Page 92 of Hound Dog
“Whoa,” Ben said. “How has this devolved into me being an absent father? You won’t even move in with me!”
“And can you blame me?”
A wave of confidence swept over me. It was the right choice. I could feel it. In the same way that I felt it when I decided to live in my mom’s house during college and not move to campus. And when I opened my vocal studio.
“It’s over, Ben.”
“Haylee—”
I hung up before he could respond.
I didn’t want to hear all his reasons to stay together. I didn’t want to listen to it. He was a lawyer. He was good at arguing. And truthfully, I felt really good about this decision.
Like a boulder had been lifted from my shoulders.
“You and Ben broke up?”
I gasped at the sound of Finn’s voice behind me.
I recognized it before I even turned around.
But that’s just what I did… slowly, spinning on my toes until I was face to face with him.
He was backlit, standing in the open doorway with golden light streaming in around him, creating a halo around his chestnut hair.
“Yes,” I whispered. And even though Ben and I had broken up literally minutes ago, all I felt was relief.
And desire… for Finn.
“What happene—”
I rushed toward him and crashed my lips into his.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Finn
She was kissing me.
Haylee Rogers was kissing me.
Her mouth was urgent against mine and I cupped her jaw, drawing her in. I needed more of her intoxicating kiss like I needed my next breath.
I wanted to keep going. I wanted to lift Haylee in my arms and drag her to the bed.
I wanted her.
But not like this… not if she was heartbroken.
And I didn’t want to be her rebound. It was a risk, but even if this moment may never happen again, I would rather never kiss Haylee again than have her regret her time with me.
I tore my mouth from hers with a groan, and she gasped for her next breath as our kiss ended.
“What happened, Haylee?” I asked.
Her elegant fingers pressed sensuously into the back of my neck, sending an involuntary chill up my spine. Nervously, she moistened her lips.
Her mouth curved in a tempting smile as she pushed chocolate-brown ringlets off her forehead. God, she was gorgeous—the sexiest woman I’d ever seen—with her slim, wild beauty and high cheekbones that colored under the heat of my gaze. But more than just her looks, there’s always beensomethingabout Haylee. Something charming, sweet, and playful.
