Page 13 of Finn

He squeezes my hand tighter. “You want to kiss me, don’t you?”

I nod, not taking my eyes off the plump, pink curve of his mouth. If I look into his eyes, I’ll just be drawn forward even more like flowers to light.

That’s exactly what he is. A big, hunky sun.

“I want to kiss you too,” he breathes.

I close my eyes, wiggling my toes inside my shoes. My free hand flexes at my side. “I just came here to thank you for sticking up for me in front of him, and to see if you were okay.”

“You didn’t come here to makeout with me then? I’mdefinitelyreading it wrong.”

The teasing tone in his voice makes me open my eyes. He’s stooped lower, and I’m drawn right back into ocean blue irises with starbursts of gold flecked throughout. “Right here in front of all of your clients?”

Finn reaches his free hand to the small of my back, pressing me closer. He dips his head toward my ear. “I have an office.”

Molten lava gathers in my core. I squeeze his shirt tighter and step back for breathing space. Once there’s a decent distance between us, I let him go and place my hands on my hips to stare at the ground. “I’m sorry he hit you.”

He clears his throat. When he talks, the airy quality of his voice is gone, and he’s more business. “Don’t apologize. I don’t stand for people telling women what to do. I don’t care who they are.”

I blink up at him, curling my fingers into my hips to the point of pain. “Cole and I have a complicated relationship.”

“I’d love to hear all about it.”

“Right into the heavy stuff, huh?”

He shrugs. “I’m not one for beating around the bush. If you wanted that, you should’ve hit on my brother.”

For the first time since walking in, I focus back on everything else happening around us. The two guys Finn was coaching are now leaning against the ropes, pretending they’re not watching us but failing.

Finn follows my gaze. “Shit. I have to—” He looks back at me, conflict acute in his gaze.

“I barged in on you,” I tell him. “Do whatever you have to do.”

“I’ll be right back. Don’t move. Okay?” He turns toward the ring but at the last second, he stops himself and swoops down to press a kiss to my cheek. He lets his lips linger, and when he talks, they brush across my skin. “I mean it, don’t go anywhere.”

Surprise hits me. All I can do is watch after him as he jogs across the gym floor. Jesus fuck. Of course the one guy I’ve been legitimately notjustattracted to but so curious about—in years—is off-limits according to my brother.

The two shirtless guys smile knowingly as he approaches the ring. Finn flips them off. “Come on. Get back to work, you assholes.”

The imprint of his lips is still on my cheek. To distract myself, I pull out my phone to see if Cole’s written me back. He hasn’t. He hates it when I just show up at the tower, a.k.a. Dragon headquarters, but if he doesn’t write me back soon, that’s what I’m going to do. He can’t order me around and then ignore me for a day.

The door opens behind me, and I step out of the way. I glance up and then back down only to do a double take. Finn’s brother stands in front of me, eyes wide. I smile but that quickly gets wiped off my face when he scowls. I swear he even growls at me as he stares me down. “You...”

“Aw shit,” Finn says from behind us.

Jax marches away, leaving me standing there a little shell shocked. He points at his brother who’s half out of the ring now, ducking in between two ropes, then points toward a closed door in the corner.

Finn catches my gaze. “Wait,” he mouths. Then, he shouts orders to the two guys he was working with and starts making his way to the back room. Tension curdles in my stomach as he walks away. This is obviously about me. I can’t just stand here and let Finn get in trouble because I showed up here. Before I even make the conscious thought to follow, my feet start moving. I pick up the pace and by the time Finn pushes the door open, I’m right behind him.

The door opens to an office. Two desks face each other, one riddled with paperwork, the other tidy with only one piece of paper lying over a keyboard.

“Finn,” Jax starts, voice raised. Then, his gaze darts behind his brother’s shoulders to me, and miraculously, his face turns even more murderous.

Finn turns to see who his brother is trying to eviscerate on the spot. He hadn’t realized I’d followed him until his brother gave me away. Despite everything going on around us, he smiles. “I’ll be right back out.” He leans toward me and lowers his voice. “Jax is just a big grump but everything’s fine.”

He shifts back around so fast he misses my widened eyes. His brother seems like more than just a big grump. He could give Cole a run for his money. Fortunately, I doubt he has the reach my brother does.

“I showed up here,” I speak up. Finn took my side when we were in front of my brother. It’s my turn to repay him. “Don’t be mad at Finn. I just wanted to tell him I was sorry.”

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