Page 60 of Finlay

It was only later that he’d shown me his true colours.

Finn isn’t Matt. He isn’t. He isn’t going to suddenly turn into an abusive arsehole.

No matter how often I reminded myself of that, it didn’thelp. It was hard to persuade your brain to believe something when you had so much evidence to the contrary. I’d been with Matt too long to overwrite my neural pathways that fast.

But it was fine. So long as we moved slowly, I’d be okay. There’d be plenty of time for Finn to show if he truly was this wonderful.

I just had to make sure I didn’t fall head over heels with him first.

Given how I was whistling despite catching myself on a thorn for the third time in less than an hour, I was fucked on that front. I’d never been good at holding myself back from relationships. Going all in from day one had never worked out for me in the past though. With the bullshit baggage Matt had left me with, the smart thing to do would be to take things slow.

Slow.

It was the only thing stopping me from texting Finn and inviting him over tonight. That and the meeting he’d said he needed to attend. I didn’t want to distract him while he was busy.

Busy with what though? It was only after he’d left that I’d realised I had no idea what he did for a living. He’d come into my work on both weekdays and weekends, so maybe something that involved shifts? Whatever it was, I was willing to bet it was something physical. Finn didn’t seem the type to live at the gym. He did his morning workout in the loch, for fuck’s sake. That implied that whatever he did during the day had to be physical enough to keep him in peak shape.

The fact that I didn’t know was the one tiny cloud on my sunshine mood. It was a poignant reminder that Ididn’tknow Finn that well. I didn’t know anything abouthis past, aside from Sarah and Maria. Nothing about his family or friends. I supposed I’d met Evan, but that had been accidental.

It wasn’t an issue, per se, but it allowed me to put the brakes on, just a little. Enough to stop me doing something stupid. Like getting into a serious relationship with a man I barely knew.

Been there. Done that. Got the emotional scars to prove it.

The bell over the front door went and my heart leapt all the same.It won’t be Finn. He’s busy today, remember?

Still, the butterflies in my stomach refused to quit as I quickly washed my hands and bustled into the shop. It wouldn’t be Finn. I knew that.

Except, it was.

There, leaning against my counter, delicious forearms in view, was the man I’d been unable to get off my mind.

The smile that split my lips would’ve been embarrassing if Finn hadn’t been wearing an identical one. “Hey. I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”

“My meeting ended early,” Finn said. “Found myself at a loose end.”

I faced him from the other side of the counter, mirroring his pose. “And that loose end led you here?”

“Yep.” Finn’s tongue darted out over his lower lip, and I was hit with the memory of him running it over my lips. My neck. My cock. “Seems I’m in need of another bouquet.”

“Are you indeed?” I leant over the counter until our arms were brushing, sending small zips of electricity through me. “What’s the occasion?”

Finn shrugged, one of his hands lifting to rest on mine. “No occasion. Just something to let a man know I can’t get him off my mind.”

God help me.Who the fuck gave the man themap to my heart? He was taking the direct route too. No diversions orU-turns for Finn. Just a one-way journey to win me over.

I couldn’t lie. It was working.

Where are your walls?My mind was screaming at my heart.Have you learned nothing?

Perhaps I hadn’t. Or perhaps Finn wasn’t the same as Matt, and therefore didn’t deserve to be treated as such.

“Flowers will definitely do that,” I said huskily. “They aren’t necessary though. I’m willing to bet the other man hasn’t been able to get you off his mind either.”

“That’s good to know.” Finn’s mouth was only inches from mine now. “But I’d still like the flowers anyway.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s worth it,” Finn said simply.

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