WALKING THE LINE

Chapter 2

ELLIE

My first thought on seeing Finn as he swiveled on the bar stool to face me was emerald eyes, seriously, aren't you taking the Irish cliché to extremes?

Though technically his eyes weren't green, more a combination of blue and jade, resulting in a startling aquamarine that left me a little breathless. And I never lost my breath over a guy. Not anymore.

Kye gestured between us. "Finn Ahearn, meet Ellie Finch."

Then Finn had to go and smile and dammit, he had a dimple.

"Nice to meet you, Ellie." He stuck out his hand and I stared at it, shaken to my core.

That voice. That accent. Like Sean Connery and Alan Rickman slugging it out in an audition to star in an Irish feature film. So damn sexy.

I didn't want to admit it, but I tingled. Down there. In a way I hadn't tingled in a looooong time.

"You too." I shook his hand, releasing it as fast as humanly possible, earning a raised eyebrow and sardonic twist of his lips.

His lips...full. Sensual. Kissable.

What the hell was wrong with me?

I didn't lust over guys. I had the occasional meaningless one night stand to scratch a physical itch. Guys who knew the score. Bonking buddies. Guys far removed from Finn, an intriguing blend of innocence and charm, like he wanted to be naughty but didn't know how to do it.

Time to cut my losses and run.

"Ellie's short-staffed and I thought you might want to help her out." Kye slapped Finn on the back and damned if the both of them didn't look at me like some life-saving angel.

So much for reneging.

"Can you start tonight?" Once again, I sounded harsh and mean, but rather than get defensive as most people did around me, Finn actually laughed.

"Absolutely." He leaned forward a little, amusement quirking his mouth. "If you personally show me the ropes, that is."

Oh my God. The guy was flirting with me? In front of Kye? I'd never hear the end of it.

"Come back at seven. We open at eight." I looked him up and down, wishing I hadn't. Lean legs, zero abdominal body fat, decent pecs and biceps a girl could grip onto while riding him all night long.

That observation was so not helping.

I probably needed to get laid. It had been about four months. Not that I counted or cared. But if my reaction to the Irishman I'd just met was any indication, I needed to do the horizontal shimmy with a buddy sooner rather than later.

"Wear black pants and a white shirt," I said, turning on my heel and stalking back toward the office. Not before I'd seen Kye's knowing smirk.

Damn, the kid knew me too well. I was rattled and it showed.

"Thanks, Ellie," Kye called out, a teasing lilt in his voice, and I raised my hand without looking back.

"See you later," Finn said, and damned if my insides didn't quiver. The deep, sexy voice was bad enough. Throw in the charming accent and all I wanted to do was turn around and fire him before he'd started.

I made it to the safety of my office and slammed the door. It didn't help the uncertainty churning my gut as I looked out through the one-way mirrored window, wondering what the hell I'd just done.