5. Finn
Finn
A fter running into Chester in the woods, I’d like to say I didn’t spend hours thinking of him. Wondering why his mood seemed to flip faster than an acrobat. Why he was confident one second and shrinking in on himself the next.
It shouldn’t have bothered me. He was practically a stranger. One who’d made it evident he wasn’t interested in me.
Even if his eyes had lingered on my chest a beat too long.
Attraction didn’t equal interest though, and I’d never pursue someone who didn’t want my attention. I hadn’t with Sarah, and I wasn’t about to with Chester either.
But try as I might, I couldn’t get Chester off my mind. I’d never had this problem with Sarah. With her, it had been easy to compartmentalise. To hide my feelings inside a deep part of my soul. To be her friend and guard without letting anything else even cross my mind in her presence.
Why couldn’t I bury these thoughts about Chester just as easily ?
When the time came to pick up my order, I couldn’t stop myself spending longer than usual fussing with my hair.
Or putting on a new shirt Logan had brought back from his last shopping trip in Edinburgh.
I even polished my lace-up army boots, something I hadn’t ever done before.
I’d had to borrow the polish from Evan. Calan and Logan could’ve given me some, but I knew there’d be fewer questions from Evan.
He hadn’t been around long enough to know this was unusual behaviour for me.
All in all, I was tidier than I’d been in decades. The only thing I didn’t bother with was cologne.As a shifter, scent was everything. I didn’t want Chester smelling anything on me that wasn’t, well, me.
Yes, I was being ridiculous, but there was only so much I could deny my wolf. He was already pissed at me for deciding not to pursue anything with Chester.
It was bad enough that I’d let my wolf loose the other night. After telling Chester goodbye, I’d shifted and stalked him through the night. I’d forgotten to strip first, ruining the pair of shorts I’d hidden in the woods in case of a human encounter. At least it had happened after meeting Chester.
Anyway, my wolf had been pissed at me for letting Chester walk away. I hadn’t been able to stop myself shifting and making sure the gentle giant got home safely.
It had been a shock to realise where he lived. There were only a handful of homes around the loch and Chester’s was in a prime location. Built twenty years ago, it stood on the spot I’d once thought of as mine. The one where Calan, Danny, Logan, and I had once swum. Where we’d spent our youth.
Where Calan had found me on the night of Sarah and Danny’s wedding .
To say I’d been furious when a developer had purchased that bundle of land was an understatement.
I’d tried to buy it from him, but the bloke had refused to budge.
I’d had to watch as the house took shape.
The porch that sat on the area where I’d fallen to my knees.
The steps leading down to the exact place where I liked to step into the frigid waters.
Over the years, I’d blocked the presence of the house out, diving into the loch from the shore opposite. I hadn’t known who lived there, nor had I cared.
Now though, I knew exactly who inhabited the space I’d once thought of as my own. And I found myself caring about it far more than I should have.
I’d stayed outside Chester’s house the entire night, staring at the window where the final light had gone out. I didn’t understand it, but my wolf wouldn’t move. He kept me there, guarding Chester, until the sun was peeking over the horizon.
He’d made me go back the next night.
And the next.
Today would be the end of it. Unless Chester gave me a clear sign of interest, I’d be backing all the way off. I didn’t care if my wolf liked it or not. It wasn’t right to obsess over a man I didn’t know and who didn’t want my attention.
I’d spent countless human lifetimes in love with someone who’d never be mine. I wasn’t about to risk it happening again.
Taking a deep breath and forcing my shoulders to relax, I pushed open the door to Thistle Do Nicely. The same scent from before hit me, and I realised it wasn’t the shop. It was Chester. Chester’s scent.
My wolf whined. No, we’re not licking it from his skin. We’ll never know if he tastes as delicious as he smells. Be-fucking-have.
There was another scent here too. It was both sharp and sweet. Gardenias and…coffee?
The scent thickened as footsteps sounded. My smile slipped off my face as an unfamiliar man stepped around the corner.
“Why hello there.” He fluttered long eyelashes at me, leaning against the counter in a way I thought was meant to be provocative. His apron bore the shop’s logo, and if I had to guess, he was the employee Chester had mentioned. The talented but perpetually late one. “How can I help you, handsome?”
My lips twitched. See, I could tell the difference between attraction and interest. This bloke was definitely interested, but sadly, I was not. Even if I was open to the idea, he wasn’t at all my type. His petite figure and pouty lips were beautiful, but not what I was after.
