by Fredrick, MJ
When she released him, he straightened to shake Rick’s hand, and jolted at the man’s resemblance to his son. Gerry had more hair, yeah, but damn, it was like looking into his friend’s eyes.
Then he looked past him to see a third person, a woman. Gerry’s sister, Theresa. Man, had she grown up since the last time he’d seen her. She looked at him through long, black lashes, her lipsticked lips curved in a smile. Holy hell. He recognized the look—he’d run from it more than once. He didn’t know how far he could run this time.
“Hey, Theresa. I didn’t know you were coming. I, uh, got you all a cabin over at Lily’s. Not sure if it has two bedrooms. We can go see.”
“Wait a minute, wait a minute,” Maria said, her hand on his arm to stop him when he would usher them out. “I want to see where you live. And then I want to see the bar.”
“I, um, haven’t exactly prepared for company,” Quinn said, following her into the living room helplessly. What was he going to do, kick her out? The place was, well, not messy so much as lived-in. It was a crummy little pre-fab with fake log walls, a real fireplace that didn’t do much to heat it in the winter, mismatched furniture, and fishing paraphernalia around. He kept his clothes put away and didn’t hang animals on the wall, but the house didn’t have much to recommend it besides that.
“Is this where you and Gerry lived?” Maria asked, heading down the hall.
Quinn followed, inexplicably nervous. His bed was made—habit from the military—but other than that, his room was, again, lived-in. “He did. Most of the time.”
“Until he started seeing this Lily that we’re going to meet this weekend?” She looked over her shoulder at him.
“That’s right.”
“I’m looking forward to that.” Something in her voice told him she wasn’t. “We could have stayed here with you, Quinn,” she said, gesturing to the guest room—or whatever, the room that used to be Gerry’s.
“Lily wanted to put you up,” he fibbed. “And you’re right on the lake. It’s a really nice place.”
“We didn’t come here to sight-see. We came here to spend time with you.” She touched his arm as she moved down the hall toward the door.
“Well, you’ll do plenty of that,” he said helplessly. “Why don’t I walk you over to your cabin, then we’ll watch the movie, then I’ll show you the bar?”
Maria nodded. Clearly she was leading this thing. He ushered the three of them out—Theresa hadn’t said a word—and headed across the parking lot.
“So why do you want to sell if this is such a wonderful place?” Maria asked, tucking her arm through his.
Quinn grunted. His own mother had been distant and self-involved, nothing like Maria. He wasn’t exactly sure how to deal with her expectation of affection. “Too many memories.”
Rick made a sound of understanding as Quinn led them past the office—temporarily closed since Lily was probably selling corn dogs or ice cream or some damn thing at the movie—to the cabin she’d assigned them. This one was made of real logs, gorgeous golden red ones, with a front porch large enough for four people to sit in the patio chairs she must have put out earlier. He pushed open the door to the bright living room. The wall opposite the door was lined with windows and a sliding glass door that led to a deck overlooking the water. More patio chairs and a hammock invited guests to relax.
The place looked pretty damned good. Lily had a touch. He crossed to the kitchen and saw it was stocked with basics—eggs, milk, bottled water—and plates and cooking utensils were in the cabinets.
Behind him, Theresa made a sound of surprise. “Both bedrooms face the lake, and have a door to the deck!”
He smiled and peeked into the homey looking rooms, tiny but suitable for sleeping. Theresa emerged from hers with another one of those through-the-eyelashes looks that made him uneasy. He pivoted and walked out the sliding door onto the deck, bracing his hands on the rail. Not his thing, this playing host. He wished Lily was free.
Then Theresa joined him, and sat on the hammock so it swung. “It’s beautiful here. I see why you and Gerry loved it.”
He gave her a half-smile. “You should see it in winter.”
She leaned back, bracing her arms behind her. “Gerry said even then it was beautiful.”
He shifted his gaze back to the water. Safer than looking at her, at least the way she was acting. “Sure, but a hell of a lot of work.”
“That’s not why you want to leave, though.”
That she realized that alarmed him. “No.”
