All the Way (Romancing Manhattan 1)

“Does it have electricity?”

“Yes, the switch is just inside the door.”

They step in and turn on the lights and look around. “Would you know if anything was disturbed?”

“I haven’t been in here in years,” I reply, following them in. The mattress that Gabby was lying on is bare. The furniture is plastic and old, and things are messy, but that’s to be expected with years of neglect. “I should probably go through and clear it out, I just haven’t had time.”

“So, you don’t know if anything is missing, or if anyone has been here?”

I glance around again and hug my arms around my middle. “I don’t think it looks any different than it did the last time I saw it.”

“Gabby could have said it just to scare you,” Finn suggests. “We’ve been having behavioral issues with her lately.”

“Well, if you decide that anything is missing or disturbed, give us a call. Sounds like we’re done for tonight.”

They hand me a business card and then leave, and I’m left standing in my playhouse with Finn.

“It’s so odd.” I shake my head and look around. “It doesn’t look any different. But I don’t think Gabby was telling stories.”

“It’s been her thing lately,” Finn says, and pushes my hair over my shoulder. “I’m sorry that she scared you.”

“I’m just glad that it’s a false alarm.”

“Do you want me to stay?”

I smile and shake my head, ready to get off my aching leg. “I’m okay.”

“Okay, then, I’ll pick you up at seven,” he says, and steps forward to wrap me into a hug once again.

A girl could get used to this.

“Oh, quick question. Is this going to be a fancy dinner? Because I’m afraid I didn’t bring any fancy clothes with me from New York.”

His lips twitch in that way they do when he finds something amusing. Or, you know, when he finds me amusing.

“No, casual is great.”

“Okay, sounds like a plan. I’ll see you at seven.”

He nods and waits for me to open the back door before he starts the walk back to his house.

“See you soon, London.”

Chapter Three

~Finn~

“Hey Mom,” I say into the phone, and frown at Gabby when she tries to sneak another chocolate bar from the cabinet I shoved them into this morning.

She’s been stuffing chocolate in her mouth since last night, insisting that it’s her period medicine.

“What are you doing, dear?” Mom asks.

“I’m trying to keep Gabby from going into a sugar coma,” I reply, and shake my head at my niece, who just rolls her eyes and then drops her head in her hand dramatically. “How are you? How is Italy?”

“Oh, I’m just fine. Italy is always glorious, but I’m about to get on a plane home.”

“Why? You’re not supposed to come home for another month.”

“Because I miss my family. I’m coming to your house on Martha’s Vineyard for a few days.”

I stand up straight and frown, staring unseeingly at the ocean.

“Is that a problem?” she asks when I don’t reply right away.

“No, of course not. You know you’re always welcome. I have plenty of space.”

“I’d like to see Gabby,” she says. “I won’t stay long.”

“It’s never an inconvenience to have you here, Mom. When shall I pick you up from the airport?”

Mom rattles off the time. I hang up after wishing her safe travels to find Gabby taking a bite of a Snickers.

“Damn it, Gabby.”

She just offers me a big smile and chews happily.

“Since you’re not feeling well enough to go overnight tonight, I’m going to cancel my date with London.”

“No!” She jumps off her stool and hurries over to me, and takes my hand in hers. “Uncle Finn, you have to go. You just have to.”

“Why?”

“Because you like her, and she’s so nice, and pretty, and you just have to go. You don’t have to worry about me, I can totally stay home by myself. I’ve done it before.”

“I don’t think so.” I shake my head, but Gabby holds on to my hand even more tightly.

“I’ll be totally fine here. You already ordered me a pizza for dinner, and I’m just going to watch a movie on Netflix with my heating pad. Seriously, you can totally trust me.”

This little girl says totally more than anyone I’ve ever met in my life.

“I can’t chance you running off again, Gabby. I love you more than anything, but you haven’t given me much reason to trust you lately. Not to mention scaring London last night with that story about someone staying in her playhouse. That was uncalled for.”

She starts to interrupt me, but I hold my hand up and she closes her mouth.

“You can’t just scare people like that. It’s not funny.”

“I’m sorry,” she says, and bites her lip. Her blue eyes are big, reminding me of her mom’s eyes, and I feel myself soften.

“If I give you back your cell phone—”