“Where the hell did you disappear to last night?” his groggy voice answers.
I grin, the memory of last night playing out in my mind. “Juliette was here. Well, she’s still here.”
“You rascal,” he says, a laugh in his voice. He knows I don’t bring people home, never mind having them stay. “It’s getting serious now?”
“It might be,” I say, my voice a little more uncertain than I’d like. “She’s, uh, upstairs right now. Haven’t told her about anything yet. Is that why you called?”
“Aye, it is,” Finn confirms. “Apparently, whoever Hallie was having an affair with could face some seriousconsequences if word got out.” I hear the smirk in his voice. He’s enjoying this.
I run a hand through my hair. “So let me guess. She’ll agree to the divorce if I stay silent.”
“You got it. And…she’s not paying back anything she took on the way out.”
“I don’t give a shit about that. That money has been gone for over a year now. She didn’t even have access to most of it. She can keep the little she got away with.”
“Then it’s settled, pal. We won’t have anything further to discuss in the meeting later this week. I’ll just have everything ready to be signed and get it to the court one last time.”
A wave of relief crashes over me. It hits like a freight train, sweeping through my chest and spilling into my limbs until the tight knot of worry that’s been coiled around my ribs for what feels like forever unravels, piece by piece.
I close my eyes for a second, letting it sink in. The chance to move on.
“Thanks, Finn. Seriously.” The words are almost too small for the gratitude that consumes me. “I couldn’t do this without you. Do whatever you have to do to get this expedited. Cost isn’t an issue.”
“I’m on it. Now, get back to your lass,” he says, mischief lacing his words before the line goes dead.
I’m left standing there, my thoughts racing. Only a few more days. That’s all it’ll take. Once those papers are signed, I’ll tell Juliette everything.
The soft creak of the stairs pulls me from my thoughts, and I look up, my heart skipping a beat when I see her. She’s coming down slowly, wrapped in nothing but the comfort of my flannel shirt, the edges falling loosely around her petite frame, brushing the tops of her thighs. Her hair is mussed fromsleep, tumbling over her shoulders. Eyes heavy, lips parted, she looks so damn soft. Bare.Mine.
She’s breathtaking.
But it’s more than just that. There’s a rush of fierce possessiveness I can’t brush off. Seeing her like this, in my worn shirt, looking so effortlessly at home, sparks a raw, primal need to keep her close. To shield her. To never let her slip away.
I take in the way the fabric falls off her shoulders, the material draping lazily over her skin and exposing the delicate curve of her neck. There’s something unbearably alluring in the way she’s claimed it as her own. I can’t tear my eyes away.
“Lass, you might want to put more on before you get any closer,” I warn.
She pauses at the bottom of the staircase, her eyes flashing with mischief, that wicked smile curling on her lips like she knows exactly what she’s doing to me. “Oh? Why’s that?”
I swallow hard, my gaze pulling helplessly to her bare legs, the smoothness of her skin. My mind can’t quite sync up the innocent, sleep-tousled expression on her face with the sensual curve of her limbs. It’s like a game of tug-of-war between desire and restraint.
“Because if you come any closer looking like that,” I say. “I can’t be held responsible for my actions.”
Her laughter rings out. “Maybe that’s what I was counting on,” she purrs, taking a slow, deliberate step toward me.
I raise an eyebrow. “You’re playing with fire, lass.”
She stops inches away, the heat of her body lingering in the space between us.Her eyes lock onto mine, the spark between us undeniable. “Prove it.”
The challenge in her tone is the final straw. My control snaps, and without a second thought, I close the distance between us, scoop her up, and toss her over my shoulder. Her laughter bubbles up as I head for the stairs.
“Is this proof enough?”
She laughs again, a teasing sound that drives me wild. “I think you can do better,” she taunts, her hand landing with a quick slap on my arse.
I smirk, my grip tightening on her as I tilt my head just enough to let her know I’m not playing anymore. “That’s it, you minx. You’re in for it now.”
thirty
