But my conflicted feelings didn’t change the fact that I needed to get back to the Pork Pit and help Sophia with the dinner rush. I’d just taken a step toward the front door when Finn blocked my path.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Outside,” I said. “To your car. So you can drive me back to the restaurant.”

He shook his head. “Uh-uh. Nothing doing. No way. I told Sophia that you were taking the rest of the day off, and that’s exactly what you’re going to do. Besides, we are not leaving here until you get a new dress.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

Finn turned to the rack closest to him and grabbed a long dress that shimmered with red sequins. “What do you think about this one? Yeah, this is much too orange of a red for you. With all that pale skin, you need a blue-red, like this one.”

He plucked another gown off the rack, held it out at arm’s length, and examined it with a critical eye.

“Oh, yes,” he said. “This would look divine with your complexion. And I think I saw some shoes earlier that would be absolutely smashing with this.”

I just groaned.

* * *

After another hour of trying on dresses at the Posh boutique, Finn and I headed back to the Pork Pit to grab some dinner. The attempted robbery might have broken up some of the tediousness of dress shopping, but I still wanted some comfort food from my own restaurant. So I dished us both up some burgers, chili-cheese fries, and triple-chocolate milkshakes.

Later that evening, Finn finally dropped me off at Fletcher’s house—my house now. Being a gentleman, he carried in the ridiculously expensive dress, shoes, and purse he’d picked out and insisted I buy. Then he headed out, saying that Bria was expecting him. Of course she was, given the heated promises he’d whispered to her in the boutique.

“Good luck with your seduction,” I sniped, following him out onto the porch.

Finn waggled his eyebrows at me. “Luck? Finnegan Lane doesn’t need luck, baby. Enough said.”

His excessive confidence made me laugh, although a bit of bitterness tinged my chuckles. “Of course you don’t.”

Finn hesitated, picking up on my sour mood. “You know, I could always cancel with Bria, if you wanted some company tonight—”

“I’m fine,” I said, cutting him off before I could see the pity in his eyes. “In fact, I’m plumb tuckered out from all that shopping. I plan to take a shower, get in bed, and curl up with a good book.”

Once again, he hesitated. “Well, if you’re sure . . .”

I gave his shoulder a little push. “I’m sure. Now, go. Have fun with Bria.”