Page 46 of Just Do It
‘I don’t know,’ he replied, straightening. ‘It’s just a bit… creepy.’
‘Oh. I’ve never felt that way.’
Finn shoved his hands in his pockets. ‘I probably shouldn’t have said that.’
‘Why not? I want to know what you think.’ The words were out before my brain discussed them with my mouth. That seemed to be happening a lot lately.
He pulled his hands out of his pockets and then put them back in. ‘Well, for one, it’s probably not very manly.’ His gaze darted to mine, the glimmer of a smile dancing in his eyes, threatening to tilt the corners of his mouth up.
‘Believe me,’ I said, moving closer to him, ‘I already know you can be as Alpha as you – and I – want you to be.’
At this his face broke into a wide grin accompanied by a deep rumbling laugh. Quickly he craned his neck to look up the corridor then, seeing we were alone, apart from our aged companion, he reached for me and pulled me against him, my arms automatically reaching up to wrap around his neck as he looked down. ‘I knew you liked that.’
‘Oh, be quiet and kiss me if you’re going to.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ And then he did just that, so thoroughly that when we pulled apart, we were both a little breathless.
‘OK, so we’ve established part one of your argument doesn’t hold water. What was part two?’
‘Give me a minute. My brain is still a bit scrambled from that kiss.’
My brain wasn’t the only thing scrambled but if I let Finn know that, neither of us were going to get any work done this afternoon. Finn cleared his throat, stretched his neck one way, then the other and straightened his shirt.
‘Right.’ He looked down at the mummy, still with a hint of face scrunch, but also with a sense of curiosity and fascination that fought against the rest of it. ‘I never want you to think that I don’t respect what you do.’ His gaze, intense this time, shifted to mine. ‘I really do.’
‘I know.’ It was the truth. From the moment I’d met Finn and he’d discovered what I did, he’d been interested, askingquestions and wanting to know about my day. He obviously still wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea that there was a dead body lying on the table in front of us but I understood that. Colette had been the same when she’d visited me one time and I’d been super excited about some new research and made the mistake of thinking she’d be as hyped as me. Her reaction had been similar to Finn’s but multiplied. Had I thought about it, I would never have shown her. Colette had once passed out from a nasty paper cut. Explaining a particular aspect of mummification in order to set the scene probably wasn’t one of my finest ideas. The first clue I’d got was when she’d begun to turn an unusual shade of green. The second was when she’d thrown up in my wastepaper basket.
Oh God.
‘You’re not going to throw up, are you?’ I asked, glancing around in readiness to grab the nearest suitable receptacle.
‘Not that I’m aware of,’ Finn replied. ‘Why?’
‘I’ll tell you later,’ I said, recklessly snuggling against him for another cuddle.
He bent his head as his arms wrapped tighter around me, warm breath tickling my ear as he replied. ‘I look forward to it.’
Footsteps in the corridor launched a massive pin into our bubble of contentment. As I pulled away, I caught a glance at Finn’s face.
‘I can’t let them think I’m not professional,’ I whispered.
Finn let out a sigh and I wasn’t sure if it was directed at me, or the situation. Maybe both. Either way, I understood and frankly, felt the same.
‘No one thinks that,’ he said quietly. ‘But you’re allowed to have a life.’
‘I do have a life,’ I replied hurriedly.
Finn’s eyes darted to the mummy. ‘Outside work, I meant. With people who are alive.’
‘So did I.’ Our eyes met and for a moment there was nothing to say. ‘I don’t expect you to understand,’ I whispered.
‘I understand. I promise.’
The footsteps slowed as they got to the door and turned in to the room. Behind me, Finn brushed his fingers against mine, momentarily linking our little fingers and I felt a wave of tension release. I didn’t want to argue with Finn. And, unlike Friedrich, I sensed that he meant what he said.
‘Oh, hi, Finn.’ Inis smiled as she entered. ‘How are you?’
‘Good, thanks. How’s you?’
