Page 38 of Finlay

Just before I followed him out, I glanced back atChester.“Ye might think I’m cute, but ye standing up for Reid like that? That makes ye hot as fuck.”

A pulse of satisfaction hit me as Chester’s jaw dropped. I couldn’t resist sending him a wink before stepping out of his shop.

That’ll give him something to think about.

Chapter 11

Chester

Ilectured my cock after Finn left.

“It’s very inappropriate to get an erection when your employee is in distress,” I said firmly, glaring at the tent in my trousers. “You shouldn’t be focusing on the sexy redhead or the fact he winked at you.”

My cock didn’t deflate. If anything, it got achingly harder as my mind replayed that wink over and over. Imagining him doing it again before lowering his head between my legs. Spreading my thighs wide. Groaning as he buried his face between my cheeks, his big hands holding me still as he…

I gently knocked my head against the wall. “Pull yourself together, Chester. Yes, Finn is very attractive, but we’re not going there.”

It was no good. My mind was out of control at this point, replaying endless images of Finn’s fine form cutting through the water. The way the water droplets shimmered on his chest in the early morning light.

That he thought my defence of Reid washot.

It was so different from what Matt would’ve said. Hewould’ve called such behaviour an ‘embarrassment’ and accused me of ‘making a scene.’ It had only happened once or twice in the early days of our relationship. Before I recognised his gaslighting for what it was.

By then though, it was too late. I’d learned to keep my mouth shut if I wanted an easy life.

The bell rang over the door and my head shot up. It was Reid.

And, sadly, only Reid.

Not sadly,I berated myself sternly.Distance is needed from Finn, remember?An inner part of me, one I’d thought long dead and buried, whined back.But he’s so pretty. And sexy. Think of all the muscles we could lick.

“Are you okay?” I asked Reid, shoving all inappropriate thoughts of Finn and said muscles out of my mind. “Did Finn upset you?”

“Nope.” Reid bounced around the counter, swiping up his coffee as he did so. “He reassured me. Everything is all good now.”

“So Evan won’t be coming back here?”

Reid sighed, fiddling with the lid on his drink. “Well, Finn said he won’t, but…I don’t think their temperaments work like that.”

My lips twitched. “Their temperaments. As in…Scotsmen?”

Small dots of colour appeared on Reid’s cheeks. “Umm, yes! They’re a stubborn yet caring breed. Evan will probably show up at some point or another, I imagine. But I don’t need to worry about him dragging me back to my family.”

“Is that what you were worried about?”

Reid half shrugged, not looking me in the eye. “Yeah. They don’t know where I live, and I’d like to keep it thatway. But Evan knows them. I was worried he might feel the need to inform them of my whereabouts.”

I folded my arms over my chest. “And you’re certain he’s not going to?”

“Yes.” Reid nodded emphatically. “Finn has given me his word.”

Both my brows rose. I might have had a crush on the hot Scotsman, but that wasn’t enough for me, not where Reid’s safety was concerned. “What makes you think you can trust him?”

“I just know I can.” Reid hummed, bouncing slightly on his toes.“Finn’s a man of his word.”

“I thought you only met him for the first time when he came into the shop.”

“I did.” Reid winked at me as he walked backwards towards the workspace. “But he’s safe. I can trust him. And what’s more, so can you.”

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