Page 23 of The Location Shoot
She glanced over at Finn and then twirled away with Michael.
A FEW SONGS LATER, FINN DANCEDwith Willow but couldn’t stop watching Michael pulling Ella’s body against his and whispering in her ear. At one point, she glanced over with a “save me” look in her eyes. He smiled. When the song ended, Finn walked over and said, “I’m cutting in for the next one, if Ella will have me.”
“Suit yourself,” Michael replied with a shrug. “Charlotte, let’s give it a go.”
Finn looked at Ella longingly and asked, “May I?”
“Please, I’ve been waiting,” she replied, smiling warmly.
“Me too.”
He gently took her hand and placed his other hand on the small of her back. They each inhaled deeply at their first touch. She rested her hand on his shoulder, pulled him close, and they started to sway, staring at each other as though there were no one else in the room. Their bodies fit together as if they were built to belong.
“I love this song,” she said.
“What is it?” he asked.
“It’s a love song called ‘Amalfi.’ She’s singing about a man she fell for. They couldn’t be together because they both had other things they needed to do in the world, but they’re together now. She compares his beauty to the Amalfi Coast.”
Finn smiled. “Love really inspires people. Listening to Albie talk about his wife, wow.”
“Have you ever felt that way about someone?” she asked.
“When I was twenty, I had someone special. Maybe it was love. She died young. Devastated me.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“I’ve had relationships in the years since, but I can’tcall any of them true love. It’s why I haven’t married, even though I’ve longed to share my life with someone. I’ve always felt that someday I’d meet a woman who would knock me off my feet, and I’d know with certainty she’s the one, the one I don’t want to live without. What about you?”
She shook her head. “Just a lot of short-lived romances, the kind of affairs that aren’t meant to last. I’ve had a knack for meeting the wrong guy. Or maybe I’ve been the wrong girl. There’s been no one I’ve wanted to . . .”
“What?” he asked softly.
“Give everything to.”
He took a deep breath. “Ella, you’re exquisite. If you ever give yourself completely to someone, he’ll be the luckiest man on the planet.”
“Finn, I . . .”
Before she could finish, an up-tempo song came on and Michael hollered, “Everyone, group dance time! Jean, jump up and join us.”
“Uh, thank you for the dance,” Ella said as she pulled away from Finn.
He smiled faintly. She took his hand and gently squeezed it. “Ella,” he said softly, but Willow grabbed Ella’s arm and pulled her over to the group, and he missed his chance.
“Gosh, you and Finn look like you’re a couple or something,” Willow commented innocently over the music. “You look so good together.”
Ella and Finn exchanged a look, and they all danced into the wee hours of the night.
One by one, they excused themselves and retired for the evening. Soon, only Ella, Finn, and Jean remained. Eventually, even Jean said, “I’m going upstairs. Your manuscripts are waiting for me.”
“And I bet I know which one you’ll start with,” Ella joked.
Jean kissed her on each cheek, said, “Bonsoir,” and left.
Ella and Finn sat for a moment, gazing at each other. “Well, I should probably get some sleep, and you’re filming tomorrow,” Ella said.
“May I walk you up?” Finn asked.
