‘Finn!You’re back!’
That voice was like getting slapped in the face with some ringer’s old boot that had been roasting in an outback sun all day.
‘I’m so glad you’re visiting.’That singsong voice belonged to Amelia, the manager.She moved like a perfume-soaked freight train, her arms loaded with wedding magazines marked with way too many colour-coded tags.
His eye twitched from the approaching torture.
‘I saved you that jar of pickled onions your team likes—oh!’Her eyes latched onto Taryn.Sizing her up like a cattle judge at the Royal Darwin Show.‘Is thisher?’
Finn didn’t think, only reacted, as he stepped in close to place his hand on the small of Taryn’s back.It was only meant to be a light touch.Something casual.
Yet, it felt familiar.
Enough to fight the urge to slide his fingers into those back pockets that cupped her backside beautifully.But then he’d cop an elbow to the face, when right now he needed her help.‘This is Taryn.’
That’s all he said.
‘That’s me.’Taryn didn’t even blink.
Amelia’s smile froze, staring at them with hope dying in her baby-doll blue eyes—the kind that belonged on creepy porcelain dolls.‘So… You two are…together?’
Finn let his fingers curl around Taryn’s hip, bringing her so much closer to his side.‘Yep,’ he said.‘Together.’
Taryn gave him a look that read:You owe me for this.
She then smiled at the bouncy blonde and leaned her head against his shoulder like they did it every damned day.There, her warm and citrusy scent filled his lungs, doing a damn fine job of scrambling his thoughts.
But then she playfully stroked his chest.Right over the sternum, like she had every right to touch him, igniting something deep in his gut.Stirring up the kind of instinct that lived deep in the bones of a man who hadn’t been touched in too damn long.
‘Almost a year now,’ she said, tossing it out like a grenade.‘He’s very punctual.Excellent with paperwork.The man truly is gifted at filling holes.’
Finn coughed.
‘That’s… really nice.’Amelia’s screechy voice was way too cheerful.‘I didn’t know you liked anyone, Finn.’
‘I didn’t,’ he muttered.
‘He does now.’Taryn nudged him playfully with her elbow, but it was a sharp stab in the side, making him hold her tighter.
For a second, their eyes locked in a way that was too damn hot to be a lie.
Finn’s jaw tightened, fingers flexing slightly where they rested against her hip.And damn if she didn’t just lean in closer.
Shit.
‘If you’re together…’ Amelia squeaked in a way that scratched down his spine like a rusty nail.‘Why the two baskets?’
Again, Taryn came to the rescue.‘We’re competitive.First one to the checkout wins.And I count calories, he doesn’t.’
Amelia’s eyes widened.‘Riiight.’
Nope, they were losing this battle.
Again, Taryn rested her hand against his chest, right over his heartbeat—which picked a helluva time to speed up.
‘He cheats in our games,’ she murmured.
Finn arched an eyebrow at her.‘I’m not a cheating man, babe.Never have been.Never will be.’
