A Broken Soul (The Pembrooke Series Book 3)

by Prince, Jessica

  His eyes grew darker with every step he took in my direction, and I couldn’t help but feel that, in that very moment, he was the predator and I was his prey. My heart began beating against my chest for an entirely different reason as he got closer, closer. Only inches stood between us when he finally stopped. I could smell the intoxicating spiciness of his cologne.

  “S-so,” I stuttered, out of breath from not only the exertion of dancing, but his heady presence. “What did you think?”

  “That was…” The muscle in his jaw ticked, and his hands balled into tight fists at his side. “Fucking incredible,” he finally finished, rendering me momentarily speechless.

  “Yeah?” I asked on a sigh as the air around us went electric. Just like the night outside my apartment, my skin prickled with awareness as the moment stretched out between us.

  “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. The way you move… it’s unbelievable.”

  I couldn’t help but touch him right then. Reaching out, I placed my hand on his arm and whispered, “That’s an amazing compliment. Thank you so much.”

  I meant for my touch to increase the connection I felt between us, but for some reason it seemed to snap him out of it. I could actually see the shutters falling down over his green eyes.

  Taking a step back, he cleared his throat and lifted his arm, rubbing the back of his neck. His tone when he spoke next was completely void of any emotion. “You’re very talented. I have no doubt Sophia will learn a lot from you.”

  Disappointment coursed through my blood, my shoulders drooped in defeat, but I did my best to paste a smile on my face. “Thanks. She’s a fantastic student.”

  “Well…” Quinn glanced down at his watch, and I got the impression he was trying to look anywhere but at me. “It’s getting late. I should probably go.”

  I kept my tone light as I said, “Okay. I’ll walk you out.”

  “No need.” He was already moving, reaching the door in a few quick strides. “Have a good night.”

  And just like that, he was gone, leaving me wondering what the hell just happened.

  Lilly

  I’D BEEN DRAGGING all morning long. Concerns over my father were weighing so heavily on my mind I had trouble finding sleep at night. And to make matters worse, it had been a week and a half since my private performance for Quinn, and he was still giving me the cold shoulder. If there was any chance of surviving the day, I needed one of Chloe’s pastries and a cup of coffee STAT.

  Taking the internal stairs, I headed down to the café below and made a beeline toward the bakery side.

  “Morning,” I announced, as I dramatically flopped down onto one of the barstools.

  Chloe smirked at me. “Well good morning, sunshine,” she teased, taking in my less-than-enthusiastic expression. “Coffee?”

  “Intravenously, please. And two almond scones while you’re at it.”

  She set about making my coffee and grabbed my scones from the pastry display. “Rough morning?”

  I made a sarcastic face and stuffed half a scone in my mouth, talking around the delicious, crumbly goodness. “That’s putting it lightly.”

  Chloe grimaced at my stellar display of table manners and opened her mouth, no doubt to lay into me for talking with my mouth full. Lucky for me, a handful of customers made their way to the counter and started placing their orders, giving me time to swallow my food.

  By the time she made it back to me, I was one scone down and had already started sucking back my steaming cup of coffee. “So why the foul mood?” she asked, wiping the crumbs I’d left behind off the counter as she gave me that look. You know, the one that said she was in full on Mother Mode. “Does it have anything to do with whatever’s causing those dark circles under your eyes?”

  Grabbing a spoon from the counter, I held it up and tried to examine my warped image in the polished metal. Damn, I did have dark circles under my eyes. How had I not noticed that?

  “You aren’t sleeping, are you?” she continued in that motherly tone of voice. “Is there something going on?”

  I should have known Chloe would be like a dog with a bone. During the months that Eliza was away in Denver, the woman nearly mothered me to death in an attempt to make up for missing her step-daughter.

