“No, your bed is comfortable. It’s my brain.” I sigh, watching as the city is coming to life. It’s before seven, so rush hour hasn’t hit in full force quite yet, but there are plenty of people bustling about. “I can’t turn it off. I don’t know, Quinn, maybe I should go home. I know it’s easier to stay at your place, but I might be able to unwind better there.”
He takes my hand in his and kisses it. “Today will be better, sweetheart.”
“I hope so.”
“I hate that you feel this way, Sienna. If you have another rough night tonight, I’ll help you move your things back home.”
I nod, a pit forming in my throat. I really enjoy spending time with him at his place. But I miss my studio. I would have painted for a few hours last night, and it would have relaxed me enough to go to sleep.
“But I’ll be bringing some things with me too,” he says, surprising me.
“You’d come stay with me?”
“Absolutely.”
“But that doesn’t make sense.”
“Being with you makes perfect sense,” he says, kisses my hand again, and then turns into the underground parking for his building.
I don’t know how to reply to that, so I don’t.
When we walk onto the floor of his office, Kami is already at her desk. She glances up with a smile.
“Good morning,” she says. If she thinks it’s odd that we’ve arrived together, she doesn’t let on. “You have a few messages on your desk, Quinn. And you don’t have anything on your calendar until this afternoon.”
“Perfect,” he replies. “I will need to see you in my office in thirty minutes.”
“Yes, sir.”
He walks with me to the conference room, unlocks it for me, and once we’re inside, he locks it again.
“I’m going to be out of the office this morning,” he says with a sigh. “I have to take Mom to an appointment.”
“Is she okay?” I ask, immediately kicking myself for not asking about her earlier. “Is she having more memory problems?”
“Yeah, and she forgot to tell her doctor about it last week, like I figured she would. So I’m going with her today. But I’ll be in this afternoon, and if you need anything, I’m only a phone call away.”
“Quinn.” I walk to him and frame his face in my hands. “I was an attorney before I met you. I’ll be just fine. Go take care of your mama.”
“You’re pretty wonderful,” he replies with a smile and leans down to press his lips to my forehead. “You know that, right?”
“I’m damn amazing,” I say with a chuckle. “And thanks for trying to make me feel better. I’m in a funk. I think I’m afraid that we won’t find what we’re looking for before we head back to court.”
“We’ll find it.”
“Whose side are you on?” I ask playfully.
“The truth,” he says simply. “And I’m also on the side of making sure that you’re okay.”
“Thank you,” I repeat just as his lips cover mine.
“I have to go talk to Kami for a moment, and then I have to go get Mom.”
“Did you even really need to come to the office this morning?”
“Yes, I had to bring you here.”
“I could have walked myself.”
He grins as he pulls away, that self-assured, cocky grin that does things to my lady bits. “But then I wouldn’t have been able to spend the morning with you, and that would have been a pity.”
“Go on, charmer. Have a good morning.”
He waves and leaves, and I get settled in what I’ve come to think of as my usual spot at the end of the table. I drain my coffee cup and toss it in the wastebasket, then open the box that I’d started on last night.
At eight, Christy, Peter, Caden, and Matt filter in, carrying coffees, and immediately dive into their boxes.
It’s almost lunchtime when Peter suddenly stands and thrusts a paper in the air.
“I found something!”
I rush over to join him, take the paper from his hands, and feel my face break out in an excited smile.
“You did it,” I say and give him a high five. “This one is dated six months after the last.”
“She wasn’t kidding yesterday,” Peter tells the others. “I literally found this in a box of grocery receipts.”
“They kept everything,” Christy says in exasperation. “I mean, it’s cool to see what the price of eggs was back then, but why would they save it?”
“I have no idea,” I reply honestly as I tuck the third receipt in its folder with the others. “It’s completely frustrating and fascinating, all at the same time. I’ll probably eventually pull out everything that’s important and shred or burn the rest.”
“That seems kind of sad,” Matt replies with a frown.
“Are you sentimental?” I ask him with a grin.
“I mean, some of these things are a hundred years old. Maybe there are museums that would like to get their hands on some of it, just because it is interesting.”
“That’s a good point.” I tap my finger on my lips. “Maybe I’ll look into that. You’re right, it would seem like a waste to just throw it all away.”
“I’m starving,” Caden says. “Since we’ve found something useful, what do you say we take an early lunch?”
“Great idea,” I reply with a grin. “Can you guys just bring me back something? I’m going to check in with my office and work on a couple of things here.”
“Sure thing,” Christy says with a wave as they file out, a bounce in their step from the encouragement of finding the receipt.
Hell, I want to turn a cartwheel.
Not that I ever could.
I take my phone out of my handbag to call the office, but it starts to ring in my hand.
“Hello?”
“Hello, darling,” Mom says brightly. “Am I interrupting?”
No, it’s just the middle of the workday. What would you be interrupting?
But I just smile. “Nope, what’s up?”
“Well, I’ve decided to have a family dinner on Sunday. I haven’t seen you in quite a while.”
“I know.” The daughter guilt sets in. “I’m sorry, I’ve just been busy with the park case, and keeping up with other work stuff.”
