He stroked the curves of her waist. “Really? I made the Earth move for you?”
“Oh no.”
“So, I’m that good? Maybe we can do the same thing later. Sooner than later.”
“Don’t get all cocky on me.” She giggled. “You know what I mean.”
He kissed her breast. “Sure. All I know is that I’m so deep inside you and I don’t ever want to leave. I love you, Sadie.”
She let out an unsexy snort and snuggled into his chest. “I love you too, Mr. Juicy Fruit.”
***
Sadie dappled her fingers along Quinn’s spine, and then pinched his butt. “It’s almost dinner time and I’m still naked.”
“Mm. Yeah. And what’s the problem?” Quinn flipped over onto his back and pulled off her covers. He arranged one of the bed pillows under her head and climbed over her. “We don’t need clothes or food. We have each other.”
“Ha. Ha. Mr. Juicy Fruit. Now that you bring it up I am hungry. For real food. Coffee and sweet rolls don’t count.” She scooted out from underneath him and jumped out of bed. “You must have a robe of some sort.”
“I can’t believe Suze told you that stupid nickname she pinned on me.” Quinn climbed off the bed and went into a walk-in closet. “Hey, just so you know, by the time I made it downstairs to Ann Sather’s earlier, they were almost sold out of cinnamon buns. You got lucky.”
“Yes, I did.” She laughed. “But you were the one who needed to take a rest. Too much amazing sex. I wore you out.”
A gruff laugh came out from the tomb-like closet. He reappeared and threw a white oxford shirt at her. “Don’t expect any boxers or briefs to come your way. I don’t want to waste any energy stripping them off.”
“Do you have any takeout menus? I’m starving.” Sadie slipped Quinn’s shirt on over her head. Plopping in the oversized leather chair, she tucked her feet underneath her butt and dug through her bag to find her phone.
“Do you feel like Italian? I’ll have Club Lucky deliver veggie lasagna.” Quinn pulled on a pair of sweats.
Sadie nodded as she scanned her messages and read the text from Ellen.
Ellen: u okay? At Quinn’s place. I hope. Your bike is here. text me.
Sadie texted. Yep. C U tomorrow.
Quinn retrieved a menu from his desk. “Garlic bread would be great, too.”
Sadie admired his broad shoulders. “Nice. I like you. You’re not afraid to eat and smell like garlic in front of me.”
Quinn kissed her forehead and yanked a T-shirt over his head. “Nope.”
“Don’t forget some dessert,” she added.
“Impossible.”
The loud and familiar ringtone of U2’s song, Joshua Tree, erupted from her phone. She turned her father on speaker immediately.
His voice filled the room. “Where the hell have you been, Sadie?”
She frowned at Quinn and mouthed, “I’m in trouble.”
“Are you there, lovey?” She heard a fair amount of static coming from his end of the phone.
“I’m here. Dad, quit tapping the cell phone on the counter.”
“Are you all right? I’ve been trying to call you for the past twenty-four hours. Where is the boy? I thought he’d kidnapped you or something.”
“Not quite. But we’re here together.”
“Hello, Paul,” Quinn said. “Sadie’s safe and sound.” He hitched his hip onto the chair arm next to her.
“Well, would one of you two mind telling me why the hell there is a Viking refrigerator in Ms. Katie’s kitchen? The machine is bloody huge. It must have cost a pretty penny.”
“It’s for the renovation, Dad. Quinn’s on top of it.”
“Yeah. I bet he is,” her father grumbled. “When will you be home next, Sadie?”
Sadie looked at Quinn. “Not sure.”
Quinn took the lead. “I’ll be in your area. Around Labor Day, Paul. I had planned on stopping in the diner to go over your designs with you. And Sadie. She’s the lead on this job, Paul. She designs. I just follow her orders.”
Sadie was gob smacked. “What the fuck?”
“Don’t swear, Ms. Maxon,” her dad announced.
“Sorry. Dad. Ah.”
Quinn kissed her cheek. “That’s okay, Paul. I’ve got a lot going on. Sadie’s the best renovator for the job.”
Her pop barked out a chuckle. “Bloody ‘ell. Yeah.”
There was stretch of silence.
“Together. I want to see both of you. Can you manage it?” Her dad’s voice sounded strangled.
“Is everything okay? Dad?” Sadie shot Quinn a worried look.
“Just miss you two.”
Sadie entwined her fingers between Quinn’s and kissed the back of his hand and then his yin yang tattoo. “All right. We’ll come together.”
“Good. I hope you’ll stick around.”
“Of course,” Quinn said. “We’ll stay for dessert.”
THE END
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My fondest gratitude goes out to all of these wonderful people who have cheered me on and prevented me from giving up:
The amazingly talented group of writers in the Milwaukee -WisRWA. I’m humbled every month when I get to sit with you and dish about writing. The highs are higher and the lows fade away thanks to you all. Loretta Greco. Thank you for taking the time to read my novella, JUST DESSERTS. Because of you and your honest critique, I refused to let the baby version of this story hide under the bed. You told me that I made you laugh so I kept writing.
Thank you so much Georgia Lyn Francis. You are the critique partner who made sure that Sadie and Quinn stayed true to one another on every page. Hugs to you!
The meetings with my fabulous critique partner Carla Cullen are the highlight of my week. Thank you Carla for every bit of writerly advice, grammar consultation, plot and character assessments and brainstorming. Every time we meet, thanks to you, I’m a better writer.
To my sisters, Jill and Kathy. Thank you for believing in me. XO XO
All the time that I spend in my writer cave has taken a toll on my minimal social life. Thank you to my besties: Bryn, Rachael, Swati, Jen, Lesley, Lisa and Mike. You’ve never given up on me and pull me out of my den to have some fun! Thanks for your support and understanding.
Ryan and Kindra. Your romance, friendship, wanderlust and love inspire me and my writing. Thanks to Kindra, I have the most beautiful and best-looking website! XO
To Craig, my hubby. Thank you for doing the laundry and cooking for the trio of always hungry teenage boys in our home. Spencer, John and Barry—you, the dogs, and the craziness that is our family keep me happy and sane. Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart!
TRICIA QUINNIES
Tricia Quinnies knew, when she finished reading PERFECT by Judith McNaught, she wanted to write a romance. But, her three young sons kept her happily busy. In 2009, she carved out time for herself, usually at four in morning, and set about writing her first romance. It was a love story inspired by her college time in London. At last check it’s under the bed waiting for a rewrite. A few stories later she found writing contemporary romances and setting them closer to home on the shores of Lake Michigan much easier. While not writing Tricia tries to keep up with her very social teenagers, two Doxies and one husband. JUST DESSERTS is her debut novel.
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Acknowledgements
About the Author
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