“Oh, Quinn,” she said on a sigh just as he brushed a gentle kiss over her lips. “I’m sorry.”
He pulled back and frowned. “About what?”
“About everything.” She set the coffee mug back on the table and laid her head against the headboard. “I hate we’re having to deal with this, but on the other hand, I want my life back. I want our life back.”
Quinn turned his body and leaned forward, his elbows resting on his thighs, his fingers interlocked. “I’m glad you feel that way.” He glanced at her sideways. “Malik suggested something last night and at first I shot the idea down, but this morning I’ve been reconsidering it.”
“What is it?”
“I think we should live as husband and wife.”
Alandra’s eyebrows shot up. That wasn’t what she expected him to say, yet, a cautious delight danced in her heart. “Uh, why?” she asked tentatively. “What does us living as husband and wife matter in all of this?”
“We want whoever tried to kill you to see that you’re alive, and married to me.”
“But Harry thinks…” She shook her head. “I mean, whoever tried to kill me might go after you, and I’ll never be able to forgive myself if something happened to you.”
“Lan,” he gripped her shoulders, frustration written across his face. “I’m not sure why Harry put that mess into your head, but I plan to find out. In the meantime, all I want you to remember is that my only concern is you. I can take care of myself, but if something were to happen to you….”
Alandra saw the torment in his eyes and reached for his hand. “Why can’t we just operate under the radar and get this person or these people? Why do we have to flaunt ourselves out there?”
“I understand how you feel. Since I don’t know what we’re up against, I’m hesitant to move forward. When these people find out you’re alive they won’t stop at anything to get to you.”
“Or you,” she said softly.
He kissed the palm of her hand and stood. He strolled to the armoire and Alandra wondered if something else was on his mind. Had they discussed something last night that he wasn’t telling her?
“I want you to get rid of your apartment and move in with me.” He turned to her, his eyes sharp and assessing.
Surprised again she asked, “Why do you want me to move in?” She had to know if this was his way of making the first step to get them back together.
“If we’re going to play this out, we need to be living under the same roof to make it believable.”
“Oh.” Her heart plummeted like a brick. She wanted to hear those three magical words - I love you.
****
Quinn pulled a navy blue T-shirt from the top shelf of the armoire, not missing the fact that she hadn’t responded to his request. They were married, why wouldn’t she want to live under the same roof? He thought she would jump at the idea, especially considering where she lived. He didn’t know what the hesitation was about, but he wanted his wife back and would stop at nothing to have her.
He changed into a clean T-shirt and turned from the armoire in time to see Alandra climb out of bed. His body reacted immediately when his gaze traveled the length of her body as she walked across the room teasing him with a view of her plump backside encased in a black thong. He studied her while she dug through her overnight bag. The woman had a body meant for loving, and that was exactly what he planned to do now that they were going to give their marriage a try. When undressing her last night it had taken every ounce of will power he possessed, not to wake her and make love to her right then and there.
“Okay, I’ll move in,” she said pulling a robe from her bag.
Quinn’s head snapped up when her words penetrated his thoughts. “I’m glad to hear that.” He stuck his hand in his pocket and adjusted his pants, putting the lustful thoughts out of his mind for now. “We can pick up the rest of your things later today or tomorrow.”
“Sounds good.”
He moved toward the bedroom door and stopped. “I would offer to cook you breakfast, but I still haven’t mastered the cooking thing yet.”
“No surprise there.” Alandra laughed and tugged her robe closed. “I remember when you almost burned your house down trying to make me a grill cheese sandwich.” She walked toward him, her red polished toes peaking from beneath her robe. When she ran her hands through her mass of curls, causing her robe to ease open, his body reacted immediately. He needed to get a grip. Instead, he was acting like a sex-starved teen panting after the prettiest girl in school.
“Why don’t you get dressed and I’ll take you out to eat. Then we can run a few errands.”
“I would love to go to breakfast, but I have plans with Natasha today. We’re going shopping.”
Quinn shook his head. “Lan, I really don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go out by yourself.”
“I won’t be by myself.”
She saddle up to him, removing lint from his shirt and his pulse quickened. If he didn’t know any better, he would think she was intentionally trying to turn him on.
He covered her small hands with his hand against his chest, halting her from continuing her torture. “I’ll tell you what. Since I have some business to take care of anyway, why don’t I arrange for you to have a car and a driver, who will take you anywhere you want to go? That way you can hang out with Natasha without me worrying about you. And when you’re done, you can come back here so I can show you how much I’ve missed my wife.”
Pleasure brimmed in her eyes, and a sensual smile graced her lips. “I’d like that. And I’m sure Tasha won’t mind being chauffeured around.”
He kissed her forehead, not trusting himself to taste her lips, which is what he really wanted to do.
“Since you’ve planned an outing, does this mean you’re no longer concerned about being watched or followed?”
She shook her head and pulled away from him. “I think with the lack of sleep and all that’s been going on I was just being paranoid.”
“Lan, don’t discount any of those feelings.” He followed her back to her bag, where she pulled out a pair of dark pants and a long sleeve shirt. “Right now, we can’t be too careful. If you sense any danger I want you to call me.” As independent as she was, he knew calling him wouldn’t be her first thought. That’s why one of Malik’s guys would drive her around and keep an eye on her.
