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She’d obviously had her heart broken by some asshole, but without all the facts, Finn wasn’t sure where to start. If she really hadn’t cried when they broke up, then this sounded like she might be having a delayed reaction. She might’ve stayed determinedly strong when she left this man, but it looked like the waterworks were coming now.
He couldn’t let her sit there, suffering, without offering her comfort. So, he reached an arm around her back and tucked her under his shoulder. She was so small beside him, almost waif-like. He half-expected her to push him away, but instead, she lay her head against his collarbone.
“I had an affair with the married owner on the last station I worked at,” Indy blurted, her tears running freely now.
Oh, wow. He hadn’t been expecting that. Indy seemed like such a person of principle. He assumed there were extenuating circumstances. He didn’t think she would be easily enticedinto such an illicit affair. But it certainly explained why she’d withdrawn from him when she’d thought he was married. He didn’t let his surprise show, however. Merely kept his arm around her shoulder and murmured encouraging noises.
“He told me he was going to leave his wife. That we would be together.”
Mm-hmm, didn’t they always? Finn kept this thought to himself, saying instead, “But I’m guessing he didn’t leave her?”
“No.” Her sniffles were becoming sobs. “Patrick started it. He was the one who seduced me. I would never… But he was so persistent, so charming. It was a small station, with few other staff. We spent a lot of time together.”
It sounded so stereotypical that Finn had to hold back his cynical grunt of annoyance. She’d obviously been lonely, and this other man sounded like he’d pursued her with his charisma. In some ways, Finn didn’t blame the man. Indy was gorgeous.
“I r-r-resisted him for m-months, and then one night, he kissed me and I thought, why the hell not? I was l-l-lonely, I guess,” she said through her sobs.
Yes, he’d already guessed that part. He could feel his shirt becoming damp from her tears, but he let her go on crying. It was cathartic, perhaps just what she needed. He wasn’t sure why she was telling him all this, but in a way, he was glad he could be here for her.
“But in the end, I knew I n-n-needed to leave. So, when Stormcloud advertised a p-position, I jumped at it.”
“That’s good,” he murmured. “A clean break.”
“Yes. But n-now he’s telling me that his w-w-wife has left him. And he wants me to come back. I c-c-can’t go back. Not ever. I won’t,” she wailed. This time she broke down completely, sobbing uncontrollably, her words becoming incoherent noises of pain and sadness.
“You don’t have to,” he soothed. “You’re safe here. We’ll look after you. I’ll look after you.”
He let her cry. Her little dog put her snout in Indy’s lap, casting worried glances up at Finn with her liquid brown eyes. He patted the dog on the head, telling her she was a good girl, hoping that Indy was receiving some small comfort from her doggy pal. Then Digger appeared from out of the bushes and came to curl up next to the female. He was touched by their faithful devotion to Indy. He’d always wanted a dog of his own, but it wouldn’t have been fair given his long hours spent at work. There was nothing in this world like a canine’s unconditional love.
Pulling Indy closer, he rested his chin on top of her head, smoothing her hair with one hand, and letting her run through the gauntlet of her overwrought emotions. The sun was slowly setting behind them, but they still had at least an hour left before it got dark. The landscape turned slowly from ochre to a deep, rich red as the sunlight disappeared and the sky became dusky.
Indy’s sobs slowly became less and less. He wished he had a handkerchief, or something to offer her, but his shirt would have to do to soak up her tears, for now. Finally, she turned her head slightly, gaze fixed out on the floodplains, as her tears subsided.
“This is why I didn’t want you to come up here with me.” Her words surprised him, and he sat up a little straighter. “Because I didn’t want you to see me like this,” she sniffled into his shirt.
Finn’s heart went out to this woman, who thought she had to do everything alone. Who thought she had to stay strong all the time. He wanted to let her know she wasn’t alone; that he cared.
“It’s not a burden, Indy. To bear witness to your tears. I’mgladI was here for you.”
“Well, thank you,” she replied, drawing back just a little.
“I know some people. I could send someone over to make it clear that bastard needs to leave you alone,” he added, with what he hoped was enough humor to soften his words.
Indy raised a watery smile. “Thanks, but I’m not sure police intimidation is the right way to solve this problem.”
He grimaced. “Maybe not. But sometimes it’s the only thing these types of men understand.” He stared down into her tear-streaked face. On instinct, he brought up his hand, using his thumb to wipe away the tears on her cheek. Her skin was soft beneath the pad of his thumb. Brown eyes, full of liquid warmth, stared up at him, widening slightly at his touch. Those sultry, dark eyes that’d mesmerized him from the first moment he’d seen her.
She didn’t look away, and neither did he. The silence stretched out between them. Her body was soft and pliant against his. Lips, velvety pink. And enticing.
Before he knew quite what he was doing, he’d dropped his head and his mouth was on hers. For a second, she kept her lips firmly pressed together, and then it was as if all her resistance melted away and she welcomed him in. He told himself that all he wanted was to make her feel better, to take away the pain, replace it with something good for a few seconds.
But his heart knew this was much more than that.
God, she tasted so sweet. More than he could ever have imagined, her mouth moulding to his in a perfect fit. He’d thought about kissing Indy, but never really dreamed it would become a reality. Was he taking advantage of her? Maybe, but there was nothing he could do to stop himself now. He was too far gone.
She tilted her head back, angling it slightly for better access, and he grabbed the back of her neck, wanting to never let her go. Without releasing her mouth, he lifted her into his lap, and shesnuggled against him, her hands running over his shoulders and grabbing hold of his biceps to hold herself steady.
He was rock hard in an instant. His mind just about blown by the intensity of this kiss. His tongue delved deep into her mouth, and she gave a small moan of pleasure. It wasn’t just kissing he wanted to do with Indy. He wanted more of her. All of her.
