Page 28 of Just Do It
Finn gave a snort of laughter. ‘Understood.’
I nodded. ‘Good. OK.’ I turned to unlock the door and lock my mouth before I blurted out anything else foolish.
5
‘Wouldn’t have had you pegged as a pink door kind of person,’ he said as he closed it behind us, ducking under the lintel on his way in.
‘Neither did I, really, but my grandmother chose it and she was very much of that ilk so I kept it. I thought I’d change it but it’s grown on me.’ I tilted my head to meet his eyes. ‘I think maybe I like it because people don’t expect it of me.’
‘That’s as good a reason as any. Go and get changed. I’m pretty sure I can find the kettle, if you’re happy for me to do that?’
‘Help yourself,’ I said, dashing up the narrow stairs to my bedroom where I stripped off the dress and tossed it in the laundry bin before grabbing a snuggly jumper and matching jogging bottoms and scooting back downstairs.
‘Better?’ Finn asked, turning from the boiling kettle. ‘You look like a little teddy bear!’ he said, laughing as I came up next to him and began busying myself with mugs.
‘It’s warm and cosy.’
‘It’s cute. I like it. Again, maybe just not what I expected.’
‘I’m full of surprises.’
‘You certainly are. Ooh, loose tea. Very posh,’ he said, leaning against the small island. My grandmother had extended out into the long garden, making the kitchen bigger and modern whilst retaining the sense of homeliness she’d always cultivated here. I’d loved coming here growing up and still had to pinch myself on occasion that it was now mine.
‘Tastes better,’ I stated simply. ‘Would you prefer coffee?’
He shook his head. ‘Tea is good, thanks, And I agree. I just don’t know many people who use it.’
‘I suppose I’m a little old fashioned but considering my job, I reckon I can get away with it.’
‘I wouldn’t say you were old fashioned. Perhaps you just appreciate the finer things.’
I plopped a tea cosy in the shape of the Great Pyramid on top of the teapot to let the tea brew which perhaps took the shine off his previous statement about my taste but I didn’t care. I loved it.
‘Cool tea cosy.’
I smiled as I often did when I used it. ‘Colette had it made for me as part of a birthday present.’
‘Thoughtful.’
‘She is.’
‘Has she spoken to you much about Greg?’ Finn asked, taking the tray I’d loaded up with bone china mugs, milk and the teapot. I already knew from work that he didn’t take sugar.
‘A little,’ I answered. ‘Just through there is fine. Oh, hang on.’ I scooted about quickly, removing papers and books from the sofa and clearing a space of the same on the coffee table in front of the squashy, overstuffed two seater sofa. ‘Sorry. I wasn’t expecting company.’
‘Don’t worry on my account.’
I tossed a throw over the pile I’d now made. ‘I’ve seen your place, don’t forget.’ Admittedly I hadn’t been taking muchnotice that first night but the following morning as I’d scrabbled around in the half light, trying to leave without waking Finn, it had been hard not to notice that his apartment was remarkably tidy and clean. ‘It’s like a show home.’
‘It’s also been called soulless so I suppose those two could connect.’
I plopped down on the sofa next to him and had the sudden realisation that Finn took up a lot more room than I did and I was almost wedged in. He made an attempt to move up but the fact was there wasn’t any room to move to.
‘Sorry. It’s a bit snug.’
‘Doesn’t bother me but I can sit somewhere else if you’d prefer?’
‘No, and as you can see, there aren’t really many other options.’ The only other chair in the room was also piled high with things I was in the middle of reading, doing or that needed filing away and I hadn’t had the chance or energy to get around to doing so. ‘I’m not naturally tidy like you, I’m afraid.’