“Do you mind if I use your shower?”
Quinn frowned. “Of course not. My home is your home. Make yourself comfortable and let me know if you need anything.”
She looked at him, a thoughtful expression crossed her face. “I appreciate what you’re doing for me.”
“I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing this for us.” He pulled out his wallet. “Here, I want you to have this.”
Alandra’s brows drew together. “A credit card?”
“Yeah. Since my wife wants to do some shopping, the least I can do is fund it. Besides, it might come in handy since you’re going to need at least one evening gown.”
“For what?”
“Our first official outing as husband and wife might be the President’s campaign fundraiser dinner.” Quinn was warming up to the idea of showing off his wife. Now that he wasn’t an operative and lived a different lifestyle, he wasn’t as concerned about keeping his and Alandra’s marriage a secret.
“Do you really think it’s a good idea for me to announce my reincarnation by showing up at that type of event?”
“I do. The people who we want to know that you’re alive will be at that type of event.” He ran his hand up and down her spine. “So yes, I think this is the best way for us to announce your reappearance.”
She didn’t say anything, and he continued.
“If you’re worried about this trip being dangerous, just know I’ll be by your side at all times. And as far as the fundraiser, you know security is going to be tight, so you have nothing to worry about.”
“I’m all for a little rendezvous with
danger, it’s after the event that I’m worried about. This will be like dangling a T-bone steak in front of a Rottweiler. Someone wanted me dead, Quinn, and that someone might either be at the dinner, or word will get out that I was there.”
“If this is the only way to get our life back, we don’t have a choice.”
Alandra looked down at the credit card in her hand and then back at him.
“You know, you don’t have to—”
“Yes, I do.” He pushed curls away from her face and kissed her lips. ”I have a lot of years to make up for and I plan to take care of all your needs.”
She raised a finely arched eyebrow. “Hmm, then I’m going to have to make sure I’m clear about my needs.”
Chapter Twelve
“Okay, so let me get this right,” Natasha said in a conspiring whisper from the backseat of the town car they were riding in. Despite the glass partition separating them from the driver, they kept their voices low. “That hot hunk of chocolate I met yesterday, your husband, wants to live like man and wife though you two have been apart for three years, and you’re having mixed feelings because he hasn’t said he loves you?”
“Yeah, that about sums it up.” Alandra shifted in her seat to face her sister. “I need for you to help me come up with a game plan to get Quinn to fall in love with me again. I want the man I married back and I’ll do anything.”
Natasha frowned. “Girl, I saw the way that man kissed you yesterday. And the way he looked at you,” she fanned herself, “could have melted a glacier. I have a feeling you don’t have to do anything.”
Alandra sat back against the soft leather and glanced out the side window, remembering the intimate moments in her apartment. “Quinn and I have always been physically attracted to each other, but I want more. I need more. I want all of him or nothing.”
“And what makes you think you don’t have that? From what I can tell, he’s playing the husband role to the max, even showing concern about your well-being by providing you with a driver and a body guard.”
Though Quinn hadn’t confirmed it, she was pretty sure the man driving the town car was more than just a driver. He had military and bodyguard written all over him.
“He’s moved you into his home, has assured you he’d provide for your every need, and he’s funding a shopping spree. What more proof do you need that the man loves you?”
“I need him to say it,” she said quietly. “I love him and if I go along with this farce I’m going to be the one who ends up hurt. Other than a little flirting, I can’t tell if he really wants what we had. Instead, he wants us to pretend we’re happily married to draw out whoever was behind the attack in Tzbekystan.”
“You know, you still haven’t really told me about that time. Why bother seeking out these people if you’ve moved on and established a new identity?”
Alandra touched her sister’s arm. “Tasha, the less you know the better. All you need to really know is that I’m Velvet Aguilar, an ER nurse.”
They made small talk for the rest of the ride, and Alandra couldn’t remember the last time she did any real shopping, especially at the mall. The little shopping she’d done recently had been in thrift stores and online. Saving every penny to ensure she could fund the expenses accumulated by searching for her killer didn’t allow for such luxuries.
The driver pulled up to the Oak Brook Mall’s valet parking area and rounded the car, just as the valet opened the back door.
“I have it,” the driver, Stan, said and helped both her and Natasha out of the car.
Alandra had yet to see him smile. He wasn’t as tall as Quinn, but what he lacked in height, he made up in width. An incredibly built man with a deep tan, he had shoulders that were as wide as a door opening and tapered down to a narrow waist.
“Stan, you didn’t have to get out. Just tell us where to meet you in a couple of hours.”
His facial expression remained impassive. “Your husband wants me to go wherever you go.”
“I see.” Alandra wasn’t sure how she felt about having a bodyguard but if it made Quinn feel better, she’d tolerate it.
They went from store to store and Alandra was glad Natasha had come along. She wasn’t much of a shopper, but it was her sister’s favorite pastime.
“Mmm, let’s go in there.”
