Page 24 of Savage Blooms (Unearthly Delights #1)

One of the clay pigeons flew into the sky, and Nicola obeyed Eileen’s instructions, keeping her eye trained on the target as it spun through the air. A heartbeat passed, then two, then Eileen’s finger slid down to curl around Nicola’s and pull the trigger.

There was a loud bang, a kick of recoil that shoved Nicola back into Eileen, then, gloriously, the clay shattered in midair.

Eileen let out a triumphant whoop, then took the rifle back from Nicola and slung her arm around her shoulders in a tight hug. Nicola, whose brain felt a little fuzzy from all the close contact, could do little but hold on.

“Well done, well done!” Eileen said. “You’re a natural.”

Nicola understood Adam and Finley a little better right now, at least the way they hung on Eileen’s every word.

“I didn’t realize shooting lessons were included in Craigmar hospitality,” someone said, and Nicola turned to find Finley leaning against a nearby tree, watching them both with a strange, hard glitter in his eyes.

“Want a go, Finney?” Eileen asked, thrusting the gun out to him.

“You know I don’t like guns. Don’t let her bully you into taking up her hobbies, Nicola. Next thing you know she’ll have you out with the hounds hunting hare.”

It sounded like he was half joking, but Nicola balked at the idea of killing a real animal, especially the fat hares that she had spied hopping across the green from her bedroom window. Still, she was enjoying getting to know Eileen better without either of the boys around.

“I wanted to learn,” Nicola said, the wind sweeping her short curls back from her face.

She stuck her chin out imperiously, the way she did when she wanted the last word on something.

Finley had barely spoken to her over the last day, despite the surface-level pleasantries at dinner.

He didn’t get to give her the cold shoulder and then show back up to boss her around.

Finley’s frown deepened, but he said nothing more to Nicola. Instead, he turned to Eileen.

“Dr Dasgupta is going to be here in an hour, and he’s going to wonder why you aren’t in bed.”

“And I’ll tell him that I no longer need to be confined to my room.”

“He ordered bedrest, Eileen.”

“What does he know about what my body needs? Fresh air and exercise, that’s the cure for what ails me.”

“He’s been your doctor since you were a child,” Finley said flatly. “I think he knows a thing or two about what you need.”

“Bah,” Eileen muttered, and hoisted her gun back up against her shoulder. “I’d stand back, if I were you.”

And with that, their conversation was over. Eileen went back to shooting her clay pigeons, and Nicola was left standing awkwardly with Finley, who was quietly fuming.

Nicola turned to him and opened her mouth to say something, anything, but then he just gave a curt nod and started away from her with his long strides.

Nicola jogged to catch up. If he ran, she would chase, at least until she was sure he didn’t want to be caught.

“Did I do something wrong?” Nicola asked as she came up alongside him.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Finley said, not meeting her eyes. Nicola wanted to scream. First he stared at her like she was a gift from God, now he couldn’t even be bothered to acknowledge her existence.

“You’ve been avoiding me.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“Well, you’ve also been rude,” Nicola said, temper stirring inside her chest. “Listen, if I overstepped myself with that kiss, just say so. I don’t want you angry with me. We’ve all got to get along out here.”

Finley stopped suddenly and turned around, and she nearly collided with his broad chest. His hands came up to stabilize her shoulders.

“You think I’m angry with you?” he echoed.

“You’ve certainly been acting like it.”

“Nicola.” Finley swiped a hand over his face and made an anguished sound in the back of his throat.

How was he even more gorgeous when he was miserable?

“I’m not angry. You’ve done nothing wrong.

I’m staying away from you because it’s what’s best for both of us.

Nobody in this house needs any more complications. ”

“But what if I like complications?” Nicola asked, pushing up on her tiptoes just a little bit. It was so hard to rein herself in around Finley, especially when he had that tortured line between his brows.

“You’re making this whole situation very hard on me,” Finley said weakly, taking another step towards her as though their bodies were tethered together by an invisible thread that was slowly but surely pulling tighter.

“Is this about Eileen? Because if what you two have is exclusive, I’ll respect that. I don’t want to come between anyone.”

“No, the boundaries of our relationship are… permeable. There have been others. For me, at least.”

“Then maybe…” Nicola said, her heart fluttering in her throat. Careful. She needed to be careful. Come on too desperate, and he could cast her aside. “Maybe we can go for another walk sometime, you and me?”

“What about Adam?” Finley asked, and Nicola thrilled at the fact that he hadn’t, exactly, said no to her.

“Adam isn’t interested in me.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

Surprise bloomed in Nicola’s chest, nearly knocking her backwards. Questions spilled out of her mouth like water from an underground spring.

“What do you mean? Did you talk to him? What did he say?”

“I’ve already said too much,” Finley grumbled, turning from her and starting his walk back to the cottage.

Nicola jogged to catch up with him one more time, threading her arm through his so they were walking side by side. Finley looked down at the point of contact like it physically pained him, but he didn’t pull away.

“Listen, Finley, I’m sorry for kissing you. I can be a little aggressive when I like someone, and I don’t always think about the consequences.”

“I like that you’re aggressive,” he said, with a rich darkness in his voice that made Nicola’s heart beat even faster. “I like that you know what you want, and I like talking to you, and I like kissing you.”

“Then what’s the problem?” Nicola said quietly.

“You don’t know what it’s like dealing with me. The way I treat the people who get close to me… It isn’t right.”

If Finley was trying to turn her off the idea of getting close to him, he was doing a terrible job of it.

Curiosity and desire flared in Nicola’s chest, and it took all the restraint in her body not to beg him to show her exactly what he meant.

She hadn’t wanted someone the way she wanted Finley in a long time, and she was determined to have him, one way or another.

“You mean the way you treat Eileen?” Nicola asked, walking at a brisk clip.

She realized, hilariously, that Finley wasn’t actually going anywhere.

They had simply circled the house and ended up right back where they started.

“Not that it’s any of my business, but Eileen seems to like it a lot, and so do you. ”

“You’re a very determined person,” Finley said, huffing out a sigh.

“I think it’s one of my best qualities. Tell me to stop, and I’ll stop.”

“I don’t want you to stop.”

“Then can we at least try to be friends?” she asked. “I’m not asking for anything more than that right now.”

“Friends I can agree to,” Finley said, smiling back at her. It was unspeakably satisfying, getting him to crack a smile.

“The doctor will be here soon,” Finley said, glancing back at the house. “I should get going. But thank you for coming after me. I’m not used to being the one who gets pursued. It… feels good.”

“You’re fun to pursue,” Nicola said with a coquettish smile. “But I’m pretty fun to chase down too.”

Finley parted his lips to say something more, but then he just gave another one of those short nods and disappeared into the house.

Nicola was left feeling bubbly and victorious, like she was a bottle of New Year’s champagne.

The wind toyed with the curls at the nape of her neck, and it almost felt like the brush of a lover’s fingers.

Then, the strangest sensation that she was being watched crept in. Nicola turned to face the trees that crowded up against the little cottage, but there was nothing there. She shuddered despite the spring sun breaking through the clouds overhead, then started her walk back to the house.