Finn (Blue-Collar Billionaires 2)

RISSA

A couple of days later, I'm in the office early to get a head start on some paperwork. I'm not a fan of paperwork under any circumstances but my level of cranky this morning has nothing to do with all the tax forms on my screen. It's because I've been sleeping at my mom's house all week instead of at Finn's place.

I hit one of the keys too hard and chip a nail. My frustration is more than just sexual. It's that I'm not on board with this stupid plan of Finn's to take things slowly. His definition of slowly is staying away from me. For the last few days I've only seen him when I'm there to clean. And cleaning the random vacant apartments that he wants move-in ready isn't the same as cleaning his place where I get to see him. Talk to him.

I feel like I'm going through withdrawal and I need a Finn fix.

After ten minutes, I get up and take some aspirin. Staring at a computer screen for hours on end has the tendency to trigger my headaches and I don't have time to be sidelined today. Daphne, Tara and I had a long talk about delegating and trust. Eventually we decided to start the paperwork to bring three of the girls who've been with us the longest into management positions. With three others who can supervise the bigger jobs it will free up some of our time and allow us to have lives again. For the first time in ages, I have a weekday evening free.

My goal is to make it so that none of us work more than ten hours a day. Maybe after a while we can see about cutting it back even more. We might even achieve this mysterious work-life balance that I've heard so much about.

After I've been working for about an hour, I take a break and massage my eyes. I'm going to have to double-check everything I just did since my mind keeps wandering. How can I concentrate on something as mundane as tax regulations when Finn has my mind all twisted? He scares me one minute and then he does something thoughtful the next. How can one man be so sweet and so infuriating at the same time?

The upside to Finn being on his best behavior is that we're talking more and more. What he did for Major Halliwell is part of a bigger program that he's started to help get homeless veterans off the street. It's a nice feeling to be a part of something so important. My crankiness subsides a little as I remember that day. Maybe that's what I need, to focus on the good things. I smile remembering how pleased he looked as he welcomed some of the new tenants. The joy on their faces and his was an honor to witness.

"Whatever you're working on must be way more interesting than anything I've got going on."

I open my eyes to see Tara leaning against the doorframe. Her dark hair is pulled back so only the blue streak is hanging loose.

"Are you aware that you're just staring into space with an incredibly goofy grin on your face?"

I deliberately make my goofy grin even bigger. "Is smiling a crime now?"

"It is when this grin has something to do with a certain moody client of ours."

My smile fades. "I'm trying not to think about him but I can't help it. He's just … everything that he was when I knew him before and more." I tell her about Major Halliwell. "Instead of cleaning, he's got me helping him out with this new program. It's been a long time since I've felt that good about something I was doing. I really love being a part of that."

Tara's face falls. "You're in love with him. The first day you told me about him, I knew this was where it was going. But it scares me to see how into this guy you are."

"I can't help it, Tara. I've always loved him." It thrills me and frustrates me, too. Wanting Finn is just a constant that I can't escape in my life.

She perches on the edge of my desk. "I know he's gorgeous and rich and crazy over you. But he's also kind of twisted and obsessed and messed up, too. He's already admitted that he wanted to use you and get you out of his system. I just don’t want to see you get hurt by this guy. Not again."

"That’s just it, I hurt him. He never hurt me. Not once. I was scared when I saw him acting so crazy that day but now that I know what was going on, how can I not try to help him?"

"Gah!" She crosses her arms. "That's our fatal flaw as women. We always want to help guys and nurture them. Sometimes there isn't any help other than to run far and fast."

The nagging pain behind my eye socket has gotten worse and the whole left side of my head is throbbing. I've ignored the signs and now it looks like this is about to develop into a full-blown migraine.

"I need to go home." I wince as another throb of pain stabs right behind my eye. "I'm getting a migraine."

Tara knows how intense my migraines can be so she immediately takes my arm and pulls me to my feet. "Go home and rest. I'll cover for you this afternoon."

"Thank you." I shut down my computer and then walk out to the parking lot. All I really want is to go to Finn's but with the way we left things, I'm not sure if that's such a good idea. Letting him take care of me is really tempting though. He always knew what to do for me when I would get these debilitating headaches.

He always knows what to do in every situation but I'm afraid to get used to relying on that too soon.

* * * * *

The front door has never seemed so far away. The chime peals again and I heave myself upward. I place a hand on my abdomen as I shuffle down the hallway praying that I don’t get nauseated again before I can get rid of whoever it is at the door.

I peer through the peephole and then freeze. Finn stands on my mother's front porch looking almost too big for the area the peephole covers. I pull the door open slowly and look at him blearily.

His eyes drift up to my hair and I reach up and pat the haphazard bun that I pulled my curls into. Then I look down at what I’m wearing. I’ve got on my favorite pair of pajamas with the ribbons and hearts all over them.

Embarrassment sets in. I’m not too exhausted to feel mortified that he’s seeing me like this.

“What are you doing here?”