Alandra followed her gaze to a lingerie boutique. She turned to Stan and whispered, “If you’d prefer not to come in here, it’s okay.”
He didn’t bat an eye. “I go where you go.”
Alandra shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
“How about this?” Natasha held up a red see-through nightie. “If you want to make sure you own your husband’s heart, this will do it.”
“I already told you we don’t have a problem in that area. I want,” she started but stopped when she spotted a dominatrix number, whip and all. Now that would be more to Quinn’s liking. She glanced at the price tag and winced.
Natasha ambled over to her. “Why are you worried about the price? Didn’t he tell you to buy whatever you wanted?”
“Yes, but…”
“Alandra, what is wrong with you?” She pulled her off to the side. “I have never known you to be afraid of anything, or suffer from low self-esteem, but that’s exactly what I’m seeing now. This wishy-washy attitude is not very becoming. You’ve always gone after what you wanted. If Quinn is the man you want to spend the rest of your life with, you better snap out of it.”
Alandra couldn’t say anything. Since being back in Quinn’s life, she was an emotional mess, unsure of how to deal with him.
“If you want Quinn back, all of him, then you’re going to have to be yourself. Be the kick-ass woman he fell in love with the first time.”
Alandra grinned mischievously. “You’re absolutely right.” She walked back over to the dominatrix outfit and found her size. “By the time I’m done seducing Mr. Hamilton, he’ll be begging to have me back in his life, permanently.”
****
The last person Quinn wanted to see when he walked into Trudy’s Bar & Grill was Kendra Banks, a woman who still didn’t understand the word – no. He met her at Trudy’s a few months ago when he and Tyler stopped by for a drink after a late night meeting. Kendra had boldly approached him shortly after Tyler left, and he made the mistake of showing an interest in her. A few nights later, he took her to dinner and though he told her he wasn’t looking for anything serious, she’d been blowing up his phone and hounding him about going out again.
She strutted toward him, her black jersey dress flowing over her curvy body, while her short bob bounced with every step she took.
“Hey, lover, I haven’t seen you in awhile. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were avoiding me.”
Really? Quinn glanced at his watch. Stan should have dropped Alandra off by now.
Kendra followed him to the bar, and sat on the stool next to his. “Listen, Kendra, this,” he pointed between the two of them, “is not working. Like I told you before, I’m not interested.”
A seductive smile graced her red painted lips, and she toyed with the collar of his shirt, her body rubbing up against his. “Q, I don’t know why you’re fighting it.”
Frustration yielded quickly to anger and he grasped her hands before she went for the buttons on his shirt. “Damn, girl, what part of not interested don’t you understand?” With her hands tight within his, he gave her a leveled look. “I don’t want you. I’m…not…interested.”
She jerked away from him and slammed her fists against her rounded hips. Her tirade of explaining why he was an asshole flowed from her mouth, but he didn’t hear her. A commotion at the entrance caught his attention, and his mouth dropped opened when he noticed Alandra standing in the doorway, scanning the bar. His gaze raked boldly over the woman who had captured his heart years ago, and his mouth went dry at her transformation.
Breathtakingly stunning in a red fitted dress that hugged her curves like a second skin and stopped two inches above
her knees, Quinn sat staring with his heart in his throat. Normally, he preferred her hair hanging loose around her shoulders, but the way she had it pinned up, sparked a roaring fire of passion through him. He didn’t think he could wait until they got home to have his way with her. They made eye contact, and the smile on her beguiling lips stoked his internal flames and he knew he wouldn’t be able to hold out until after dinner before he made love to her.
Alandra walked in his direction but stopped when she noticed the woman next to him. Oh hell. No way was he going to let Kendra mess this up for him. He stood, but before he could walk across the room to Alandra, she resumed walking, an extra swing in her hips and wickedness in her eyes. Quinn smiled. He recognized the look. This was the sexy, self-confident, hottie he fell in love with.
The smile fell from his lips when a guy sitting at a nearby table grabbed hold of her arm. Quinn hoped he didn’t have to shoot anyone tonight, but he would if the asshole didn’t release her. He made a move toward her but stopped when she pointed in his direction, and the man gripping her arm looked his way. With his jaw clenched and his eyes slightly narrowed, Quinn dared him to do or say something. Instead, he dropped her arm and nodded, turning back to the people at his table.
“Hey baby,” she crooned when she reached him. She pressed her lips over his, slipping him a little tongue and running her hands up and down his chest, ignoring the woman standing near him.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said when she pulled her lips from his. “That was a helluva en—”
“Excuse me?” Kendra stepped to Alandra. “How you gon’ just kiss my man? You got it all wrong if you think you can come up in here and disrespect me like that.”
“Hold up,” Quinn said gritting his teeth. “Kendra, this is my wife. I’ve told you more than once, that I’m not interested in you. This woman here,” he pointed to Alandra, “is the only woman for me.”
“Your wife?” Kendra said indignantly. “You ain’t never said you were married.”
“Well, let me make it clear right now,” he said to Kendra but stared into Alandra’s eyes. “I am crazy in love with this beautiful woman and I plan to stay married to her until the day I die.”
Rendezvous with Danger (Reunited Series) Page 13