Page 16 of Protecting Jess

“I get that now. I didn’t so much before.”

Immediately, her smile died. “Oh.”

Finn grabbed her hands and held them tight. “Jess, I have a whole team at my back, keeping me safe, and I keep them safe, too. We’ve been trained to do what we have to. To expect the unexpected.”

“I guess.” She paused, then swallowed before starting again. “I mean, I know that being a SEAL is dangerous, but you seemed so casual when you answered.”

“I suppose I was, but I don’t let myself think too much about what’s going on around me. My focus is on the task at hand. Whether it be helping to breach a building, helping people get to safety, or treating one of my teammates. If I hesitate in doing any one of those things, then the consequences of that hesitation could be deadly.” Finn hated that they were having such an intense conversation, but it had to be had between them.

Jess needed to know what his job entailed. Needed to know the dangers. Needed to know that he could get hurt, or worse.

And he needed her to know this because, now that he’d reconnected with her, he couldn’t let her go.

Six

Finn’s warm hand enclosed hers, and Jess didn’t want the walk back to her hotel to end.

What was going to happen when they got there? Would he want to come up to her room? Did she want him to come up to her room?

Fortunately, she wasn’t sharing with anyone. That was one of the perks with the dance company—they footed the bill so everyone could have their own room. As annoying as Madame Baxter was, she believed all dancers needed their personal space. Each person had their quirks that they didn’t want others to know about.

Jess’s mind was still whirling with everything Finn had told her about his job. How casual he’d sounded with the possibility he could get killed or severely injured.

She couldn’t imagine finding out something bad had happened to Finn. That she would never see his face again. Or that he’d never be the same after he’d been injured, because many people weren’t.

Jess had seen dancers’ personalities change in a snap of the finger when they suffered a career-ending injury.

“Here we are?” Finn’s voice broke into her scattered thoughts until they were strewn over her mind.

Maybe it would be better if she swept them all away. Then she wouldn’t have to think too much. Or contemplate what they could mean.

“Here we are.” Jess gripped the strap of her bag. Nerves fluttered in her belly, different from those she normally experienced before she stepped out onto the stage.

One of his fingers hooked under her chin, lifting it so she had no option but to look into his eyes. There was something floating deep in his gaze, an elusive emotion she couldn’t name.

Or didn’t want to name because that would give her hope.

“Jess,” he whispered before lowering his head, but stopping mere millimeters from her mouth.

Memories of the last time he kissed her slammed into her brain.

God, she wanted to make a new one. Wanted to erase the outcome of the last time they kissed.

Finn might not have said the reassurance, but this time would be different. This time he wouldn’t run as if the devil were nipping at his heels. This time he’d stay.

“Finn,” Jess murmured before she pushed to tiptoes and closed the small gap.

Their mouths fused together, and her nerves disappeared, only to be replaced with heat and need. His arms enclosed her and pulled her tight to his hard chest. His mouth moved over hers, as if reacquainting himself with her.

She welcomed it. Wanted it. Needed it.

Jess never wanted the kiss to end, but it had to. They couldn’t stand in front of her hotel, making out. It may be the early hours of the morning, but that didn’t mean they were alone.

Reluctantly, she lowered her feet, effectively breaking the kiss.

“I want to see you again, Jess.”

Her heart expanded with happiness at those simple words. “Yes.”

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