Chapter Seventeen
Genevieve scooped a layer of cream from the tiny goblet of cranachan in front of her. Ann, the housekeeper, had done an amazing job of preparing some traditional Scottish dishes and presenting them perfectly. Genevieve had splashed them all over social media with gushing comments. Hopefully this would be enough to make Flora want to back her father, though it didn’t seem that Flora had much interest in her father’s business.
How annoying will it be if Flora says no to Dad after all this?
Genevieve caught Finlay’s eye and he gave her the same look he’d been giving her ever since she’d confessed to always liking him. She could tell he wasn’t sure if she was serious or not. What if later she told him it was true? Would it make any difference?
Not if he doesn’t feel the same.
After the meal, Flora plied them with liqueurs and talked until Genevieve felt almost too drowsy to reply, not because she’d had too much to drink or was particularly tired but the conversation wasn’t something she could get into. Flora knew so many people and very few of them were familiar to Genevieve. She lost the thread of where the conversation was going or what she was even talking about. Finlay was nodding along and hopefully in the right places.
‘They have a stand at the Highland Games every year. Your father usually has one too, doesn’t he?’
‘Um… Yes.’ Her ears pricked up at the mention of her father. He’d not be impressed if she couldn’t remember some important detail that might get him in Flora’s good books. ‘He doesn’t work on it himself, but he’ll have someone there.’
‘I thought so. I might have a chat with him about the games. The committee this year has been full of bickering. Some new committee members have caused a bit of a rift. They want to keep it very traditional while others want to modernise things. I’m not really sure where I stand. I suppose modernisation is fine, but I wouldn’t like to lose any of the traditional stuff.’
‘Me neither,’ Finlay said. ‘I do the tug of war every year and it’s great.’
‘The tug of war is so much fun,’ Flora said. ‘And I adore the team leader, Brann the builder.’
‘So do all the girls,’ Finlay muttered.
Flora laughed. ‘I imagine they do. He is very ruggedly attractive, I suppose, but he’s also a genuinely nice man. I’ve had him up here doing repairs many times and he’s an absolute gentleman.’
‘I’ve never been to the Highland Games,’ Genevieve said.
‘Really?’ Flora looked shocked.
She shrugged. ‘It never crossed my mind to go.’
‘But there’s a dog show, nothing like Crufts. It’s just for fun. You should go and get your lovely little pooch in it.’
‘Yes, I should.’
‘And you’ll have to go and support Finlay in his tug of war.’
‘Yup, my farewell to Glenbriar. The final tug before I fly. When I come back in three years, I might be too old and creaky to get back in the team.’
‘What do you mean?’ Flora asked.
‘Oh.’ He gave a fake cough, and Genevieve wanted to sink into her chair and hide. ‘I, um, am going to Dubai to work for three years.’
‘You never said. What about the rugby team?’
‘That’s part of the reason it’s going to fold, because I’m not sure they’ll get another coach, but funding will help with that.’
‘Hmm,’ Flora said with a frown. ‘Are you both going?’
‘Yes.’ Genevieve pulled a smile. ‘Though I’ll have to leave Mitzi, which will be devastating after I waited so long to get her.’
‘Can’t you take her with you?’
‘She doesn’t like too much heat,’ Finlay said.
‘Well, if you want someone to care for her while you’re away, I’d be happy to do it. I had no idea you were planning this.’
‘That’s very kind. Thank you.’ Genevieve looked at Finlay, then checked the time on her phone. ‘Would you mind if I went up? The food was delicious, but it’s made me a bit sleepy.’
‘Of course, on you go,’ Flora said. ‘Goodness me, I’ve kept you far too long. Sorry, sorry. I always talk too much when I’m in company. Bear in mind when I actually open up the retreat, I won’t dine with the guests, but they’ll be welcome to join me after for drinks and chat should they want to. I only dined with you so we could talk things through. I hope I didn’t spoil it for you.’
‘Not at all,’ Genevieve said.
The spiral staircase was cool and a little eerie, with fake candles on sconces to light it.
‘We are so screwed,’ Finlay said as they entered the room. ‘I didn’t mean to mention Dubai, but it slipped out. All this making stuff up and pretending is doing my box in. I can’t remember what’s real and what’s not.’ His eyes flashed red as he kicked off his shoes. ‘We need to stop this.’
