He held up his hands. ‘I know, I know. Sorry. But I saw that gorgeous bum and then that gorgeous face and…’ He gave a shrug.
I did my best not to smile. The unexpected kiss had been the best part of my day and frankly I wanted nothing more than to kiss him right back. But I had meant what I said. Colette was right. Bella probably would find out we were seeing each other at some point but it wasn’t only that. I wanted to keep things professional at work. Friedrich’s appointment as dig leader still rankled and I didn’t want anyone to find any excuse, no matter how pathetic or inaccurate to use against me when I put forward my application for the next opportunity.
‘I really am sorry, Elizabeth.’
‘I know.’ I threw my own glance around, my voice still low. ‘And don’t think it’s not that I don’t… you know…’
Finn raised a dark brow, apparently amused by my current lack of ability to put into words anything remotely personal. I knew exactly where his thoughts had gone. That first night I’d had no problem at all with communication. Quickly I pushed those images and feelings out of my mind. If I didn’t, I could pretty much guarantee I’d have been served with an ‘inappropriate behaviour in the workplace’ warning – at the very least. But looking up at that face and knowing the body that lay under the blue checked, brushed cotton shirt, I wasn’t sure I even cared. I gave myself a mental kick up the backside into the present.
Finn stood there, looking patient and ridiculously hot. ‘You don’t what?’
‘Like you.’
His smile broadened.
‘What?’
‘Nothing. You’re just not great at this, are you?’
‘No.’
‘Then stop trying so hard. Come on, let’s get out of here so I can kiss you properly.’
I frowned in consternation but the truth was I was of the same mind and he knew it.
8
The door to the car opened and a damp-haired Finn looked in.
‘You alright?’
‘Yep,’ I said, looking up from my book.
‘Watching rugby not for you then?’
I screwed up my face. ‘No. Not really. The third time you disappeared under about seven other massive blokes I had to leave.’
‘I’m fine.’
‘Which I’m very glad to hear, but it’s better for my stress levels if I don’t witness the mauling in between. Also, that doesn’t look like fine,’ I said, pointing to where his eye was starting to close below a cut just above his brow, a bruise already flowering around the entire thing. He slung his bag on the back seat and then slid behind the wheel, flipping down the sun visor to study his injury in the mirror. ‘Just a scratch,’ he declared with a grin, knowing that I wasn’t buying it for a moment.
‘Where to?’
‘I think we’d better get you home before that eye closes entirely and you can’t drive at all.’
He made an attempt to roll his eyes with an exaggerated sigh as he shifted into first gear, the gesture rather weakened by the fact only one was taking part.
‘How’s it feeling?’ I asked later that evening as I handed him a fresh ice pack, wrapped in a tea towel which he placed on the affected side of his face.
‘You’re fussing too much,’ he said, catching hold of my hand and pulling me down beside him.
‘Finn, you have a massive black eye and however macho you try to be, I know it’s painful.’
‘I’m nottryingto be macho. It comes naturally.’
I gave him a gentle whack with a cushion, causing him to issue a deep chuckle and wrap his arms around me. ‘I mean it,’ I said, looking up at him from where I now sat, resting against his chest, my legs draped over his as they stretched out, his feet on the coffee table.
‘I know you do, and don’t think I’m not grateful. It’s actually pretty nice,’ he replied.
