Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
“I haven’t had a woman in here in a long time.” He seems more thoughtful than anything.
“Really? You seem like you know what you’re doing.”
“Not in the slightest.” I get the feeling he doesn’t mean sex right now. I shiver from the look he gives me, like that hunger’s back. I don’t understand it. I had assumed he’s craving my body—but he got his fill already.
Unless he’s ready to fuck me again?
But I don’t think that’s it.
I look away, back at the stars, trying to shake this strange feeling.
“I’m not happy you caught me, but I guess it could’ve gone worse.”
His laugh in return takes some of the anxiety out of me.
“It’s not the worst thing in the world to catch a beautiful woman skinny dipping in my pool.”
“I was taking a sauna, not skinny dipping. You make me sound like a stupid teenager.”
“Fair point.” He paddles closer. He’s very graceful, I’ll give him that, and he looks incredible still. “You don’t have to worry, you know.”
“About what?”
“Your job.”
I snort and splash him lightly. “I hadn’t even thought about it.”
“Liar.” He continues to circle me. “Are you going to take a sauna tomorrow night?”
“Are you insinuating you want this to happen again?”
“No.” He stops suddenly. I glance over, surprised at the intensity in his reply. But he’s smiling still. “I mean, I would never be so presumptuous.”
I get the feeling something just changed. I don’t know what, but I get off my back and sink under the water slightly, covering my naked chest. I feel cold, even though the pool is heated to a comfortable temperature.
“I should go. I mean, I’ve already taken up all your time.”
“You don’t need to leave.”
“I’m not. It’s just, you know. I have other clients.” Which is a total lie. I feel guilty saying it, but I don’t know how else to extract myself.
He doesn’t seem to believe me, but he doesn’t call me on it either. “Then we’ll leave it here.”
I hesitate. What do I do now? I’ve never had a one-night stand before. A few minutes ago, we were kissing and fucking like wild. Now I feel the distance slam down between us again.
I’m just some girl. Maybe he thinks I’m pretty, God knows why, but it ends there. He doesn’t want more, and I don’t think I do either. He’s too intense and it’s like he lives in a different world.
I knew luxury like this, once upon a time, but I gave all that up.
Now I clean gorgeous apartments. I don’t live in them.
Whatever this was tonight, it was a one-time thing. I can’t risk repeating it.
I swim to the ladder and hesitate. He’s going to see me naked if I get out. But what’s that matter? He already has.
Finn watches carefully as I climb out. I’m very aware of his eyes on my body as I hurry over to grab a towel from a pile near the door. I dry myself and awkwardly dress while he continues to stare. Once my clothes are on, I start feeling like myself again. The dream shatters and fades.
I’m the help. He’s the millionaire.
I’m the one who will clear up our mess tomorrow night.
“Same time?” I ask, feeling shy.
“Same time,” he confirms.
“And will you…?” I trail off, feeling awful for asking.
But he still doesn’t seem insulted. “No, Caroline. I won’t be here.”
I’m not relieved. I thought I would be, but I’m not.
“Okay. Well. I won’t use the pool anymore.”
“Feel free. No, really. When you’re finished, feel free to sauna and swim. I’ll leave you alone if I happen to catch you.”
I bite my lip. I want to say, you don’t have to, but I keep my mouth shut. Because is that something I really want? To get tangled up with some terrifying, beautiful rich man?
Better to keep my distance.
I learned that many times the hard way.
“Good night, Finn.”
“Good night, Caroline.”
I rush out of there. I don’t feel entirely safe until I’m back on the dirty sidewalk where I belong, almost jogging toward the nearest bus stop, praying I’ll catch the last one. Meanwhile, the glass dome at the top of his building glitters in the moonlight, and I find it hard to believe I was just up there, if something like that is even possible. Probably not. Just a nightmare, that’s all.
3
FINN
Declan stands behind his desk and pours two glasses of whiskey. I swear, he’s turning into our father with every passing day. He doesn’t have Papa’s lighthearted joy, but he’s got that gravitas, that Don seriousness, like everything he does is imbued with some special meaning.
It’s annoying as fuck.
I accept the whiskey though. I have a rule: never turn down an expensive drink, but always reject the cheap ones.
“I got a report from Seamus last night. Seems your properties are outearning just about everyone.” Declan sounds surprised, which should piss me off but doesn’t. I’m good at keeping that part of me slammed down into my deepest recesses. I keep on smiling and acting like good old Finn, so charming and easygoing. “I’m happy with your work.”