KC folded himself in a high back chair next to her, raking a hand through his hair. “Would you like a drink? I think there’s some fresh lemonade.”
“No, thank you.”
He settled himself, stretching out his legs and resting his hands on his knees. “Grandpa said you’re helping him with some foundation work.”
“Honestly, I don’t know what I’m doing here.”
He winked at her. “He does that a lot.”
“Does he?”
“Before you know it, you’ll have signed your life away, getting less than a pack of gum, and you’ll be happy about it.”
At that, she laughed. “I’m guessing he gets you boys to do a lot for him, then?”
“You boys?”
“Uh, yeah, you and your brothers.”
A playful smile showed at the corner of his lips. “Have you met my brothers?”
Sweet peas. Had Quinn not told his family about their date? “Quinn, yes. Del, no. Not officially anyway.”
His eyes narrowed briefly, and then they warmed. “Well then, if you met Quinn, I imagine you know that he’ll do about anything for anyone. It’s in his blood. Just like the rest of us. So, yes, we do a lot for Grandpa, and we always do it with a smile.”
“Sounds like you enjoy it, even without the million dollar smile.”
“True.” He leaned back, stretching his arms over his head. “Truth is, Grandpa’s got a good thing going with his foundation. All he needs is a few extra wings.” His brow wiggled.
“Wings?”
“Yes, help?”
“Ah, I see. Well, I don’t have any wings, but I’ve got fingers and they can help, although I’m not sure what I’m going to be doing with them exactly. Nevertheless, Quinn has mentioned the foundation, and one of my clients recently benefited from it. The client was most grateful, and Quinn so helpful, I’m interested in learning more.
“About the foundation…or Quinn?”
“Excuse me?”
“Do you want to learn more about just the foundation?”
She shook her head, confused. “Well, I think your family is special when it comes to dealing with people during times of mourning, so I imagine that passion and drive are what has made the foundation a success—as Quinn has said.”
“Quinn’s said a lot, huh?” His eyes gleamed mischievously.
“Well, uh, he’s said a little. Enough that I know the basics, I think. Quinn’s very special himself.”
A full out grin lit KC’s face. He rapped on the table with his knuckles. “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
A shuffling sound in the hallway drew their attention to the door leading that way.
“Sorry, sorry,” George Oliver huffed as he appeared through the arched doorway. “Sometimes people won’t stop talking when they get you on the phone.”
KC laughed as he rose from his seat. “Not to worry. I kept your guest company.”
George patted him on the shoulder as he made his way to a seat next to Piper. “That’s my boy.” His eyes slid to Piper’s. “I’ve got some friends who’ll be arriving soon to discuss the foundation. Thanks for seeing me on such short notice.”
“Oh, no problem.” Although, it had caused quite a problem. Jessica was still out with her son, who had in fact broken his leg when falling from the monkey bars at school. The office wasn’t normally open on the weekends, but someone had to be there because Piper did not want to have the phone with her while she discussed whatever she was getting ready to discuss with Mr. Oliver. While leaving the phone duties in someone else’s hands gave Piper the willies, she didn’t have a choice. Margo could handle it.
As George settled himself in his seat, KC strode over, dipping his head to whisper in Piper’s ear. “Remember what I said about signing your life away. Oh, could you do something for me?”
Her brow drew together. “I don’t know. What?”
“Put my brother out of his misery.” KC gave her a mischievous grin and strolled out of the room with sort of a cool arrogance.
For the love of chocolate, what in the heck had just happened?
<<<<>>>>>
Quinn slammed his car door and stalked up the sidewalk to his grandpa’s house, barely registering the slew of cars parked around the house. Glancing at his watch, he realized it was eleven a.m., which meant that Piper would be meeting with Mr. Massage Oil in less than an hour. Probably for a date. So much for his chances.
