Page 5 of Liberating Mia
“Oh, this sounds good. Cross my heart.” Finn grinned.
The waiter chose that moment to arrive with their food, and Finn almost groaned out loud. She smiled her thanks at the waiter and prepared to tuck in.Talk about being saved by the bell. They ate in silence for a bit before Finn leaned forward and said, “You have my curiosity piqued. What’s on your mind?”
She put her knife and fork down, silently contemplating her hands before blurting out, “I was wondering if you wanted to come up to my room after dinner?”
Finn’s jaw dropped. He couldn’t have heard her right. Surely, it couldn’t be that easy. Could it?
Yes, he’d hoped that he’d be able to talk her into coming up tohisroom this evening, but he had expected to have to work for it. Not have this breathtaking woman drop it in his lap like it was his birthday and Christmas rolled into one.
For a split second, he wondered if he was being pranked, but then he looked over at her, and the blush staining her cheeks told him that not only was she serious, but she was completely out of her comfort zone.
Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, Finn smiled. “Eat up, Sugar. You’re going to need the energy.”
At his words, it looked as if she might bolt. He watched in fascination as the internal debate she was having played out on her expressive face. Finally, she swallowed hard and picked up her cutlery again.
Hiding a smile, he asked, “How long are you in town for? Or isn’t that a permitted question?”
She shrugged, looking uncomfortable, but answered, “I have no idea.” Changing the topic, she asked, “Are you living here in South Africa now or just here on vacation?”
“Just visiting. I’m part of an international group working here at the moment.”
An awkward lull in the conversation prompted Finn to resort to his tried and true method of putting someone at ease. He cracked a joke. At first, it seemed like it was going to fall flat, until his dinner companion’s laugh rang out. She laughed so hard he feared she’d stop breathing.
As she wiped away tears of mirth, she gave him the most charming smile. “I haven’t laughed like that in too long to remember. Thank you.”
Unable to stop himself, he reached out and ran gentle fingers over the hand she had clutched around her water glass.
“I know we aren’t supposed to ask personal questions tonight, so I won’t.” He hastened to assure her. “But that makes me a little sad, and I can’t help but wonder what is so bad in your life that you haven’t laughed in too long.”
Before she could reply, he changed the subject. And she let him. Once again, Finn pondered what she was running from.
“How’s the fish? It looks delicious,” he asked.
Unexpectedly, she forked up a morsel and held it up to his lips for him to try. Desire, on a low simmer since she’d walked into the bar, ratcheted up at the intimacy of the gesture.
He hummed his approval. “That’s incredible. Good choice.”
Finn could see the intimacy wasn’t lost on her either as she squirmed in her seat. He kept the conversation light and impersonal throughout their meal. He didn’t want her clamming up on him again.
It seemed like an eternity, but finally they were finished with dinner. All that remained was to sign the bill and head on upstairs. Anticipation had been building over their meal. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d looked forward to something as much as this, and he was primed for some action. He wasn’t quite sure what it was about this woman, but there was something that appealed to him on a deeper level than he recalled ever feeling before.
The waiter brought the bill to the table, and Finn put his hand out to take it.
“My treat.” He smiled.
“Then, again, thank you,” she replied.
“I just have to head up to my room for a moment. I won’t be long. What’s your room number?”
He had no idea what it was about this woman, but there was something that appealed to him on a deeper level than he recalled ever feeling before.
The waiter brought the bill to the table, and Finn put his hand out to take it.
“My treat.” He smiled.
“Then, again, thank you,” she replied.
“I just have to head up to my room for a moment. I won’t be long. What’s your room number?”
