by Cali MacKay
“I’m taking us on a bit of a detour. I wanted to check up on a project of mine. Make sure they don’t need anything and things are progressing according to plan. After that, we can go wherever you’d like—Paris, London, New York, San Francisco… I’ve got a private jet that can take us anywhere, sweetheart.” The smile he gave her would have her agreeing to any location as long as there was a bed with Quinn naked in it—and even then, she didn’t need the bed.
“You’re crazy, Quinn—but very sweet.” She ran a hand down his arm, needing some sort of physical connection, even though he was focused on driving. “I’m a simple girl. I don’t need you to spoil me with jets to foreign lands and house makeovers. I’m happy just to be with you.”
“I like the way that sounds, love—though I’m still going to spoil you, whether you want me to or not.” He glanced over in her direction, his lips kicking up at the corner, while the sun caught the green in his eyes so they sparkled like dew on spring grass. “Here we are.”
The sign warmed her heart, and if this was Quinn’s project, she liked him all the more. It also went a long way in explaining why he had so many dogs, and why they were so varied. “Lucky Dog Shelter. Did you build this?”
He turned down the long drive that led to a large building with several fenced-off areas. “I helped a little, but they had already done an amazing job at raising the money they’d need to expand. Though we don’t have any kill shelters in this area, there are still plenty of states that do, and they’re overrun with animals that need help. Lucky Dog works with those shelters and other volunteers to find animals whose time’s run out, and bring them here so they get a second chance.”
“Kind of like the chance to escape the life you grew up in?” Emma had to wonder. He’d come from so little and had accomplished so much—no easy feat, especially in today’s economy.
He killed the engine and shifted in his seat to face her, his gaze lingering absentmindedly on the keys in his hands. “I had this job while trying to get through college, and I was lucky enough that someone took an interest in me and gave me a chance I’d never have gotten otherwise. I was already studying business, but a guy called Pierce Langston took me under his wing, since his own children had little interest, and gave me the sort of education and opportunities that made me who I am today. Even helped fund my first venture. My life would be completely different if it weren’t for him.”
Even Emma had heard of Pierce Langston, a well-known entrepreneur and self-made billionaire. It also explained how Quinn was able to accomplish so much at such an early age. Not that he wouldn’t have managed it on his own, but having such a powerhouse in business to mentor him certainly helped.
“And you, in turn, find ways to give back.” The one thing she was quickly realizing was that Quinn was a generous person, and she could only imagine the sorts of things he quietly funded. Hell, even she and Nate were currently his charity case, though she was sure he didn’t see it that way.
“Come on, love. I think they have a lot going on this weekend, and I want to make sure they have all the help they need.”
They didn’t.
They had just received a large group of animals from several kill shelters down South, and were trying to get them any medical attention they might need. Afterwards, they’d be washed and groomed, since many were in need of flea baths, and had matted fur that needed to be taken care of.
Though Quinn’s presence there had stirred up all sorts of excitement, it became clear that they could use all the help they could get, given that they were trying to process over sixty animals. “Could you use some extra hands, Marlene? I can make a few calls and have people here within the hour. And for future runs, I’m happy to fund extra part-time staff if it’ll help things run more smoothly.”
Marlene, a kind woman in her fifties and clearly the one in charge, laid her hand on his arm, her eyes shimmering with emotion. “You’re a good man—and I wouldn’t say no to more help, since these poor animals have been through a lot and I’d like to get them settled after such a long drive.”
Quinn nodded, and then pulled Emma aside. “I just need to phone a few people and then we can get going.”
“We should stay and help. It’s not as though we have anywhere to be, right?” She loved animals, and could only imagine how scared they must be after being on the road for days. In addition, if she had any hope of finding a real and meaningful relationship with Quinn, then it couldn’t be about jetting off to Paris or London, or him buying her things. This would allow her to see yet another side of him, even if she already felt like she’d really gotten to know him over the last week, shattering all her misconceptions of him.
“Are you sure?” He cupped her face and stole a kiss, pulling her close. “I wanted to spoil you with some extravagant day out. Instead, we’ll be up to our elbows in flea dip.”
“I’m positive. Besides, I don’t do well with extravagance.” She loved how intense his gaze could be when he looked at her.
Once more, she had to wonder how she managed to fall for him so quickly. And though it wasn’t the first time she’d had that thought, it was the first time it didn’t send her into a panic.
“Let me call in the cavalry, then.”
It didn’t take them long to show up, and there must have been a dozen people. Emma recognized a few people, like the secretary and assistant she’d met that first day at Quinn’s office. But what she hadn’t expected was for Quinn’s brother to show up.
Emma’s heart jumped and rattled inside her chest, nowhere near ready to meet any member of Quinn’s family. Before she could escape, Quinn was at her side, twining his fingers with hers, his mouth at her ear. “Don’t look so nervous, sweetheart. Gabe will love you—and at least you don’t have to also deal with Morgan, who couldn’t make it, and Maddie, who’s working out of our London office.”
