“It was a strictly professional question. For my story.” It wasn’t, and he knew it.

“I figured as much.” He stared at me.

I stood.

“Going somewhere?”

“I just need to stretch.” When I raised my arms over my head, my sweater rose above my belly and I hoped Finn would have the same reaction to my bare navel as I’d had to his. I watched his gaze travel from my stomach and linger there. Yup. I approached the bed and sat next to him. “You mentioned dating.”

“What about it?”

“Do you have a girlfriend? Or anyone you’re seeing regularly?” I purposely asked the question both ways since hot guys in the city tended to be creative in their definition of “girlfriend.” They could sleep with the same woman every week for a year and claim it wasn’t a relationship because they’d never “discussed” it. Case in point: Leo. I didn’t encroach on other women’s territory, even for a hookup.

“Why do you ask?” And there it was: the “I’m hot and I know it” grin I’d expected earlier. “Anyway, I’m very much available.”

If he was lying, it wouldn’t be the first time, but the question had been asked and answered. It was up to me to take him at his word, and I would. “You have something in your…” I brushed a finger through his hair and removed the imaginary lint, food crumb, whatever. It didn’t matter since it was imaginary. “Hair.” The strands felt soft and silky against my skin, with no evidence of sticky pomade or gel like I’d assumed.

“Thank you.” He wove a few of his fingers through mine. “You do too.”

I giggled. “Kiss me, you fool.”

He leaned in. I leaned in. The air fizzed between us.

Brriiinng! Brriiinng!

I jumped.

Finn cursed. “I’ve gotta take this.” He stood and walked to the opposite side of the room. “It’s fine. What’s up?” He threw an apologetic glance my way.

I let my back fall against the bed with a frustrated sigh. A giggle bubbled inside of me at our kiss-interruptus. It figured the one thing that came straight from the movies involved me not kissing a hot guy.

Kate would die. I owed her a phone call. I was a bad friend. At least my almost-kiss with Finn gave me something to tell her about besides my story fail. Did Derek check up on all his writers mid-assignment or just me?