Page 29 of Home Free

It was all Ronan needed to break into a smile. “Want to see the city?”

Julia stifled a yawn. Was it Finn’s imagination that it seemed a little forced? Was she trying to get Ronan into bed?

“I’m a bit tired. I think I’d rather have a nap before dinner. We can see the city tomorrow,” she said.

Understanding lit Ronan’s eyes. “Right. A nap. Me too.” He looked at Finn and Elise. “Dinner at eight?”

“Sounds good,” Finn said.

Ronan and Julia were already edging toward the door of their room like a couple of teenagers trying to get away from their parents.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Elise said.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Julia said with a grin.

The bedroom door closed with a click.

“Well, they’re totally getting lucky,” Elise said.

Finn forced a chuckle, wishing things didn’t feel so tense between him and Elise. “How can two people involved in a business that could send them to prison forever be such terrible liars?”

“Let’s hope they’re better on the job,” Elise said.

After hours of travel, she still looked beautiful, even in jeans and a white T-shirt under a black blazer, her hair pulled into a loose ponytail, her face fresh and makeup free.

“What about you?” he asked. “You want a nap?”

She shook her head. “No way, and I’m not eager to relive my adolescence listening to Julia make out with her boyfriends. Let’s take a walk.”

Finn tried to hide his relief. Getting out was what they both needed.

“Same,” he said. He’d done his share of hiding from Ronan and his girlfriends on the living room sofa when their dad had been at work. “Let’s go.”

He pocketed one of the digital keys on the table in the foyer and they stepped into the plush hall. It was muffled and quiet, the low hum of the hotel the only sound as they entered the elevator.

They stepped out onto the street a few minutes later and Finn inhaled the air, always a little peaty so close to the Thames.

“Which way?” he asked.

Elise looked both directions and pointed to the right. “That way.”

“Something specific you want to see?” he asked.

“Not really,” she said. “I’ve been here once, but it was only for a weekend and I didn’t get out much.”

He tried not to think about that, about Elise here with some rich asshole more interested in a trophy than the flesh and blood woman standing at his side.

She stuffed her hands in the pockets of her jacket and they started down the street. It was afternoon, a rare sunny day in London, though still cool in May.

They walked in silence, passing tourists taking pictures with their phones, suited business people hurrying to their next appointment, and nannies pushing strollers holding the offspring of London’s affluent.

“Are you going to be mad at me forever?” Elise finally asked.

He reached for her hand. “I’m not mad. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Everybody gets hurt,” she said. “It’s the price of being alive.”

“Maybe, but that doesn’t mean I want to play fast and loose with your life.”

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