Mitch let go a low whistle. “Wow. Brainiac, are you?”
“No. I just like working with figures.”
“So what made you want to work for Rocky?”
“Are you serious?” Finn sat straighter and pulled the seat belt that lay across his chest, suddenly choked by the firm band holding him back in the seat.
“Did I say something wrong?” Mitch glanced at him, thelight reflecting off the surface of his aviator sunglasses so Finn couldn’t see his eyes.
“I don’t think you’re particularly observant, for a bodyguard. I thought you’d have picked up on the fact that Rocky wants me to work for him, and that’s why I’m there. What Rocky wants, Rocky gets.”
“I guess it is a family business?”
Finn snorted. It had been a family business until Rocky made sure therewas no family. Finn looked out the window at the passing traffic, hands clenched tightly.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you,” Mitch said.
Finn took a deep breath. It wasn’t Mitch’s fault the topic of Rocky and the control Rocky had over Finn’s life always pissed him off. “That’s okay. I’d just prefer not to talk about Rocky.”
“Sure. You want the radio on?” At Finn’s nod, Mitch turned on thecar stereo that was tuned in to some crap talk-back radio station. “Sorry, I’m not sure what you like to listen to.”
“I don’t care. Listen to whatever you want.” The sound of a latest pop hit filled the car. If it had been Rocky, the music would have been heavy rock. Whatever. He was used to tuning out bad music. Finn crossed his arms and slouched in his seat.
“If we’re going to do this drivetwice a day, five days a week, then I think we need to sort out the music now,” Mitch said. His voice was light. “I don’t know about you, but I’ll go batshit crazy if I have to listen to something I can’t stand. So what kind of music do you like, Finn?”
Well, wasn’t this a turn-up for the books? Someone asking Finn what he wanted. Finn couldn’t remember the last time that had happened. Maybewhen he’d been speaking to his older brother, Carl, about his future. Carl had been interested to know what Finn wanted to do with his life, had asked questions and listened to Finn’s answers. It had been a long, long time since anyone had done that.
“I…. Alternative, indie, a bit of techno.” For some reason, he was completely honest. Finn would never have admitted his music preferences to Rockyor anyone else in the club and wasn’t sure what made him open up to Mitch.
“Yeah? Do you like listening to live music?”
Finn let out a sigh when Mitch sounded honestly interested, with no snide remarks about his alternative tastes. “Sure. I enjoyed seeing some of the up-and-coming new bands who performed in the pubs around the university in Melbourne.”
“Cool. I wish I had more time and opportunityfor live music.”
Finn glanced at him. Mitch was focused on the road in front of him, allowing Finn to study his profile. Mitch’s jaw was strong and deeply shadowed with the day’s growth of beard. His nose was perhaps slightly on the larger side, but suited Mitch’s face—strong and powerful.
“So why don’t you?”
“Why don’t I what?”
“Why don’t you have the time and opportunity to see live bands?”
“Just work getting in the way.”
“No girlfriend demanding your time?” Finn couldn’t help asking, although it probably wasn’t his place to ask such personal questions of an employee. Mitch looked at him briefly. “Sorry, none of my business,” Finn mumbled.
“No, that’s okay. I don’t mind you asking. Like I said, we’re going to be spending a lot of time together, so it’s probably good that we getto know each other a bit. But the answer is no. No one special.”
A sense of relief flooded through Finn, but he had no idea why. It didn’t matter if Mitch was single because there was no way they’d ever be getting together, even if Mitch were remotely interested.
“Because of the work?” Finn didn’t know why he was asking, but he had a desire to know more about the man who was going to be hisdriver. Fuck, more than his driver—his keeper, his spy, his jailer, if Rocky had anything to do with it. Finn knew he needed to get over his fascination with Mitch as soon as possible, no matter what Mitch said about them getting familiar with each other.
“Work might play a part. But to be honest, I don’t think I’ve met the right person yet.”
“You’re looking?” Finn nearly bit his tongue.Whereare these questions coming from?
Mitch cleared his throat before answering. Maybe it was a touchy subject? “I’m not looking, but I’m not adverse to a relationship. I just don’t think my life is really suited to including someone else in it at the moment. Relationships take time, you know, and I’ve hardly got time to meet anyone, let alone wine and dine them.”
