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But now, with his family’s home on the line, Maisie couldn’t get herself to find any light at all.

She watched the street lamps pass by the window every few seconds, lighting up the rain as it freckled the glass, and all the while, her thoughts spiraled with worries over Finn’s job, his family’s security, and her own ability to keep away from him until Friday.

Then came the next worry—What would come after Friday?

Finn had said he wanted to see her that day, but then what? They lived different lives in completely different countries with entirely different—but both demanding—jobs. What would they do after that? Was this blossoming relationship simply going to fizzle out and die like waning embers?

By the time they reached the hotel, her mind was foggy again, this time with sorrow.

Finn told the driver to wait for him in the unloading zone of the hotel, then held Maisie’s door open for her as she exited the car next.

The entryway was empty as Maisie walked next to Finn toward the hotel.

“Well,” she said just before the automatic doors would have slid open, “I guess this is goodbye for a day.”

He nodded, staring down at her. “But not a goodbye forever.”

“No.”

They looked at each other, and Maisie’s heart swirled with emotion for the man. Was his doing the same for her?

“Thank you so much for today,” she said instead. “I had such a good time. It was so thoughtful of you to find a way for me to eat that stew, and being a part of your family was…” A lump grew in her throat, sudden and unexpected, and she cleared it away with a glance at the wet concrete they stood upon. “You all made me feel so welcome, and I really needed that today. So…thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Maisie,” he said softly.

Once again, silence fell between them. There were so many words she wished to say, so many unspoken feelings. So many fears and worries and wonderings about what they were going to do.

But still, she held her tongue. “I should probably head in,” she said. “I don’t want to get you into trouble.”

He nodded. “Aye.”

But neither of them moved. He hesitated, reaching forward and taking her hand in his. “Maisie, I⁠—”

A gasp cut him off, and a sharp, “I knew it!” interrupted their solitude.

Maisie’s eyes shot toward the voice, and when she caught sight of Mrs. Waterstone, the woman standing right before them with a scowl, alone and in the doorway of the hotel, her stomach dropped.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Maisie tore her hand away from Finn’s and took a deliberate step back, regret stabbing at her chest.

“Mrs. Waterstone,” Finn greeted, his voice level and steady.

“I knew it,” the woman repeated, wagging a finger in their direction. “I knew something was going on between you two.”

Maisie glanced at Finn, but he kept his eyes on Mrs. Waterstone.

“I’m writing you up for this,” she continued. “It’s absolutely disgraceful.”

Maisie’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Wait, don’t…” But her words trailed off as Finn gave a subtle shake of his head.

Obviously, he had experience dealing with these sorts of passengers, but still, Maisie wanted to defend him, to make the woman change her mind.

“Writin’ us up for what, exactly?” Finn asked calmly.

Her beady eyes narrowed further. “For the relationship you’ve been carrying on between each other. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”

Maisie’s thoughts spiraled. Mrs. Waterstone would send in a formal complaint, Finn would lose his bonus—maybe even lose his job. Then what? Maisie would be responsible for forcing his family out of their home—that loved-so-deeply home.