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I’m gasping as he stands.
He frowns down at me. “Why are you here?” he rasps.
I look up at him between strands of my wind-blown hair. I swallow hard. “I saw you.” My still-racing heart stammers. I can barely rise up on my quaking legs. I’m pulsing with adrenaline. But stand I do.
Bright moonlight hides his features from me as I step closer. My hands curl into fists. “You must be mad! Or have a death wish!”
I pace around him. From a different angle, I find his shadowed face a mask of apathy. “What was going through your mind? I’d bloody like to know!”
When he doesn’t move, I shove him. “You could have fallen, easily! That rock sloughs off daily!” I can see the muscle at his jaw tic. Good. “What were you thinking? Fancying a midnight swim? It takes eight minutes to drown in the ocean. Have you ever put an egg timer for eight minutes and thought of that? Because I have!” A sob catches in my throat, and he strides to me.
“Fuck.” It’s so soft, I’m not sure he actually said it. His strong arms encircle me. They’re damp and shaking, as is his chest.
I breathe deeply through my nose, too furious to cry.
“Why are you here, Finley?” His big hand rubs circles on my back. “Are you okay?”
I feel him inhale deeply, and I want to strike him—so I step away.
“You nearly died! A stiff wind would have blown us over.” Thoughts race through my mind, but I can’t seem to fold them into language. Even these few minutes after, panic grips my heart. I realize my eyes have sprung a leak and wipe my face. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so frightened!”
His face is a mask. “I’m sorry.” Such a flat voice.
“Were you going to jump?” I laugh, the sound a bit unhinged. “You think you have wings, Declan Carnegie?”
His mouth tightens.
“Is that a yes or no?”
“No.”
“Are you quite sure?”
“Yeah, Finley.” He shuts his eyes. “I’m fucking sure.”
“Then you’re the biggest fool that’s ever traveled here! Dangling your legs off that way…”
He rubs his eyes with one hand. I can see his taut jaw. “I’m sorry I scared you.” One sharp breath, and then release, and his eyes open, peering at me. “Should you be at home?” He tilts his head behind him, toward Gammy’s. “You need a ride?”
His voice is low and soft. It makes me want him. When he breathes, it makes me want him. Wanting him sends fury beating through my veins.
“Have you got a car up here then?” I wave around the moon-drenched plateau, and his lips quirk. Unbelievable.
“I could drive you from my place.” As he says it, he looks down. It takes a moment for his gaze to rise to mine again. When it does, his mouth is soft; his eyes are cautious.
“I’m quite fine. Are you, though?” Tears well in my eyes as I replay what happened.
“Yeah. I…uh…went running.” He glances down at himself, and I realize he’s in dark sweats and a pale tee, wearing runners. “Figured I’d stop here and…you know. Watch the water.”
I nod. My throat stings as I try to keep my tears in.
“I’m sorry I scared you.” I watch him shift his weight. In the darkness, I think he bites the inside of his cheek—one of his tells. “And I’m sorry—” He blows his breath out. “I’m sorry for what you said. Before.” He breathes deeply again, his big shoulders sinking. “You were right.”
He’s looking down again, the fingers of his right hand touching his left elbow. For the barest instant, his eyes touch mine.
He’s quick to turn away. “Just knock if you want a ride, okay?”
And he’s off.
