Page 112 of The Lady Needs a Rogue
“Ye just heard me say it, mate. It’s not a valid question now, is it?”
“Bugger off.” The sot turned back to Carrie. “Now, are you going to do what I told you, you little witch?”
“It’s always the big ones, isn’t it?” Finn muttered under his breath, though loud enough for the man to hear—a final warning of sorts.
“I need another drink, you little shrew.”
“Ah, that’s it,” Finn said, more to himself than to the sot. He clamped his hands down hard on the man’s forearm. And twisted. Hard. “Now I have yer attention—apologize to the lady.”
“Bugger—” the big man ground out, even as he grimaced in pain.
“Wrong answer.” Finn drove his fist into the sot’s solar plexus.
Ooof.The big man doubled over in pain just as Logan came out of his office and descended the stairs to the bar.
“He gave ye some trouble, did he?” Logan motioned between Carrie and the drunk.
“Mr. Caldwell showed him what’s what,” Carrie said with a faint smile.
“He should think twice next time,” Finn said. “If I see the angry bloke again, I will not be so patient.”
Logan called upon his barkeepers to show the sot to the door. He then grabbed a drink for himself and joined Finn at the table.
“It’s good to see ye looking fit again, my friend,” Logan said, surveying Finn’s appearance over his stein.
“’Tis amazing the difference a razor and a bar of soap can make, eh?” Finn smiled despite the gnawing feeling Logan had not invited him here merely to sample his latest brew.
“Ye’ll get no argument from me.”
“Logan, cut to the chase. Why did ye ask me to meet ye here?”
“Cut to the chase, eh? Ye sure ye’re ready for that?” Logan studied him for a long moment. “Finn, have ye spoken to Macie?”
“Not since she asked me to leave.”
“Fair enough,” Logan said. “The lass was angry. Can ye blame her?”
Finn shrugged. “She should’ve trusted me.”
“We both know how Jon speaks of her, as though she is a problem to be solved. You saw her expression when Macie overheard what he was saying, but ye said little to counter his view.”
Finn rubbed his neck, fighting a sudden tension. “She knows I do not share his opinion.”
“Worse yet was his blasted talk of some bloody rogues’ code. Amelia is not one to use profanity, but later, when we were alone, she expressed her opinion of this so-called code in terms that surprised even me.”
“I was a dolt to play along,” Finn admitted. “But Macie should’ve known how I feel about her.”
Logan cocked a brow. “She should’ve, eh?”
It isn’t as if you’ve said you love me.Macie’s words taunted him. God above, he’d been a blasted fool.
“It’s too bloody late now. She has her mind set on traveling to Greece.” Finn kneaded the tense muscles in his neck. “It’s what’s best for her.”
“Best for her?” Logan challenged him. “That fop of a professor might well have an ulterior motive. Ye know that as well as I do. Yet ye’re returning to Scotland while she embarks on a journey with that bag of wind?”
Finn stared down at his empty glass. “It’s what she wants.”
“Ye’re quite sure of that, are ye?” Logan prodded. “I recall a man—matter of fact, I’m looking at him—who called me a dunderheaded mule when I nearly let Amelia leave me behind.”
