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Their conversation drifted to other subjects, and Finn was grateful He didn’t often talk about his childhood Carrie’s had been wrapped around happy s Finn hadn’t experienced that and didn’t realize all he’dto her stories If he ever had a family, this hat he would wish for his own children

They cleaned the kitchen together,any time they were in close proxi of his life

Once they finished with the cleanup, Finn brought out the cribbage board

"What are we playing for?" she asked, as she sat down and reached for the deck

He shrugged "Whatever you wish"

Carrie’s so shopping in the gest so so out of his comfort zone He knew fro Carrie and her ht?"

"No joke I want you to ht now they’ll take one look and know you’re from Alaska From there, it’ll be easy toby the determination in her eyes, Finn realized it didn’t matter what cards he was dealt Within a o streets, credit card in hand, and he’d do it gladly because Carrie had asked him to

The deep-dish sausage and pepperoni pizza sat in the middle of the table in front of Carrie and Finn Try as she eous His beard was gone, and his hair neatly trimmed His jaas clearly defined, and his lips were full and enticing

"Stop looking at me," he said, clearly uncomfortable with her scrutiny

"Sorry, I can’t help myself You look more scrumptious than that pizza" The woods Finn was handsolances she saw coo by, she wasn’t alone in thinking so The transforth, and she found it nearly i

"You have to admit this is the best pizza you’ve ever tasted," she said, in an effort to keep the conversation going If she was drooling, it wasn’t over the food

"All right, you win Chicago pizza isn’t half bad, but you have to proe pizza the next time you’re in Alaska"

"I wouldn’t miss it," she teased

"I’m serious"

She loved the idea that he assuain, and frankly, she wasn’t opposed to the idea, especially if it meant she would be with Finn It didn’t hurt that he loved pizza as much as she did, either

"You knohat’s funny?" he said, wiping the grease froe to text you"

Carrie laughed because she’d experienced the sa It was the usual way they communicated and had beco texts even when they sat across the table froht?"

"We are unless you have a secret desire to face the ain"

He scoffed "Hardly I’ve seen about asto feel claustrophobic Is it always like this in the city?"

"Always Soh not often Black Friday is a special, runtled look from Finn told her he could do without the holiday craziness "But you haven’t been to Navy Pier yet"

"Another time," he pleaded "I don’t think I can take much more of these crowds, let alone the noise"

"Okay" Carrie had no coain ran his hand over his sh he felt naked

He’d arrived at her apart clean shaven, and for just an instant she hadn’t recognized thein front of her She hadn’t asked hihted

"And you keep staring at me"

"Sorry, I can’t stop myself I had no idea you were such a hunk"

He chuckled as if she’dThe minute her friends took one look at him, they’d be all over Finn, especially Sophie She frowned, disliking the thought

"What’s wrong?" he asked, as he paid their tab and collected their purchases Finn reached for her hand, gripping it in his own as they started out of the restaurant

It amazed her how easily he read her ?"

"You’re frowning"

"I just got an inkling of how you felt withwith Dave" They wove their way around busy tables toward the front of the well-known Chicago pizza restaurant

He paused, frowning, his brow folding into thick ripples "I doubt that"

"I was i to want you for therew dark and serious His grip tightened on her hand "No one is going to turn my head, Carrie It simply isn’t possible"

Carrie and Finn walked back to her condo, bundles in hand Until thathe’d done in years had been through catalogs or online It’d been a true test of the strength of their relationship when it ca dress slacks and a sweater for him All in all, he’d been more than patient, but she could appreciate his unease

Once back at her condo, Finn collapsed onto her sofa, spreading out his ar the back cushion Her tree was up but had yet to be decorated, and although it was only four feet tall, it took up one entire corner of her living roo She eyed it norapped in plain brown paper

"Curious?" he asked

"Very" She picked it up, held it close to her ear, and shook it

"Any guesses?"

"I doubt it’s a can opener"

He grinned "You’re way off base"

"Do you want to tell me?"

"And ruin the surprise? No way You have to wait until Christ me, and that simply isn’t fair"

"I think you’ll be pleased" was all Finn illing to tell her Over the years she’d received a variety of gifts froifts were distinctive in every way It wasn’t likely she would ever forget that toaster