“Stop it. Just stop. I don’t want to hear it. Not now,” I said and barged toward the mansion. Dexter still stood atop the stairs.
“Well, Grace. I guess that leaves just you and me,” he said. I stopped right in front of him and looked him straight in the eye. He cleared his throat and gave me a petty smile. “I’m willing to take you back if you promise you’ll never look back.”
“Oh really?” I said. “That’s so sweet.” I pursed my lips.
Dexter closed his eyes and pursed his too.
“You can take this back,” I said, and I balled my fist and stomped him right in the face.
Dexter fell to the ground, his nose and lip bloody and he didn’t come up, not even after I already slammed the door behind me.
Chapter 7
I bawled my eyes out, hugging my fluffy pillows, while mulling about the situation. I’d just lost Finn, because of a stupid idea that my father would see through eventually. I knew it would happen and I’d gone through with it anyway. Now look at what you’ve done, Grace.
I couldn’t believe Finn killed his father. I knew he was in prison, but I never asked what for. I always thought it was for some random theft or something small, but I didn’t realize it could’ve been so much more than that. Seven years in prison for murder. It couldn’t be true.
I heard the door creak and listened to the muffled steps coming closer. Louis came up to me and sat down beside me on my bed.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“No, I’m not alright,” I said, whimpering.
He pulled me closer and let me drop my head on his chest.
He patted my head, shushing me. “You know, I’ve seen you grow up into a fine, young woman, Miss Bennett.”
“Don’t call me that. I’m just Grace.”
He chuckled. “Grace. So tell me why you’re crying here now.”
I shook my head. “Isn’t it obvious? I just lost the one person who accepted me for who I am without going after my money.”
“Well then why aren’t you going after him? If you’ve lost him, you can find him again. That’s why I asked you why you were crying. You could be running after him instead.”
I wiped away a tear. “It’s not that simple, Louis. I can’t just follow him. I mean, how can I be with someone when I barely know him.”
“But Grace, you said you liked him.”
“I do, it’s just that I wanted someone to believe in. Now I’m not so sure anymore. I mean, I know he was a criminal, I just didn’t know he actually murdered his own father.”
“Did you ask?”
I looked up at Louis. “No … not really.”
“Then you can’t blame him for not telling.”
I sighed and it was quiet for a moment. I didn’t know what he’d done up until today. But Finn wouldn’t tell me either. Maybe there was more to it. Maybe Dexter didn’t have the entire story and neither did I or my father.
“Finn seemed like a good man,” Louis said.
“He is.” I smiled, thinking about Finn. I missed him already.
“Not the type to commit such a crime without a clear incentive,” Louis said.
“I know, that’s what’s bothering me so much.”
“You know, letting a loved one go is not the smartest thing in the world,” Louis said. “Before you know it, you end up like me, alone, as a butler in a house that’s not yours, with the love of your life gone forever, because you didn’t have the guts to follow her.”
I looked up at him and he smiled back, but then looked away toward the window. “Louis, you never told me—”
“I know. That’s not important right now. You obviously like Finn. You’re crying about him because you want him back. And now you can’t decide whether you can accept the fact that he did these things or not.”
I nodded. “I just wish this all never happened.”
“But you’ve actually already made your decision,” Louis continued. “The point is, what are you waiting for?” Louis grabbed my arms.
I looked into his eyes and saw the determination that I was missing all along. It sparked my own flame.
“Thank you, Louis.” I pecked him on the forehead.
“Don’t forget your old butler when you’re gone, Grace. I’ll miss you,” he said.
I grabbed my purse and all my important belongings, and then looked around the room to say my last goodbyes. “I’ll miss you too, Louis.
Then I jolted out of the room, leaving all my vapid memories behind.
***
When Finn opened the door to his apartment and saw me standing there, the expression on his face turned from frowning to blank.
“Grace, what are you doing here?” His eyes were red, as if he’d been crying, and he held a plastic tape in his hand.
I peeked over his shoulder. A bunch of boxes were spread out across the floor and half his furniture was missing.
“Are you moving?” I asked.
Finn supported his weight on the door. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I have no reason to stay here anymore. I suppose now that I’ve been exposed, your father will have his dogs hunting for me in no time, so I figured I’d have to move to someplace far away.”
He turned around and walked into his shell like living room, grabbing a box and filling it with pots and pans.
I walked after him, step by step, mustering the courage to take the jump. I inhaled. “I want to come with you.”
Finn stopped with packing and turned his head. “What did you say?”
I came closer. “Finn, I want to be with you.”
He stood up and faced me. “Are you serious? Come on, Grace, get it together. There’s no way.”
“Yes, I am. I’m coming with you and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
He wiped away the sweat from his head and laughed. “You’re messing with me. You can’t do this to me, Grace. Your father will never allow it. Please, just go away.” Tears clouded his eyes.
“No, Finn. I’m going wherever you’re going and that’s it. I don’t care about my father.”
“But you’ll be kicked from the heritage,” he said.
“So be it. I don’t give a damn. You’re mine Finn and I won’t let anyone else have you.”
He chuckled, wiping his eyes dry. “But you know I was sentenced for killing my father.”
“I know, Finn, but I believe you must’ve done it for some good reason. I trust you. I believe you are good, down there.” I pressed my finger onto his chest, right above his heart.
He smiled. “So you’re not angry?”
“No and I’m sticking with you.” I took his hands. “Let’s elope together.”
I pulled his face closer and kissed him on the lips. At first I was smothering him. He seemed surprised, but after a while, he started kissing me back. He pushed his lips onto mine so hard, it was like he wanted to suck me dry. Clasped together, one moment in time, the best feeling in my life.
When he withdrew, I looked into his eyes. “I love you, Finn Wood. I’ve always loved you.” I couldn’t believe I’d just said those words, but I did. And it’s true. I do … I love him.
He nuzzled me and wrapped his arms around me. “I love you too, Grace Bennett.”
We smiled and pecked each other on weird little places that were all ours. Everything about him was mine to keep. Forever, together with him, that was all that mattered. Where and when, didn’t matter.
“Suppose we still have to pack,” he said. “Since you’re going to elope with me.”
“Yes, but I hope you weren’t actually planning on marrying me just yet,” I said, chortling. “I know my father demanded it, but now that we’re free, we can take it as slow as we’d like.”
Finn traced my spine with his index finger and hugged me tighter. “Guess you’ll find out once I propose.”
I blushed and rested my head against his chest. I knew we had to get away soon, before my father found out where I was. He’d eventually find this place and tear us ap
art. I wouldn’t let that happen. I didn’t care about my father’s legacy anymore. Finn was all that mattered. Our risqué sex was over and now it was time for freedom.
###
End of part 2
Look for the sequel,
DOING IT FREE,
Coming soon
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First Dance With You
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Doing It Risqué (New Adult Erotic Romance) Book 2 Page 5