Page 55 of Finn

He’s right, I do love it. And I would be lying if the idea of love and my husband in the same sentence didn’t scare me a little.

“I have a massage therapist coming up in a couple minutes.”

“There you go, planning stuff without my input. What if I don’t want a stranger touching me?”

“I’ll be here too. I thought a couples massage would be a nice way to start our date.”

I quirk my brow. “So, you wanted a massage?”

“Well, yes. But you’ve been working hard, and we’ve been at the casino late every night this week. I want to pamper you a little, Alessia. Lord knows you won’t think to do it for yourself.”

He has a point. I’ve never been the pampering type. Or the type comfortable with people doing things for me out of care for my stress level.

“It would be nice if you were marginally excited with some pampering and a surprise date,” he says with a small pout.

And doesn’t that just make me feel like a huge asshole.

I wrap my arms around his middle, and he reluctantly allows me to pull him into my body.

“Hug me,” I growl at him.

He does, and I smile at him, holding his dark-blue stare. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to having someone look out for me like this or wanting to do nice things for me just because.”

“I’m not used to wanting to do this stuff, so I guess we’re even.”

“You’re just a big marshmallow, aren’t you?” I ask, my mouth turning up in a wide smile.

“Not with anyone other than you.”

Finn leans down and places a sweet kiss on my shoulder before the shrill sound of the hotel phone ringing breaks us apart.

“Yes?” he answers, silent for a beat. “Yes, allow them up.” He turns to me. “Time to get in one of those robes. Your pampering is about to begin.”

An hour and a half later, I’m lying in a bath, wondering why the hell I’ve never scheduled massages into my weekly planner. Finn is sitting opposite me in the large marble Jacuzzi tub that’s big enough for at least five more people.

“Well?” he starts, and I open my eyes. “Did you like it?” A smile plays on the corner of his lips. There’s no way he thinks I wasn’t in absolute heaven when I was having every knot and tense muscle worked out of my body.

“I’ll give you this one. It was absolute magic.”

The self-satisfied smirk he’s wearing makes me want to kiss his lips or smack him. It can always go either way with us.

“We have about an hour before our dinner reservation,” he tells me, gliding his fingers up and down my calf. The touch isn’t meant to lead to more, which is usually the case with us. It’s a simple caress, a way to connect us with no reason other than because he likes to.

I reluctantly raise myself from the bath, and Finn stares at my naked form with a heated look in his devastating gaze.

“Oh no, Mr. Monaghan. I only have an hour to get ready. Keep those thoughts in your filthy mind.”

In reality, every time he looks at me like that, it takes a ridiculous amount of willpower not to lose myself in him.

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Monaghan. I can control myself.” He bites his lip as his eyes trail up and down my body. “But when we get back tonight., it’s going to be an entirely different story.”

The restaurant Finn takes me to is exquisite. The space is bathed in dim light with dark-blue walls and rich oak furniture. Giant beams run across the ceiling, and white gauzy fabric is draped from them, giving the room a Mediterranean feel. The rich Spanish cuisine melts in my mouth as I sip the expensive wine. Everything is perfect, from the menu to the private booth, right down to the company.

“You sure know how to wine and dine a lady. Have a lot of practice?”

“Ah, is this the part where we talk about our pasts?” Finn smirks and takes a bite of his paella. “I’ve had exactly one serious girlfriend. She wasn’t fond of the late nights or the focus I had building our business from where we were when I took over. Eventually, she wanted me to choose, so I did. Since you’re the only woman wearing my ring, you can guess what my decision was. She was a nice enough girl but not right for me.”

“Yes, a marriage of convenience is much more advantageous for you.”

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