Page 74 of Left Turn

“That’s odd.” He paused. “I tried to call you too. You never answered my calls. I believed the press had completely ruined my chances with you.”

“I didn’t receive your calls either. The same week?” Her brow furrowed as he nodded. Alex turned her head and her eyes grew distant. “Gabe was right.”

“Right about what?”

“I was at my parents’ ranch that week, and cell reception is terrible there. I assumed that if it rang, the call went through.” She looked back at him. “Shit, Fin. We both tried to contact each other and were defeated by technology. Ugh, what a hot mess.”

Fin reached for her hand and led her to the bench on the porch. “So, you freaked out, but got over it, then gave up again when you couldn’t reach me?”

Alex rolled her eyes. “It sounds so juvenile when you say it like that. But, yes, I ran home like a scared little kid. When you didn’t answer my calls, I assumed you were done with me because I couldn’t handle your fame.” She shrugged. “So I gave up.”

She stood and paced back and forth in front of him. “Fin, I’ve never felt this way before. I’ve never been in a relationship like this before. I’ve always been the one to leave so, when I didn’t want to, I wasn’t sure what to do. Everyone told me I screwed up, but I didn’t believe them. Then the longer I went without you, the more I realized how empty my life seemed. The things I used to think were most important no longer seemed important at all.” She gulped. “Then I watched your interview with Miranda Cole.” She stopped pacing and looked shyly at him. “The one where you said you loved me. Knowing you felt the same way as me… I knew then I had thrown away something wonderful. Can you forgive me?”

Fin reached out and dragged her into his lap. He gripped the back of her neck and pulled her into a fierce kiss. She stiffened, then relaxed. Her arms came up around his neck and she deepened the kiss.

Fin pulled back. “What about your work? Your new position?”

“I took a break. I’m on vacation with strict instructions not to be disturbed. I needed time to get my priorities right.” She searched his eyes. “Can you forgive me?”

“Aye,mo ghràdh, if you can forgive me as well.”

“Forgive you for what? I’m the one who was ‘aff ma heid.’”

Fin burst into laughter at her terrible attempt at a Scottish brogue. “No, lass. I shouldn’t have given up so easily, either. I ken how brutal the media can be. But I also know how strong you are, and I should have given you the benefit of a doubt.”

He noticed her luggage beside the steps. “How did you find me?”

“Oh. Um, your assistant is still updating our travel calendar,” she said as she ducked her head and looked down for a split second before raising her eyes. “You should probably tell her not to enter personal information like your parents’ address. It’s not like you don’t know it, right?” The twinkle in her eyes made him grin.

“Right. I’ll mention it to her.”

“Ahem.” The quiet voice from the front lawn had Alex scrambling out of his lap and adjusting her clothes. “Giving the neighborhood a show, big brother?”

“Cat.” Fin grinned at the tall, dark-headed woman nonchalantly observing them from the sidewalk. “Let me introduce you to Alex, sister mine.”

Chapter27

Beginnings

Two months later…

Alex sat back in the first-class seat and closed her eyes. Her new department was gaining traction. She would split her time between the two base offices in Glasgow and Houston. Last month, she’d flown over to organize setting up the Glasgow office. While there, she’d moved in with Fin and now shared his upscale apartment. This trip marked her first stint in Glasgow, which would last three months until she traveled back to Houston for the mid-year budgeting process.Today is the beginning of the rest of your life, she thought as she smiled to herself.

“Excuse me, miss?” a deep, soft-spoken voice with a lovely Scottish accent spoke next to her. “That is my seat.”

Alex’s smile grew bigger as she opened her eyes to stare up into a pair of dazzling blue eyes looking back at her. “Oh, I’m sorry. Am I in the wrong seat?” She batted her eyelashes up at him.

Fin kissed her before sliding into the window seat beside her. “No,mo chridhe, you are right where you belong.”

“When you texted me your connecting flight was running late, I worried you’d miss this one. I’m happy to see you made it on the plane.”

He buckled his seatbelt and reached over to hold her hand. “I can move fast when motivated. Remind me to thank my assistant for finding coordinating flights, allowing us to fly this leg together.” Fin grinned. “We’re finally doing this. I thought the day would never come.”

“Right? I’m so excited I can’t sit still. What a journey!”

“Aye, lass.”

The captain came on overhead, making sure everyone was settled so they could close the cabin door and be on their way.

She didn’t believe in fate, but that left turn she’d once described to her mother had somehow melded their two worlds into one. On matters of fate and destiny, it made one wonder.

She lifted Fin’s hand in hers and kissed the back of it. “I love you,” she said.

“Aye,mo ghràdh, and I you.”