Page 41 of Stir

I blink, startled by the question. “He does not.” That’s never occurred to me before. “Nic’s always been professional with me. Without fail, one hundred percent of the time.”

At that, we both smile because… well, that’s Nic, isn’t it?

Finn’s eyes narrow just a little.

“What?”

“Nothing,” he says.

“I’m baring all my secrets here,” I say, trying to play it off as a joke but feeling my pulse pick up that he’s thinking things and not saying them. It’s not a good feeling. “Tell me.”

Finn’s grin turns a little bit evil. “I think Nic is into you.”

I can actually feel my face catch fire, I’m blushing so much, so fast.

“Shut up.”

“I’m serious.”

“It’s not funny, Finn.” I tug my hands out from under his, wondering if it’ll make too much of a scene to get up and put on my coat. In a place like this? Probably.

He tightens his hold on my hands. “Natalie, wait.”

“No. It’s not funny. Nic has been a great boss, and he doesn’t deserve that kind of disrespect.” I realize I’ve echoed Finn’s words and what he told me Nic said to him about dating me. “And I don’t deserve that either. Let go of my hands.”

“Natalie, look at me.”

I swallow hard and do as he asks, my hands still gripping between his large, rough palms. There’s no trace of humor or levity in his expression at all.

“I didn’t mean to put you on the spot,” he says quietly. “I won’t mention it again if it makes you uncomfortable. But I wasn’t teasing you. I wasn’t kidding. Not even a little.”

I take a deep breath, settling back down into my seat. The idea is impossible, laughable even. Moira said something like that too, not long ago, but it’s easier to dismiss coming from her. She’s only ever met him the one time, that day she brought me lunch a few months ago.

True to his word, he drops the subject, telling me stories about his sister and her adventures in pet sitting before they’d opened the kennel. It’s impossible not to be charmed.

When he takes me home, he walks me to my door. He kisses me gently. I can tell he’s holding back, that after that tense moment at dinner, he thinks that I won’t want him like this.

If I let him in, I’m going to get hurt again. No two ways about it. I already feel something for this man, and tonight’s conversation left me feeling vulnerable and exposed.

I invite him in. Finn’s vivid blue eyes shine in the dim light of the hall. Moments later, the mirror in my bedroom stands in the corner, mocking me for all my bravado earlier tonight.

The heat is incredible, overwhelming even, and my mind is full of nothing but Finn as he takes me again. But when he tries to pull my clothes off to bare me completely, I resist. Pushing him on his back, I take what I need from him, his big, gorgeous body uncovered. Most of my clothes stay in place. He doesn’t seem to mind so much.

The following Monday, Finn is down in the lobby picking up our morning coffee order when Nic stops at his office door.

“Natalie.”

“Mm?” My eyes are on my computer monitor, and it takes me a moment to shift my attention. He waits for me to look at him. Instead of asking about paperwork for the case we’d just been discussing, he shocks me to my core.

“Is it serious?”

“Is what serious?”

“You and Finn?”

I blink once. Twice.

“Do you have feelings for him?” There’s color high on Nic’s cheeks, something I’ve only seen happen that time his father barged in here. I have no idea what to make of it. My mouth opens and closes a couple of times, but no words come.

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