Doing It Risqué (New Adult Erotic Romance) Book 2 (5 page)

My father wouldn’t let Finn out of his sight for even a second, so we never got some time alone together. I was dying to talk to him about how he managed to pull this off and more; if he was really planning to marry me. I knew he’d said it to my father as a means to persuade him to ditch Dexter, but it was one heck of a leap from fling to hubby. I got cold sweat only thinking about it.

It was my father’s idea to have dinner at the Plaisir, a fancy French restaurant somewhere up town, so the three of us could get to know each other better. Of course, me and Finn were chuckling when we sat in the limo, while he sat across from me and my father sat next to me.

When we arrived at the Plaisir, Finn helped me get out like a true gentleman. I’d never realized he was capable of all this. Finn Wood, the construction worker, the dirty, sexy, hard working ex-convict, now dressed in a tailored suit, hair combed back, slick with gel, escorting me to an expensive restaurant. It was all very unreal.

When we sat down at the table, my father ordered a bottle of champagne to celebrate the new deal, or in other words, his big earned bucks. I was sitting next to Finn and had a hard time not sneaking peeks at him, as he looked better than ever. The hint of cologne he was wearing made my senses tingle.

My father popped the cork and filled the glasses to the rim.

“Cheers!” he said and gulped it down.

I tried to do the same, but got a bit lightheaded in the process. Finn squeezed my hand that was on my lap under the table. I almost spurted out the champagne.

“So, Finn, why is it that you want to marry my daughter?” my father asked.

Finn looked at me, his eyes sparkling with passion. “I think your daughter will prove to be a fine wife. Nice, enjoyable, amusing and beautiful.”

I scrunched my lips and smiled. “That’s sweet, Finn.”

My father’s laugh was like a bellow. “Really? She used to be a pain in the butt, not wanting to find a man.”

“Father!” I frowned at him. “I did want a man, actually, just not the ones you presented. I told you I could find a handsome guy with a good background.” I looked at Finn and winked sideways, avoiding the chance that my father would find out.

“And find him, you did.” My father drank another glass of champagne. “So, tell me, Finn, what is it that you do?”

Finn cleared his throat. “Oh, I um…”

“Father, let’s not talk business yet. It’s way too early. Instead, let’s enjoy the French food.”

My father’s lip curled up into a sly smile. “You’re right. My appetite isn’t getting any less as we wait.” He chuckled then flicked h
is finger to the waitress.“Menus, please.”

The lady sashayed to the bar and brou
ght us fine, leather bound menus. When I opened it, I noticed all the food was written in French, with tiny, English lettering as translation below.

“Looks mighty fine,” my father said. “What are you having, Finn?”

Finn gazed at the pages, his eyes shifting back and forth, to left and right, not lingering on any plate longer than a second.

“I’ll have the …” he stammered, his finger tracing each word.

The menu was wobbling up and down in his trembling hands. I looked at his face, sweat trickling down his cheeks.

Shit, shit shit, I totally forgot! Finn can’t read!

I snatched the menu from his hands. “We’ll have the boeuf à la provencale,” I said and shut both menus.
Marinated steak with herbs. Perfect and easy.
“Finn likes it when girls are assertive, don’t you? Louis told me.”

Finn blinked a couple of times then opened his mouth. “Ah … Yes, yes of course. I like tasting all kinds of different things.” He exhaled and smiled at me, pinching my hand underneath the table.

I hoped we didn’t have to face any more weirdness tonight and I was glad to get this over with, but something gnawed inside. How could I keep up this façade? I couldn’t and that was the problem. Sooner or later, my father would find out who Finn really was and then shit would hit the fan. All while chewing on the delicious meal, I couldn’t help but ponder what I would do if, or rather ‘when’ it would happen.

***

I was hanging on Finn’s arm as we walked from the gate, through the garden, to the mansion. My father said he needed some fresh air after drinking too much, but I knew he just wanted to smoke and didn’t want his car to smell. So, we had a nice, gentle walk home. I knew I had to say goodbye to Finn once we got to the house, knowing he couldn’t come inside, as my father only knew him for one day, so I savored every second with him. I was continuously staring into his magnificent, green eyes and dreamed about our future, what it would be like, and how we would uphold this charade.

“Welcome back.”