“Gerry loved you like a brother. He wouldn’t want you to be mourning for him the rest of your life.”
He sighed and turned away from the water, his arms folded. “I won’t be, once I’m out of here.”
She lay back on the hammock and crossed her ankles. “Do you really think that will make a difference? Won’t you miss this place? The people here?”
“I don’t know.”
“Seems like you should know before you make a decision like that.”
She had a point. But he didn’t want to think of it now, just wanted this weekend to be over, or at least wanted Lily to come and charm everyone, make his life easier. God knew she owed him that.
He pushed away from the rail. “You ready to head to the movie? I think tonight is western night. Young Guns or something.”
Sure enough, when they walked out of the cabin, they saw several people with straw cowboy hats, some western shirts, some cowboy boots. Quinn caught sight of Lily manning the ice cream booth wearing a red felt hat and grinning at a kid. Something inside him turned over, but he didn’t want to explore why, not now. He waved, but didn’t take the Parrillas over to meet her. There’d be time for that later.
He found a seat and cursed himself for not thinking to bring folding chairs or something. Instead, he helped Maria sit on the ground, then he and Theresa went off to get food.
***
Lily’s heart lurched when she saw Quinn walk by with a striking brunette. He bent sideways to hear something she said, and he smiled. Lily caught her breath at the rare sight. He looked so handsome with those straight white teeth, she couldn’t look away. Who was the woman? Only after a moment did she remember Gerry’s family was coming in today. Was this his sister? Quinn hadn’t said anything about his sister coming. But he certainly seemed glad she’d come along.
Lily started to excuse herself from the booth, anxious to introduce herself to Gerry’s family, if only to gauge the vibe between the two of them. He seemed to be having a good time, not the moody guy he usually was with her. How did she get so lucky?
She turned back to her sales, trying to put Quinn and Gerry’s sister out of her head.
She stayed at the booth while the movie started. She was unaccustomed to feeling lonely, even though she knew everyone in town, but she didn’t really have anyone to watch the movie with. Trinity had Leo and Max, and while they wouldn’t send her away, Lily wouldn’t feel right imposing on the new little family. Beth had Maddox and Linda and Linda’s baby, though Lily hadn’t seen them here tonight. Funny since Maddox was a country singer, and kind of the inspiration for tonight’s movie choice.
Her family had moved to warmer climes, Adam had left town, and Quinn, her best friend, was busy. She needed to get used to being alone.
Unaccustomed to feeling sorry for herself, she shook her hair over her shoulder and turned her attention to the movie, one of her favorite westerns. She sat back and watched until her next customer with a sweet tooth approached.
Once the movie was done, she couldn’t help looking in Quinn’s direction. He offered a hand to an older lady, who patted his arm fondly when she got to her feet. Gerry’s mom. Lily was unprepared for the twinge of sorrow that hit her. Gerry should be here, should be enjoying this gorgeous evening. His parents should be coming to visit him, not his Army buddy because they didn’t have Gerry anymore.
The jealousy hit again when Quinn reached a hand down to Theresa and helped her to her feet
. She held onto his hand a bit longer than her mother had, and just then Quinn lifted his gaze to meet Lily’s. The look he sent her could have been a plea for help, or a plea for forgiveness. But she wasn’t ready to go over just yet, and that surprised her. She thought she was ready for this. Maybe she’d just meet them later in the bar, because that’s where it looked like they were heading.
She cleaned the booth and because she felt sticky, went back to her apartment behind the office to wash up. She left her felt hat behind when she headed across the street and up the stairs to the bar.
The place was busy, as it always was Friday night. Quinn was behind the counter, which surprised her. She looked around to see Gerry’s family at one of the tables, taking it all in. The delight on Gerry’s mom’s face surprised Lily. Theresa’s expression as she watched Quinn move behind the bar didn’t surprise her as much. Lily made her choice and crossed to the table.
“Hi. I’m Lily. I was a friend of Gerry’s,” she said, and held out her hand.
Gerry’s father stood and took her hand, drawing her toward the table. “So glad to meet you. Gerry talked so much about you. Please, join us.”
