my key card into the door. It clicked and opened.
“You don’t want to tell her,” Finn surmised. He ran a hand over his eyes. “Of course not. Have you told anyone ? The police? Your mother?”
I dropped my purse on the table by the door. “This is a terrible way to romance me,” I said. “Insulting me.”
“I’m not insulting you. I’m pointing out what would be rational behavior in this situation.”
“I left him,” I snapped. “It was the most rational–and the scariest–thing I’ve ever done. So don’t you dare imply I’m not being rational about this.” Through gritted teeth, I said, “You need to go now.”
Finn snapped his mouth shut, and propped his hand on the door frame.
“Finn,” I warned.
“I didn’t mean to insult you.”
“Well, you did. Good night.”
“Charlotte.” He reached for me, but I stepped back. “I shouldn’t have said that. I–I was worried and…”
Seeing my stony expression, he nodded. “You’re right, I should go. Please, just…be careful. And you can think I’m an asshole, but please let me know if something happens.”
“Thank you for dinner,” I said quietly, grabbing the door.
After he left, I slammed it closed and huffed. What the hell? One minute he said he’d give me space and be patient and the next he insulted me? Just like men.
Huffing some more, I walked to my room and started undressing. Lame. Thinking I can’t take care of myself? Of course that’s what he thought.
I tossed my shoes in my closet, then couldn’t stand to see them all crooked and returned to straighten them. Remembering my phone, I retrieved it from my purse and saw a text.
From Finn.
I almost didn’t open it, but finally gave in.
You are the most capable woman I know. You could take on the world if you wanted. I’m concerned because I care about you. Please understand.
Sighing, I sat on the edge of the bed. All the anger seeped away. If I made myself, I could see it from his point of view. If I thought of this happening to Christie or even Paige, I’d probably be reacting the same way as Finn. I’d want to help, no matter how capable the other person was.
I typed back I understand before I finished getting undressed. I heard my phone chime again when I got under the covers. Finn’s message made me smile.
Sweet dreams .
I slid under the comforter, relaxed once more. Instead of thinking about our argument or Mark, I thought about Finn’s very capable hands trapping mine in his. I thought about his kisses and his hand roaming up my thigh. I thought about more, too, and by the time I fell asleep, I had no doubt I’d have sweet dreams.
Chapter Eight
In some ways, the week had gone by in the blink of an eye. But in others, in my thoughts and in my fears, it had taken forever. I hadn’t had any strange calls on my phone, I hadn’t met up with any strange men or voices anywhere else. However, I hadn’t gone anywhere else–not even the gym this morning.
All I had to do was get through today and then I’d have the whole weekend to wind down. I didn’t doubt, however, that living so near where I worked, that work would probably follow me home. At this point, I didn’t mind. Something else to keep me busy. To keep my thoughts far from Mark.
I organized my desk, stacking loose papers in the bin on the corner and sliding the keyboard so it was parallel with the edge of the desk. Nice and tidy.
“It’s like a puzzle,” Tucker said from the doorway.
I glanced up with a sheepish grin. “I like things organized. The messier the world gets, the more composed I can make my life.”
“Makes sense,” Tucker said. “You’d die if you saw my place, though. It’s a pig sty.”
I smiled. “Well, maybe your world is cleaner than mine, so it’s okay to keep your personal space a little messy. Balances things out.”
“Interesting way of looking at it. My life is in transition right now–but it’s organized chaos, so
“You don’t want to tell her,” Finn surmised. He ran a hand over his eyes. “Of course not. Have you told anyone ? The police? Your mother?”
I dropped my purse on the table by the door. “This is a terrible way to romance me,” I said. “Insulting me.”
“I’m not insulting you. I’m pointing out what would be rational behavior in this situation.”
“I left him,” I snapped. “It was the most rational–and the scariest–thing I’ve ever done. So don’t you dare imply I’m not being rational about this.” Through gritted teeth, I said, “You need to go now.”
Finn snapped his mouth shut, and propped his hand on the door frame.
“Finn,” I warned.
“I didn’t mean to insult you.”
“Well, you did. Good night.”
“Charlotte.” He reached for me, but I stepped back. “I shouldn’t have said that. I–I was worried and…”
Seeing my stony expression, he nodded. “You’re right, I should go. Please, just…be careful. And you can think I’m an asshole, but please let me know if something happens.”
“Thank you for dinner,” I said quietly, grabbing the door.
After he left, I slammed it closed and huffed. What the hell? One minute he said he’d give me space and be patient and the next he insulted me? Just like men.
Huffing some more, I walked to my room and started undressing. Lame. Thinking I can’t take care of myself? Of course that’s what he thought.
I tossed my shoes in my closet, then couldn’t stand to see them all crooked and returned to straighten them. Remembering my phone, I retrieved it from my purse and saw a text.
From Finn.
I almost didn’t open it, but finally gave in.
You are the most capable woman I know. You could take on the world if you wanted. I’m concerned because I care about you. Please understand.
Sighing, I sat on the edge of the bed. All the anger seeped away. If I made myself, I could see it from his point of view. If I thought of this happening to Christie or even Paige, I’d probably be reacting the same way as Finn. I’d want to help, no matter how capable the other person was.
I typed back I understand before I finished getting undressed. I heard my phone chime again when I got under the covers. Finn’s message made me smile.
Sweet dreams .
I slid under the comforter, relaxed once more. Instead of thinking about our argument or Mark, I thought about Finn’s very capable hands trapping mine in his. I thought about his kisses and his hand roaming up my thigh. I thought about more, too, and by the time I fell asleep, I had no doubt I’d have sweet dreams.
Chapter Eight
In some ways, the week had gone by in the blink of an eye. But in others, in my thoughts and in my fears, it had taken forever. I hadn’t had any strange calls on my phone, I hadn’t met up with any strange men or voices anywhere else. However, I hadn’t gone anywhere else–not even the gym this morning.
All I had to do was get through today and then I’d have the whole weekend to wind down. I didn’t doubt, however, that living so near where I worked, that work would probably follow me home. At this point, I didn’t mind. Something else to keep me busy. To keep my thoughts far from Mark.
I organized my desk, stacking loose papers in the bin on the corner and sliding the keyboard so it was parallel with the edge of the desk. Nice and tidy.
“It’s like a puzzle,” Tucker said from the doorway.
I glanced up with a sheepish grin. “I like things organized. The messier the world gets, the more composed I can make my life.”
“Makes sense,” Tucker said. “You’d die if you saw my place, though. It’s a pig sty.”
I smiled. “Well, maybe your world is cleaner than mine, so it’s okay to keep your personal space a little messy. Balances things out.”
“Interesting way of looking at it. My life is in transition right now–but it’s organized chaos, so
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