Not knowing whether or not she left the dog outside to his own devices, Craig waited at the door to see what the animal would do. He leaned against the doorframe and inhaled the fresh, rain soaked air. God, it felt good to be home. He didn’t mean just Emerald, though he’d always consider this his first and primary home, but being back in South Dakota, being in Falstad with all the familiar faces and familiar landscape. He’d never much thought of it before, but during his marriage he, Elise and Marisol never really had a home. They had a “home base” with the apartment in DC, but they traveled so much that Marisol couldn’t even be properly enrolled in school.
After a while he adapted to the hectic lifestyle. As long as he had his laptop he was fine to write, no matter where Elise’s latest assignment took them. Not that he always followed her from place to place. There were times, especially after Marisol was born, when it wasn’t safe to tag along. That’s when he and Marisol would stay in DC, or if the assignment were going to be short, they’d go to London or some other location where they could meet up with Elise.
Never any rest. Never able to settle. Some might think it exciting, and he had to admit for a while he enjoyed the lifestyle, but standing here now, looking out over the prairie, with its subtle shifts, he knew he never wanted to stray.
Yes, it had something to do with the woman nestled in bed, who he longed to go back and join. What a surprise she turned out to be. Last night. He shook his head, couldn’t fight the smile that tugged at his mouth. He hadn’t planned on staying the night, but he couldn’t help himself and she wasn’t about to kick him out of her bed.
The storm had caught up with them, battering the house with wind and thunder. It had charged her. What a lover. Every time he thought he couldn’t get any more of her, he was proven wrong. When he saw her standing there in that sexy green nightgown, he was lost. Uncertainty had clouded her eyes and completely disarmed him. Maybe she didn’t realize how vulnerable she looked, but he saw it, it surprised him because she rarely showed it. She’d replaced her hesitation quick enough with the seductress look. How much more was hidden behind that confident exterior?
She was right about one thing; she didn’t give such good person massages, but what she lacked in talent she made up with determination and enthusiasm. He’d feel the effects of her “magic” fingers on his muscles all day. A trip to Jacob’s spa might be in order, but then again, every time he lifted his arm, he’d be reminded of their night together. Sweet pain. Maybe it was worth it to suffer.
“He can stay out there.”
Craig swung around.
Tousled hair, sleepy eyes and a smile greeted him. She wasn’t wearing the green nightgown but donned an elderly blue robe with white polka dots. His gaze traveled down her body and he chuckled. Blue house slippers.
God he loved her.
She might not want him to say the words, for whatever reason, but he couldn’t deny it any more. And he would say it. He’d find the perfect moment and tell her how much he wanted her, needed her. They’d have to come out in the open about their relationship, no hiding. No secrets. There’d be fallout from several directions and Jacob would maybe take a swing at him, but how could he not yell it to the world that he was head over heels in love with Quinn Emery.
“Coffee? I can whip up a quick breakfast.”
She shuffled through the kitchen to the coffee pot. “Leave the door open. The breeze feels good. I have cobwebs in my brain.” She threw a look over her shoulder and gave him another sleepy smile. “Did you feed me more wine last night? I feel like I had too much to drink. No, you didn’t, never mind. Just not enough sleep.”
Craig set the table while Quinn took out the eggs, bacon, and bread, then he began the toast making duties. Moving around the kitchen with her seemed right. They didn’t talk too much, except to comment on the storm, the gray wet weather, and what effects the rain would have on the trails they’d take for the overnighter. Their conversation was casual, no hidden expectations or unasked questions.
Even the mundane, like pouring the coffee or buttering toast wasn’t routine when working side by side with Quinn. All he had to do was look at her in that old bathrobe and slippers, her hair mussed and the hint of dark circles under her blue eyes and his life got much better.
They settled at the table across from each other, and he didn’t feel one bit weird about it, like he was doing something wrong or moving too fast. Did that make him a bad person? He’d been a widower for over two years now. A part of him thought he should feel guilty about being with her. That it happened too soon. A more dominant internal voice assured him it was okay.
