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She sat down at the far end of the bar, and after ordering, took in the sights around her. Patrons left and right laughed boisterously as they enjoyed their night out, men and women flirting, groups throwing darts nearby, and friends chatting above the noise of chairs scraping back and forth across the stone floor.

The vibe was a bit too rambunctious for Maisie—she’d probably only stay until she’d eaten her food and heard at least one song—but she didn’t regret taking part of the experience at all.

After another minute, her chips were delivered, and she doused them in vinegar before happily munching on them in silence until the microphone burst forth with a high pitch above the mumble of chatter across the pub.

“Evenin’ ladies and gents.”

Maisie’s stomach jolted forward, her attention swinging toward the stage at the familiar voice and greeting. She had to be imagining it. She wanted to see him again so badly that she’d convinced herself that it was him.

But as the lights focused on the stage, revealing the band and the person who’d spoken, her heart tripped into her chest.

Finn.

“Thanks for comin’ out here tonight,” he said, his accent stronger than usual. “We are Nine Leagues Under, and we’ll be entertain’ you over the next hour. Sit back, relax, or sing along and dance. Whate’er you do, enjoy.”

Maisie shook her head, the entire pub fading away as she stared at Finn.

“One, two, three…” he chanted into the mic.

The band behind him picked up a lively tune with drums, guitars, and accordions, then he sang clearly into the mic.

Maisie wasn’t shocked at his ability to sing. She’d heard it before on the bus. But still, she reeled that the very pub she’d randomly chosen to attend that evening was the very place Finn was playing in a band she hadn’t even known he was a part of.

Had he ever mentioned Nine Leagues Under? She had no recollection, though his binder of songs he’d had on Bob made far more sense now.

He continued singing, his right hand clutching the mic, brows drawn together as his rugged voice belted out across the pub. As the song progressed and his feel for the music increased, his free hand raised in the air, fingers splayed out and foot tapping in time with the beat.

Maisie sat a little taller in her seat. Could he see her across the dark pub with those lights blaring down on him? She was seated near the light of the bar, so it was possible. Maybe she should just get closer so he could see her.

Or should she make everything easier on both of them by leaving right now?

She scoffed at the ludicrous thought, knowing full well there was no chance she would leave early. He’d caught her in his net, and she was powerless to escape.

Song after song she remained, bouncing her own foot with the lively music, all the while staring at the man who’d stolen her attention and refused to let go.

At one point during the hour, she had to ward off an overly friendly man twice her age who wouldn’t stop speaking with her, but with the help of the bartender, the man wandered off to hit on the next woman in his line of sight.

Even that experience couldn’t convince Maisie to leave.

As the next song began, the band picked up a lengthy introduction, and Finn patted his hand against his thigh, bobbing his head in time with the music as he took a minute to explore the crowd.

Once more, Maisie sat closer to the lights the bar gave off, and for the first time, his eyes reached all the way to the back of the pub. He glanced away a second later, only to look back again with narrowed eyes that sliced through the crowd as they landed squarely on Maisie.

A half-smile of amazement parted his lips in surprise, then his grin dazzled.

He’d seen her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Maisie couldn’t tear her gaze away from Finn’s. He looked astounded. Truth be told, she was astounded herself.

Still, he didn’t miss a beat as the intro to the song ended, and his singing began.

This performance was different than the last. While he still sang upbeat with quick lyrics, Finn no longer focused on the crowd in front of him. Instead, his eyes reached out to hers as constantly as they had on Bob.

She’d been naïve, thinking this weekend would be just the detox she needed to forget Finn for good. She’d thought she’d made it through the worst after an entire day without him.

But now, she was back to square one. No, not square one. She was back at ground zero, her will a scattered mess around her white Kiziks.