I turned my head to see Dexter standing atop the staircase to my house. His face was red, glasses askew, his tie hung loose and one button of his shirt was missing. In his hand he held a bunch of papers.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I said.

“I told you I would not let this rest.” Dexter pointed at Finn. “You…”

“Shut up and leave, now, or I’ll call the guards on you,” my father said.

“Wait,” Dexter raised a finger. “You have to hear this. Don’t you want to know who that man is, who’s wriggling his way into your fortune?”

I pulled Finn closer, squeezing his arm.

“This had better be quick.” My father squinted.

“That man is a fraud,” Dexter said, pointing at Finn.

My eyes widened.
No, he didn’t. He couldn’t have.

“Finn Wood is lying. He’s not rich nor is his family. I have proof right here.” Dexter swayed the papers back and forth, his fingers shaking underneath. “I had to dig deep to find this, but it was worth it.” He held them up in the air. “Look at it!”

The first page clearly showed a picture of Finn, not in his best outfit; scruffy jeans and a dirty, simple white shirt. His stubbly beard present as I was used to. Below were all kinds of numbers and names, dates and other information. A birth certificate. His real job. The place he lived.

My breath caught in my throat.
This can’t be real, this can’t be happening right now.

Dexter handed the papers over to my dad, but kept one and held it up, gazing at me. “See this here? This is your future husband.”

On the paper, Finn was pictured, dressed in an orange suit, and in his hands he held a plate with a series of numbers on it.

No!

My father gazed at the papers and the one in Dexter’s hand. His fists crumpled up every last bit.

“Finn Wood is a criminal. He’s a felon. Someone who’s served seven years and did the most horrible thing in the world,” Dexter said.

“Is this true?” my father said, directing his gaze toward Finn.

Finn’s jaws were tightly shut, but I saw his nose twitching.

“Father, please, don’t do this.”

“I said, is this true?” My father was almost hissing.

“Oh, yes, it’s true,” Dexter said, cackling. “He’s a poor, silly, dimwitted fool who’s nothing more than a blob and earns a meager salary from lifting things at a construction site. Nothing to be proud of.”

“Shut your fucking mouth, dipshit!” I screamed. “I’ve seen Finn work. He’s loving, kind, helpful and sweet and he works hard to pay his bills. You just live off your daddy’s money. Finn’s better than you’ll ever be!”

And then I realized I just spouted everything there was to know about Finn, which I shouldn’t have known, if we were still upholding the deception. I screwed it.

My father turned around toward me. “Grace? You knew about this?”

I let go of Finn and hung around my father’s arm. “Father, please, I want Finn in my life.”

My father tugged his arm loose.

“Want to know what he did?” Dexter said. “Here. I’ll tell you. He’s a sleazebag who was convicted for killing his own father.”

My pupils dilated and I turned around to face Finn. “What? Finn, is that true?”

“Yes,” he said, his teeth barely separating.

“You invited a prisoner into our home? Grace, how could you?” my father said, clenching his fists.

“I like Finn, father. I want to be with him.”

Dexter laughed. “Are you kidding me? That guy is only after your money. He’s a criminal who should be locked away forever.”

“Shut your damn mouth,” Finn suddenly blurted out. His nostrils flared. “I did my time. I earned my freedom. You, however, deserve nothing at all,” he pointed at Dexter, who cowered at his finger.

“And Mister Bennett,” Finn directed his gaze at my father. “I offered to love your daughter for all she’s worth without asking anything in return. I’m sorry I lied. I’m not rich, I can’t read and I’m an ex-convict, but I can love your daughter more than any other dude you pair her with and I thought that would be enough. I’m not after your money, I just wanted your daughter to be mine, that was all.” He exhaled loudly.

“But you killed your own father?” I asked, my legs quivering beneath me.

“I told you what I was and where I came from. I have nothing to explain myself for. Believe what you want to believe. Dexter here has all the facts, doesn’t he? You can believe him if you want, like I care.” Finn turned around and started walking toward the fence.

“Finn, wait!” I said, but stayed put, not knowing what to do with this information and after all that happened, I was stunned.

Finn only waved and left.

I looked at my father who was stroking his mustache. “Grace, you—”

“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.

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 apart. 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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Raveled By You (Enflamed, #1)

Hooked By You (Enflamed, #2)

Cling To You (Enflamed, #3)

Doing It Wild (Doing It, #1)

First Dance With You

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