Page 16 of Chasing his Ex

The evening was going very well until that point.

Finn still drives a Range Rover, but a newer version than the last one he drove. This one he’s probably bought himself, not a hand-me-down from his father. I inhale the leather as I take a seat. Inside it’s black and new, and the dashboard lights up with too many gadgets.

By the time we get to my street, my heartbeat is pounding. The buzz from the wine having disappeared on the journey.

“Just stop anywhere around here.” I make a quick glance at my bay window. I live in the street of similar redbrick townhouses, and I’m happy that Emmy isn't looking out.

Finn stops the car a few houses down and my shoulders relax. The tension ebbing out. “I thought you would have chosen a city pad for a few years.”

“I prefer to keep my work and home life separate, then I won’t get sick of it. Thank you for dinner,” I say quickly. “You should have let me split it.”

“Which is your house?” he says. My eyes flick to his, panic blooms.

“Just a couple of houses back,” I say, using my thumb to point behind, but at no house in particular.

“Not inviting me in?”

I smile, rubbing my hand over his, which is on top of the gear stick. “Not tonight.”

He leans closer to me, his eyes locked onto mine. He lifts his hands, stroking his middle finger and thumb in my hair before he pulls me closer, and his lips crush mine.

“Then come back to mine, just a few more hours,” he says when he pulls away.

“It’s not a good idea,” I say.

“Did you give the old guy another chance?”

“Finn, he isn’t that old.”

“You never answered the question.”

“No,” I whisper, not wanting to get into a conversation about Jameson.

“Then you are a free agent and can do what you want,” he says. “A glass of wine and a long chat and I’ll drop you home or get you a taxi.”

I glance back at the house.

Emmy is tired. I’m going to bathe her and get her to sleep early.

“Nice bachelor pad,” I say, standing with a glass of wine as I take in the view of the River Thames from the vantage point from his living room at the floor to ceiling windows. On a recently qualified lawyer’s salary, there’s no way Finn could afford this apartment unless his father had gifted it or it was rented.

He slides behind me, a silent moment where we stand together and stare at the lowering sunlight as it casts a silvery line over the water.

His warm breath tickles my neck, making the small hairs stand on end. The closeness is too much. Goosebumps pop on my skin. I rub at my arms as Finn un-tucks the back of my blouse and slides a hand underneath, touching my skin before wrapping his large hands around my waist.

“I missed us,” he says as his mouth lowers and kisses my neck.

“Finn,” I whisper. Not that I want him to stop, but the sensual move makes me a little dizzy, maybe also from the fresh, woody smell coating him. I tilt my head to his face and raise my hand in his hair.

He takes the glass from my hand, placing it onto the coffee table behind him, spins me around and with no words, our mouths connect. My fingernails dig into his shoulders.

We look into each other’s eyes before he pulls me to his chest and wraps his powerful arms around me. My heartbeat pounds as he holds me close. There are no words for a moment, nothing but two people breathing, until he lets go, steps back, and turns and walks away.

“Sorry I'm being too fast, aren't I?”

Yes…. No… I say nothing, just stand staring at him.

He gives half a laugh as he shrugs off his jacket, and I watch him disappear through the doorway to another room. “I’m just putting on something casual.” The words are as though nothing just happened between us, as though we just walked through the door.

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