They ate with little chit chat. Just as they were setting their dishes in the sink, Hank came in with a handful of bowls. “I’m gonna take the kids up to get some ice cream. Would y’all like to join us?”
“No thanks. You go on ahead.” Quint took the dishes from the older man.
Hank nodded and was gone.
Gillian tried to cross her arms over her chest, but with the cast it came across more as if her arms were at war with each other. She stopped fidgeting and ran her finger over the back of her chair. “What if I wanted ice cream?”
Quint gave her a slow head-to-toe once over. “You don’t look like you’ve ever had ice cream.”
A shiver ran down her spine. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why are you always using such cheesy lines?”
Quint rinsed off the last dish and settled it into the washer. “You ever seen Wyoming stars?”
She got dizzy with how quickly he jumped from one subject to the next. “They’re different from other stars?”
He nodded. “Absolutely.”
“If you say so, I’ll take your word for it.”
“I can show them to ya.”
Gillian shook her head. “No, that’s okay.”
“Scared?” Quint tossed the dishtowel to the sink.
Gillian snorted. “Of you?”
“Of the dark. I am far too charming to scare you away.”
She leaned forward and looked deep into his eyes.
“What are you doing?”
“I thought your eyes were gray, but you’re so full of shit that I almost expect them to be brown.”
He blinked several times. “You noticed the color of my eyes?”
“Gaw. You are the most insufferable man.”
He smiled broadly. “I have heard that before.”
“I’ll just bet you have.”
Quint held out his elbow to Gillian. “Can I interest you in a walk under the magnificent Wyoming stars to get some dessert?”
Gillian stared at him for a long moment. She should go back to her house, lock the door and do her very best to forget about the very sexy cowboy who tempted her at every turn. But more than anything she wanted to go walking blanketed by the beautiful night sky with said cowboy.
“What the hell.” She slid her hand into the crook of his arm. A little electric charge zapped her, like a zing of awakening. The first time she’d felt it, it could have been a fluke. The second, a coincidence. Every time since then… It was hard to ignore, but she’d been good at compartmentalizing things.
“This way, m’lady.”
Chapter Eight
The last time Quint had to work at wooing a woman, he had braces. Not that he was a ladies’ man, necessarily. But Gillian challenged him in every area, especially in the one-on-one, man/woman areas.
He loved a challenge.
The pair walked in silence for a couple of blocks. She left her hand looped with his arm. He could have walked and walked all night, just to have her beside him, with him—despite the pain in his side. On Main Street, they walked past the diner.
“Aren’t we…” Gillian glanced back over her shoulder.
Quint clicked his tongue like he did with the horses. “Not a very patient woman.”
She gave a quick, nervous laugh. “A confused woman.”
Two shops farther and he turned to the door.
“The grocers?”
“Last time I checked they sold ice cream.” He snagged a hand basket at the front door, shifted his other hand to the small of her back and guided her back to the freezer section. “What’s your favorite flavor?”
Gillian volleyed her gaze between the glass door and Quint.
“You do like ice cream, right?”
She laughed again, this time with no nervousness or tension. “Yes.”
“Okay. Pick a flavor or two. I’ll be right back.” He hurried around the shop and grabbed a few essentials. All the while he ignored the way his heart raced at the remembrance of his hand on her back, her hand on his arm, the sweet scent of her hair when he’d bend down to speak just to her.
He returned and she had one pint balanced on her cast and held another in her hand. “I picked. I couldn’t decide between these two.” A huge smile spread across her face. “What’s in the basket?”
“Supplies.” He nodded toward the front of the store. “This way. Follow me.”
Once Quint paid for dessert, he and Gillian walked a couple more blocks to the picnic tables at the elementary school playground. The few streetlamps close by gave just enough light for romantic seclusion.
“Now can I see what all you bought?”
Quint set the bag on the picnic table. “We’re having dessert.”
“Yeah, I kinda got that. The ice cream was the first giveaway.”
“Like I said, impatient.” He removed plastic bowls and spoons as well as napkins. He set down a pint container in front of each of them, then also pulled out whipped cream and an assortment of sprinkles. “I wasn’t sure what you liked.”
She smiled up at him. “All of the above.”
They spent the next few minute concocting their desserts.
Gillian licked the back of her spoon, slanted her head back and moaned. The woman liked her ice cream.
Quint’s crotch tightened. He had to clear his throat before he could speak. “Open your eyes.”
“Hmm?” Her eye lids fluttered open and gazed heavenward. “Oh, wow. You weren’t kidding.”
Head still back, she blindly dove her spoon into the ice cream for another bite. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many stars before.”
I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but instead of scaring her off good he simply said, “Told ya.”
She lowered her gaze and squared it on him. “You get a kick out of that, don’t you?”
Watching you in the moonlight? Wanting to touch you? “Um, what?”
“The ‘I told you sos’. Are you ever wrong?”
Wrong at underestimating her power over him? Yes, he wanted to admit. But he was nowhere ready to tell her how she tore him up inside. “I thought I’d made a mistake once.” He shook his head. “But I was wrong.”
She pointed her spoon at him. “Cute.”
“I try.”
