Page 19 of Rules in Love
“Aww. And he was. He was sharing his love for the Queen of his people, and you thought he was sharing the love of her ass in short shorts. I think it’s delightful.”
“I just can’t stop embarrassing myself, can I?” Finn rolled his eyes and gripped the arms of his seat so hard it groaned. “Alright. Let’s get it all out there and give me a chance to redeem or defend myself. What else did Teddy tell you about me?”
Humming, I tapped my finger against my lip and let him hang for a second or two. “Honestly, Finn. You have nothing to worry about. I heard you grew up near the beach, surfed, and lived on a farm with sheep and horses. Oh, and that you are very sensitive about Foster’s, and I should never bring it up.”
“All true, but there was only one horse, and I did apologize about the Foster’s incident. I’d had a few too many by that point.”
“Not Foster’s, I’m guessing.” Finn’s nose scrunched as he laughed. I had to hold myself back from brushing my finger across the cute little wrinkle it created. “I had no idea beer could be so controversial Down Under, but I suspect there are lots of things I don’t know about Australia.”
Never taking his eyes off mine, Finn picked a piece of ice from his empty glass, “I’d be happy to teach you them all, Scarlett.” He then popped the lucky cube into his mouth. Crunch. “One by one by one.”
Oh, good Lord.
Blondie became my favourite person in New York, returning with our food at the exact moment I needed to put something other than my foot or Finn’s tongue in my mouth. “This is delicious,” I said, talking around a forkful of spicy potato. “Teddy and I normally stick to a liquid diet when we’re here. And look, I’m almost finished, and I haven’t spilled a drop. I’m quite proud of myself.” I laughed, and a piece of potato rolled down between my cleavage. Finn’s eyes followed, his cheeks flushing red briefly before his eyes flicked back to mine. I could easily imagine what a man like Herman Wise would have said in that situation: “Would you like me to fish that out for you, Miss Scarlett?”
What would a man like Finn say?
“You have a beautiful, sexy giggle, Scarlett. It’s nice to hear it up close. I’m normally on the other side of the office, looking back at you.”
I handled this revelation by blushing and snorting like a pig. It was all very sexy. “You…you look over at me?”
“Uhh, yeah. You know I do. I see you looking at me too.”
“What? I… I am just looking out your window… At the—”
“At the red brick wall and blinding neon light that I look out upon?” He smirked. “I’ll grant you that, Grant. It is a very nice wall.”
“And I am an architect. I appreciate a good erection.”What the fuck?“Building. I mean, a wall. It’s a wall… Oh God.”
As the table vibrated with Finn’s laughter, I contemplated running away, quitting my job, and leaving America forever. My shame was clear. He controlled himself to the odd hiccup, took my hand, and brushed his thumb across my knuckles. “Please don’t be embarrassed. I think you’re funny, and you know I say stupid shit all the time. It’s okay.”
I smiled and blew the hair I was trying to hide behind my face. “Promise you don’t think I’m an idiot?”
“Promise. Look, let’s change subjects. Umm, tell me, how long have you been at the firm?”
Swallowing the last of my drink, I signaled the hovering waitress for another. “Okay, that seems safe. Well, I arrived in the States just over a year and a half ago and started almost straight away.”
“And you came from London?”
“Yep. It’s been a big change, but I’ve worked hard and had some luck. One of the first houses I did was nominated for a design award, and I think I’m starting to build a solid reputation. Maybe that’s why they picked me to work with your aunt. I’m hoping the success of the awarded project, and now Hudson River House, will help me become the next partner.”
“I’m impressed.” Finn nodded. “You have quite the plan. I’ll be calling you boss in no time.”
“Boss? God, sorry. Did that sound arrogant?”
He shook his head and chewed his bottom lip. That thing must have tasted as good as it looked. “No, not arrogant at all. Confident. And so you should be. No one would think anything of it if you were a man.”
“Yes, Jesus. You’re so right.”Stop watching his lips.“It’s nice to hear a guy say that. If only you knew how many people have suggested I slept my way ahead.”
“Well, my sister would kick my ass if I thought differently. Then there’s Jocelyn, and I’m sure you can imagine what she’d do to me. I admire a strong woman who knows what she wants. It’s sexy as hell, Scar.”
Two things caught me off guard. Finn calling me Scar was the first. It was a direct hit to the heart and hoo-ha. The second was his intense, dare I say, hungry expression. It was straight-up Darcy watching Lizzy at the piano, but this was real. There were no corsets close by, and no one was dying of consumption.
“Not many men, especially of your age, feel that way. It puts a lot of guys off.”
“Only fools that don’t know what they’re missing out on. A woman with a bit of mongrel fight in her is much more fun. Keeps a man on his toes.”
Did he call me a mongrel? Is that an Aussie thing? And why did it turn me on?I needed a distraction before I mounted his leg. “You better tell me more about the spectacular women that have trained you so well.”