‘Right now?’ Something rippled through her stomach, setting her on edge.
‘I don’t know. It’s all so fucking awkward. And if I lose that funding now, right after I thought I’d secured the future of the club, I’ll be letting down so many people.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘It’s not your fault. I’m the idiot who proposed in the first place. Why did I do that?’
Why indeed? She wanted to believe that somewhere deep down it was because he really liked her, but that was silly. She was making up her little stories again.
‘Because you were drunk. I don’t think me asking you to do this was a good idea either though. We should just have told everyone and have done with. If my parents were upset I should have sucked it up like I usually do.’
He sighed. ‘Yup. But it’s too late for that now, isn’t it? Is it going to be any different if Flora turns up at the Highland Games expecting to see us together? If we tell her it was all fake, won’t she think it was your dad setting things up to try and con money out of him? It could ruin his reputation as well as ours.’
‘Oh god.’ Genevieve sank onto the soft bed and put her head in her hands. ‘You’re right. This has snowballed out of control.’
‘Not completely, but we’re going to have to stick with the plan and make this last until I leave for Dubai. Otherwise Flora will think it’s all a setup and I don’t want your dad blaming that on you. I also don’t want to lose the funding. Only three more weeks, then you can tell everyone you like Mitzi more than me, which probably won’t be too difficult for people to believe.’
Her heart compressed. She loved her dog dearly, but the way she liked Finlay was different. It was all too raw to analyse and part of her didn’t want to think about how deep her feelings for Finlay were. If they were too strong, how could she bear the parting? Because bear it, she must. He would be gone from her life in just over a fortnight. She really couldn’t go with him because she didn’t want to leave Mitzi – that much was true. And he wouldn’t stay. Not for her… Just like James hadn’t. Why should she expect anyone to play along with her?
‘So, ready to spend our second night together?’ he said. ‘I wonder if we’ll have better memories of it this time.’
‘Any memories,’ she added.
‘Precisely.’
She turned to look at him. He pulled off his shirt and tossed it on a seat near the door. Was he always this cool about people seeing him naked or only her? Why should she be anyone special? He had a good body, so no need to be worried about anything. Strange how so much of this felt genuine – like how natural it was being around him. Seeing him undressing was undeniably hot, but it wasn’t awkward. His presence was like a warm blanket she could slip into and feel safe and happy. Even when he was grouchy or being sarky, he was still loveable and she couldn’t imagine him ever being anything other than completely trustworthy. That thought made her want to kick Elise. What a silly woman, treating someone like him the way she’d done.
‘Are you sleeping in your dress?’ he said.
‘No.’ She got to her feet. ‘I was just thinking.’
‘What about?’
‘Elise.’
‘Oh please. That’s not someone I want to think about right now.’
‘It’s just that I hate what she did to you. She’s my friend and it hurts to say it, but what she did was wrong. I don’t want you to think that’s what I’m doing.’
He furrowed his brow. ‘You mean using me to get at someone else?’
‘That is what I’m doing, isn’t it? I’m using you to get something from Flora.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m just as bad as Elise.’
‘No, there’s a difference. At least you’re admitting it. She duped me into believing she cared. You were upfront from the start. We can view this as a business transaction. No hearts hurt in the process.’
Ha! Just like James, and look how that had ended. And it was worse this time because Genevieve did care… for real. One heart would be hurt very soon. At least it wouldn’t be his this time. She could spare him that, if nothing else. As for herself, she’d go on as she always had, and no one need ever know. Except they would. Or they’d know she’d split with her fiancé. Well, at least she could make her heartache look authentic because it would be very real.
‘Hey,’ he said. ‘I don’t mean I think you’re heartless or anything. You’re a good person.’ His eye contact was strong and he seemed to be puzzling something out. ‘I think I will actually miss you when we split. This has been a wild rollercoaster but a lot of it I’ve enjoyed.’
‘Me too… probably more than I should.’ Her gaze met his, straying down to his broad chest then back to his eyes before dropping to his lips. ‘What if I wanted to use you for something else?’ she whispered. The words pushed their way out before she could censor them.
Holding his arm across his body, he ran his hand around his jaw, not looking quite as sure of himself as he had done moments before. ‘Use me for what exactly?’
