Page 52 of Once Bitten

“Yes, sweetheart?

“You’re a bit of ok.”

He sighed softly and draped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me in close to his side, so close I felt like we were one.

As I snuggled against his side, I wondered how much it was going to hurt when I’d have to tear myself apart from him.

***

Finn turned into a long dirt road. It seemed familiar even though, of course, I’d never been there before. The road was lined by tall birch trees, casting shadows on the car as we drove passed them, and end at the drive way stood a stunning sandstone walled chateau. I suddenly knew why it seemed familiar, it felt just like Finn’s hotel in Ireland.

“Finn,” I turned to him as he turned off the ignition, “is this…?”

He just winked and jumped out of the car, coming over to my side to open the door for me as I sat there, open mouthed, staring up at the beautiful architecture.

“Come on then. You don’t want the Lyonnais to eat all your lunch do you?”

That got me up and I jumped out, enjoying the sound of the gravel under my boots.

Finn led me through the entrance, where he’d renovated it to open into a stunning foyer, small but filled with intricate decadent details, with a feel like the one in hotel but somehow, still quintessentially French.

“Boss in the house!” Finn called out, surprising me with his out of character preening.

“Yeah, yeah I’m comi-...wait, OH MY GOD! KARA SINCLAIR?!”

I turned and became face to face with the only person in the world I’d ever called my best friend.

“HEATHER?!”

We ran toward each other, dropping bags and files and whatever was in our hands. Stopping inches apart, we clasped each others’ fingers, staring in amazement as reach other for a moment, before falling into a long, tight embrace. I felt the tears wet my face, and I didn’t care, I laughed and cried for the loss and the reunion of my dear friend all at once.

“Oh my god, Kara!” she sobbed, pulling away from me, I reached up to brush the tears from her cheeks.

“My Heather...” I smiled at her through wet eyes.

“And I’m Finn, in case anyone cares,” Finn spoke up, still standing there, leaning against the reception desk watching us.

“We don’t,” Heather dismissed him, tucking her arm in mine and leading me to the couch in the waiting area. “WHAT are you doing here...and why with HIM?” She cocked her head in Finn’s direction.

“It’s um, it’s the weirdest thing, we just kinda ran into each other, I work at his, well, I guess he’s yours as well, I work for your stepfather’s company.”

“Which one?”

“Oh,” I couldn’t help laughing, I forgot what the uber rich were like sometimes. “I work for Cabot Industries, I’m a PA for one of the VPs. And he had a family issue so I guess Finn volunteered for the trip.” I reached for her hand, squeezing them tight, unable to believe I was sitting here with her. She hadn’t aged a smidgeon, only grown into her stunning looks. Her hair was like woven gold and her eyes, blue as the ocean, she was like a Scandinavian princess. “What about YOU? What are you doing here? Is Finn holding you hostage?”

“No, ergh, he’s my boss.” She rolled her eyes.

“Heather runs my Lyon property,” Finn pointed out.

“I can speak for myself, jerk,” Heather retorted and I felt the last 15 years melt away; the three of us sitting by the pool, me secretly stealing looks at Finn while the twins bickered about everything and nothing.

“Heather,” I tugged on her hand to get her attention, “I...Finn told me about your Dad. I am so, so sorry.”

The light in her eyes dimmed for a moment, and she swallowed.

“Yeah, it was hard. It was...it was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to go through. I mean, you knew what he was like.” I nodded, and she smiled sadly, “when he was gone, it was like...the light had gone out of my life.”

“I wish I’d been there for you, Heather. I’ll never forgive myself for not being there,” I felt the guilt bubble up to the surface again.