  “Just busy gearing up for the Winter Showcase,” I lied, wanting to keep the truth about my father to myself for a little while longer. I spent my days and nights stuck in my own head, fretting over what I couldn’t change. I couldn’t bring myself to put words to it yet. It wasn’t the most logical way of thinking, but part of me felt that by telling everyone in my life, by putting the truth out there into the universe, I could possibly lose him faster. And I wasn’t ready for that.

  Telling Quinn had been so much easier. He was, for all intents and purposes, a stranger. And it wasn’t lost on me that we shared something thanks to our grief. Maybe that was why I felt that strange connection. But either way, I just couldn’t bring it up yet.

  Her face pinched in concern. “You push yourself too hard.”

  I heaved a sigh and took another bite. “I’ll be fine.”

  I watched as she geared herself up to argue, but the door from the kitchen swung open, and one of her employees came out, carrying an overloaded basket stuffed full of every pastry imaginable. I stared longingly at the basket of goodies. “Please tell me that’s for me, and I’ll love you forever.”

  Chloe chuckled as she took the heaving basket from the poor girl who looked like she was about to collapse under the weight of it. “Sorry. This is for the guys at the fire station. I take a basket to them and the Sheriff’s Department every month. Gotta keep our civil servants happy.”

  I cocked an eyebrow and smiled. “And it keeps you from getting traffic tickets.”

  She at least had the decency to blush a bit. “You’d have thought being the Sheriff’s wife would come with those particular perks,” she replied flatly, making me burst into laughter despite my exhaustion.

  Another pack of customers hit the counter just then. Chloe looked from the quickly forming line, to the basket, to me, and I almost dreaded the question I knew was coming.

  “Would you mind dropping this stuff off?” She pushed the basket in my direction and gave me a pitiful look. “Pretty please?”

  I swallowed down the groan that wanted to come out. I’d been on the receiving end of Quinn’s silent treatment the last several days. Traipsing onto his turf wasn’t exactly something I wanted to do, but I couldn’t say no to Chloe.

  I wrapped my fingers around the handle of the basket and hefted it up, grunting at the unexpected weight of it. Who knew bread could weigh so much. “Fine. But if I strain a muscle, or throw my back out carrying this, I expect baked goods for life.”

  She laughed and waved me off. “Deal.”

  I moved slowly out of the restaurant toward my car, using the bulk of the basket as an excuse, when really I was just dreading a possible run-in with Quinn. If he was at the station, how would he act? Would he acknowledge me, or pretend I didn’t exist? Would I be subjected to more of his coldness?

  Trying to guess his mood was like trying to tell the time by the time of day by the sun. And considering I flunked out of Girl Scouts, it was safe to presume I could not do that.

  I spent the entire — albeit short — drive to Pembrooke Fire Department worrying my bottom lip until I finally tasted blood. Why Quinn Mallick had such an intense reaction on me was anyone’s guess.

  When I pulled into the small parking lot in front of the brick building, I noticed the two big bay doors were open. I parked in the spot closest to one of the open bays in the hopes of getting in and out fast. Inhaling deeply, I shut the car off and opened my door, struggling to stand with the massive bundle of food in my hands. I couldn’t even see over the top as I started walking in what I hoped was the direction of the door.

  As I got closer, I started to hear voices, and breathed a sigh of relief when none of them sounded like Quinn. My relief
, however, was short-lived when the toe of my shoe caught on a crack in the concrete. Thanks to the basket creating an off-balanced center of gravity I started going down… fast. I let out a loud, startled squeak as I squeezed my eyes closed and braced for impact. I was fully prepared for it to hurt like a bitch — Chloe was going to owe me so huge — but a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist, catching me mid-fall, before I could face plant.

  “Lilly?”

  Well, shit. I squinted one eye open and chanced a brief glance over my shoulder. “Quinn… hey. How are you?” It would have been ideal if the ground beneath me had opened up and swallowed me whole. Unfortunately, no such luck.

  He gave me a bewildered look as he studied my face, and I was acutely aware that he was still holding onto me tightly, my back pinned to his firm chest. “You okay?”

