Page 17 of Just Do It
‘You OK in there?’
I dried my hands and left the paper towel wrapped around one and tried not to notice it was gradually darkening with blood as I opened the door to find Finn casually leaning on the wall opposite.
‘I thought I told you to go back to work. I imagine we’re paying you a ridiculous amount to oversee our extension.’
‘Enough. Not ridiculous. I’d go for ridiculous if you can swing it.’
‘Ha! I have absolutely no authority in that area.’
‘Shame. I guess I’ll have to make do then. Besides, it comes with benefits I didn’t expect.’
‘Those “benefits” were a very drunken, one off lapse of judgement!’ I whispered, prodding his chest once with my good hand for emphasis as I did so. He wrapped his own hand around mine and lowered it.
‘That’s not what I meant.’ His face had lost its smile and his blue eyes were shuttered. ‘Come on, we need to get you seen to.’
‘It’s not as bad as it looks,’ Finn said confidently as he cleaned my hand gently with a cotton wool ball and warm water. I turned my head back from where I’d been resolutely taking an interest in the street the kitchen window overlooked. Finn quickly placed his other hand over mine. ‘That doesn’t mean it’snot still going to turn your stomach and I didn’t bring a spare shirt with me.’
‘Ha ha, I’m not going to throw up on you.’ I turned back to my study of outside. The truth was there was every chance I might but he didn’t need to know that.
‘Better safe than sorry.’ He faffed around a little more and apologised when I winced as he placed an ice pack on my hand. ‘Sorry, but it’s the best thing for it.’
‘I’ve got stuff to do.’ I looked down at the pack then back at him. ‘I don’t have time for this.’
He gave a shrug. ‘I’m good but I can’t perform miracles.’
From what I recall, I was inclined to disagree. I was pretty sure I’d seen God at least twice last Friday night.
‘No, I know. And thanks.’
‘You’re welcome. Keep it on there for a few more minutes.’ He checked his watch. ‘Do you want a drink? I was about to ask you that earlier.’
‘Thanks, that’d be really nice actually.’
‘Coffee?’
‘Tea please. White, no sugar.’
‘Sweet enough, eh?’ He rolled out the old platitude with a chuckle as the kettle finished boiling.
‘There are those that would disagree with you, but that’s the way of the world, isn’t it?’
‘It is. Can’t make everyone like you.’
‘Somehow I doubt you have much of a problem with that.’ The words fell out of my head onto my tongue and launched themselves into the world without any discussion with my brain.
Finn turned, placing the tea on the worktop in front of me. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘Nothing.’
‘You don’t seem the type of woman to say things she hasn’t thought about.’
‘Well, we both know that’s not true.’
He threw me a frown. I did a quick scout with my eyes and lowered my voice. ‘Saying yes I’d love to go back to your place didn’t exactly go through a lot of thought processes.’
‘Oh. I see. I did check with you several times.’
‘I know. All of those questions bypassed security it seems.’
