Dumbass that he was, he’d assumed that meant things between them were fine. Good, even. But today shot that theory straight to hell.
She’d dodged him. All damn day. And not just dodged, as in kept her head down and pretended not to see him, but actually spinning on her heels and scurrying in the opposite direction when she’d spotted him. Or sitting in her office, hiding behind her shut door while her assistant made up some bullshit excuse about what she’d been doing and why she hadn’t been able to see him.
Finn knew what she’d been doing, all right. Avoiding.Him, specifically.
“Hey,” Drew snapped. “Based on the other shit we’re having to redo on Dick’s whim, we don’t exactly have the funds to put up all new drywall. So how about you stop being an asshole and calm the fuck down.”
Finn dropped the sledgehammer he’d been using to demo part of an existing wall and blew out a deep breath as he stared at the carnage he’d inflicted. Yeah, so maybe he’d taken the whole demolition thing a bit too far, but when Nash had mentioned taking down one of the side walls to open up the space and provide a perfect spot for a dance floor, Finn had jumped at the opportunity to pound into some shit. Better than what he wanted to do, which was storm back into Willow’s office and demand she tell him just what the hell was going on. Right before fucking her over her perfectly impersonal desk. That’d go over about as well as a screen door on a submarine.
“I’ve got it under control.” Finn wiped his brow with his T-shirt and tucked it back into the waistband of his shorts.
Drew barked out a laugh. “The last thing you are is under control. And I’d place bets on the fact that it has a little something to do with the pretty lady leaving town hall even as we speak.”
Finn glanced up in time to see Willow start the trek down the front steps, her gaze fixed on the opened door of the bar. There was no way she could see him from her vantage point, but it was obvious she was looking. He couldn’t figure her out. If she went out of her way to avoid being around him all day, why was she peering in his direction? Better yet, why was she purposefully walking so she’d have to pass directly in front of their door when he knew she parked on the other side of the square?
Well, Finn had had his fill of unanswered questions today. It was time to set things straight.
He didn’t take his eyes off Willow as he spoke to his brother. “Do me a favor—”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m leaving.” Drew’s footsteps carried him to the back of the space, then up the stairs to the apartment.
The rest of the crew had left about an hour earlier since they’d been starting the days at six a.m., which meant Finn and Willow would be alone. He waited until she was right in front of the door before he reached out, grasped her wrist, and tugged her inside.
She gasped, stumbling a little as her eyes flew to his before darting around, then looking back out at the square. Goddammit. That was exactly what he’d feared her issue was. She didn’t want people seeing them together. And, shit, with their history, he couldn’t exactly blame her. Didn’t mean he liked being shoved in the closet like he was some dirty secret. Like she was ashamed of being with him.
As one of the Thomas boys from the wrong side of the tracks, he’d dealt with that plenty when he’d been younger. Oddly enough, he’d never gotten it from her. Which meant he certainly wasn’t going to put up with it now. Not when he wasn’t anything to be ashamed of.
“Finn—” She cut off on a gasp as he spun her until her back hit the wall next to the door.
He stepped in close, crowding her up against the wall. So close her lavender scent filled his nose. Made his mouth water and his cock twitch. He was like Pavlov’s fucking dog around her. “Oh, so youdoremember my name. I wasn’t so sure with how you’d been acting today.”
She dropped her eyes and glanced off to the side. “I’m sorry, I just—”
“Don’t want anyone to know what we’re doin’.” He stared down at her, hoping with every ounce of his being he was wrong. Maybe he’d misread her. Maybe shehadjust been busy.
But instead of reassuring him, she bit her lip and finally met his gaze, her eyes wide and pleading.Fuck. He couldn’t say that didn’t hurt. Though he also couldn’t say he didn’t deserve it. He’d been the one to leave, and she’d had to hang around and deal with the aftermath. He didn’t blame her for not wanting to go through it again.
Didn’t mean it hurt any less.
“Can’t say I’m happy about this, Willowtree. Not happy about it at all.” He reached up and tugged her lip from between her teeth. “But I understand.”
Her mouth dropped open as she stared up at him. “You…you do?”
He nodded then stepped into her until there wasn’t an inch separating them. Until she could feel exactly what she did to him merely by breathing. He’d managed to go a decade without her touch, and now that he’d had it again, he couldn’t even go a week without burning up for it. He needed her. But more than that, he needed to prove to her she needed him too.
“I didn’t make it easy on you back then, and you had to live with the consequences of my choices. But things are different now. I hope you know that.”
She glanced away, the apprehension written on her face giving a one-two punch to his stomach. Yeah, he’d have to work on that with her, because he wasn’t about to let her worry he’d run away again. Though, really, what did he think was going to happen? The plans were still to stick around just until the bar was well on its way so Nola would be able to quit her job and work full time there. It’d been taking a bit more time than usual—especially with Dick’s interference, as well as a lot more details to iron out than any of them had anticipated—but the final goal was still the same.
Eventually, he and Drew would go back to California. And Willow? Willow would stay in Havenbrook.
The thought churned his stomach, but he pushed down the feeling. Didn’t have time to worry about that now. What he needed to do was make sure she knew he wouldn’t abandon her like before. He might be going, but he’d make damn sure she wasn’t in the dark about it. And he’d make damn sure she’d have a hell of a good time while he was still there.
“Okay, we’ll work on that,” Finn said. “That’s on me, and I’m going to prove things to you this time around. While I do, this…us…can stay quiet if that’s what you want.”
She blew out a deep sigh. “Thank you.”
“Not so fast.” He gripped her hip and tugged her into him, letting her feel how hard he was for her. “Out there, to everyone else, you can be perfect Willow Haven who doesn’t get around with the likes of one of the Thomas boys.” He reached up and brushed his thumb over her bottom lip, aching to feel those wrapped around his cock. “But away from prying eyes? You’re mine. And you’re going to give me everything when we’re together.”