  I took a step away, putting pressure on his arms so he’d let go. It took him a few seconds to break the connection, but once he did, I was finally able to take a full breath. “Yeah,” I answered, as I worked to prop the heavy basket on my hip. “Just tripped carrying this damn thing.”

  He blinked, as if only just noticing the abundance of pastries. Reaching out, he tagged the handle and lifted it away from me like it weighed as much as a feather. “Thanks,” I offered sheepishly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Those are from Chloe. She got busy and asked if I could drop them off.”

  “Yo, Mallick!” a man called out, his voice getting closer. “Move your ass before Carpenter peeks at your hand — Hell yeah! It’s Delivery Day from the bakery? Score!”

  The guy with a one-track mind for food rushed Quinn, pulling the cellophane wrapping from the basket then stuffing nearly an entire muffin in his mouth at once before realizing there was a woman present.

  As soon as he did, he stopped chewing and gave me a very slow once-over. He was a handsome guy, in spite of the puffed out, chipmunk cheeks due to the muffin he had crammed in his mouth. He was about the same height and build as Quinn, but with darker features. He looked to be a few years older than Quinn, but the age didn’t detract from his good looks one bit. And he had one of those faces that you just knew he could charm his way out of anything.

  His gaze went from me to Quinn, back to me, back to Quinn. “Well, hello.” He might have been going for a flirty smirk, but it was hard to tell with the mouthful of food. Either way, I couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Hello.”

  The guy swallowed hard, his throat bobbing in an attempt to get the muffin down. I silently waited and prayed it didn’t get lodged in his throat. The last thing I needed was to be blamed for bearing the pastries that choked a firefighter to death.

  Once he was finally able to speak clearly, he asked, “You the one that brought the basket of Heaven from Sinful Sweets?”

  My grin widened. Yep, a total charmer. “I am. I’m on errand duty for Chloe.”

  “Delivery Day is like Christmas every month. Every shift hopes they’re the ones working on that day. If I weren’t a happily married man, I’d kiss you right on the mouth.”

  I giggled as Quinn glared. Extending my hand, I took a step toward Mr. Charmer. “I’m Lilly. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Tony.” He brought my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles as he gave side-eyes to Quinn. “And believe me, the pleasure’s all mine.”

  I thought I might have heard Quinn growl low in his throat, but it was probably just my imagination. I pulled my hand free and gave them both an awkward wave.

  “Well, it was good seeing you. I better go.” I turned toward my car only to have Tony’s voice stop me in my tracks.

  “Oh, you can’t go! We’re in the middle of a poker game right now. You should stay and join us. After all, you did just guarantee we’d be well fed the rest of the shift.”

  Why was Quinn watching me like he was waiting for my reaction? And why was the fact that I could feel his eyes on me making my skin burn red?

  “I couldn’t.” I started to back away, needing to get out of there, away from Quinn and my unpredictable reaction to him. “I don’t even know how to play poker. I’d just be in the way.” A lie. I knew how to play pretty damn well. On top of insisting I learn to change my own tire when I started driving, my dad also taught me how to hold my own at cards. But these guys didn’t need to know that.

  Tony snorted and waved me off. “We’ll teach you. Don’t even worry about that.”

  I opened my mouth to argue when Quinn finally spoke, and what he said floored me. “You should stay.”

  My mouth dropped open a bit as I stared. He wanted me to stay… after a week and a half of acting like I didn’t exist. What was this guy’s deal?

  “Perfect!” Tony declared, throwing his arm over my shoulders and leading me into the station through the open bay door, and squashing any hope I had of escaping. “Just stick with me, gorgeous. I’ll teach you everything you need to know.”

  Well… I guess I was playing poker whether I liked it or not.

  And I was going to take them for everything they had.

  Quinn

  SHE WAS A goddamned card shark. Lilly had spent the past hour and a half scamming five men that were twice her size, and didn’t even bat an eye.

