Reunited by the Tycoon's Twins

‘Why not?’

Why not?

He knew exactly why not.

Which meant that he was asking the question because he wanted her to say the answer out loud. Well, fine, if he wanted to be reckless then so be it.

‘Because you like me, Finn. We both know it. The same way we both know that I like you. And if we stay here together under this roof much longer then one of us is going to do something that we regret. Saturday night already went too far.’

‘Saturday night was nothing,’ he said, though the expression on his face proved that it was a lie.

‘Well, it didn’t feel like nothing at the time. It didn’t for me and I don’t think it did for you either, no matter what you’re trying to tell yourself today. If it was nothing, then neither of us would be thinking about it, and I know I am.’ In fact, she wished she’d had a minute today when she wasn’t thinking about it. When her mind wasn’t drifting back to the feel of him wrapped around her. It was way too distracting. ‘I think the best thing for everyone is for me to find somewhere to stay and remove the temptation for both of us.’

‘You’ve no money; how are you going to find somewhere to rent?’

‘Wow.’ She stood up, planting her hands on her hips. If he wanted a fight about this then she was game. ‘Thanks for that reality check, Finn. It actually hadn’t occurred to me that I’m broke and screwed. Thank heavens you’re here to remind me. Nice swerve on the subject, by the way. Don’t think I didn’t notice.’

Finn walked over and leaned against her desk, and she took a step away from him sharply; she was cross and the last thing she needed was him getting close and distracting her. Finn took a step back too, and she hated that he could read her so well.

‘Sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude,’ he said, looking genuinely conciliatory.

She rolled her eyes and didn’t even care that it made her look like the stroppy teenager she was sure he must remember. ‘I’m just excited,’ she said. ‘Getting ahead of myself, I guess, looking at courses and student loans and bursaries. I want it to happen now.’

‘Don’t apologise for being excited. I should be the one apologising. So you’re thinking of going back to university?’

She smiled as she acknowledged to herself that she had already made the decision, and she wasn’t going to change her mind.

‘I’m going. I’ve been looking at courses, loans, scholarships. I’m sure I can do it. I just need to come up with a proper plan.’

‘I’ve already said that I’ll lend you the money,’ he reminded her.

‘And I’ve thanked you, and told you that I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking it. I want to do this myself. I got myself here. I’m going to get myself out.’

Finn frowned, reached out to brush a hand against her arm. ‘You didn’t get yourself here, though, Madeleine. Someone did something terrible to you. That’s why you’re in this situation and I don’t understand why you won’t let me help you out of it.’ He frowned at her, but she shook off his judgement. He didn’t understand what it was like to be in her position.

‘Because it’s uncomfortable for me, Finn,’ she told him. ‘Because these feelings that I have for you are uncomfortable, and the thought of owing you thousands of pounds makes me feel sick.’

Finn shook his head. ‘But you wouldn’t owe it. I wouldn’t expect you to pay me back.’

‘Don’t you see that makes it worse?’ She sat heavily on the edge of the bed. ‘Because then it would always be weird and I would never have the chance to make things equal between us.’ She stood up again, needing to do something with her body to get rid of this fizz of anxious energy. Finn crossed his arms and held her gaze, not backing down for a second.

‘You’re making a big deal out of this when you really don’t have to.’ Finn perched on the edge of her desk, crossing his arms as he watched her pacing. ‘It’s just money. It doesn’t make us unequal—you can take it without it meaning anything.’

‘I just can’t, Finn.’ She shook her head. ‘I need you to leave this now,’ she said. She had made her decision, and nothing he could say would change her mind.

He rubbed a hand on his jaw and shook his head. ‘Fine. I’ll leave it. But I’m not going to pretend to be happy about it, Madeleine. It doesn’t seem fair that I can owe you, but you can’t owe me.’

She rolled her eyes. This again. ‘I told you, you don’t owe me anything, Finn. It was my parents, and Jake, who were generous. I didn’t do anything. Anyway. We’ve talked this subject to death. If you want to help me talk through my ideas and come up with a plan, that would be great. If you’re going to bulldoze over my wishes and continue to insist on your own way then we’re going to fall out. Now, let’s change the subject.’

He looked as if he was going to go for one last argument, but then changed his mind. ‘Fine. Dinner?’ he asked.

‘Yes. I’m starving. I can cook or...’

‘Trudy left something for us in the fridge. We just need to heat it up. Do you want to eat together or—’

‘Of course we can eat together, Finn. I’m not planning on hiding in here. All of this is meant to be keeping us friends. I don’t want things to be awkward. I’m pretty sure we can still manage to eat a meal together without things imploding.’

‘Good. Then I’ll see you downstairs in ten?’