She’d called him, of course, after seeing him the day before. She must have finally felt guilty for not returning any of his calls for a solid week. Either that or she felt bad about having a guy in her house while he’d waited in the wings. Not that it mattered. Had she been interested, she would have called him back. The date they’d had must not have gone as well as he’d thought. He should’ve known something was a little off when he’d seen her at the grocer. She didn’t quite seem like herself. Distant, perhaps. Preoccupied, maybe?
He stomped up the steps, jerked open the door, and damn near bumped right in KC.
“Whoa!” KC jumped out of the way. “In a hurry?”
Quinn snorted. “No. God. Sorry. My mind was somewhere else. Grandpa here? And what’s with all the cars?”
KC gave him that sly grin he always used when he was up to no good.
“What?” Quinn asked, eying his brother speculatively.
“Yeah, he’s here. Having a meeting with your lady and some friends.”
“Piper? She’s here?” He rocked back on his heels, shuffling back onto the porch.
“Why you looked so freaked?”
He shook his head, straightened his shoulder. “Freaked? I’m not. I didn’t expect to find her here, is all.”
KC’s brow arched. “Uh-huh. Liar.”
Quinn punched his arm. “Believe what you want. How long she been here?”
“Couple hours.”
Quinn spun about, headed down the steps. “Call me when she leaves, would you?”
“Leaves? You mean you don’t want to see her? See, I told you that you were lying.”
“Don’t. Just call me.”
“Don’t need to,” KC muttered as the front door swung back open.
Quinn turned, frowned, and locked eyes with Piper as she stepped onto the porch with Grandpa at her side. Holy mother, she looked fantastic. A white linen skirt gave a good view of her legs, and a black fitted thick-strapped tank-top drew his eyes to her soft arms. Not that Quinn knew they were soft. He imagined they were. Wanted them to be. Her hair was up, as it had been each time he’d seen her working. Had she only put it down for him on their date?
“Macy!” Grandpa called out from the steps.
Piper’s eyes stayed on his. She wasn’t smiling, but she wasn’t frowning, either.
“Did you just get here?” Grandpa asked. “Come up, come in.”
KC leaned against a thick porch post and chuckled.
Quinn shot him a shut-up glare. “I only came to see if KC told you about the fly-through this afternoon. Since he’s here, I’m guessing he did.”
Grandpa shuffled down the steps making his way toward Quinn. To his surprise, Piper followed. Grandpa stopped next to him and put a hand on his shoulder. “What? You mean you were stopping off for two seconds? What kind of a visit is that?”
“I’ve got other plans today.”
Quinn bit the inside of his lips at the sight of Piper sashaying toward him in that skirt. It swooshed around her legs, bringing his eyes to her swaying hips, up her torso, and seriously wondering if her arms, and now her glistening neck, were soft. And what they tasted like.
“Other plans? Other plans? Like what?” Grandpa demanded.
Piper still said nothing, and only stood like a beautiful statue beside his grandpa. What was she waiting for? Why didn’t she leave already?
Quinn forced himself to stop looking at her.
“Sorry, Grandpa. I’ve got some stuff to pick up for the VA before the fly-through. You’ll be there later, rig
ht? So I’ll see you then and catch up.”
Grandpa grumbled something under his breath, but smiled. “Well, at least see Piper to her car before you run off.”
KC chuckled again from the porch.
Piper spoke. “Oh, that won’t be necessary, George. I’ve got somewhere to be at noon, and I don’t want to keep Quinn from his errands.”
“Nonsense. It’ll take two seconds, and it’ll make this ol’ man feel better knowing that my grandson has manners.”
Quinn forced a smile when Piper gave him a confused look.
“Well, okay then,” she said. “Thank you again, George. It was wonderful talking to you and your associates today.”
“We’ll make a difference in the world. Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to see if your connections can help the new section of the foundation grow.”
Pink rushed to Piper’s cheeks. God, if that wasn’t the most amazing sight. Suddenly Quinn wondered if other parts of her pale skin blushed. He groaned inwardly. He wouldn’t have a chance to see them if they did.
