A Little Secret (The Little Things #4)

Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

GRIFFIN

T he girl has to know. She has to. There’s no other reason she’d say my name and fuck with my head like this.

Right?

Or maybe it’s why she said my name. Because she honestly believes I can’t hear her through the vents.

Then again, why would she know? I don’t bring girls home, and Everett’s been staying at the cabin instead of sharing the room with me until the girls’ side of the duplex is finished, so it’s not like I talk to anyone when I’m in my room. And yeah, I shouldn’t have jacked off last night knowing we’re the only two home, but I thought she was asleep. I thought…

Fuck, did she hear me, too?

The door swings both ways. It was late, and I was quiet, but…it’s possible. Shit, it’s possible. Reaching for a glass from the cabinet, I fill it under the sink when a familiar creak comes from the hallway.

I turn toward the sound, and Finley stops short.

“Oh. Hi,” she announces .

I lift my chin in greeting, then turn off the faucet and take a drink, watching her over the rim of the glass.

What are you gonna do, Finley?

“So.” She swings her arms behind her and clasps her fingers at the base of her spine. “How’d you sleep?”

“Fine,” I offer. “You?”

“Fine.” She hesitates, and I swear we’re in a standoff. A game of chicken. Hell, I feel like I’ve been transported to an old Western movie and am waiting for her to yell, “Draw!”

“There a problem, Finley?” I prod.

“No problem.” She runs her tongue along her teeth, staring at me. “Did you…invite anyone over last night?”

She heard me. It’s all she needs to say for me to know the truth. She heard me, and she thinks I had company. The question is, if she heard me, why the hell did she touch herself afterward?

I quirk my brow. “Is this your sleuthing face?”

“What?” she asks.

“Nothing, I just… Don’t get me wrong. I know it’s been a while since you’ve even looked me in the eye, but I figured you’d have a better sleuthing face than this. Honestly, it needs some work.”

She rolls her eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Did I invite anyone over last night?” I repeat, tossing her own words back at her. “I don’t know. How ‘bout you, Fin?”

“Why would I have company over?” she volleys back at me.

“So, it was only you, huh?”

Her throat tightens on a swallow. “Okay, so the vents go both ways. Noted. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” She hobbles closer on her bum ankle with her shoulders back and her head held high, moving to the coffee pot beside me.

I grab her a mug from the cabinet, set it beside the coffee pot, and wait, refusing to back down or give her more room than necessary. Hell, if anything, I give her less. Call me a dick, but I’m curious. We’ve been dancing around each other for weeks now, masturbated a floor away from each other, and she’s gonna…what? Pretend like nothing happened?

Her lips purse as she sidles up next to me, waiting for the coffee to finish brewing as I stare down at her and silently call her bluff.

Clicking her nails against the countertop, she stares straight ahead, like she can’t feel my presence, until she finally blurts out, “There’s nothing wrong with a little self-care.”

“Not at all,” I agree.

“Although, you should probably stick to the shower,” she adds, craning her head up to look at me. “You know, so I don’t have to be scarred and all.”

I chuckle dryly. “You didn’t sound very scarred.”

“Maybe I was on the phone with Drew.”

Liar.

My fingertips turn white against my glass. I steal another sip, ignoring the sizzle in my veins from his name alone. “Trust me. I know when you’re talking to Drew.”

“Oh, you do, do you?”

“You said so yourself. The vent goes both ways. And you weren’t cursing or crying, so…” I hesitate and cock my head, taking her in. “I take it back. You did curse…right before you said my name.”

Her gaze narrows, but a blush hits her cheeks. “You need to have your hearing checked. ”

“I could hear you just fine, and you obviously heard me, or else you wouldn’t have done your self-care. Am I right?”

She scoffs. “Don’t flatter yourself.” Pouring the coffee into her mug, she turns around and faces me fully. “And I’m serious about using the shower instead. I don’t want to hear…any of that.”

“Why? Does it make you curious?” I challenge.

Another laugh escapes her. “Hardly.”

My mouth twitches. “To be fair, I didn’t know you were still awake. And I didn’t say your name, but you sure as shit said mine.” I shift closer, crowding her against the counter. “Pretty sure Drew would love that, wouldn’t he?” My attention falls to her mouth. Fuck. She looks so…touchable like this. High, messy ponytail. No make up. Only a baggy t-shirt swallowing her curvy frame. My hand itches to reach out and grab her waist, but I fist it at my side instead. Bending closer, I breathe out, “Don’t worry, Fin. It’s our little secret.”

Avoiding my gaze, she huffs, “Look, it’s not my fault I’ve been particularly…amped up lately. And you might be able to hook up with any girl you want, but my boyfriend is across the country, so you’ll have to forgive me for taking things into my own…hands.”

I scoff. “Trust me. I don’t mind at all. But next time, all you have to do is call me, and I’ll lend a helping hand. Or was it my mouth you wanted?” I click my tongue against the roof of my mouth. “Honestly, I should thank you.”

She glares up at me. “Why?”

“I get it now. Why Drew feels threatened.”

“He doesn’t?—”

“He does. And he should. Because if the girl I was dating imagined someone else while fingering herself, I’d feel pretty fuckin’ threatened, too.”

Her eyes pop. “Excuse me? ”

“Why haven’t you broken up with him yet, Finley?” I demand.

“And what were you thinking about, Mr. High and Mighty?”

“It doesn’t matter because I’m single.”

“So you weren’t imagining a girl who’s in a relationship?” she challenges, bringing the coffee to her lips and taking a sip.

This girl drives me nuts. I fight the urge to throttle her pretty little throat and reach for the mug in her grasp instead. She gives it up without a fight as I steal some of her coffee, holding her gray eyes over the rim of the cup, and set it on the counter next to her hip.

“Guess that’s our little secret, too. Right, Fin?” I push away from her. “I’m going to the gym. I’ll be back in an hour. You good until then?”

“Why, of course.” She bats her lashes. “I have my fingers for company.” Lifting her hand, she wiggles them back and forth. “Toodle-oo.”

Smartass.