She slowly closed her eyes then opened them and looked back around the room.

She’d shown her Mom that picture in the magazine.

And there it was. Her Mom got Fin to take her to the watering hole so she’d be occupied all day so she could give this to Clarisse.

Whatever happened to her Mom seven years ago to shake her up, it took hold. She was remarried to an attorney but she still worked, now as a paralegal for a different firm to her husband. She even went to night school to learn as she held down her day job. They lived in a cushy apartment in downtown Indy and had buckets of money. Her Mom again had great clothes and great shoes but she also worked sixty hour weeks and still somehow managed to have a great marriage to a guy who wasn’t a slimeball but actually pretty cool.

And she also managed to be a good Mom.

At first, it freaked Clarisse out.

She got used to it.

And No told her time again he told her so.

Whatever.

It worked. Mom and her husband Jordy were even friends with Dad and Dusty. They didn’t go out to dinner together or anything but they exchanged birthday cards, Christmas cards and talked and laughed together whenever there was some family gig going on, like Thanksgiving, Christmas dinner and Fourth of July barbeques. Jordy didn’t have kids but he was all about family and since Dad, Dusty and Mom were too, it worked.

Seven years ago, Clarisse would have said no way.

Now, she was used to it.

“Jordy too, obviously,” Fin went on and she looked back at him. “Your Mom makes some cake but this furniture…” he trailed off but she could see it.

It was not inexpensive. It was not even middle-of-the-line.

It was the best money could buy.

They’d have it a lifetime.

Clarisse smiled back at the room.

“That’s not it, honey,” Fin murmured, she looked to him again but he was already looking toward the door.

Then, his hand still in hers, he led her through it and down the hall to the other end. He went to the closed door of his old bedroom, opened it and pulled her through.

She stopped dead, what hit her eyes penetrated and they filled with tears.

The wood floors had colorful throw rugs strewn all over them. In the corner was the big, fluffy, faded flower print armchair that used to be in Fin’s Mom and Dad’s room that Clarisse said was the only thing in that room she would keep. A loose, colorful afghan she knew Fin’s Gram crocheted was thrown over it. There was a small, tassel-sided, button-topped footstool in front of it in covered in muted rose velvet. There was a big, deep, wide white desk that had a huge, high back that went up nearly to the ceiling that was all drawers, nooks, crannies and shelves and she saw they already had her knickknacks, notebooks and more frames of photos of family, Fin and friends. There was a brand new, super wide monitor, all-in-one computer sitting on the desk with her bright colored pencil holder, envelope stand and notepaper stacks arranged around it. Even her hand lotion she had on her desk at home was there. In front was a kickass swivel chair that was white leather and chrome. It was modern but somehow it totally went with the countrified rest. There were bookshelves with her books and CDs in them against the walls, her stereo set up in one, her speakers set around the room. And the windows were hung with wispy, sheer, muted rose curtains that bunched on the floor and looked amazing against the white woodwork and the newly painted walls that were a deep, warm violet.

And last, in frames all around on the walls, were big pieces of Dusty’s swirly, pastel pencil doodles. Random patterns, beautiful colors, flowy designs. They were gorgeous.

“This is from me,” Fin said, her body started and her head whipped to him.

Dusty and her Dad, yes.

Fin…

Oh my God.

He tugged on her hand to pull her closer and when he got her close, his other hand came to span her hip and he whispered, “This is where you chase your dreams, honey.”

The tears filling her eyes tumbled over.

“Baby.”

He grinned and said, “Happy wedding.”

She grinned back, the wet still coming and he let loose her hand and hip so both his hands could cup her jaws and his thumbs slid through.

“You’re not supposed to cry,” he whispered, watching his thumbs move.

“Fin, whenever you do something sweet, I cry. You can’t be surprised. It’s happened enough.”

His eyes moved from his thumbs to her and he smiled.

“Right,” he muttered.

“You got something wrong though,” she told him and his thumbs stopped moving.

“What?” he asked.

“See,” she started, “I used to sit out on my Dad’s balcony with my Dad, look at your farm and think that when I grew up and got married, I wanted to have a bedroom just like my Dad’s.”

“I’ll build you a balcony,” Fin said instantly and she closed her eyes.

God, God, she loved him.

Then she opened them and whispered, “I wasn’t done yet, baby.”

Fin said nothing.

Clarisse did.

“When I was on Dad’s balcony, I would sit there thinking that but I’d also sit there hoping to catch sight of you. And I might have wanted a bedroom like Dad’s when I got married. But more, I wanted to marry a boy who looked just like you.”

His eyes warmed (or got warmer) and he grinned again.

Then he stated, “Well, you managed that.”

She grinned back then it faded and she whispered, “What I’m saying is, I already caught my dream.”

She felt Fin’s fingers tense against her jaw and his head dipped so his face was super close.

Then he ordered, “Make up new ones.”

Then he pulled her to him and kissed her hard, wet and for a very, very long time.

She was late for her own party.

And she didn’t give a flip.

*

On Clarisse’s drive home…

She smiled at the road in front of her.

Fin’s wedding present was great.

But he’d have to wait for his for when they got home from their honeymoon.

She’d already picked her out but she wasn’t yet weaned. She would be in a week.

A golden retriever puppy.

*

The next morning…early…

“Ride it,” Mike growled his order in my ear.

“Baby, I want you,” I whispered, my neck twisted, forehead pressed into his neck.

“You know you gotta earn it, Angel.”

God, I loved it when he was bossy and dirty and hot.

Still, I wanted him.

On my knees, legs spread, Mike on his knees behind me, one arm around me, finger twitching on my clit, his other hand coming from the back, two of his long fingers buried inside me, I was mostly riding them but he was also finger f**king me.