He took her by the elbow. “Shall we?”
She smiled sheepishly, the blush darkening. It was only twenty steps to her car. But for some reason, they were the longest steps of Quinn’s life. He wanted to look at her. He wanted ask her why not me? Instead, he focused on the cracking sidewalk, ignoring her wafting floral scent.
He dropped her elbow as he open the car door. Piper went to slide in but paused, gripping the top of the door frame.
“Can I ask you a question?” she asked.
His eyes drew up, meeting hers. “That was a question.”
“I mean a real question.”
He cocked his head, studying her. “No one’s stopping you.”
“Why haven’t you called me back?”
He leaned toward her, the car door still separating them. “What a funny thing to ask.”
“Why is that funny?”
“I’ve called you, what, twice since our date? And it took you over a week to call me back. And now you want to know why I haven’t called you back in less than twenty-four hours? Ironic, if you ask me.”
Her cheeks went red. “I did ask you, but I hadn’t expected you to be so rude about it. Forget I even asked.”
She jumped into the driver’s seat and went to slam the door. Quinn’s grip on the top frame remained firm.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I didn’t call you back for two reasons. One, you took your sweet time returning my call, and two, when I came to see you yesterday, you were chatty and flirty with that guy, and I figured he was the reason you didn’t call me back. I get it, you aren’t interested. What’s there to talk about?” His eyes narrowed in on her. “How was that for honest? And hopefully not rude?”
Her eyes caught the sun as she raised her head to look at him. “I never pinned you for the jealous type, Quinn.”
He eyed her carefully. He couldn’t tell if she was annoyed or amused. Her tone was even, yet her cheeks were still a nice shade of rose. “Every guy is the jealous type, Piper. Especially when there’s something one wants that the other one has. But I’m a grown man, I can take rejection. All you need to do is say it”.
“Well.” She unfolded herself from the car but still kept the door between them. “I appreciate your honesty. I meant to call you sooner, I really did.” Her voice remained calm, but Quinn thought he heard a hint of unease. About what, he had no idea.
“And that guy,” Piper continued, “is a rep of mine who sells embalming and restoration supplies. Yesterday we had a meeting about my stock and new products.”
“So you aren’t seeing him?”
Finally, she laughed, tossing her head back. God, if that wasn’t the most perfect sound. It kicked him right in the gut. “No. I’d known him about an hour when you saw us together.”
“Then, uh…what was that business about massage oil and stuff? I mean, any person overhearing that would have thought otherwise, Piper.”
Her eyes sparkled. “It’s for dead people, Quinn. Would you like me to go into detail?”
He swallowed, shaking his head at the image in his head. “No, thanks.”
“I didn’t think so. Gavin—that’s his name—and I have a lot in common based solely on our business. I’m sorry you got the wrong idea.” Her brow drew together as if remembering something. “Why didn’t you ever call me at night? You know I have the office phone forwarded at night and that I always answer it. Why during the day, Quinn?”
Shuffling his feet, he eased around the door, wedging her in the V. “Because I didn’t want you to be forced into talking to me. I wanted you to call me back because you wanted to.”
She nodded, easing back a smidge.
“I had a wonderful time on our date,” he added. “When I thought that guy already had what I wanted, I figured it best to let you have who you wanted. Which, to me, looked like him. I really like you, so I was—conflicted.”
“Oh.”
“Normally I wouldn’t have said anything, but you, Piper—” One more small step and his body pressed into hers. “I have to admit that not seeing you again was driving me crazy.”
Her eyes scanned his whole face, lingering on his lips. “That’s, uh, very nice of you.”
He chuckled, drawing away. She looked dazed for a moment before running her hands over her up-do and the front of her shirt.
“Can I see you again?” he asked. “It’s been far too long.”
She glanced at her watch. “Yes, of course.” Her words were rushed. “I’ve got a meeting at noon, but then we can talk after that. Call me?”
