Page 119 of Just Do It
‘I can guarantee that’s not going to be me.’
‘And how’s that?’
‘Because I turned it down.’
‘What?’
‘The TV show. I turned it down.’
‘No you didn’t. Iknowyou’re working out in Dubai, Finn. Don’t lie to me.’ The anger bubbled again.
‘I’m not!’ he said, his eyes intense, willing me to believe him. ‘Yes, I’m working in Dubai. The project is interesting and they were keen for me to manage it. But I refused to be a part of the filming.’
‘But I thought…’
‘Thought what?’ His voice was soft again now, wrapping itself around me like silk.
I looked up. ‘I…’God, I wanted to kiss him.
Stop it, Lizzie. You do not want to kiss him. He broke your heart, remember?
Yes, I know. I most definitely do not want to kiss him. How could I possibly? I mean look at him.
Oh God, I so want to kiss him.
‘I thought you… and Mel…’
He shook his head. ‘No. Never. Yes. We flirted when I was working on the restaurant before but she was with someone at the time so nothing ever happened.’
‘And out there? I thought one of the highlights of the programme was the sexual tension with you and her. The whole will they, won’t they?’ As Finn’s hands were still wrapped around mine and resting on his chest I wobbled my head from side to side for emphasis.
‘Even if I’d taken part, it would have been most definitely they won’t.’
I dropped my head down, staring at his hands. ‘Maybe you should have.’
‘No. I shouldn’t.’ He paused. ‘Look at me, Elizabeth.’
I followed his request. Clearly my brain was still out for the count.
‘She’s not you. No one else is you. And you are the one I want.’ His chest expanded and slowly retracted. ‘You’re the one I love.’
‘Finn…’
‘Wait! Before you say anything, I know I cocked up massively. Monumentally! And I am so, so sorry. I am not a man who’s begged for anything in life and frankly I never thought anything would ever be important enough to do so but that was before I met you. So I’m begging you now. Please, Elizabeth. I know I hurt you. I know I acted like a dick and if I could turn back time I would. But if you could see your way to forgiving me for all of that, I would spend the rest of the time we have together ensuring you don’t regret it.’
‘That’s quite a claim.’
‘You’re quite a woman.’
‘Wait… the rest of the time we have together?’ I asked. The words drifted around my head until they bumped squarely intoa very loud alarm bell. ‘Oh my God! You’re ill, aren’t you? That’s why you’ve come back.’ I felt all the emotions burst inside me. Suddenly Finn’s hands were cupping my face, his lips kissing mine before pulling back.
‘No! No, sweetheart. I’m fine. I promise!’
Emotions collided. Seeing Finn again, hearing his loving words and the momentary panic at his phrasing rushed through me, and tears began to dampen my cheeks. ‘But you said,’hitch. ‘it like,’hitch. ‘you weren’t going to be around…’Huge hitch.
‘That’s not what I meant.’ He kissed me again. ‘Please, please don’t cry. I can’t bear it. I promise you, I’m fine. Elizabeth, look at me.’ The large hands warmed my face but my gaze was focused firmly on the third button of his shirt. I couldn’t look up. I couldn’t.
‘Look at me.’ There was a soft command in his voice that I couldn’t ignore. The blue eyes fixed on mine. ‘I am perfectly healthy. I had a full, in depth medical before I left for Dubai.’ I felt my eyes widen. ‘Only because it was part of the deal,’ he filled in hurriedly. ‘Not because there was anything to worry about. I got a clean bill of health.’