  And damn if that didn’t make her all the more attractive. Even with my head as messed up as it was over this girl, even though I’d been doing my best to stay away from her because of how drawn to her I was, when Tony invited her to stay, my mouth opened before I could give it any thought.

  Because I wanted her to stay. Because feeling her magnificent body against mine when I caught her was enough to blow my mind. Because she was the first person in three fucking years who could make me laugh.

  I was fucked.

  “Son of a bitch!” Carpenter shouted, slapping his cards down on the table as Lilly scooped up her winnings with an eager smile and did a little dance in her chair. It was safe to say she was cleaning all of us out.

  “Beginner’s luck?” She shrugged, giving us a look of fake innocence.

  “Beginner’s luck my ass.” I chuckled. “You hustled us.”

  She stacked her chips in front of her, a pleased grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. “In my defense, I tried getting out of it, but your buddy over there,” she pointed at Tony, “insisted. I didn’t have much of a choice.”

  Tony glowered, his arms crossed over his chest. “Yeah? Well I take my invitation back. I don’t wanna play with you anymore.”

  “Aw, poor baby.” She pouted sarcastically. It was nice to see her revert back to the snarky, joking Lilly she normally was after how uncomfortable she seemed when she’d first arrived. I knew it was my fault she felt out of place. I knew it was because I ran hot and cold constantly. But she was tougher than most women I knew and she bounced back quickly. It was just another thing about her I respected and found dangerously attractive.

  Yes, the discomfort I felt in her presence originally started because she reminded me of my wife, but now it was totally different. After getting to know her, the differences between Lilly and Addison stood out like a flashing red light. And even though the two women were like night and day, I still craved Lilly’s company, her body, her spirited personality. That was why I had been trying so hard to keep my distance.

  Lilly pulled her cellphone out of her pocket and gave it a quick glance. “I should probably be going anyway. I have to get ready for my next class.”

  My body had a mind of its own and stood from my seat. “I’ll walk you out.”

  Now having officially become one of the guys by taking all their money, she was comfortable enough to pass out good-bye hugs to my crew without giving it a second thought. That was just the kind of woman she was. And as I walked her out of the station toward her car, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d be on the receiving end of one of those hugs… or if I’d be able to handle it if she did.

  We walked the short distance to her car in silence, the awkward mood having returned now that we were alone
. “So,” I started once we stood at her driver side door. “Thanks for bringing the food.”

  She fidgeted with her purse, digging around for her keys as she said, “Yeah. Sure. You’re welcome,” and I got the distinct impression she was having trouble meeting my eyes. I opened my mouth, ready to apologize, when she suddenly spoke first. I shouldn’t have been surprised. I was quickly learning that Lilly was the type of woman who spoke what was on her mind.

  “Did I do something to piss you off?”

  She was so direct I was taken off guard, and it took me a second to formulate a response. “What? No, of course not.”

  She gave me a speculative look, she didn’t believe me. Finally she let out a shaky sigh. “Look, I know we don’t really know each other well, but I thought… God, this sounds so stupid.” She shook her head in embarrassment but pushed on anyway. “I thought, that night we had dinner at my place, that… well, we were kind of becoming friends. Maybe I was wrong?”

  My mouth opened and closed while I tried my best to come up with something to say, something that would take the pained expression off her face. I did want to be friends with her. I just didn’t have any idea how to do that. “Lilly—”

  To my relief, she interrupted, because I really had no fucking clue what I was going to say. “If I misread the situation I can accept that. I’m not going to force you to be friends with me if you aren’t comfortable. It’s just…” She ran a shaky hand through her hair and swallowed. “…I could really use a friend right now. Things are really hard, and I don’t have anyone to talk to. It was just so easy to talk to you that night, like a weight was lifted off my chest, you know? I haven’t had anyone I could dump all this on. I didn’t realize how much I needed that. But if you aren’t comfortable I’d totally understa—”