‘Oh, you know? Just my little joke,’ she said, and her voice cracked a little, sounding more high-pitched than she meant it to.
‘No, no, no.’ He shook his head and leaned across the bed. ‘You’re so not getting away with that. What did you mean?’
‘Well…’ She looked him up and down. ‘You’re a half-naked man in my bedroom. What’s a girl to do?’
‘Seriously? You want to use me for sex?’
‘Sounds a bit crass when you put it like that.’ And just because he might want to sleep with her didn’t mean he had feelings for her – she had to remember that.
‘But you’re talking about hooking up for the night?’
‘In theory. But I was only joking really.’ She needed to backtrack. He looked more shocked than interested.
‘Shame. Because you’re a very attractive woman.’
‘Thank you, but…’
‘No need to thank me or deny it. It’s true.’
Now she was far too hot. ‘I was going to say, I…’ If she said the words she wanted to, she’d sound ridiculous.
‘You what?’ He peered into her eyes like he was x-raying her, and she wished she hadn’t opened her big mouth. Curse her body for feeling this way and wanting physical contact. She was so starved, so rusty. But using Finlay was all wrong.
‘I don’t know.’ She turned away and started unfastening the side zip of her dress. A lump was swelling in her throat and she wanted to cry. She’d messed with this situation enough. She really was doing exactly what Elise had done – she had her own agenda and was ready to do anything to satisfy it. But she couldn’t do anything that would hurt him. An hour or so of pleasure wasn’t worth it.
‘Hey, Genevieve. Are you ok?’
‘Yeah, fine.’ Unwanted memories flooded back from when she’d been with James – it felt like another life. He was the only man she’d been with and it had never been her who initiated anything… Maybe she shouldn’t even have tried this time. Sex didn’t equal feelings. It wouldn’t for Finlay. She was setting herself up for a fall.
Just stay calm.
‘I’m not completely against the idea of you and me hooking up for the night,’ Finlay said. ‘I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t find you attractive. I suppose I didn’t expect you to say it outright. But I want to know what you were going to say after.’
‘Well, if you must know, I was going to say it’s been a long time.’ She kept her back to him. Not looking at him made it easier to say. Her heart was thumping a little too fast.
‘What has?’
‘Since I… properly hooked up with anyone. I just… No one usually… I’m fussy, I guess.’ Hooked up! Who was she kidding? She’d never done that, even though she made out that she did.
‘And do I stand up to your specifications?’
She glanced around at him. It wouldn’t be a good idea to let him know how much. ‘In the absence of any other competition, you’ll do.’
A little smirk played on the corner of his lips. ‘Oh, I get it. Right time, right place.’
‘Just as I engineered it.’ And maybe that was closer to the truth than it should be.
‘How can I refuse?’
‘Why not use the benefits of a fake fiancée?’ Wouldn’t be the first time she’d played a game like this. She’d done it with James hoping it would lead somewhere, but it was always just business for him. Something felt different this time.
Finlay moved closer and she held her breath. Now he looked too hot and too fit with that bare chest in full view. His eucalyptus scent brought tingles to her nose, and they darted through her body. ‘I’d quite like to help you take this off.’ He slipped his hands down the sides of her dress. ‘If you’ll permit me.’
‘Ok,’ she breathed, her lower body clenching at the heat.
‘Because you really are very beautiful.’
‘Am I?’
‘Of course. And sweet and funny.’ He leaned his head closer, so his words fell softly on her neck. ‘Not to mention a pleasure to be around. As if I’d engage myself to anyone less.’
‘Says the man who’s already been engaged twice.’
‘Thanks for reminding me.’ He gently tugged her closer and placed a soft kiss on her neck. ‘We’d be stupid to waste an opportunity like this, wouldn’t we?’
‘And you don’t mind digging us in deeper?’
‘We’re in pretty deep already, no?’
‘Yes.’ She just got the word out, even though her brain had jammed as he kissed her again. The dress wasn’t the easiest to get off with the halter neck, but she wanted out of it. The promise of skin-to-skin contact was driving her crazy. Stepping back from his hold, she slipped out of it and let go. Only a strapless bra and her lacy knickers covered her. It wasn’t much different from the bikini she’d had on earlier. Plus, he’d seen her without any clothes on before. Jeez, he’d stood beside her while she threw up naked just over a week ago. But she still felt almost shy.
