‘LIV!’ Michael shouts from inside. ‘SOMETHING’S BURNING!’
‘Shit!’ I jump to my feet, bumping the table hard enough to spill my tea in my hurry.
The carrots are burnt to a crisp. I stare at them with dismay.
‘I should probably concentrate on getting the rest of this food ready,’ I say waveringly to Finn, who’s followed me back into the kitchen.
‘Can I help you with anything?’
‘No. Thank you.’ I gingerly place the tray on a heatproof mat, fighting back tears. ‘I’d offer for you to stay, but—’
‘Don’t worry,’ he brushes me off, not noticing my expression.
I walk him to the door, blinking rapidly and trying to hold it together. I don’t want him to feel as though he has to stay and comfort me. He’s already done more than his fair share of that.
‘Are you free tomorrow?’ he asks, turning to face me just as I recover.
‘Not during the day, but I could do dinner?’
‘How about we go to the Taphouse?’
‘That sounds good.’ I’m trying to ignore the creepy-sounding serial-killer conversation spilling from the TV.
‘Shall I swing by for you at seven?’
‘I can meet you there.’
Michael huffs and presses Pause.
Finn smiles at me before calling over to him, ‘See you soon, Michael!’
‘Not if I see you first,’ Michael mutters under his breath, loudly enough for us both to hear him.
‘Pardon?’ Finn asks innocently.
I snicker and usher him out the door.
His amusement fades as we stare at each other.
‘It’s good to see you again,’ he says in a low voice, squeezing the tips of my fingers before setting off. ‘See you tomorrow,’ he calls over his shoulder.
That brief touch echoes right through to my heart.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Finn is already at the Taphouse when I arrive the next evening, leaning against the bar and chatting to one of the attractive waitresses, a bottle of beer dangling from his hand.
I stand in the doorway and, for a split second, consider turning around and walking right out again, but then he glances over his shoulder and clocks me, his eyes widening.
I’m wearing a sea-green halterneck dress, one of the nicest things in my wardrobe.
I wanted to feel human.
No, I wanted to feelpretty.
‘Hey!’ he says, meeting me halfway across the room and pressing a kiss to my cheek. ‘You look beautiful,’ he says in my ear.
I breathe him in; it’s the closest we’ve been in a year.