“What?” She paused over her breakfast, suspicion in her eyes. She slanted a sharp, quizzical gaze at him.
He couldn’t very well tell her his conscience debated whether it was morally correct to be with her, not after what they’d shared. “You’re beautiful,” he said instead.
She pulled a face, her mouth grimacing and slim brows furrowed deeply. “Honey you just lost fifty credibility points.”
“I’m not lying to you. I would never lie to you.”
“Hmm. Then maybe it will be safe to bring you on this overnighter after all because I’m even more frightening after camping out on the trail. If you’re not totally appalled then I’ll know you’re a keeper.”
She spoke the words casually, but to him he detected a hint of hope for the future in her voice. Did she see that for them? Want it? He longed to find out, but the clock over the stove told him he was running late. Hal and Frank would be wondering about him, not that it was any of their business, and not that they’d pry. Craig wasn’t too keen on the idea of arriving back at the Shady H wearing the same suit he wore yesterday.
“I hate to eat and run,” he said and stood.
Quinn waved her hand, while the other held her mug of coffee to her lips. “We’re ranchers, you and I,” she replied when she put the now empty mug on the table. “We’re used to this up and out at the crack of dawn stuff. Not that there’s much dawn out there this morning. Ugh, I’ll be giving your daughter her lesson in a mud bog.”
“She’ll be fine.”
“Go get dressed, though there’s nothing like having breakfast with a man in a tee shirt and his boxers. You look like a model. If you don’t hurry and leave I may change my mind and lock you up for the rest of the day.”
As she gathered his dishes, she gave him a playful pat on his butt.
She wasn’t like anyone he’d ever met before, he decided with a grin.
It only took a few minutes to get dressed and when he returned to the kitchen Quinn was loading the dishwasher, looking incredibly domestic and just plain incredible.
“All right,” he announced, reaching to turn her around. She automatically snuggled against him. “I’m heading out.”
“Miss you.” Her breath was warm against his chest.
“Me too.”
He didn’t want to leave her. No, he corrected, he wanted to take her with him. For the first time in a long time, he wanted a woman to be with him, be there when he went to bed at night, have her in his arms as they slept and wake up with her every morning. He wanted her there in the evening when it was time to unwind and share the news of the day.
More, he wanted to be able to go through the day anticipating the knowledge that she’d be there, or even better, that she’d be working side by side with him on the land they both loved.
Baby steps, he warned. There was more to consider than himself. Marisol stood first and foremost his priority. Her happiness came before his. He clung to the belief that even though Marisol had some kind of romantic ideas about Quinn and Robby, she’d come around to his way of thinking.
“Quinn?” He tipped her chin up so he could see her face. Contentment. Her gaze was sleepy again, as was the small smile on her pink lips. He admired the freckles across her nose and smattered over her cheeks.
“Hmm?”
“I love you.”
Instantly the blue of h
er eyes darkened from daylight blue sky to twilight. The smile faded a touch and her cheeks filled with a delicate blush.
“You may not want to hear it, but there you go.” Craig pressed a kiss on the top of her head then her forehead.
She remained silent, she didn’t move. With her arms wrapped around his waist, he couldn’t read her face.
“Nothing to say? I can’t believe I’ve rendered Quinn Emery speechless.”
Then something amazing happened and Craig didn’t quite know what to make of it. A single tear formed in the corner of her eye. Gently he swept it away with his finger.
“You weren’t supposed to say that,” Quinn whispered. “It’s too soon.”
“Can’t lie to you. Regardless of whether it’s too soon or not, there’s nothing I’d do to change these feelings.”
“There’s too much we’re not sure of.”
“And a lot that we are. We can work on the rest.”
She pulled back, leaving Craig suddenly cold. She walked halfway across the kitchen and paused before turning to face him.
