corner. As he sat down, Angus promptly curled up in his lap.
I nodded at him as I took a seat on the sofa next to Cole. “He seems to have settled in okay?”
“Yeah. I’m keeping him in for a bit, though, until he gets used to being here. Don’t want him running off.” He turned to Cole. “So don’t let him out when you go.”
Cole laughed and shook his head. “Is that your subtle way of asking me to leave?”
“No.” Finn’s grin said otherwise. “But Mum said you had work this afternoon, so . . .”
“I do.” Cole stood and glanced back at me. “You all right getting home?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I can catch the bus from outside Sainsbury’s.”
“I’ll drop you back,” Finn offered.
“Nah, it’s fine, really.” I didn’t want him to think I was a pain in the arse before we’d even started.
“I’m popping to Mum and Dad’s anyway, so it’s no trouble.” He had that tone that said he wasn’t going to back down, and so I gracefully accepted defeat.
“That’d be great. Thanks.”
“Right, I’ll head off, then.” Cole walked towards the door, calling over his shoulder, “Text me later, tell me how it goes.” He could’ve been talking to either of us, or both, who knew? But he didn’t wait for an answer and the sound of the front door opening and closing followed a few seconds later.
Leaving us alone.
I’d never felt awkward being alone with Finn before; we got on all right.
But this time seemed different. I’d grown up a lot in my year away, had to really, but I’d put money on the problem being last weekend at the bar. And what might have happened if Finn hadn’t realised who I was.
Letting things fester wasn’t my style, I liked to get things out in the open and talked about. Usually, that is. That philosophy seemed to disappear when it came to my parents. But if I was going to live with Finn—and I hoped that was the case—we needed to clear the air.
“So.” I sat forward; hands clasped. “We should talk about Saturday night.”
From his shocked expression, it was the last thing he’d expected me to say. But after studying me for a second or two, he blew out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I guess we should.”
Taking the bull by the horns, I met his gaze. “I know you found me attractive when you didn’t recognise me.”
He huffed out a laugh, gaze doing a quick sweep of my body. “You’ve changed a bit since you’ve been away.”
At least he didn’t deny it. I appreciated that. “I have.” I’d filled out, grown a bit more body hair, and fending for myself for twelve months had given me a newfound confidence. “And I also know that attraction disappeared as soon as you realised who I was.”
He didn’t say anything for a second, and my heart skipped a beat, but then he sighed again, sounding resigned, and I knew what was coming. “I wouldn’t say it disappeared, exactly, but it certainly put a damper on things. You’re a nice guy, Jasper, and yes, attractive too, but you’re also five years younger than me and Cole’s best mate.”
I wanted to point out that was nothing really, but I held my tongue. He didn’t want to hear it and it would make no difference. Besides, I wanted a room in his house more than I wanted a quick fuck.
“I understand,” I said, offering him my friendliest smile. “Nothing’s going to happen between us. You’ll get no argument from me.” For a moment, I’d swear he looked offended, which made me want to laugh but I managed to hold it in.
“Right then. Glad we got that sorted.” He stood, so I did the same. “Let me show you the house.”
It was lovely.
That was the one word that stuck in my head as Finn took me round room after room, the pride he felt clear in his voice. And I didn’t blame him.
It was tastefully decorated, clean, tidy, and gave a warm, cosy feeling that screamed home. If he didn’t let me move in, I might cry.
“And this is the garden.” With a quick glance to check Angus was still fast asleep on the sofa, he opened the French doors and led me out onto a slabbed patio area that ran the width of the house, then curved away to one side to form a large area where I saw what I presumed to be a covered