If I’d just given him a chance to explain. Why hadn’t I done that and saved us both the heartache?
When he turned to take a swig of his water and removed his T-shirt, I got the shock of my life. The huge, intricate tattoo of stars and Celtic markings on his back along with the words ‘Strìc de dhuais’ was just beautiful.A stroke of fate. The words Hetty had used for mine and Fin’s meeting. The colours danced under the lights in the venue, and a lump of emotion lodged itself in my throat. He had done that forme—this man who vowed never to have a tattoo on account of the pain. I smiled through the tears fogging my eyes. I wanted to run to him. Throw my arms round him and kiss him until we were both breathless.
Suddenly, the huge dude in front of me moved, and Fin’s eyes locked on mine like a homing device. As if drawn by some unseen force, I walked towards him as he sang about an eternal kiss. A smile spread across his face, and my insides knotted as tears over spilled my eyes. Wow, he looked amazing. All bare-chested, shaggy haired, bearded, and sexy.
And that tattoo.
Oh. My. God.
Fin stuck the mic back in its stand and nodded to Nate, who took over on vocals, and then he jumped down from the stage and the crowd parted like the red sea, and he was Moses. My heart thundered in my chest, and I was grinning like a goof in spite of my tears, but I didn’t care.
He stopped only inches from me as most of the crowd around us carried on dancing. ‘You’re... you’rehere,’ he said disbelievingly.
I swiped at the damp trails on my face. ‘I am. If you... if you still want me.’
He shook his head. ‘IfI still want you?’
I nodded, and the fear that he might say no suddenly hit me. My stomach dropped. After all, he hadn’t closed the remaining gap between us. He hadn’t touched me, even though my fingers were itching to reach out and caress the skin of his chest. But still he stood there, his chest heaving and glistening with sweat.
‘I like your hair.’ He reached out and took a strand between his fingers. ‘Red suits you.’
‘Th-thanks. I like your tattoo.’
Finally, he stepped closer. ‘It’s for you.’
I could feel the heat radiating from his body, and I swallowed. ‘It is?’
It was his turn to nod now. A smile tilted up his mouth at one side. ‘I’m glad you like it. Strìc de dhuais. Do you remember?’
‘Oh, Fin. How could I forget?’
The fact that the music had stopped and the whole room was now staring at us began to register in my brain, but my eyes were transfixed on the blue irises of the man before me.
I reached out a tentative hand and touched his firm chest. ‘I love it. In fact... I... I loveyou, Fin.’
Suddenly, he scooped me up into his arms and my feet left the floor. His lips crashed into mine, and my hands found the strands of his sweat-soaked hair. The familiar taste of his kiss melted my insides.
I was home.
Home with Fin where I belonged, and where I would remain. For as long he wanted me.
Strìc de dhuais.
Epilogue
Five years later...
The summer sun beat down on us as we took the familiar path through Calton Old Burial Ground, the little blonde-haired boy skipping before us as I held his mother’s hand.
She gazed up at me and sighed. ‘What a beautiful day.’
I nodded my agreement. ‘It sure is, sweetheart.’
She inhaled a long breath and let it go again with a big smile on her face. ‘I love this city so much.’
I chuckled. ‘Aye, I kind of guessed you did.’
‘Mummy, Daddy, look!’
