Page 54 of War Hope
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Finn
Hope wentto the shop and while she’s been gone, I’ve picked up her mess of an apartment. Shoes and clothes were everywhere. Lipstick and tampons were just lying on the coffee table. The mail was strewn about the counter. Half of it unopened.
I’ve just finished sweeping when I hear the lock click. Hope steps in, her arms full of groceries. She glancesand smiles."You tidied my apartment?"
"How in the hell do you find anything in here?"I ask.
"Well, I just know." She glances around. "Although,I won't now." She pulls her hair off her neck and ties it in a messy knot on top of her head before walking towardme. "But thank you for cleaning,” she says as she walks to the kitchen and sets the bags down. I follow her into the kitchen, stopping to give her a kiss. It seems foreign and natural at the same time to just kiss her, to be able to touch her.
“Oh, so I have a friend that said he could get you a job. It’s basically yours, all you have to do is call him.” She smiles as she pulls a carton of eggs from one of the bags.
"Really?"Fuck me."What kind of job, queenie?" I force a smile.
"He runs a boxing school for kids." She puts the eggs in the fridge and turns around. "It's nothing flash, but Ryder, the guy who runs it—we go way back—he’s nice and the kids...well, their mostly little hellions but they're okay."I silently stare at her. I’m trying to figure out what to say exactly. Thank you would be a good start, but… "I'll make you a deal," she says.
"What kind of deal?"
"If you take the job, then I'll get a job."
I frown. "Why would you do that?"
"Well,” she shrugs, “you were right. I am a spoilt princess and live off my dad's money..."
"No." I tuck her hair behind her ear and tilt her chin up, forcing her to look at me. "I didn't mean that. I was being a dick."
She smiles softly. "No, it's fine. You're right. I can't keep shunning my family because of my sister, but taking their money regardless. Plus, I do have a master’s in marketing and advertising," she shrugs.
What can I say to that? A job with kids...I can do that. For Lydia."Okay." I kiss her, allowing my lips to linger for a second.
"Is that a yes?" She narrows her eyes, bitingatone side of her bottom lip to try and supress a grin.
"Yep." Fuck, I hate the idea of a normal job, but I can't crush her and I need to do this. I know I do.
She leans in, bringingher lips tomyear. "You can still fight inThe Pit. You know I find it hot when you beat the shit out of those guys." Her teeth scrape over my earandhernails scratch through my hair.Fuck, I missed her.My dick presses against my fly and my blood heats.
I yank her hair tie free and fist her long hair,tuggingher head back as I swipe my tongue up the length of her throat. A gasping breath leaves her."Fuck, I’m one lucky bastard," Isay with a growl, wrapping my arms around her tiny waist and lowering her to the couch.Hope McGrath is a pain in the arse, but she's a hot, sexy, and unfailingly loyal pain in the arse. Despite every effort to keep her at arm’s length, I think I might be falling for her.
I brush my fingers over her forehead and down her cheek. "What?" she asks.
"You're something else, queenie" I kiss her softly. "You really are."
She shrugs. "I'm ginger."
“Red in the head, fire in the hole,” I laugh and she flips me the bird.