“Well, that’s something at least, though I still highly doubt your brother will be crazy about us being together.” Not when Quinn was stinking rich, and he’d only ever dated women who wanted him for his money.
“You worry too much, sweetheart.” With a hand at the small of her back, he made the introductions. “Emma, this is Gabe. Gabe, Emma—the owner of the fine establishment where we had dinner the other night.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Emma shook his hand and managed a smile, though when Gabe gave her a bit of a knowing look, she didn’t quite understand it.
“The Old Port, right? On Rush Street? Great food.” Unlike the green of Quinn’s eyes, Gabe’s were a striking blue, but the intelligence behind them was the same. “So you’re local to Portmore, then?”
“I’ve been living in town for several years now. It feels like home, more than any other place ever has.” When his gaze flicked over to Quinn with a smug look, it occurred to her that Gabe was likely the brother Quinn mentioned as the one dealing with the building she lived in. Which meant there was a very good chance he thought she was dating Quinn because she wanted something.
Perfect.
Quinn saved her. “Come on…there’s plenty of work to get done. Gabe, just check in with Marlene over there.”
Before long, Gabe was washing dogs, and she and Quinn were assigned towel duty on the opposite end of the room, which essentially entailed taking a sopping wet dog and attempting to dry it off. Except that the pups usually decided it’d be quicker if they lent a hand and gave themselves a good shake, spraying everyone in wet dog water. It felt like there’d been an endless stream of dogs, which at least allowed her to keep busy, though now that they were nearing the end, her worries finally got the better of her.
Quinn bumped her with his shoulder, gently toweling off a scruffy terrier, while she worked on its sister. “Don’t let Gabe bother you. He’s never been too fond of the women I normally date, but he’ll come around once he realizes you’re nothing like them.”
“He’s still going to lump me in with the women you’re normally with, and it really bothers me
that he thinks I’m only with you for your money. Which is also why you have to stop doing things for me, like fixing my building and my fridge.” And when it came down to it, how different had she been, when she’d originally agreed to date Quinn in exchange for her lease?
“We’re a close family and we’re protective of one another—just like your brother would have happily decked me, given half a chance. But my family will be fine once they realize that this isn’t some shallow relationship based on money and sex.” He glanced over at her, and grabbed another towel. “Both my family and yours will come around, kitten. Because you’re not going anywhere—and neither am I.”
She wasn’t sure she believed that either, though more and more, she found herself hoping that it was true. Once she’d tossed out all her misconceptions of him, it turned out he was damn near perfect—even if he was stubborn and overly protective of her. Yet, what were the chances that this could actually work out?
With both their dogs dry, he grabbed them and headed them over to the next room, where they’d be given a final checkup, and assigned to a kennel. So it figured that with Quinn gone, Gabe would show up with a giant wet dog and a smile on his face, though Emma was still having a hard time deciphering the looks he was giving her. “Here you go.”
“Thanks. He’s gorgeous, isn’t he?” Emma gave the giant black and white mutt a big scratch, but when she took the dog’s leash from Gabe, he grabbed her hand and held it tight, his smile suddenly absent. She tried to pull free of his grasp, but he wasn’t letting go. “What the hell?”
“I can see why Quinn’s so taken with you, but let me make something clear. He’s my brother, and if you think I’m going to let you take advantage of his generosity or break his heart, then you can guess again.” He backed her against the stainless-steel grooming table, his muscular body threatening as he trapped her with an arm on either side of her body. “I know your kind, and this ends now. Are we clear?”
She bit back her curses. “You know nothing about me.” She shoved him, though he barely budged—until a deep rumble sounded.
The dog she was supposed to be drying did not like how this was all going down, and had decided Emma was in need of some help. He was some sort of Great Dane and Newfoundland mix, which meant he was huge—and not very happy, his angry stare focused directly on Gabe.
Gabe was smart enough to back away from Emma, his gaze pinned on the dog. “This isn’t over, Emma. Not if you decide to stick around.”
“If you have a problem with me, then I recommend taking it up with your brother, who, last I checked, was an adult and could make his own decisions.” She watched him stalk out of the room, cursing up a storm, and she had to wonder if he’d left entirely.
She bent down to pet her protector, his tail wagging with a loud thump against the hard floor. “Thanks for that.”
Big brown eyes looked back at her—eyes that looked wise, and yet at the same time, eyes that had experienced too much pain. Even though he was large, he was far too thin, his hip bones and ribs showing. And then there were the scars. She grabbed a dry towel and started to slowly dry him, hoping he’d finally find some happiness and love with a family who’d care for him.
When Quinn came in, it sent her protector on high alert with a low reverberating growl. “It’s okay. This is Quinn.” She ran a hand over his head and pet him until his growling stopped.
“Wow. He’s big—and protective.” Quinn carefully put out his hand to be sniffed, before cautiously petting the dog. “Does he have a name?”
She checked the tag on the dog’s collar. “Says here his name is Thor. I can see why.”
Quinn looked around. “Where did Gabe take off to?”
Emma wanted to groan. The last thing she wanted was to start trouble between Quinn and his brother. “I think he’s gone.”