‘You’re so beautiful,’ he said.
‘Do you say that to all the girls?’
‘Only the ones I like.’
‘And have there been many of them?’
‘One or two, but none quite like you.’
She slipped her hands around his cheeks, gliding them over his neatly trimmed beard. It suited him, keeping him rough around the edges, but not scruffy. ‘I quite like you too.’
‘Good, because right now, I want to do some other things with you. Things that are only suitable for people that I particularly like.’
‘Such as?’
‘For starters, I’d quite like to kiss you.’
‘Then what are you waiting for?’
He tilted his head slightly, still in her hands, and leaned towards her. She pulled him the rest of the way and their lips came together forcefully, and oh so satisfyingly. No more waiting or playing. Not tonight anyway. She slipped her tongue into his mouth and he met her with a hunger she hadn’t expected, but it sent bolts of lightning through her. If he was acting, this was an award-winning performance – so convincing. A rush of joy and warmth flooded through her, almost like the man she’d dreamed of from afar actually felt the same for her. He was definitely hot for her, and that made her smile into the kiss.
Soon all the remaining clothes were on the floor, and they lay naked on the bed, locked in a tight embrace. Finlay’s warm weight and his firm touch melted her and set her alight at the same time. Nothing was enough, though, at the same time, it was almost too much. She moaned as he moved his kisses from her lips to her cheeks, to her collarbone.
‘This is all very nice, isn’t it?’ he mumbled, running the tip of his nose towards her breasts.
‘It really is.’
He worked his way down her body, kissing her everywhere until she hit a new level of ecstasy. How good at this was he?
‘Where’s that basket?’ he said, stroking her hair as she rested back on the pillows, breathing heavily, still not sure why it had never felt this good with James.
‘Windowsill.’
‘Flora really is a well-prepared and sensible woman,’ he said, crossing the room in the semi light and raking through the basket of toiletries. His naked silhouette was stunning, and Genevieve watched shamelessly as he put on a condom and returned to her. ‘I really must thank her in the morning. It’s not every day a guy is treated to such a delectable layer of protection.’
Genevieve laughed. How did he manage to bring humour to every situation?
He lay alongside her again and she wrapped her legs around him, pushing him onto his back so she was on top. She’d never been this daring before, but it felt right.
‘Nice,’ he said, running his hands down her body to cup her bottom. She leaned over and pressed her lips onto his.
He moved inside her exquisitely, his soft groan making her clench. This wasn’t something he could fake – and she didn’t have to. As their movements got quicker and more intense, sensations she hadn’t achieved with anybody else washed over her, making her breath catch in the back of her throat. Finlay moved faster like he’d lost all control and his breathing changed to a rasping pant. The intensity of the moment overwhelmed her, and she was overcome with dazzling sparks. She wanted to cry.
Why am I so emotional?
Finlay jolted beneath her with a long groan and she rested her hands on his shoulders as the aftershocks rolled over her.
Now it was done she wasn’t sure what to do. Despite them being so close, joined together, she felt suddenly alone.
She moved off him. Should she get dressed and go sit downstairs or something? Would it be weird to stay here? This was just a hookup after all and that was what happened, wasn’t it? She didn’t want to admit how miserably ignorant she was about what to do next.
‘Genevieve,’ he said in a low, quiet voice. With what seemed like a big effort, he pushed himself up, so he was sitting beside her and wrapped his arms around her. The instant warmth removed the lonely feeling, but the desire to cry rushed back tenfold. ‘Let me get this off and then can we cuddle for a bit? Or do you not like that?’
‘I…’ She didn’t really know. When she’d been with James, he hadn’t been a cuddler, or not with her anyway, and she’d resorted to wrapping herself in lots of blankets and assuming it was normal. ‘I’ll wait here.’
‘Ok.’
It wasn’t long before he returned. ‘So, do you want to cuddle up or just go to sleep?’
She rolled over, so she was reunited with his heat. ‘Cuddle.’
‘Good.’ He brushed her hair from her forehead and then kissed her just above her eyebrow. ‘I love to cuddle. Best way to end a weird day and a hot evening.’
She smiled and held back a lump in her throat. The tears were desperate to get out, but now she realised it wasn’t because she was upset, but because she’d not been this happy in a long time.