“This sure does complicate things,” she commented under her breath. “What if Marisol doesn’t come around? We could have a lot of broken hearts around here.”
***
Quinn was determined not to let Craig’s proclamation throw her. She spent the most boring day of the summer dodging the rain as she finished two more stalls. At least she didn’t have to face him. Marisol called to cancel the riding lesson due to the weather, but asked if her friend Bonnie could come along with them on the overnighter. Speaking for her brother, Quinn said yes. It would be good for the girl to do some more bonding and maybe a little showing off with her new friend. And that would leave Quinn a bit more time to moon over Craig. Not that she planned to declare their love in front of everyone. It might be a little more than Jacob could take and she didn’t want Robby to know, not like this, and not yet. No, they would slide everyone into it. A few more dates first. It would take time, but it looked like they had plenty of that.
After lunch, Quinn kept to the house while Tom worked down at the barn. She had more unpacking to do. The humdrum chore relaxed her, though provided too much time to remember the night before, the calmer, deeper lovemaking that came after first attempt to massage a human.
Closing her eyes, she recalled each detail, each caress and flame that licked her flesh.
“I love you.” Craig’s declaration played over and over in her brain, along with the memories of how he touched her. How he held her all night long. Her heart charged with need. There was no relieving it, not today. Not when she was stuck in the house. Quinn left the chores and went back outside.
To the west the sky had cleared, but huge pools of water covered the ranch yard. Not exactly good riding conditions, though she longed to get away from the unpacking. Instead, she settled for starting the evening feeding
By the time she’d lugged her last bucket of water out to the paddocks, the sun began its descent into with a blast of color. Quinn headed for the house, but instead of making dinner, she took a beer out of the fridge and went back outside. She bypassed the swing that hung from the stoop and settled on the top step of the front porch. With no plans for the night, she thought maybe she’d sit right here and watch the sun disappear beneath the horizon, sip on the beer and wonder what Craig and Marisol were doing.
After doing just that, she was about to get up and go inside when a pair of headlights cut through the deepening twilight. Darkness hid the car until it pulled up to the house. When she recognized it, she groaned and rested her forehead against her drawn up knees. Robby. Why? How could a day start out so promising and end like this?
She couldn’t make an escape, so she stayed put while Robby got out of his small truck. His booted feet squished in the muddy drive as he approached. He’d left his hat behind and tonight he wore an Oakland Raiders football jersey and black jeans. She admired his good looks, but looks couldn’t carry him anymore with her. Or that flashy smile he sent her way.
“Boy, this brings back memories,” he commented and climbed the stairs. “Remember when my parents went to Minneapolis for the weekend and Chris Larsen got us a six pack of beer?”
Quinn made a sound in her throat and grimaced. Yes, she remembered. It had been her first taste of beer. She’d been sixteen and smitten with Robby. By then Craig had been too long gone to hang on to her crush. She wanted to be so cool in front of Robby she ignored what she considered to be a bitter, vile flavor and drank two bottles of that swill. She was a lightweight back then, and those two beers set her head reeling. There had been dancing. Maybe a little singing.
“I believe we were on the porch swing. When we were sitting.”
“Ugh.” She buried her face again.
“Got anymore of that?” He tapped her bottle.
“In the fridge. Wipe your feet.”
A few minutes later, Robby rejoined her. She hadn’t moved from the stairs. No need to give Robby any ideas that she’d want to recreate that night. Though she stared out into the growing darkness, she kept Robby in the edge of her sight. He tipped the bottle up to his lips and drew a long sip.
“Hell of a lot better than that sewage Chris bought us.”
Quinn chuckled. “And I thought it was just my taste buds.”
“Nope. Could only afford a five buck six pack. Not exactly quality.”
“Nearly ruined me for beer forever. Hated it in college. Had my first decent beer in Germany.”
“Now you’re drinking this? Definitely slumming.”
