Wednesday rolled around, and as we had agreed, Fin arrived on my doorstep at eight sharp. I opened the door and swallowed hard when I took in his appearance. It was as if I was seeing him for the first time all over again. A fitted black T-shirt withThe Darknessemblazoned on the front showcased the toned planes of his chest, and I trailed my eyes down towards his jeans.Oh my God. I’m staring at his crotch!I immediately snapped my eyes back up to his, which were now sparkling playfully. His dirty-blonde hair was getting shaggier, and he was looking less like a lawyer and more like a lead singer in a rock band which, obviously, made him even sexier. I was kinda glad he hadn’t shaved off his beard. There was something just so damned...manlyabout him. Okay, so that’s crazy talk seeing as heisa man and all, but wow... no man had ever filled me with such desire without even speaking a word.
‘Hi. I was just in the neighbourhood and thought I’d stop by and, you know, see if you fancy going for a wee singalong? I know this great karaoke bar.’ He had purposefully broadened his accent playfully, and as he winked, I fought the urge to giggle like a schoolgirl, and play with my hair, or throw myself into his arms.
Joining in on his little skit, I tilted my head to one side, putting on a little bit of a Southern Belle accent. ‘Oh, I don’t know. I do declare I’ll have to check my diary. I may have other plans.’
He rubbed his chin and shook his head. ‘Well, I can’t say I’m surprised. Sexy girl like you with that accent. You must be fighting them off.’
I rolled my eyes and couldn’t fight the giggle any longer. ‘Oh, purlease... I’m from nowhere near the South. I’m a Midwestern gal and don’t you forget it. Come on, let’s go before my head gets any bigger and we have to wheel my ego in a cart.’
He held out his elbow for me and I linked my arm through his.
‘So...Wednesday is a happening night, is it?’ he asked after we had walked in silence for a while.
‘Oh, absolutely. All the sophisticated folks go to karaoke on a Wednesday. How did you not know this?’
He chuckled. ‘Well, they do say you learn something new every day.’
‘They sure do.’ We walked along a while longer in silence, and every time I glanced at him in my peripheral vision, he was staring at me. I tucked my hair behind my ear, suddenly very self-conscious. ‘What?’
He gave a small, nonchalant shrug. ‘I was just admiring the view.’
‘Well, Edinburgh is rather a beautiful city.’ I chewed on my lip.
He shook his head, nudged me, and smiled in that lopsided way that made my heart do a dance. ‘I was talking aboutyouand you know it. God, you’re so self-deprecating. It’s endearing that you just don’t get how gorgeous you are.’
I scrunched my brow. What the hell did I say tothat? I figured it best to stay silent or change the subject. Luckily, we arrived at the door to the club and made our way inside. It was busy, which was a relief after I had insisted on going there. We grabbed a table and sat as someone murdered a really good song on stage.
Fin leaned in and spoke directly into my ear. ‘So, are we doing a duet then?’ Thankfully, he dragged my focus away from the guy on stage now everyone was booing him. Have you ever had that situation where your insides knot through embarrassment for someone else? Yeah, well that was me.
I opened my mouth and my response came out with a little too much passion. ‘What? No way!’
He laughed. ‘So you can’t sing?’
‘I choosenotto sing. That’s for the likes of those whoaretalented in that area, like you.’
He covered his heart with his hand and dramatically replied, ‘Ah, the lady doth flatter me.’
‘Nope. The lady doth not wanna get on that stage and make a total asseth hatteth of herself.’
Shaking his head and smiling, he stood and walked over to the bar without further response. As I watched him walk away, focusing my attention on his more than fine derriere, I had to remind myself I was taking things slow.
After a while I was beginning to think he had run out on me, and I was peering around the dimly lit bar, searching for him. Thankfully, I caught his gaze and his eyes locked on mine. Eventually he arrived back at the table and placed a bottle of beer down before me. He was grinning from ear to ear.
‘What are you looking so pleased about?’
He chewed on his lip for a moment. ‘Oh, I was... um... putting my name down to sing in a while.’
I was shocked he had chosen to do this when he was sober. The last time I had seen him sing he had been a little worse for wear, and so I was suddenly filled with admiration for the handsome, shy man.
Intrigued, I pried for more information. ‘What song did you choose?’ He simply tapped his nose and shook his head.So, we’re playing a guessing game, huh?‘Oh, okay. I’ll just wait and see then.’
‘So how’s life at the coffee shop these days?’
I snorted. ‘Oh, God. You’re not going to want to talk about the weather too, are you?’
His gaze dropped and he picked at the label on his beer bottle. ‘Ugh, sorry. I’m not so great at small talk, I guess. I’m actually kind of shy, you know.’
Guilt needled at me and I reached over and squeezed his arm, hoping I hadn’t just pushed the emerging conversationalist back into his cocoon. ‘Hey, I’m sorry. Things are good. Although it was always more fun when my day started with a visit from my favourite blonde-haired, blue-eyed Scotsman.’
