is it that obvious?”

  Her cool fingers touch my bare arm. “You look like you’re going to be sick, but you have no reason to be afraid. No guy who isn’t interested would spend as much time talking to you as Finn does.”

  I nod. Since the first conversation in which Finn discovered I was the same Meg Adams he knew in college, he’s kept me on the phone longer than necessary. Considering his success in the real estate world, I have to believe he doesn’t have idle time to fill flirting with women when he doesn’t intend for it to go anywhere.

  “You’re right.” I put my hand on my hip and cock it as I give her a smirk. “Who wouldn’t want some of this?”

  She chuckles as she makes her way to the changing area. I turn to check on the English muffins before Lexi calls out, “Where are the uniforms?”

  There’s a note of panic in her voice, and I recall the delivery that was supposed to arrive early this morning. I glance at my clean pants and shirt and remember I had a day off since the last delivery, which means Lexi probably doesn’t have anything to wear. “Crap.”

  This summer’s linen service has been awful. The last time an order didn’t arrive, the owner assured me he’d fired the guy and started bringing our linens to us himself. Last week, he told me he’d hired someone new, and it occurs to me that the new guy might have left the linen delivery somewhere other than the kitchen. “Let me check outside.”

  I head toward the dining room, thinking it’s possible the driver didn’t know about the kitchen door. But when I get there, I don’t see anything, so I make my way toward the doors that lead outside.

  As I glance around for the delivery, I overhear a man say, “If anyone can nab the hot chef, it’s you.”

  Whoever is speaking is around the corner, and I suspect he’s talking about Lexi. My protective instincts make the hair on my neck stand on end. I’m surprised when I recognize Finn’s voice as he replies, “She’ll be mine by the end of the week. Mark my words.”

  What? The two men walk away with their backs to me. From their damp shirts and running shoes, I assume they’ve just gotten back from a run. I bet they saw Lexi jogging, and Finn is after Lexi, not me.

  It feels as if the air in my lungs has been sucked out of me as my chest tightens. When I’m able to breathe again, hot tears prick at my eyes, and I squeeze them shut. I’ve been so stupid! Again.

  The wall of the dining hall is hard on my spine when I fall back on it. I wrap my arms around myself as if I can ward off my pain. I sink to the ground, and it’s cool under my bottom as a tear over Finn O’Connor burns a path down my cheek like so many times before.

  I flash back to my college work-study job sitting behind the dorm check-in desk on Friday and Saturday nights, and I remember how my whole evening had revolved around my fantasies of Finn. He made a point of flirting with me before he left for the night to go to some party with his friends. I was finished with my shift before he returned so was spared witnessing him with the flavor of the week on his arm. He had a reputation for being the elusive guy every woman wanted, even though all he did was break their hearts. While I never believed he’d be mine for long, it didn’t stop me from standing in line.

  One weekend, I was foolish enough to believe Finn’s intentions were sincere, so when he told me I should take a night off to go to a party he was attending, I did. Once I got to the party, I searched for Finn. When he saw me, he immediately rushed over to talk to me and get me a beer. But as he was pouring my drink from the keg, he was distracted by a girl who begged him to dance with her. He handed me my cup without even a glance.

  I spent the rest of the night hiding in the shadows as I watched him looking from girl to girl as if they were all auditioning to be his girlfriend. Any hope I’d had that Finn thought I was special was crushed.

  You’d think I’d know better by now. I may have let the incident in college devastate me, but I’m not about to let it happen again. I lift my apron to dab at my tears, stand up, take a deep breath, and throw back my shoulders. I’ll flirt with you, Finn. But I won’t let it mean any more to me than it does to you.

  Chapter 2

  A plate clashes on the metal shelf when I set it down under the heat lamp. I glance over at Lexi’s station and watch as she shaves chocolate over a cake. She lifts her shoulders and smiles before she looks at me. “We’re going to knock Finn’s socks off.” She wipes her hands on her apron as she approaches me. “Can I do anything while you go get ready?”

  I spent my morning mulling over whether I should tell Lexi that Finn is determined to make her fall for him, but I’m afraid it would only put her in a difficult position. Knowing I have a crush on him, she’s likely to feel terrible. So I’m going to keep the information to myself and let her deal with the situation the way she thinks is best.