“Nah, this is okay. Far superior to that other stuff, even though it’s not up to par with the Germans. Enough about beer. Why are you here?”
Robby took another drink that must’ve emptied half the bottle. “I’ve missed you. Long Knife Creek isn’t the same without your red head. The sun doesn’t shine quite so bright.”
“Oh please.”
“Truth.”
“I’m sure there’re plenty of girls to keep you occupied.” Quinn put the bottle up to her lips and drained the contents. She grimaced at the now flat, luke warm liquid.
“Not really. Not since you left.”
Quinn slanted him a doubtful glance and chuckled. “You don’t need to play charming with me, Robby. I’ve known you too long to buy it.”
Robby grinned against the bottle as he drew another long swig, emptying the contents. He stood quickly, snatched Quinn’s empty bottle and dashed inside. Returning a moment later, he handed Quinn a fresh, cold bottle and took his seat again.
“So, what will you buy?”
Quinn stared out into the darkness that had taken over the prairie. Down in the paddocks she heard the horses shuffle around. Next to her, Zorro lay flat on his side and sighed in his sleep. Even with Robby sitting next to her, bumping her leg with his, contentment soaked through her.
“I’m not interested in gimmicks,” she replied, not looking at him. “I’m not interested in trips down memory lane. Or attempts to make me swoon. I don’t react to show offs and I’m not interested in grand romantic gestures.”
“Man, Q, you’re shooting me down on all accounts. But you didn’t answer my question.”
She sighed. How dense could a man be? She could’ve gotten mad and kicked him off the place, but instead she dug down deep and found a bit of patience. “Robby, stop. Okay? If you’re here so you can try to get back together you might as well leave. It’s not going to happen. I thought I made myself clear. I’m not changing my mind.”
He was silent, except for the sound of him taking another drink.
Good, he’d gotten the picture. The pleasant interlude was short lived, though.
“Is there another guy?”
“Robby,” she warned.
“Because if there’s another guy you could just say so and I’ll leave you alone.”
Quinn stood and swung to face him. “No you wouldn’t. It’s none of your business anyway.”
Angry, she went inside, slammi
ng the screen door behind her. Like she’d admit to him here and now she and Craig were involved. She went into the kitchen and dumped the rest of her beer down the drain.
If nothing, Robby was persistent. She heard him coming through the door behind her.
“Why the hell are you getting so defensive?” he demanded, leaning against the doorframe.
“Why the hell are you so determined? Oh, Christ, Robby, you’re drunk.”
In the dark outside, she hadn’t noticed the red around Robby’s eyes or the loose limbed stance of a man who had a few too many. Damn! He’d driven all the way over here from Long Knife Creek.
“You’re an idiot,” she seethed and grabbed the near empty bottle from Robby’s grip.
“I care. I want another chance.”
“You’re damned lucky to be alive.”
Quinn took a hold of his arm, steered him to the couch and shoved him down without any care at all. She had no sympathy for him and she hoped the movements made his head spin. But not enough to make him sick. God, if he got sick here…
She tugged his sneakers off his feet. She didn’t want his shoes on her couch.
“You going to snuggle?”
“Not for anything. I’m going to leave you here. You know where the bathroom is if you need it.”
It may not have been the best thing to do, leaving Robby alone in her house, but she didn’t want to be within the same walls as him. He was a big boy. He could take care of himself. She felt confident he wouldn’t be digging around her stuff. By the look on his face, he probably wasn’t going to be awake for more than a few minutes.
Where should she go? The Shady H came to mind first, but she couldn’t just show up with no reason. Didn’t want to make Marisol suspicious. Long Knife Creek was a possibility. Jacob might still be awake, but how in the world would she be able to vent to him? Robby was an employee and that would make things too awkward.
So she sat in her car and stared at the dark ranch yard for five minutes.
“Shit.”
Quinn grabbed her purse and went back inside.
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