He shook his head. “No, I’m not putting my cards into the phone business again. Tonight. How’s that?”
She glanced around as if people could hear them, see them. Odd.
“Piper?” he urged, his voice careful. “Tonight?”
“Sure. Sure. What time?”
“I’ll pick you up at seven.”
She slid in the car, started the engine. Quinn leaned down to see her face. “Oh, by the way, it’s family game night.”
At her shocked expression, he shut the door, gave her a grin and a wave.
Blowing out a satisfied breath, he meandered over to his car, thankful that he somehow managed to get Piper to see him again. He folded himself into his own car, remembering how Piper flushed when he’d touched her, recalling the hitch to her breath when he was near. She liked him, all right. Which meant tonight, and every other night, he wasn’t going to let her skate around him. And he wasn’t taking no for an answer.
Chapter Ten
Piper rushed home, and after relieving Margo of her phone duties, she trotted upstairs and threw herself in the shower. She needed to cool off. Way off. What was it about Quinn’s simple stare, weightless touch, and devastating smile that had her so worked up?
She pressed a washcloth to her face, allowing the pelts of water to cool her stretched nerves. To think…for Quinn to think…her and Gavin. That thought was laughable. And Quinn had been so sensitive about the whole thing. They seriously needed to discuss their supposed relationship, even if that was what you could call it. They had gone on one date. One.
Piper jumped out of the shower and hastily dried herself off. She threw her wet hair up in tight bun, slipped on a cool summer dress, moisturized, and bolted for the downstairs. Slightly out of breath, she leaped of the bottom step into the foyer area as Gavin was walking through the front door of the funeral home.
His eyes swept down her length and then back up. He was smiling when his gaze met hers.
“Uh, am I early?” he asked.
Shaking her head, she walked toward him, hand outstretched. “No. I had an, uh, unexpected meeting earlier this morning so I was freshening up. Sorry.”
His head cocked, his eyes swirling around the features of her face. Another wide grin split his handsome face. Yes, Piper would admit he was handsome. In the business type of way. Straight shoulders, lean arms and legs, chiseled features, a
nd the ever-present boyish grin. Yes, handsome.
“You freshened up for our appointment?” he said, gripping her hand a little tighter. “Should I be flattered?”
Smacked back into reality, Piper dropped her hand and spun about. “I don’t normally meet reps over the weekend, Gavin,” she started. She quickly made her way through the foyer to the door under the stairs. “But because you had so many good ideas yesterday about how to spruce up our stock and move into the twenty-first century, as you so eloquently explained it, I thought I would make an exception. That’s all.” She jerked the door open, waving for him to go ahead of her.
His brow arched as he passed her. “Point taken.”
Again he took the steps down two at a time. Piper ushered in behind him, easily floating down the steps in her flats. Switching on the lights as she went, they made their way back to the refrigeration area, which sat directly across from her storage area.
Glancing around, Gavin commented, “Looks like you’ve organized your main work space a little more since yesterday.”
“I tried. The phone hasn’t rung for twenty-four hours.” She frowned. That hadn’t happened in…how long?
“I’m guessing that’s not normal by the look on your face.”
“No. No, it’s not. I wonder…” She bolted to the other room and yanked up the receiver hanging on the wall. The dial tone was there. Huh. Maybe someone saw fit to give her a day-long reprieve. She hoped not for Quinn’s family game night. She already knew about an hour into it she’d be begging for a phone call. Not because of his family, not that she’d met all of them. It was simply, Quinn. She’d done her best to avoid him and this strange tickle in her chest at the thought of him. He made her think. He questioned her. Infuriated her. Intrigued her. And for some silly reason, she still liked being around him. And she hated that. Hated.It.
“Is someone on the other end there, Piper?” Gavin stood in front of her, a humorous look on his face.
Stupidly, Piper realized the phone was still glued to her ear. “Oh, jeez.” She hung it up. “I’m a mess today. Sorry.”
Until Next Time Page 11