“You want to go?”
She nodded. Her words caught in her throat. All these years she’d thought he didn’t see her.
“Okay, come on.” Finn’s touch on the small of her back propelled her to move. She hurried toward the exit, her ears ringing. Then she stopped. Turning around before she could change her mind, she drew herself up tall and moved elegantly between the tables to where her dad was still sitting.
“Dad,” Sam said quietly. “I’m heading out, but I wanted to stop over and say goodnight.”
Jake swiveled in his chair, surprise sweeping across his face. “Sam!”
Before he could stand up, Sam leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. “See ya tomorrow.”
Jake caught her hand as she straightened. “Tomorrow … yes. See you then.” His voice was gritty. Sam turned away and swept through the restaurant, tears smarting at the backs of her eyes. Finn took her hand. His steady, firm grip grounded her, and she breathed out. It had been a small thing, but significant. And she knew she’d done the right thing. Maybe they could try to go forward now, make some sense of their relationship. Finn held her coat open for her, and Sam felt a quiet sense of closure settle in the air between her and her father. The evening had been amazing, in so many ways.
“Ready?” Finn said, pulling on his coat.
Sam nodded. “As I’ll ever be.”
“Famous last words,” Finn said holding open the door for her. “Just wait until I get you out of that dress …”
Sam snorted. “What!”
“You’re lucky I’m a gentleman …” Finn said smoothly, trying to keep a straight face as Sam giggled, “… most of the time.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” Sam said as she stepped out into the cold night, the snow falling softly around them.
“I see what you did there, Harrington.” Finn shook his head. “Some promises are made to be broken—or revised.”
Sam shivered with anticipation as he pulled her close. Their noses touched; his breath warmed her skin as he raised her face to his. His lips were soft, and he tasted like sugar. She melted against him as he gently ran his hand up her back and into her hair, holding her firmly against him with his other arm.
Drawing away she looked up at him, breathless. “What are you promising now?”
He chuckled as she swayed against him. “Oh, this is not a promise, it’s a fair warning.”
26
Finn
Saturday, 14th February
Finn woke up, the scent of a woman tickling his nose.Jasmine, possibly. Whose perfume was it this time?Groggily he stretched one arm over his head. The other was trapped under the woman in his bed. She was somewhat cocooned in the duvet, and barely discernible. Foggily, he ran his hand down his face, dragging his fingertips against his stubble.Shit. Sam! The woman was Sam! Hell yeah!
Fully awake now, in all ways, Finn gently pressed the duvet away from her face, his heart contracting tightly when his eyes confirmed that his biggest and most longed for wish had come true. Sam Harrington was in his bed. They’d spent a second night together. And he’d told her he loved her. And she loved him right back. Breathing gently, worried that he might wake her up just by being awake himself, he lay back, beaming up at the ceiling.Damn.This was unreal, it was brilliant.Joy and amazement washed over him.Shewas his.He was most definitely hers. They were together, as they always should have been. He looked over at her again as she curled into him, somehow managing to still hog the duvet. She looked like she belonged there, tangled up in his sheets, snoring lightly.That’s because she does.His heart gave a jolt as the thought struck him.She is right where she always should have been.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Finn felt his initial euphoria flatten a little. He’d spent years waking up next to women whose names blurred together, never staying, never committing to any of them, except for Harper. She was the closest he’d ever gotten to commitment and that was only because he’d been convinced that Sam was going to make something of it with Ethan.Christ, so much time had been wasted.It hit him like a ton of bricks. They could have had this—this precise moment, and the last two nights—and they’d let a stupid promise get between them. Well, that and Jake Harrington. He groaned inwardly. How many times had Jake warned him off Sam?Too many.He should’ve told Jake to mind his own business long ago, but he’d been afraid. Afraid of causing a row, afraid of being blacklisted, afraid of losing an Olympic medal. Well, now he had one and its shine faded in comparison to this moment.
He swallowed and turned gently on his side so that he could look at her sleep. His gaze traced the curve of her cheek, the way her lashes rested against her skin. The way her hair draped over her shoulders, finally free from its usual braid. She snored softly and he laughed quietly, his chest shaking as she draped her arm over his waist. She moved against him, her warm, soft body sending waves of desirethrough him. His cock, fully awake now that he’d realized it was Sam in his bed, quivered. Finn didn’t move. It was early, too early. He always woke before his alarm on competition days, thriving on the buzz and the mental preparation he loved doing before a run. Today was his last event, the men’s freestyle halfpipe. Normally he’d be up, but this wasn’t a normal morning, and there was no way he was going to wake Sam. They’d worn themselves out in bed last night, and she needed her sleep.
Softly kissing the top of her head, a dull ache settled in his chest. They could’ve hadthisyears ago. He could’ve held her after tough days, kissed her before competitions, made her laugh, and scream, in hotel rooms across the world. Instead, he’d let other people—her father—convince him she was off-limits. That he wasn’t good enough. Because that’s what it was all about, really. He wasn’t good enough.Did Sam ever think that? Had Jake told her to stay away from him?Finn clenched his jaw, his erection subsiding as his anger built up. Jake Harrington was wrong. Hewasgood enough—hewasdamn well brilliant and perfect for Sam.
Sam shifted, letting out a small sigh as she curled closer to him, her fingers brushing against his chest.
“Morning,” she whispered sleepily, her eyes still closed.
“Hey,” he whispered back, his arms encircling her tightly, as if he couldn’t bear to let her go. “How’d you sleep?”
“Like a log,” Sam murmured. “Best sleep I’ve had in ages.”
Finn smiled. “That’s good.”