With an astute gaze that bore right through her, Quinn took her in. “Did he say something to you?”
“Not much.” Towel in hand, Emma distracted herself with drying Thor in a futile attempt to avoid telling Quinn what happened.
“Emma…you’re lying to me—or at the very least skirting the truth—and I’m really not happy about that.” He took the towel from her hand, and gently pulled her to him, wrapping her in his arms. “It’s not as though I don’t know what he’s like.”
They were both soaked to varying degrees from dealing with the dogs, so that when he held her to him, she got the initial shock of cold before the heat of his body permeated through to hers. “What do you want me to say? He acted just like any protective sibling would. It’s not like you haven’t given him reason to worry, when you combine buying my building with your history of dating money-hungry women.”
“It doesn’t matter. He still can’t treat you like that, and I’m going to make damn sure he knows it.” With her still in his arms, she could feel his muscles tense, his anger running just below the surface. Though the last thing she wanted was to cause problems between Quinn and his family, she thought it sweet that he’d defend her, even if it might mean rocking the boat with his family.
“How about you help me dry off Thor instead? I think he might be one of the last ones.” Emma was already having visions of snuggling up to Quinn as they soaked in his massive tub.
Quinn took a look at the pup. “You know…I think he’s grown rather attached to you.”
And it seemed to be true. Thor was looking up at her expectantly, making her feel guilty that she couldn’t take him home. She reached over and gave him a good scratch. “I wish I could take you home, but my place is too tiny.”
“You forget, sweetheart. You’re now living with me. And I think another dog—especially one that’s already so dedicated to you—could be a good thing.” He picked up the towel and finished drying off Thor, the dog’s tail wagging like mad.
“Quinn…I’m only living with you temporarily. Remember? Until my apartment can be renovated.” The man was going to drive her insane. “As big as he is, he’d be miserable in my studio apartment.”
He gave her a cocky smile over his shoulder, which sent a rush of heat through her. “Firstly, those apartments won’t be studios by the time I’m done, and besides, if I get my way—and we both know I will—you’ll be living with me permanently.”
The man was infuriatingly stubborn. “You’re a pain in the ass, Quinn Ryker. You’re just lucky…” I love you.
Crap. She may have cut off the words before they made it out of her mouth, but the thought had been there and there was no turning back from it.
What the hell was she going to do?
Chapter Fourteen
“See? I told you they’d get along just fine.” Quinn had done his best to reassure Emma that his dogs and Thor would get along fine together. Once all the dogs had gotten all their sniffing out of the way, Thor was quickly taken into the pack, though he only strayed from Emma’s side long enough to get some food and water.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m wet, stinky, and starving.” She pulled her t-shirt away from her body to keep it from clinging to her, but all it took was to see that little bit of toned midriff and he could think of little else but getting her naked.
“Let’s take a quick shower, and order in some pizza. Maybe watch a movie? You know…normal living together stuff.” He just couldn’t help himself. But the more she heard it, the more she’d get used to the idea of living with him. There’d be no letting her go now. Not when he’d fallen for her. He couldn’t possibly go back to the sort of life he’d once been living.
The mere thought of her not in his arms, not in his life, left him feeling like a shard of glass had wedged its way into his heart so that even taking a breath seemed an impossible feat. And yet with her at his side, he felt newly reborn, like he could take on the world.
“Actually, that sounds perfect.” She ran her hand over Thor’s head with long, gentle strokes. “I’ll be right back, okay?”
Watching her with her dog—and with his own—only made him like
her all the more, if that were even possible. He didn’t often bring women to his home, usually opting for a hotel or his apartment in town, but every now and then, they’d swing by the house for one reason or another, and his dates almost always had the same reaction. Though they were always impressed by the house itself, most of them wanted nothing to do with the dogs. And spending the day volunteering to help wash over sixty dogs? Well, that would have never happened.
And it was something so simple, like watching her interact with his pets, in his home, that solidified what she meant to him. He could see a future with her—the sort of future that he’d never given any thought to: one with someone he loved at his side, starting a family, and growing old together. It surprised the hell out of him, but the truth was that he could no longer imagine his life without her in it.
Wanting her more than he could have ever thought possible, they quickly stripped off each other’s clothes and, after a quick adjustment to get the temperature right, he led her into the large walk-in shower, her body slipping against his as the water fell over them in a hot spray. He buried his hands in her hair, and pulled her face to his for a kiss he’d happily lose himself in for an eternity, nipping, kissing, his tongue finding hers as she reached down to stroke his cock.
He groaned into her mouth, her touch addictive and already so familiar. “Do you know how hard it was to keep my hands off you all day long? Nearly impossible.”
She nipped at his neck, his ear, her words coming out on a needy breath that left him dizzy with the want of her. “Does this mean you’re going to make up for lost time?”
“Such a naughty little nymph. Would you like that, kitten?” The fact that she was so willing to play these games—and get so much pleasure from them—turned him on to no end. She wasn’t just going through the motions to try to please him. She genuinely enjoyed it all.