Falling for Finn by Jackie Ashenden Page B

girlfriend. Just…someone.” Why had he said that? It wasn’t true, was it?
    Jo let out a breath, studying his face. The hurt look had faded. “Ah. Like that, is it? I know how that goes.”
    Like what? How what goes?
    “Well, I understand,” Jo went on, before he could speak. “It’s okay. But I had a good time, so if, you know, you’re ever in the States and want someone to hang out with…” She trailed off meaningfully.
    “It’ll be you, I promise.” And that was the truth. He did like her. And if it had been at any other time…
    Before Anna.
    Gritting his teeth, he shrugged off the insidious thought. No, this had nothing to do with Anna. Nothing.
    Jo stepped close, kissed him on the cheek. “See you around, Finn.”
    “You don’t have to go.”
    “Yeah. I think I do.” She gave him a half smile. “You’re too goddamn easy to be with.”
    It should have made him feel good, but for some reason it didn’t. It only made him feel like more of a prick for leading her on.
    After she’d gone, he debated whether to go home or head out to the beach by himself to catch some waves. It really was the only way to deal with the antsy, restless feeling inside him. Either that or sex, and he’d just blown the sex part of it.
    In the end, he took his board out to Piha, a surf beach on Auckland’s west coast, and spent a good couple of hours working out his restlessness, trying to still his mind by concentrating on the waves. By the time he was ready to come in, he felt a little better. A little calmer.
    But as he drove into the city, he found himself taking a different route to the one that usually took him home. A route he could have driven blindfolded. A route that didn’t lead back to his own apartment but somewhere else just as familiar.
    Anna’s.

Chapter Eight
    Anna wasn’t expecting anyone, and when the knock on the door came, she couldn’t stop the reflexive twist of fear inside her. Hating the feeling, she stalked to her front door, wanting to throw it wide, fear be damned. But, of course, she didn’t. She had to stop and peer through the peephole first like some frightened old lady.
    Yet when she saw who waited on the porch outside, all the fear left her. Because it was Finn. Relief poured through her, along with a sudden, intense pleasure that he was here. She pulled open the door, grinning. “Hey, you. What are you doing here?”
    He stood with one hand in the pocket of his battered jeans, the other behind his back, close-fitting black T-shirt pulled tight over his powerful shoulders. His hair looked damp, the gold tips of it dark in the fading light of early evening.
    Her heart began to beat oddly fast. Beautiful man. She shouldn’t be noticing but she couldn’t help it. No denying the fact he was gorgeous.
    “Went for a surf. Then I thought I’d drop in and see if you want to get some takeout and a movie.” He smiled and lifted a shoulder. “You know, the usual.”
    The usual. Happiness and something else, something she couldn’t identify, shot through her.
    He’d told her over the phone it was okay between them, but she hadn’t been entirely sure, and all day she’d been stressing over it. Especially given the fact he’d ended their conversation so abruptly. She hadn’t wanted to hurt him. God knew he’d had enough of that in his life.
    But looking at him now, he did seem fine. And this was their normal routine. At least one evening a week they’d rent a bad kung fu movie. Get takeout and a bottle of wine. Argue and laugh and talk.
    She’d missed it so much. Couldn’t imagine now why she’d cut him off after the attack. She’d been crazy, clearly.
    Anna leaned against the door, unable to stop grinning. “Finn…”
    “I take it that’s a yes?” He took his hand from behind his back and held it up so she could see the cover of the DVD he was carrying. “I hope so, because I’ve got some classic Bruce Lee here.” One dark brow lifted. “Unless you have plans, of