She caught the couple looking at each other and held her breath. She had been certain she was chasing a major story and maybe she’d gotten that part right. Perhaps she had misinterpreted the type of story. After this evening, she suspected her “expose the bad guy” story might in fact be a “dream come true” story.
Waving to the bartender for her check, Miranda pulled out her wallet to settle her tab. She had more research to do.
Later that evening,Fin said his goodbyes and they headed home. Some of her friends acted like they would never see him again, and others treated him like he’d be back next week. Fin must have been thinking along similar lines, because he brought it up in the car. They talked about the group of friends and who Fin would miss the most as they headed back to her duplex.
That night, they made love slowly and quietly. Nothing was rushed. They savored every touch, every sigh.We’re saying goodbye, Alex thought.
“Man, I don’t want you to go,” she told him as she lay snuggled in his arms, her hands against his chest. “I’m not ready for this vacation to end.”
“Are weeverready for the vacation to end?” She could feel him smiling into her hair.
“These last two weeks have been a roller coaster ride of emotions for me. Don’t ask me how, given my current crazy workload, but these have been the best two weeks I’ve had in a long time. I’ll miss having you around.” She bit his ear playfully. “And you’re hot.”
Fin growled at her and rolled her onto her back so he could look down at her. He brushed her hair out of her eyes, his face all seriousness. “Best two weeks for me too, lass. But it’s just the beginning. Once we get our schedules sorted, it will only get better.”
“Do you really think so? I’m having difficulty imagining it.”
He kissed her forehead. “We’ll get there. Have faith.” He peppered kisses along her nose, making his way to her mouth, where his kiss deepened. The heat built between them, and they didn’t talk again for a long time.
Chapter20
Scheduling Problems
Beep.“Hey, Fin. Sorry I missed your call. My meeting ran long. I’ll try to catch you tonight.”
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Beep. “Hello, Alexis. Thought I could catch you before you boarded your plane, but looks like I missed you. I’ll be tied up with an event when you’re landing, so I’ll have to try you again tomorrow.”
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Ding. Got your text, you naughty boy. So uncool to send me shirtless pics of you when I’m in a meeting with my boss! LOL
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Beep.“I can’t believe we keep missing each other. I’m going to send you a meeting invite and block out some time for a freaking phone call! It’s inconceivable that I have to schedule my love life like I schedule my projects.”
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Beep.“Last night was lovely. I’ve never done the phone sex thing before. Oh, shite! I hope you aren’t listening on speaker! Eh, sorry about that. Let’s make that a regular Wednesday thing, eh? Later, lass.”
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Ding. Sorry lass, can’t talk. More interviews. Later?
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Ding. Hey, Mr. Hollywood. I’ll be free tonight if you want to talk. Or just breathe heavily at each other. LOL
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Beep.“Good lord, Alexis. Do you always work this hard? Your calendar is completely booked.”
Three weeks later…
Fin closed the lid on his laptop and leaned back, stretching his torso and arms. He’d originally planned to be home in Scotland this week tending to his horses, but the production company had progressed quicker than anyone expected. When word spread that he and McBrewster had teamed up, congratulations—and a few offers—came pouring in from other leading actors, directors, and producers in the industry. Mac and Addie hit it off right away, and before Fin knew it, the company’s offices were up and functioning with the requisite staff to manage the basics. Instead of riding his horses, he found himself mired in the new business.
His caretaker, who lived on-site at the farm, was a top-notch ranch hand, but Fin liked to visit quarterly, if not monthly, to see things for himself. Worried about the extended time away, he’d asked his brother to check in at his Aberdeen property on his behalf. Ethan treated visits to Fin’s ranch as a vacation and reassured Fin that he was excited to spend a weekend at the farm with his family. The horses would get plenty of attention from Ethan’s daughters.