“A little too hard,” she said quietly.
Quint pretended he didn’t hear her. He’d never had the urgency and desire for a woman swell up in him all at once. It was confusing. The more he pushed and tried, the more she seemed to retreat. She was as skittish as a mistreated mare. With a horse, you took your time to gentle them. With Gillian, it felt like a clock was hanging over their heads. He wanted to make the most of their time together. And if he was lucky, make their time together last as long as possible. He wasn’t ready to lose her.
He shook off the heavy thoughts.
They finished the ice cream—all of it—he’d never seen a woman so petite pack away so much double-chocolate-brownie ice cream before, and didn’t so much as apologize for her appetite—just one more thing he liked about her. He tossed the trash in a nearby can and held out his arm again for their walk back to Missy’s.
Quint couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so content. Sure, moving to Wyoming had been one of the best things he’d ever done for himself, but it was still tough trying to work your way through what you want to be when you’re grown and settle into that life. Walking with Gillian though and every decision he’d made was timed perfectly, and he couldn’t ask for much more.
“That was the best dessert. I don’t think I have ever had better.”
Warmth spread through his chest. “For me, too.”
As they were passing the diner, Hank and the kids came out. “Oh hey, were y’all coming to join us?”
“Yeah, but I guess we’re too late.”
Gillian snickered but didn’t comment.
Quint waved the trio on in front of him. “Ya’ll lead t
he way back to the house.”
Both teens narrowed their eyes at Quint and Gillian but neither ventured a comment. They stayed half a block ahead the entire way back to the Lunsford home. Quint waited until the door closed behind the trio to pull Gillian to a stop. “Thanks.”
She frowned. “For?”
“Letting me treat you to dessert.”
“I should be the one thanking you.” She leaned against the front door.
“Yes, you should.” He smiled down at her. A spot of chocolate winked at him when the corner of her mouth tilted up. “You have a little…” He motioned to his mouth with his thumb.
“Oh, geez.” She swiped at her mouth but missed the spot.
“Here, let me.” Quint raised his hand. Instead of wiping away the smudge, he cupped her cheek and leaned forward. He lapped at the corner of her mouth with his tongue. Then he settled his mouth over hers. He’d longed to kiss her again. She tasted of chocolate and want. The perfect combination. A shiver wracked through her and he repeated the process. “Mmm, tastes sweet.”
The door opened behind them and Gillian nearly fell in. “Mom!”
Gillian jumped. “I, uh…”
Heidi shoved her hands on her hips. Her toe tapped the ground in an impatient rhythm.
Quint looked between the pair of Harwoods and laughed. “A bit much. It’s not like you’ve never seen your mom kiss a guy before.”
“Actually—” she turned her glare to Quint, “—I haven’t.”
He would have laughed if Gillian’s cheeks hadn’t turned an alarmingly shade of crimson. “Never?”
“We…um, we should get going. Good night.” Gillian snagged Heidi’s wrist. She dragged the teen down the walk behind her.
Quint stood, mouth agape like a damned old fish, and watched the Harwood women walk to the car at the curb and get in. The teen looked back longingly at the house, but didn’t fight when her mother told her to get into the car. When the taillights were nothing more than pinpricks, he shook himself and knocked on the door.
“Hey, where’d Heidi and her momma get themselves off to?” Hank leaned out the door and looked around Quint.
“They left.”
The older man frowned.
“I’m gonna head out too. Tell Missy thanks for dinner when she gets back home.”
“Will do. Oh, hey. Gillian left her bag here. Will you take it to her?”
Quint raised his hand, poised to knock again when the door whooshed open. His fist sat frozen a mere inch from Gillian’s nose. “Uh, you forgot this.” He held the bag out to her, but she just stared at him.
“Who is it, Mom?” Heidi bounded to the door behind her mother. “Oh. It’s you.” She scrunched up her nose.
“Be nice.” Gillian swatted at her daughter as she vanished behind the door. “Thank you. You didn’t have to come all the way out here.”
“It was on my way home.” Quint set the bag down inside the door.
“No, it’s not. The ranch is in the other direction.”
Quint stared at her for a long moment. “Why have you never kissed a man in front of your daughter?”
Gillian’s eyebrows pulled down and her shoulders stiffened. “None of your business. Thanks for the bag.” She swung the door closed, but Quint stopped it with his booted foot.
“You’re a strange woman. Hard to figure out.”
Her gaze narrowed. “No one asked you to.”
Quint didn’t stop her the second time and the door snicked shut.
When he pulled up next to his small house on the Skipping Rocks Ranch, Ruby’s pick-up sat in his spot. He pulled up in the slot next to it and let the truck idle for a moment. Hands gripped on the steering wheel, he let his pulse settle after the rollercoaster with Gillian.
Ruby got out of her truck when he shut down his engine.
“Did I forget some plans?”
She shook her head. “Nope. I thought I’d just stop by and say hi.” A long denim skirt swooshed around her legs as she followed him in through the front door.
When was the last time he’d seen her in a dress? Had he ever seen her in a dress? Hell, until that moment, he didn’t think he’d ever even seen her bare legs—sure he knew she had legs under her jeans, but…still… It was a little weird. He gave a quick mental shake. “Would ya like a beer?”
