Chapter 6
‘Are you mad?’
Mam’s face was incredulous.
Cassie had just arrived home from her dog walking on Tuesday and was peeling off her layers and looking forward to a nice mug of fresh coffee and a ham salad sandwich. The last thing she needed was one of Mam’s dire life-warnings.
‘You’re making him wait until Thursday ? I only hope you’re not a sorry girl. Remember that song by The Weather Girls?’
‘No.’
‘Ah, you do, “It’s raining men, halleluiah, it’s raining men .?.?.”’
‘Oh, that one .?.?.’
‘Well, it isn’t. That’s nonsense, and if he’s as dishy as you say, he won’t be on the shelf for long. He’s in a difficult situation with all those kids, for the love of God don’t make it any harder for him.’
Trust Mam to take the man’s side every time.
‘Stop it, will you, you’re scaring me.’
‘I’m only saying it for your own good. If this chap has a flaw, it’s being too committed. Men like that don’t grow on trees, and if you do see him again, try and glam up a bit. As your father always used to say, you don’t go fishing without bait.’
‘Mam!’
‘What? It’s supposed to be a date, not a trip to Aldi. Now, do you want mustard on the ham?’
By Wednesday, Cassie was in a state; the conversation with Mam had rattled her more than she’d realised. Josie looked pale and drawn on the screen but was the only person Cassie really trusted for reassurance.
‘She’s your mum, Cass, you know what she’s like.’
‘Yeah, but she has a point. What was I thinking, playing it cool? I’ve been freaking out about it ever since. What if he’s changed his mind?’
Josie smiled tiredly. ‘He won’t have. Anyhow, if he did back off that easily, you’d be dodging a bullet.’
She felt a surge of gratitude towards her old friend.
‘Thanks, Josie, I don’t know what I’d do without you. I’ll make it up to you someday soon, I swear.’
‘Just be happy that tomorrow’s Thursday. Text him early, for God’s sake. And then let me know.’
The following morning, perched on the edge of the bed, Cassie managed to hold out until 9.15 a.m.
Hi, things have worked out. You still on for tomorrow?
She was wondering about adding some funny, sexy quips or winky emojis but there was no point in putting her foot in it – better to check the mood first, before making an eejit of herself.
There followed the most stressful three hours she could remember. Finally, at 12.48 p.m. the phone buzzed.
Crazy day at work. Been thinking of you. Mine 7 p.m.?
OK, pretty literal, no banter, but it was all she needed. She read it over three times, told herself to calm the fuck down and then hugged the phone as she rocked out around the room to ‘ Happy’ by Pharrell Williams .
The following evening, she paced around, hurling outfit after outfit on the bed. By six thirty she’d decided to ditch the jeans. Ten minutes later, she was starting to panic.
‘Wear a nice dress, why don’t you? You’ll be dead long enough,’ hollered Mam from the foot of the stairs.
Suddenly, the planets aligned and she remembered the cute black mini she’d worn with ankle boots to a concert last year. It showed off her legs but was floaty enough not to make her feel like a pack of sausages. Perfect. She whacked on eyeliner and mascara and enough makeup to look her best without being fully Insta-ready, which could be off-putting to guys. A few spritzes of Miss Dior and she was off.
Standing outside his door, clutching a bottle of wine, her hands felt sweaty and her heart wouldn’t slow down. How come she’d been so calm earlier? Before she could finish her deep-breathing exercises, Finn swung open the door, so her heart palpitations would just have to bloody well look after themselves.
She noticed he was wearing a dark denim shirt and his hair looked barely dry. This time, instead of the slight awkwardness, he kissed her lightly on the lips and led her towards the kitchen and past the cupboard of doom, which was firmly closed. Thor clipped across the wooden floor like a sorrowful pony and nuzzled into her hand.
‘Oh, look, he knows me.’
‘He’s an introvert, he doesn’t take to many people so when he does, they can’t leave or he pines.’
Not for the first time Cassie wondered where Thor’s thoughts ended and Finn’s began. By this stage he’d hoisted a steaming roasting dish of duck breasts onto the hob and was spooning what smelled like a heavenly orange glaze over them before slipping them back in the oven with a practised hand.
‘Fifteen minutes,’ he announced.
‘Plonk?’ said Cassie, dumping the bottle on the counter, although it was actually a good Chablis and well above her doggie-walking budget. Without comment, Finn pulled a complicated-looking corkscrew out of a drawer and passed it to her. Oh hell, she’d seen those on telly but was likely to make a complete horse’s arse of doing it herself. He looked at her expression and laughed.
‘Give it here.’
He picked up the bottle and, without looking, extracted the cork seemingly in a single movement and poured them both a glass of cold crisp wine.
‘Cheers.’
For the first time she could feel his glance appraising her body.
‘I like your .?.?. dress,’ he pronounced slowly. ‘It’s sexy. You should wear them more often.’
Cassie felt a surge of heat run through her, even though it was exactly the effect she’d been hoping for. She took a large gulp of wine to settle herself – so much for subtle tasting.
‘I just wanted to make it up to you after last week,’ he murmured, apparently examining his shoes. He’s as nervous as I am , she realised.
‘No, I’m sorry, I overreacted. I shouldn’t have—’
‘Hurled those things at my head?’
‘You were pretty gentlemanly about it.’
‘I thought about your reaction and I realised you were right. I was trying to hide a part of myself. I was being an arsehole.’
She laughed in surprise; somehow, she hadn’t expected cool, detached Finn to come out with naughty words. He finds it hard to be himself , she thought. Not that hard, clearly, for in the next moment, he took a step towards her and took the glass from her hand, pushing her against the kitchen counter. His lips were on hers and he pulled her in closer still, so she could feel his hardness pressing into her belly. He bit her lip gently, teasingly, as his hand slid under the flimsy material, caressing her thigh.
Oh. My. God. This is all going waaay too fast , said a voice in her head, although the other voices didn’t seem to give a hoot.
‘Finn?’
‘Mmm?’
‘I’m starving.’
‘So am I.’
‘But—’
‘Ssssh .?.?.’
She felt his tongue caressing hers.
The food could wait.