Page 78 of Damián

“But did you agree on being exclusive while on the mission, or…?”

“We are boyfriends.” I throw my hands up in frustration. “I’m pretty sure being exclusive is a given!”

Finni slides his hand across the table and gently holds my arm. “Aye, Dami… But you’re fake boyfriends.”

“What are you saying?” I ask, even though I know exactly what he is saying.

“I’m saying he can sleep with anyone he wants. Just like you can.”

I groan, tired and annoyed. I rest my forehead on the table and take a deep breath.

Ugh… this sucks.

“Can I ask you something personal?” I ask, and he nods. “What do you see in Logan? Why him?”

Finnian’s freckled face blushes the same way it does whenever he sees Logan, and he sighs.

“Well, he’s… fascinating. He’s a good lad who helps strangers with the same dedication he would use to help his own family. He is loyal to a fault, he’s strong, an’… an’ he is pure fit. So bloody sexy.”

“But it’s been over two years, Finni. How can you like someone for that long when the feeling isn’t being reciprocated?”

“Because I don’t fancy someone conditionally. My feelings for him don’t depend on whether he fancies us back.”

“Mmm…” I chug what’s left of my coffee and let out a sigh.

“This is a mess.”

“Speaking of messes,” Finni says, taking my empty cup and placing it on a tray. “I fired Kai.”

“You did? Wasn’t that a little harsh?”

“It wasn’t. Besides the fact that what he tried to do to a customer is a pure fireable offense, he tried to hurt someone you care about.”

“Yeah, but he didn’t hurt Oliver.”

“Only because you stopped him. An’ I will not have my employees trying to hurt ma family out of their own bloody jealousy.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank us yet.” Finni points a spoon at me. “You’re going to have to find us a new employee.”

“Don’t you get dozens of applications a day?”

“Aye. From young laddies an’ lassies.”

“And you need what? A goat?”

“Well, thanks to you, lovely Harknetts constantly parading in here, I need an eighty-year-old grandmother, an asexual, or aye, a damn goat. Whichever comes first.”

“Why are you blaming us?” I laugh.

“Because it’s better for ma peace of mind.” Finni slips a fresh croissant into a paper to-go bag and shoves it into my hands. “Now get out of here. I have twenty minutes to open this place.”

“Thanks! I’ll tell Logan you are the best.”

He blushes again, but still points at the door. “Out!”

“Bye!” I say, and I leave the bakery in a good mood.