A smile stretched across her face. “’Kay.”
With beers in hand, they settled in his living room. She sipped from her bottle, then said, “So, I kinda expected you home tonight. After that nasty fall.”
“Missy invited me over to dinner.”
Ruby frowned. “She was working at the diner tonight.”
He took a long draw and nodded. “She got called up to work just as we were sitting down to eat.”
Quint’s mind shifted to Gillian as it had so much since she’d come to town. He’d been damn lucky he hadn’t embarrassed the two of them when she examined his bruise. Her hand, careful and gentle had all but stopped up his breathing. He’d had to run through a mental list of his daily chores to keep his hormones at bay—always so close to exploding without any prompting. If desire hadn’t been laced with the pain, he didn’t know how he’d have been able to control himself. Then later, the kiss.
God, he almost begged for more. Until her teenage daughter growled at him.
“Did your mom ever kiss one of her boyfriends in front of you?”
Ruby sputtered her drink. “What?”
“Before she married Guy. She dated right?”
She nodded slowly. “Yes.”
“Did she…” He waved his hand in a slow circuitous motion.
“Kiss men?” Ruby blinked. “Yeah, I guess. I didn’t really keep a score sheet. What’s with the weird questions?”
“Nothing. Something I saw on TV.”
She laughed. “Whatcha been watching?”
He tried to make his laughter sound relaxed and normal, but it fell flat.
Ruby scratched at the beer bottle label with her thumbnail. “I heard Cade Holstrom is coming back to town for a week.”
“Hank mentioned it.” He crossed his ankle over his knee. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen him.”
Ruby nodded. “Yep.”
Quint nodded. “Yep.”
“Do you have plans for Friday night?”
If he worked up the nerve to ask Gillian to go out with him he would. “Nope.”
She shifted in her seat and turned toward him. “Me neither.”
“You know what?” Quint pointed his bottle at her. “You should give Eric up at the Cates’ ranch a call. He’s been hinting around about asking you out.”
Ruby smacked her beer down on the table. The resounding crack echoed through the room. “I should be going.” She stood. “I have a couple checking in first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Oh, sure.” Quint stood, too. “Walk you to your truck?”
“I think I can manage.”
“Hmm.” When the door shut, he fell back into his chair. He fingered the phone on the table next to him. He’d give Gillian another day before he asked her out on a for-real date. Just the two of them. No interruptions or disapproving teens. “Now, I just have to convince her to say yes.”
“Mom, is there something you need to tell me?” Heidi flopped on the foot of Gillian’s bed.
“You were actually left by aliens on our doorstep. Becca took one look at you and traded her favorite pair of gold hoop earrings. Just for you.”
The teen’s blonde eyebrows rose up into her bangs. “Funny. You should take your act on the road.”
“What’s that noise?”
“Don’t try to change the subject, Mom.”
“No, seriously.” Gillian rose from the bed. “Can’t you hear that?”
Heidi twisted her head in the direction of the sound. “What is it?”
“It almost sounds like growling.” The humming vibration grew louder.
“In the house?” Heidi slid off the bed and snagged Gill
ian’s shirt. “Wait for me.”
The two person conga line crossed the bedroom toward the bathroom.
“Maybe we should call someone.” Heidi dug her finger tips into Gillian’s hand. “It sounds like a monster.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Gillian said the words to calm her daughter’s fears but it did little to ease her own. “Stay right here.” She left Heidi in the doorway and edged into the bathroom.
The roaring grew. Before Gillian got more than a foot into the small room, the faucet shot up into the air and water spewed everywhere.
“Ah!” Gillian rushed out trying to keep her cast dry. “Go call Quint. His number is by the phone in the kitchen.”
“I’m not used to having hysterical women call me in the middle of the night.” Though he’d sure raced like hell to get to town after the phone call.
Heidi stuck her tongue out. “I was hardly hysterical.”
“‘Oh, Quint, you have to hurry’.” He raised his voice in falsetto. “‘It’s raining in the house’.”
“Thank you for getting here so quickly.” Gillian added another wet towel to the growing pile.
“Would you stop that?” Quint guided Gillian to the chair for the third time. She couldn’t sit still. “If you get your cast wet…”
“I haven’t up to this point. You can’t do this all by yourself.”
Quint snagged Heidi’s ponytail, but didn’t yank too hard. “I have help. And seeing how it’s my shoddy plumbing that got us in this predicament in the first place.” He shrugged.
“I can’t just sit here.”
He smiled down at her. “I’ve noticed.”
“Do you know how gross the two of you are?” Heidi made a gagging noise. “There’s nothing worse than old people flirting.”
Quint flattened his back up against the wall and grasped his chest. “Did she…just…call me old?”
“Puh-leeze.” Heidi’s eyeballs rolled heavenward—for the umpteenth time.
“My uncle used to say if you keep rolling your eyes like that they may get stuck up in the top of your head. Then where would ya be?”
Whoop, the round orbs rotated again.
Gillian laughed from her perch on the chair.
Wrong Turn, Right Cowboy: Paintbrush, Book 2 Page 10