“I understand, but I hope you can take a couple of hours on Sunday to spend some time with your family.”
“I’ll be working with Quinn early in the day.”
“Well, bring him,” she says, a little too brightly. “Your sister has told me a lot about him already, and I’d like to meet the man that you’re dating.”
I roll my eyes and make a mental note to have a talk with Lou.
“There’s not been a lot of time for dating, Mom.”
“Bring him anyway,” she says. “I insist.”
“Okay, I’ll let him know that he’s invited. I’m not making any promises.”
“Great, we’ll see you two on Sunday, then. Let’s say six?”
“Six it is.”
I hang up and laugh, shaking my head. My mom’s never been good at taking no for an answer, especially from her kids.
She and Quinn should get along great.
“How did it go today?” I ask Quinn as he walks into the conference room. It’s past six. The others left a while ago, after I insisted that it was okay.
“The doctor thinks the memory stuff is from her medication,” he says as he lowers himself into the chair next to me and rubs his face with his hand. He looks tired. Worried.
So I reach over for his hand, giving it a squeeze.
He pulls me out of my seat and into his lap, lays his cheek between my breasts, and takes a deep breath.
“That’s good, though, right?”
“It’s definitely better than it being a brain issue,” he agrees and pats my ass. “They’re making some adjustments, and we’ll see how she feels.”
“Well, that has to be a relief.” I kiss his head and run my fingers through his hair. “I have g
ood news too.”
“Tell me.”
“We found another receipt.”
He looks up, his eyes wide with happiness. “That’s awesome.”
“I know. We can now account for three-quarters of the loan, and that makes me very happy.”
“I’m so glad.” He kisses my neck.
“Part of me thinks that this should be enough proof to go to the judge with.”
“I would agree if it was just about anyone other than Judge Maxton,” he says. “She’s a stickler.”
“And I wouldn’t be happy with anything less than finding that last receipt,” I agree. “So we’ll keep plugging along.”
“That we will.” He kisses me again, then nudges me off his lap. “Now, let’s go home.”
“Quinn, it’s only six. I’d like to get a couple more hours of work in.”
“I forbid it.”
I cock a brow, brace my hand on his hip, and tip my head to the side.
“Excuse me?”
His lips twitch with humor. “That didn’t work? Fine. You’ve been working your ass off. You found more of what you need today, and you’re exhausted. Let me take you home, feed you, and you can get some rest before diving back in tomorrow.”
“That’s better.” I shake my head as I gather my things to leave for the day. “You’ve gotta know me well enough by now to know that if you forbid anything, I’m going to do exactly that.”
“I mostly wanted to see the look on your gorgeous face when I said it,” he says with a smug smile. “I wasn’t disappointed. It’s the same face you have in court, and it makes me hard as fuck.”
That stops me in my tracks. “Really?”
“Oh yeah. Don’t forget, I’m a courtroom junkie, and you’re damn hot in the courtroom.”
“You’ve only seen me in action once.”
“And that was plenty for me to know.”
I laugh and lead him out of the conference room, waiting while he closes and locks the door, then follow him down to his car.
“You seem to be feeling better tonight.”
He’s pulled out of the garage and we’re headed to his place, which isn’t far.
“I am,” I agree. “It helps that we found that money. I guess it gave me some of the energy and confidence that slipped yesterday.”
“I’m glad.”
The ride up to his condo is quiet. He opens the door, and for the second time in the span of minutes, I’m stopped in my tracks.
“Holy shit, Quinn.”
There’s a fire in the fireplace, and lit candles all over the room. There must be five dozen red roses in vases on the kitchen island.
But the best part?
The Chinese takeout sitting on the coffee table, in front of the fire, and the red rose petals sprinkled all over the floor.
“I told you I wanted to feed you.”
“This is just so beautiful.” I set my bag down, kick out of my shoes, and gaze around. “It’s also a horrible fire hazard. I hope it hasn’t been like this for long.”
Quinn laughs as he kicks off his own shoes, sheds his jacket, and rolls his sleeves up, getting comfortable. “Kami just left five minutes ago.”
“Quinn, is it smart that she knows what’s happening between us?”
“Kami’s worked for me for almost five years. She’s discreet, and loyal, and I know without a doubt that anything I tell her stays between the two of us.”
I take a deep breath, and then nod. “Okay, if you trust her, I do too.”
“I got you Kung Pao chicken,” he says, holding up the box.
“And I love that it’s a picnic.” I sit on the floor next to him and dig into the food. It smells delicious. “This is supercozy. Was it her idea or yours?”
“I can’t believe you just asked that.” His voice is calm as he digs into his lo mein. “It was my idea, sassy girl.”
“It was a good one.” We munch on our food, leaning in for quick kisses between bites. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a fire in the summer before.”
“Air-conditioning is a godsend in moments like this,” he says with a satisfied smile. “Are you going to eat that last egg roll?”
“No, I’m full. Go ahead.”
He eats it in two bites, wipes his mouth, and then reaches for his jacket and pulls a little blue box out of the pocket.
“This is for you.”
