Even though he could feel it, he just couldn’t prove it, and with her skills and almost unlimited access to information, maybe—just maybe—Taryn could help him find those missing links.
‘I know Red is the local source who finds the stock worth taking.SW—Bob—is the one who manages the cattle drafts and trucks like a muster crew.And now I have two extra names to add to that list.’He picked up a marker from the stationery box and wrote over the peeling wallpaper, the names:Clancyand thePilot.Then in bold letters he wrotethe Top Dogdrawing a line back toEverlight Energy Solutions.
Taryn was quiet for a moment staring at him and not at the board.‘You’re different when you’re in the game.’
‘Focused?’
‘No, hopeful.’
He froze for half a second.Because hope was dangerous.
‘Did you carry me to bed?’
‘What?’
‘Last night.I fell asleep under the wall.Did you carry me?’
His jaw ticked.‘You were half dead on your feet—’
‘So that’s a yes.’
‘It was nothing.’
‘Sure.’She walked towards him.‘Because you’re real good at nothing, aren’t you?’
She was so close he could see the flecks of blue in her eyes and the tiny scar on her lip that only showed when she smirked like that.‘What do you want from me, Finn?’
He didn’t know how to answer that.Not without saying too much.
She stepped even closer.‘I’ve got questions about what’s on that board.And about SW Rural Contracting, and where all of this leads.But right now?’she said, tilting her head in a way that did something to his self-control.‘I’m wondering if you kissed me last night when you put me to bed?Or if I dreamt it.’
Finn’s breath caught.
He hadn’t.
But he’d wanted to more than he’d even admit to himself.But she’d been asleep—and that was a line he’d never cross.
But now he was thinking about nothing else.
‘No,’ he said, with a rough voice.‘I didn’t want it to be something you missed.Or something I stole.’
Taryn’s eyes softened, while the tension hummed between them like a live wire, as her fingers lightly brushed the side of his hand, to send a light spark scurrying across his skin.
‘So, kiss me now,’ she said.‘While I’m awake.While it’s mine to remember.’
Finn didn’t move as his pulse thundered.‘Taryn—’
‘Don’t think, Finn.Just do it, before we both say something dumb and start fighting again.’
He reached for her, one hand cradling the side of her face, his thumb brushing her cheekbone, the other hand sliding to her lower back like he’d known her body shape his entire life.
She leaned in at the same time, and their lips met.
The kiss wasn’t hesitant.It wasn’t shy, either.It was everything they’d been holding back, that was finally allowed to break free.
And when they pulled apart—just barely, for air—she didn’t step back.
Neither did he.