  I shake my head. “No. Everything is ready. All I need to do is change.” I swipe my arm over my damp forehead as I walk toward the ladies’ changing area.

  Lexi calls out, “Don’t forget to take your hair down!”

  Like that matters now. I shoot her a quick smile before I grab my bag and get ready.

  Cool water splashes on my face, and after I dry off, I use the damp towel to wipe off more sweat. Items rattle around in my tote as I dig through it to find deodorant. The white chef’s jacket I put on is not exactly sexy, and that would have concerned me before I knew Finn hadn’t changed. Now I’m glad because, like my bulky sweatshirt in college, I feel as if I can hide in it.

  I step out of the changing area to find Lexi waiting. Fortunately, I had put my hair in a loose braid when it was wet to contain the wildness of my curls. She moves toward me and finger combs through my locks. “What I would give to have your hair.” She pulls a few strands forward. “He’s here. You are the beautiful, charming, and witty woman Finn keeps on the phone for way longer than necessary. You’ve got this.”

  I love her for giving me a pep talk. “Thanks. But it’s just a business meeting.”

  She winks at me. “Sure it is. He’s waiting in the dining hall.”

  My folder is smooth in my fingers when I grab it, and I walk toward the heat lamps. I look at Ethan as I say, “Give me a couple minutes before you bring the meals.”

  He nods, and my hand slaps the swinging door as I push my way out to where Finn is waiting. I’m surprised when he stands up because, while I recall he’s taller than most men, he doesn’t seem as big as I remembered.

  “Meg,” he says as he walks toward me, holding out his hand. “It’s wonderful to see you again.”

  I take in the fact he’s still physically fit. His shoulders are broad and taper down to a trim waist, and his muscular forearms are visible because he’s rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt. I paste on a professional smile. “It’s great to see you again too.”

  His fingers wrap around mine, and warmth flows through them toward my heart. I raise a mental barrier around my feelings before he can get in, and I pull my hand away. “Did you enjoy your tour of the camp?”

  “I did. I see why you wanted to come here for the summer.” In one of our many conversations that were not work related, Finn learned about what happened to my restaurant.

  I say, “And now that you’re out of the city for the next week, you can enjoy it too.”

  He grins at me, and his brown eyes twinkle with playfulness. “I plan to.”

  His voice penetrates my shield and makes me long for him to mean the suggestions behind his words. So much for closing off my feelings.

  I hear the thud of Ethan’s shoulder on the door as he pushes it open, and even though it’s only been a minute, I’m glad the young man is eager and wasn’t able to wait the length of time I asked. He and Lexi emerge, carrying trays.

  “Have a seat, Finn. I hope you’re hungry, because we’ve
got a lot of food for you to taste.”

  Finn sits and licks his lips while he pushes his rolled-up sleeves farther up as if he’s preparing for an all-you-can-eat buffet. “I’ve been looking forward to this for days.”

  I turn to Ethan and Lexi and introduce them to Finn. I pay careful attention to the way Finn looks at Lexi and am relieved when he treats her professionally. Of course, I suspect he wouldn’t be where he is today if he didn’t know how to act appropriately.

  Once my staff leaves, I get up and lift a metal cover from a plate. “Let me warm you up with the appetizers.” Six plates thump on the table as I set them down. “Let’s start with the beef option.”

  “Remember that huge house I told you about, with the divorced couple who were trying to sabotage each other?” he asks.

  “The ones who were doing everything they could to scare off prospective buyers while lying to each other?”

  “Yes.” Finn glances at the piece of steak on his fork. “I confronted them about it, and now they’re back together.” He bites into the food.

  So maybe he does use his charm for more than evil. “Look at you. I had no idea you were such a romantic.”

  I watch his neck work as he swallows. My mind wonders what his skin would taste like as he says, “Sometimes love needs a push.”

  I give myself a mental slap and focus on the conversation. “What about the house?”

  “Off the market.”

  I raise my eyebrows at him before I move on to the next dish. From what I’ve discovered, Finn is a tenacious businessman. He made a name for himself by forming a top real estate agency before he was thirty, and it must have been tough for him to walk away from a hefty commission. Damn him for being a nice guy when I need a reason to hate him. “You’re a softy.”