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“I got a job at Critter’s. The water tank on my camper isn’t working…you know what? I’ll figure something else out.” I stormed back off across the yard.
My cheeks heated with frustration and embarrassment and something else entirely. I fiddled with the tank some more, but still couldn’t get it to work.
After five-minutes, I spotted Finn out of the corner of my eye loading a small boat into the waterway behind the shack. He pulled the string on the small motor and after a few seconds he was gone and all that remained was the echoing ZING of the little motor.
It was now or never. There was no time left for hesitatio
n.
I bolted across the yard, my feet sinking into the wet ground. I barely registered the blown-out window of Finn’s Bronco while I tossed my clothes on the porch steps. I ran over to the side of the house, stepped into the metal basin and turned the shower knob. I yelped under the cold spray, but after only a few seconds it began to warm.
There were two plastic bottles at my feet. One was a bottle of liquid soap and another was shampoo, both with farmer’s market labels. I squeezed a little of the shampoo into my palms and massaged it into my scalp. It smelled like cedar and clean laundry. I inhaled deeply but there wasn’t time to linger. I rinsed my hair in record time. Grabbing the bottle of soap, I rubbed it into a lather and smoothed it over every inch of my body and face.
I’d just finished rinsing and reached for the knob to turn off the water when it squeaked to a close and it turned off.
I hadn’t even touched it.
My hands shook as I wiped the water from my eyes. I didn’t need to open them to know who I’d find standing right in front of me. I felt him there. His eyes on me. On my body.
My naked body.
I shivered long before his glinting blue eyes locked on mine. I crossed my arms over my chest to try and hide as much as myself from him as possible, including my now hardened nipples.
“Too late, I’ve already seen it all,” Finn said with a grin.
“You,” my cheeks heated, “were watching me?” I looked around for somewhere to go, somewhere to run, but I couldn’t focus on what was around me and there was no way I was going to get anywhere without revealing more of myself.
Finn’s eyes darkened. He leaned in and I was so surprised by the move that I stumbled back against the wall.
“What are you doing?”
He inhaled deeply and stepped back. “I prefer the lavender.”
“What?”
“The other night. In your camper. You smelled like lavender.”
“I…I need my clothes.” I bounced eagerly and uncomfortably on my knees. Finn nodded to a plastic chair in the far corner of the porch where a towel was draped across the back.
I had no choice but to shuffle sideways to reach it, keeping my legs stiff and locked at the knee. I released myself for a micro second so I could snatch the towel and wrap it around my naked body. My stomach churned and when I turned back to face Finn again, I suddenly felt too warm and too cold all at the same time.
Finn’s brow furrowed. Lines formed on his forehead. He leaned back against the porch railing and frowned.
My father’s words seeped past the barrier that I’d put up in my brain to keep him out. A man is never to see your naked flesh besides your husband. Those women who allow themselves to be a feast for another’s eyes will burn in the depths of Hell.
Hearing father’s words caused something inside me to shift. Suddenly, I wasn’t just anxious and confused.
I was angry.
“Thank you for letting me use your shower,” I said, straightening my shoulders. Feeling braver, I marched right up to Finn with every intention of zipping past him.
“I didn’t let you do anything,” Finn said, reaching out and stopping me in my tracks by toying with the bottom of the towel, almost like a reminder that he could rip it off me at any moment.
“I was trying sarcasm,” I said, my attempt at bravery falling flat.
“You like torturing me, don’t you?” Finn asked, cocking his head to the side.
“Me?” I asked. “You’re the one who…never mind. I’m just going to go.”
Finn tugged on the towel again and I stilled, not wanting to be naked in front of him for the second time in just as many minutes.
Finn stood tall, looming over me. Using his larger than life presence to his advantage. “You don’t have to torture me, you know. That job’s already taken.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, honestly. Although, this time when his eyes met mine, I recognized something familiar in them I couldn’t quite place.
“You really don’t know, do you?” Finn traced the line of the towel with his fingertips, brushing the skin of my thigh and heating it along the way.
“Know what?” I was breathless and suddenly feeling very dizzy.
“So…innocent,” he crooned, shaking his head.
I tried to collect myself. “I…I’m going to be late for work.”
“Tell me one thing first and then you can go.” Finn tugged on the towel again. I had no choice but to back up so my hip was against his thigh.
“What?”
“Tell me something about yourself.”
“Like what? My favorite color? I don’t think I have one,” I said.
“No,” Finn licked his bottom lip. “Tell me what you thought when you saw me today. When you were watching me shower.”
“Why?” I felt heated recalling his wet and glistening body.
“The way you looked at me…” he started. “Let’s just say that your curiosity has made me curious.”
I shifted uncomfortably, pressing my thighs together. I bit my lower lip. “Please, I just have to go and…”
“Tell me and you can go.”
Finn wasn’t holding me or hurting me. He was only asking me a question and I really, really had to go or I was going to be late.
I closed my eyes tightly as I tossed him the truth. “I thought…”
“Open your eyes, look at me,” Finn insisted.
I looked at him and gasped, quickly realizing what I was seeing in his eyes that was so familiar to me.
Hurt.
“I was thinking that I didn’t know that a naked man…” I summoned every ounce of courage I had to continue. If Finn was doing this just to try and intimidate me, I wasn’t going to let him. I took a deep breath and steadied my words. Looking past his blue eyes I spoke directly to the hurt in them. “I was thinking that I didn’t know a naked man could be so beautiful.”
Finn’s arm dropped and I didn’t stay to register his reaction. I darted to the steps, gathered my clothes, then sprinted across the yard.
Once inside my camper, I dressed quickly, grabbed my bag, and started a fast-paced power walk to Critters. There was no time to linger on what had just happened.
Especially, since I had no idea what exactly that was.
Chapter Thirteen
Sawyer
Despite the shower incident with Finn I managed to make it to work on time. Somewhat winded.