I stare at it for a moment and then slowly shake my head. “You’ve already done a lot with the flowers and the fire. The food. You don’t have to give me presents, Quinn.”
“You don’t want it?” He cocks an eyebrow, and just when he’s going to pull it away, I snatch it out of his hand, making him laugh.
“Of course I want it, crazy man. I’m just saying you didn’t have to.”
I pull the white ribbon loose, and nestled inside is a blue pouch. I pull the strings loose, tip it over, and a necklace slides onto my palm, with a gold key on the chain.
“This is gorgeous.”
“The key is because—”
“If you say it’s because it’s the key to your heart, I will walk right out that door. That’s way too cheesy.”
He tips his head back and laughs. He’s still chuckling when he helps me fasten it around my neck.
“No, I was going to say I thought it was pretty, and that it would suit you. But now whenever anyone asks, I’m going to tell them that I got it for you because you hold the key to my heart.”
“You’re so cheesy,” I grumble, wrinkling my nose, and earn a tickle in the ribs from Quinn. “No fair. I’m defenseless when you tickle me.”
“Good,” he says, but his touch is lighter as he drags his fingers up my side, and into my hair, pulling it loose from the pins. It spills over his hands as he shakes it out, and rubs his fingertips over my scalp.
“Oh, that’s nice.”
“I love your hair,” he says. “It’s so soft and the color is amazing. Why do you always wear it up?”
“It’s part of my armor.” The words are out before I realize it, and he’s frowning down at me.
“Why do you need armor?”
“Because I’m a female attorney,” I say at last. “And I need to be taken seriously. So I wear stuffy suits, and I keep my hair pulled up, and while I’m not afraid to look feminine, I am a firm believer in being professional.”
“What about when you’re not at work?”
“It’s just habit, and it keeps it out of my way.”
He watches his fingers as he pulls them through the strands. “Can I request that you wear it down once in a while, when it’s just us?”
“Of course you can.” I kiss his wrist. “I’ll do that.”
His eyes are hot on mine as he leans in to kiss me, gently, softly, taking this moment from playful to sexy in the blink of an eye.
My fingers are already unfastening the buttons of his shirt, anxious to get to his warm skin. He doesn’t even bother unbuttoning my shirt, he strips it over my head, leaving me in a white bra and my skirt.
“I always think that I’m going to take it slow with you.” His voice is thicker now, full of lust and yearning. “But once I get my hands on your skin, I can’t hold myself back. It’s like it’s a race to be buried inside of you, to hear you as you come apart.”
“It’s not a race,” I whisper. “It’s not a race at all.”
Our clothes peel away, piece by piece, until it’s just Quinn and me, in front of this fire, on a plush area rug and rose petals.
I push him onto his back and kneel next to him, enjoying the way the light dances along his skin.
“I want to paint you,” I say with a soft smile. “Like this. With the flames dancing on your body, and the way you’re looking at me right now.”
“You can paint me whenever you like.” His hand is dragging up and down my thigh, over my ass, sending goose bumps over my skin. I take my time memorizing him with my hands, and then my tongue gets in on the action, and Quinn’s hand moves from my thigh to my h
air, fisting and holding on tightly.
“You taste good.” I lick him from balls to tip, then sink over him and take him for the ride of his life.
“Fucking hell,” he growls. He’s not pressing on my head, but rather just holding on, letting me lick and suck him.
Letting me enjoy him.
Until I can’t stand it anymore and I climb over him, sinking over him.
With my hands planted on his chest, I ride him. Slowly at first, but then I can’t stand it, I need to pick up the pace.
And he’s happy to oblige.
He cups my ass and guides me up and down, until we’re both squirming with absolute rapture.
He sits up, kisses me firmly, his arms wrapped around me and the shift in angle sends me straight into the stars. I cry out, his name muffled against his lips.
“Yes,” he says, panting hard. “That’s it, baby.”
We’re spent, sitting here, staring into each other’s eyes. Quinn kisses my lips, my neck, my shoulder, then lifts me off him and disappears into the guest bathroom.
He returns with a wet cloth and cleans us both up, then urges me to my feet.
“I have one more thing to show you.”
“Quinn, I—”
“No arguments this time.” He passes me a throw blanket, which I wrap around me, holding it in a knot at my breasts, and follow him down the hall to the spare bedroom.
But when he opens the door, the bed and dresser are gone.
In their places are an easel, blank canvases, a table with paints and brushes, and a tarp on the floor.
I spin, staring at him with wide eyes and absolute shock.
“What did you do?”
“I built a pool,” he says dryly, turning around to see the room again. He wraps his arms around my middle, hugging me from behind and kisses my cheek. “Kami and Louise helped.”
“These paints are badass. I don’t buy them for myself because they’re too expensive.”
“I know.” He kisses the ball of my shoulder. “Louise told me.”
“Why did you do this?”
He sighs, then walks around to face me and frames my face in his hands the way I did to him earlier.
“I did it because you need this. It soothes you, and I want you to feel at home here, Sienna. I’m so in love with you that I ache with it. I want you to stay, for as long as you’re willing to. I don’t want you to feel that you aren’t comfortable here with me.”
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