His boss, on the other hand…I forced a polite smile. “Hi, I’ve come to collect an order. Is Chester here?”
There was that quiet curse again, just like the first time, followed by rapid footsteps.
I drew closer to the counter, my pulse picking up. I had to swallow a couple of times because my mouth was so dry. What the fuck was wrong with me? Was I coming down with something?
That was when Chester appeared, and everything else faded away. All it took was one glance at his shy smile and I was gone.
He’s so handsome.
“Finn.” He stepped around the counter, approaching me.
His arms rose as though he was about to hug me, and I swear, my heart stopped dead in my chest. But he caught himself before he reached me, lowering one hand while extending the other.
“Thank you for coming in. I hope your order is up to your satisfaction.”
I wrapped my hand around his and shook it. As I did, I tried to pretend the heat of his skin wasn’t warming something long dead inside me. “I’m sure it’s wonderful.”
Chester blushed, and I couldn’t stop myself from staring. Did he know how captivating he was? He must, right? A man like him probably had more admirers than flowers.
His hand was still in mine, the two of us staring at each other. For a fraction of a second, I allowed myself to hope. To believe there was a spark of interest in Chester’s eyes. All I needed was the tiniest fucking sign, and it’d be on. I’d chase him the way my wolf demanded.
By which I meant I’d dote on him. Woo him.Treat him exactly how a rose like Chester deserved.
That spark was extinguished almost immediately by Chester’s assistant. “Okay, I have no idea what’s going on, but wow, am I here for it. Chester, how long have you been keeping this gorgeous specimen secret for?”
Chester shut down before my eyes. He yanked his hand from mine and wiped it on his apron. I tried not to feel the sting of rejection. “Reid, don’t be inappropriate. Finn here is a customer. He’s here to collect order two-seven-two. Can you go back out and get it please?”
Reid grumbled under his breath about Chester being no fun but did as his boss asked. Meanwhile, said boss turned to me with a grimace. “Sorry about Reid. We’re working on his customer service skills.”
That was right, I was a customer to Chester. Just a customer. I needed to remember that. “It’s nae bother. He reminds me a bit of Logan.”
His head tilted. “Who’s Logan? ”
I paused, trying to think how to explain my relationship with him. Pack life meant our bonds went deeper than that of ordinary friendship. He wasn’t technically my brother, but he may as well have been.
I must’ve paused too long because Chester flushed and began to babble. “Sorry, ignore me. Horribly inappropriate question. You don’t need to tell me who he is. You’re a customer and?—”
“It’s fine,” I said quietly, offering him a smile to show I really didn’t mind. “Logan’s like family to me.”
“Oh.” Chester turned on his heel sharply, but not before I caught the hint of a smile on his lips. Had he been jealous? Or was that just wishful thinking? “I see. Like I said, totally inappropriate of me to ask.”
“I don’t mind.” He went behind the counter, so I stepped up to the other side. “Ye can ask me anything you like.”
Please ask me something. Anything. Keep me here a little longer.
He wavered. Something sparked in his eyes as he opened his mouth to speak…
And once again,Reid interrupted the moment.
“Sorry, took me a bit to find it. This is the one, right?”
“Yes.” Chester stepped back, letting Reid sweep in front. “That’s the one.”
Right. The flowers. The whole reason I was here. I forced my gaze away from Chester and down to his creation.
My thoughts eddied out of my mind as the age-old wound reopened once more. There were the flashes of yellow for Maria’s blanket. The pressed flowers I’d caught Chester collecting.
“These are the birds of paradise.” Chester gently touched one of the beautiful red and yellow blooms. “I was able to track down some to a hothouse in Glasgow.”
I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my vision. “They’re beautiful. Ye were right to suggest them.”
His hand touched the back of mine. Just the ghost of a touch, but it broke the tide of my grief, pulling the wave back long enough for me to fill my lungs with air. “Is there anything you’d like me to change or add?”
I shook my head rapidly. “No, it’s perfect as it is. Thank you, Chester.”
And it was. This was something I should’ve done years ago. Decades.But I think I was supposed to wait for this moment. For Chester to be the one. I didn’t think anyone else could’ve captured their essence as he had.
It meant more than anything to me. Suddenly, paying him wasn’t enough. Sure, this was his job, but he’d gone above and beyond.
I wanted to do that for him.