‘Something like that.’
‘As I seem to remember someone wise saying recently, Bella will get over it, I’m not that great.’
I looked up at him under my lashes. ‘I might have lied about the last bit.’
‘But you were right about the first bit.’
‘She can’t know. It’d just make things too awkward.’
Finn reached for my hands and held them in his own. ‘And what is it that she isn’t to know, Elizabeth?’
‘This!’ I whispered. ‘You. Me. This.’
‘And what is this?’
‘Didn’t we just have this conversation?’
‘No. Because I couldn’t stop myself from kissing you which is all I’ve wanted to do since I met you and every time I’ve seen you since. But I woke up that day and you’d gone and I didn’t think I’d ever see you again so I convinced myself that I was OK with that. That it was a one night stand. Admittedly an amazing one but still just a night. Then I find out Greg is head over heels for your friend and I walk in here and see you. It means something, Elizabeth. This. It’s more than just stolen kisses in a…’ he looked around, ‘…a slightly creepy store room.’ He looked down at our hands. ‘You asked me what I want, and what I want is for the best night I’ve ever had to turn into the best thing in my life. But that, of course, depends on whether you want the same.’
‘You know you’re the first one night stand I’ve ever, ever had. I had no idea that… you know…’
He gathered me closer, his body warm, hard and strong. ‘I know. But I don’t want to be a one night stand. Not with you.’
I tilted my head up and everything else fell away. ‘I don’t want that either.’ The frown smoothed out and his lips once again met mine. ‘I mean it about Bella though. She can’t know. I don’t want her upset.’
‘Fine. But we’re not doing anything wrong here, Elizabeth.’
‘Well, getting it on in a store room is probably against the rules at work.’
‘Getting it on?’ He laughed and I covered his mouth with my hand.
‘Shoosh! Someone will hear us. And no, I have no idea why that particular phrase came to mind. This isn’t a situation I’ve found myself in much before. I’m unfamiliar with the correct terminology.’
‘Much?’
‘At all.’
‘Speaking of Bella. If you do actually like me which I’m getting the very relieved impression you do, why the hell were you so desperate to hook me up with Bella?’
‘Because it seemed like a good way to get you out of my head. If you weren’t available there was no point thinking about you.’
Finn’s expression was puzzled.
‘I have plans. Ambition. I didn’t want to get distracted.’
‘And you think I’d distract you?’
‘I know you do,’ I replied, unable to hold back the smile as his hand curved around my lower back, resting on the top of my bum.
Briefly he returned the smile but his features then settled into a more serious expression. ‘But you know I would never try to stop you doing anything you wanted. I think you’re amazing and I know you want to get that lead on a dig. I’m here for you, Elizabeth. Well, I want to be here for you. If you’ll let me.’
I opened my mouth to reply but the steps in the corridor were getting closer and I snapped it closed again. They slowed as they got near and then stopped outside the store room Wide-eyed, I looked in panic at Finn. The door was old and didn’t lock so, whilst it was easy to shove Finn in here for a private discussion, it also meant we couldn’t keep anyone out.
‘Shit!’ I mouthed at him.
Almost silently, Finn switched us around so that he was against the door. As the person outside turned the handle, he leant his full weight back against it. A few struggling noises and a choice word came through slightly muffled from the outside and I felt the giggles build inside me. My eyes widened and Finn shook his head, his own eyes fixed on me, a silent warning in their expression but I couldn’t help myself. With the hand that wasn’t holding the handle in place, Finn reached out and pulled me back against him, his hard body pressed into mine, his free hand covering my mouth as giggles forced themselves out and I did my best to silence them with the help of a hand the size of a small excavator.
With one last rattle of the door handle and another swear word, the steps began again, moving away until they were no longer audible.