That he had talked about her to his family gave her another kick in the chest. She had never thought their playful relationship had meant anything more than, well, what it had been. But maybe Gerry, being overseas and away from women, had romanticized it in his head. Or maybe he’d just told his family what they wanted to hear, that he’d met a nice girl and had fallen in love.
She’d never know, would she? She smiled and sat at the offered chair. Gerry’s father, Rick, introduced her to Maria and Theresa. Theresa’s eyes brightened and Lily knew without turning that Quinn was approaching. A moment later, a Coke appeared in front of her, straw and all, a clear beverage in front of Maria, a glass of white wine for Theresa and two bottles of beer, one for him and one for Rick. Then he pulled a chair over and sat beside Lily.
“How do you like the place?” Lily asked, knowing Quinn wanted her to take over conversation. She almost felt sorry for him, the strain this visit must put on him. He was used to being alone. “It was in terrible shape when Gerry and Quinn bought it. They did all the work themselves. I particularly like the bar itself. It’s made out of a fallen tree. They split it down the middle and had to figure out how to support it. If you look at the construction, you can see it, but otherwise you’d never think about it. Then they lacquered it until it weighed another hundred pounds, but it sure is gorgeous.”
The Parrillas remarked on it, on the rest of the bar, admiringly. Quinn pointed out the parts that Gerry worked on specifically, like the door frame and the window frames, both done in sturdy logs. Lily put a hand on his arm to stop him when she saw the sorrowful expression on Maria’s face.
“So how do you like our town? Maddox Bradley is headlining the concert tomorrow night, right here in the parking lot,” Lily told them.
“Maddox Bradley?” Theresa’s eyes brightened. “Do you think he’s here already?”
“He lives in a house on the lake. He’s engaged to one of Quinn’s waitresses.”
Theresa widened her eyes and looked about. “Which one? Is she here?”
“I haven’t seen her tonight,” Lily said. “Apparently, they were high school sweethearts, or at least the summertime equivalent. He came back earlier this summer and they fell in love again.”
“Wow,” Theresa said on a sigh. “I would love to see him.”
“He’ll be around,” Quinn said. “Some nights I can’t get rid of him.”
Theresa laughed.
Rick leaned forward and covered his wife’s hand with his. “Are you okay?”
Maria gave him a wan smile. “Tired. Long day.”
Rick pushed to his feet. “Well, let’s go to that lovely cabin Lily has provided for us. There will be plenty of time to visit tomorrow.”
Quinn rose, too, in a gentlemanly gesture that surprised Lily, though it shouldn’t have.
“We’ll leave the young people to visit. We don’t want to end your night early,” Maria said to her daughter. “You have a key?”
“I can get her one,” Lily said, though she sensed Quinn’s disappointment that he would be expected to entertain a bit longer.
“Thank you, Lily. That’s very sweet.” Rick smiled at her, Gerry’s smile.
She swallowed hard against the knot that formed in her throat and nodded wordlessly.
“I need to check on the bar. I’ll be right back,” Quinn said, and made his escape as soon as the older Parrillas had gone.
Lily looked at Theresa, who looked back. What were they supposed to talk about? The younger woman was stylish, with a manicure and a cute top and styled hair and make-up. The complete opposite of Lily.
“So, what were you looking forward to doing here?” Lily asked, truly curious.
“Oh, you know, hanging out at the lake, maybe swimming, going out on a boat.”
“It’s maybe a little cold for swimming, and we don’t have the best shoreline—too many rocks. You could swim off the dock, I suppose. Tubing is popular. I have gear for that. And water skiing.”
Theresa laughed. “Oh, nothing where I have to do that kind of work. What is there to do? I mean, you’re not that much older than me. What do you do for fun?”
“Lily doesn’t believe in fun,” Quinn said, rejoining them and sliding another drink in front of each. “She’s work, work, work, all the time.”
“That’s not true,” Lily said, stung. Did he really see her that way? “I like to play, too. We have baseball games, sometimes, and I like to go fishing.”
