Page 40 of For Your Love

“I’ve made the offer for years, but he always refused. But now, Sean and Ana are serious about each other, and I wanted to be able to make it easier for them to move forward. His rent has been adjusted for his income. He finally accepted my offer when an apartment became available.”

“You’re a good friend. I’m sure Sean appreciates what you’ve done for him.”

“All the time,” he said with a small chuckle. “So, any other questions I can answer?”

Colleen wanted to shift the conversation to a different subject. She’d debated asking him this question, but because she was enjoying their flirting, she needed to know. She took a deep breath and asked, “How’s your social life?”

Finn coughed on his beer.

“I know Sean is obsessed with Ana, so he can’t be hanging out with you as much.” Colleen took her glass and swirled the remaining wine. “Who are your other friends?”

He held eye contact with her, saying, “I’m not dating anyone.”

That short reply hung in the air between them. He offered no other explanation, and she had no clever reply, so all she could offer was a simple, “Oh.” The idea he was free was a relief and made her heart do a few somersaults. But she needed some distance from him, if she stayed too long, she might make an idiot of herself. “Look, I better get going. I’ve got a big day tomorrow,” she said, getting to her feet.

Finn stood and gave a small nod. “I had a good time today.”

“So did I. Thanks for being a tourist with me,” Colleen said over her shoulder as she walked to the door.

“I’m glad I was finally able to show you a little bit of New York.”

“I’m glad, too,” she said, recalling his offer ten years ago.

“That was the other thing I owed you. I promised to take you to every museum in New York. Do you remember?” Finn’s eyes searched hers, waiting for her reply.

“Yes, I remember.” She should tell him how much she had wanted to go back with him ten years ago, but it seemed foolish. She didn’t want him to think she’d be expecting more from him now.Holding eye contact with him a second too long, she blinked and adjusted her purse to stay focused.

With a small nod, Finn opened the door for her. “Good luck tomorrow. Let me know how it went. Maybe we can hang out sometime and watch TV?”

“As friends?”

“It can be anything you want it to be.” His eyes glinted with interest.

She wanted to be friends—maybe more—but her first priority had to be her new job. “Um…Let me get through my first day at work. I’ll text you, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Goodnight,” Colleen said, stepping into the hall.

“Sleep well, princess,” he said, closing the door.

“Asshole,” she said over her shoulder with a giggle. As soon as she turned to walk down the hall, she narrowly avoided colliding into someone.

“I’m sorry. I was a little distracted,” she said to a petite brunette.

“You came from Finn’s?” The girl asked, a little surprised. She wore a short, black dress with deep cleavage. The girl did a quick head-to-toe inspection.

Colleen recognized this once-over as an obvious attempt to judge the competition. She countered with a question of her own. “I’m sorry, who are you?”

“I’m Ashley,” she said in a bubbly voice. “Finn and I are neighbors—and friends,” she added with a perky tilt of her head. “And you are?”

“I’m Colleen,” she replied in a measured voice. “Finn and I are old family friends.”

“Oh, I see,” Ashley said, taking out her keys. Her smug expression was immediate, making it clear that Colleen’s threat level dropped down a notch or two.

This game was so high school. “It was nice meeting you,” Colleen said casually, heading to the elevators.

“Maybe I’ll see you again sometime,” Ashley called out as if they were going to be BFFs.

---