Page 23 of Hidden Shadows
Andi: How’s everything going?
She nibbled her bottom lip, debating over whether to tell her best friend the truth. She was typing before she could stop herself.
Finley: I kissed him.
The text had barely been sent before her phone rang.
“Who?” Andi shrieked. “Don’t tell me it was your bodyguard.”
“It was Nixon.”
“No!” She just about screamed the word. “You’re joking!”
“I’m not. He was so angry about me having a drink with one of the fair organizers, and I cupped his cheek to make sure he was okay, and just…kissed him.”
Her friend’s gasp was loud over the line. “Oh my God, did he kiss you back?”
Oh, he’d definitely kissed her back. “Yep.”
“God, it’s like something right out ofThe Notebook. Was it good?”
Finley could have laughed. “It was the best kiss I’ve ever had. I felt like he was everywhere, like time temporarily stopped.” She sucked in a deep breath. “Then he told me to leave before he did another stupid thing.”
There was a pause. “Anotherstupid thing?” Some of the excitement left Andi’s voice.
“Yeah.”
“Did it feel stupid toyou?”
“No.” She ran her finger over the edge of the counter. “It felt so right that if he hadn’t stopped, I’d still be in his room.”
In his arms…his mouth on hers. A shudder rocked her spine.
“So you need to work out what his deal is.”
Finley almost laughed. “I don’t know if it’s that easy.”
“Men are like presents with multiple layers of wrapping. You’ve got to peel back each layer of paper to see what’s underneath.”
She was shaking her head before Andi finished speaking. “I didn’t come here for a relationship, Andi. I came here to work.”
“We rarely go looking for love. It just finds us.”
Love…ha. That was not what was happening here. Lust? Sure.
She toed off her shoes. “I’m wrecked. I might jump in the shower and go to bed.”
“Tell me you’re going to keep me posted.”
Would there be more things to keep her friend postedon? The thought of never kissing the man again made her belly do a sad turn. “When do I ever not tell you something?”
“Good. Have a good night sleepingright next doorto him, Fin.”
Oh God. Did Andi need to remind her? It would probably be the most restless night’s sleep of her life.
CHAPTER9
Finley snuck a peek at Nixon beside her. The man had barely said two words to her all morning. In fact, he’d been quieter and a hell of a lot broodier than normal, something she hadn’t thought possible.