“Even when you’re having fun, your brain is working. Maybe I should start putting you on decaf.”
She lifted her glass in his direction. “But then I won’t be as much fun.”
He offered her that half-grin. She never got the full-wattage that he’d given Theresa earlier. She wouldn’t let that hurt.
“So we’ll probably have a baseball game tomorrow,” Lily told Theresa, already knowing that Theresa wouldn’t play, not with that manicure.
“Do you play, Quinn?” Theresa asked.
“Yeah, sometimes.”
Lily sat back in her chair, toying with the condensation on her glass. “He’s a bad-ass pitcher.”
“Just because you can’t hit my pitches.” Quinn took a swig of beer, his gaze on her.
“I seem to remember knocking one out of the park.”
“Because I let you.”
“Whatever.”
“I’m not really much of a baseball person,” Theresa interjected. “I’m looking forward to Maddox’s concert, though.”
“I can take you out on the boat tomorrow,” Quinn offered. “You probably won’t like fishing, but it’s a good-sized lake. I can take you on a tour. Lily has some tubes or skis if you want to ride behind.”
“Gerry was the adventurous one,” Theresa said. “He talked about the boat a lot. I’m looking forward to seeing it.”
“Oh. Well. Not the same boat.” Quinn leaned on the table and pushed his beer bottle back and forth between his hands. “I sold it for a smaller one. Still can get some speed going, though.”
“Too bad,” Theresa said, looking from Lily to Quinn.
Lily might be mistaken, but she was pretty sure that was a signal for Lily to beat it so she could have some time alone with Quinn. Well, well, wasn’t that interesting. Would he make a move on Gerry’s sister? She really doubted it, and Theresa and he seemed to have nothing in common. Then again, he and she had a lot in common and he didn’t make a move there, either. She met Quinn’s gaze and with the slightest of movements gestured toward the door. He widened his eyes in what she understood to be a panicked, “Don’t you dare leave.”
Right. She pulled her glass of pop closer and took a sip. Her stomach growled. She wished she’d eaten something during the movie. She cast about for another topic of conversation.
“So how’s school?”
“I graduated three y
ears ago. I just haven’t been able to get a job.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that. What was your degree in?”
“Graphic design. I’ve been working at a department store in the meantime, and occasionally they’ll ask for me to design something. I’m hoping that leads to a job.”
“That’s a good plan.”
“I’m trying not to stress about it. I’m young. I’m trying just to have fun.”
“Like Gerry,” Lily smiled.
Theresa sighed. “Gerry did know how to have fun.”
There would certainly be none of these awkward silences if he was around. Lily looked at Quinn, out of conversation ideas.
He pushed back from the table. “Let’s walk by the lake. Most people will have gone home by now.”
He led the way to the door, which he held for them. Again Lily felt like she should make her excuses and bolt for the landing, but another look from Quinn trapped her as the third wheel. Anyway, she had said she would let Theresa into the cabin. So she was forced to watch Theresa flirt and Quinn resist.
“Wow, I can’t believe you just had a hundred people out here just an hour ago,” Theresa said, looking around the clean yard and street. The tables remained but had been cleaned off. Not a scrap of trash remained.
“Yeah, it won’t be as nice after the concert tomorrow—too many strangers. But we have a few volunteers that will clean up after,” Lily said.
“It is beautiful here. I see why you and Gerry loved it,” Theresa said, moving a little closer to Quinn as they walked along the path by the lake. She stumbled on the uneven path and caught herself on Quinn’s arm. Once she was steady, though, she didn’t let go.
Quinn continued walking, adjusting his pace to account for Theresa’s wedge sandals. Lily couldn’t remember being so uncomfortable.
“You know, let me go get you a key to your cabin, then you can stay out as late as you want,” she said, backing toward the launch.
“Hell, I’m ready to turn in now,” Quinn said, guiding Theresa toward the cabin. “Been a long day.”
Lily knew he didn’t sleep much but didn’t say anything as they returned to the launch. Lily let the clearly disappointed girl into her cabin, and she and Quinn headed back toward her office.