Page 81 of Dare to Love Again

“Did you have him before you two married?”

“Yes.”

“He was jealous.”

“But why not of you?”

He looked at her, as did Phin. “Maybe he senses you need more than him in your life.”

He hefted the cat who looked like he’d settled in for a cozy nap on Finn’s chest. She blinked, shocked again. Usually, if moved at nap time, he turned into a grouch, and she could expect a low growl and sometimes a paw swipe—claws retracted. He wasn’t a complete animal. But when Finn leaned over the edge of the bed and put him down, there was no drama, no formal protest, no Phinny cattitude whatsoever. He simply trotted away unperturbed.

“I think I’m still asleep and dreaming because I do not believe what I’m seeing.”

He chuckled and rolled back to her. At which point, he pulled her to him with a hand curled around her neck and after a divine kiss, whispered against her lips, “I’m sorry, lass, but I’ve got to get going.”

She looked out the window. The dark sky showed no signs that dawn was imminent. “What time is it?”

“Early. I have a meeting with a new client at eight and need to get home to shower and change first.”

“I should get ready, too, but I don’t want to.” This came out mumbled because she said it while yawning.

Finn was smiling at her when she finished, then he said, “Sick day.”

“What?”

“You’re still exhausted, lass. You’re taking a sick day.”

“I can’t. I’ve got cases to prepare and no one to do it except me.”

“You get time off, don’t you?”

“Ten paid days per year and two personal days.”

“And I bet you haven’t taken the first one.”

She couldn’t deny it, not with his alert green-eyed gaze boring into her.

“That’s what I thought. This will leave you with eleven.”

“You’re rather high-handed, especially with my job and benefits. Has anyone ever told you that?”

As soon as she asked, she regretted her words. Away from the club, in the comfort of her home, casually bantering moments ago about her cat, she’d forgotten for a moment she was talking to Master Finn.

Amusement flashed across his face. “If by high-handed you mean dominant, I hear it about every day of my life. But let me get this straight because I need to know, for future reference, so I understand how you think. You’re complaining that I’m insisting you take a day off, using a benefit you’re entitled to, so you can get some much-needed rest?”

Her lips parted, but anything she said would make her look petty since he was looking out for her. She snapped her mouth shut and shook her head instead.

“Smart girl, you know when to concede,” he murmured as the hand at her neck brought her face to his. He gave her another kiss, this one brief but just as hot then rolled to the edge of the bed and got up.

Treated to her first glimpse of his sleek, muscled back, nicely shaped, taut ass, and long, sinewy legs, she lost track of the conversation.

Finn cleared his throat. Caught blatantly ogling his butt, she blushed.

“Make the call, darlin’.”

“Yes, sir.”

Satisfied, and, since she made that so easy, he gave her a few more orders. “I have to work tonight, but tomorrow, I’m taking you to dinner. I’ll make reservations at Spago for seven o’clock. Will that give you enough time to get home and changed for me to pick you up?”

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