She nods slowly and her words come out halted and nervous. “How am I going to handle the bakery while I’m recovering, though? He said three to eight weeks in a cast. Longer to fully recover. And that doesn’t include the physical therapy sessions.”
“I’m here most days after school, anyway. We’ll hire an extra part time worker to handle the daytime shift while I’m working. Or we can have limited availability for a while. Something. We’ll figure it out.”
She winces at that. “I can’t afford time off.”
“You can’t afford not to take the time to fix this. Besides, I’ve got the extra money from tutoring, so don’t try to put it off because of the money. I think Olivia and I have two more sessions before she’s all caught up.”
Gingerly, I tiptoe through the mess so I can grab the loaf pan off the floor. After setting that in the sink, I clean up the bread batter as best I can with paper towels. I smile, wondering if Liam’s made his banana bread with Olivia yet. I’ll have to ask.
I feel Mom’s eyes on me as I fill a bucket with warm soapy water and begin to mop the floor.
“Okay. I’ll do it.”
“Good. We’ll call Dr. Stevens and schedule a date, then.”
Mom blows out a hard breath, nodding, as I set aside the mop and pull her in for a hug.
She knows this is for the best, but it’s still hard for me as her daughter to have to be the one to push her to do it.
Chapter 14
Liam
I’m surprised Olivia is up so early this morning. When I hear the shower start, though, I decide I have time to attempt to make her a hot breakfast before school. I’m just finishing scrambling some eggs when she comes hurtling down the stairs, backpack slung over her shoulder and stuffed to overflowing. She sets it down at the front door before coming back to have a seat at the stool across the island from me.
“Good morning. Have all of your homework done?”
“Yep. I’m doing okay now, Dad. you don’t have to worry about me.”
I quirk up an eyebrow.
“I know, I know, you will always worry about me. I’m your kid. I get it.” She gives an elaborate, exasperated sigh.
“What can I say? It’s my job.” I slide her breakfast over to her, and she digs into the bacon and eggs like she hasn’t eaten in days.
Around a mouthful of egg, she mumbles, “You’re getting better at this cooking thing.”
I chuckle. “Thanks. I thought we could maybe make that banana bread you were asking about making sometime next week after school, if that works for you.”
She glances over at the bananas on the counter and wrinkles her nose. “But they’ll be all brown and gross by then.”
“I hear that’s exactly how they should be for it. They’ll be perfect.”
She purses her lips. “Yeah, whatever. Who’d you hear that from? Unless it was a professional baker, I’m not buying it.”
Dare I tell her who gave me that tip? “Actually, it was Ms. Lockmore who explained that—and you know who her mom is, so …”
Oh boy. The little hamsters in her head are running fast on their wheels. She chews carefully on her bacon, as if she’s considering all angles of a complex equation. Finally, she swallows and wipes her mouth, pushing her plate away. Her eyes lock with mine. “I saw how close you stood to her under the umbrella yesterday. And you were talking an awfully long time.”
Well, crap. “It was raining. We were trying to stay dry. It was my fault. I asked her a question, and she stood there in the rain to answer it for me.”
“What did you ask her about?” Her face shows a hint of distress, and I wonder if she’s making assumptions about what was said. It’d seemed like Olivia was starting to open up to Quinn, and I don’t want to mess that up.
“Just how the tutoring was going. I knew your mom would want a report.”
“Huh. Is that when she told you about rotting bananas?” She gives me a weird questioning look.
“Oh. No.” I run one of my hands through my hair. “That was when I bumped into her at the grocery store earlier this week.”
She nods, a shutter falling behind her eyes. “Right. Okay, I’ve got to get to school.”
I don’t have any idea what right means in teenager language, but I’m guessing she thinks I’m hiding something from her. And I am. Shit.
I grab my phone and shoot a text over to Quinn.
Me: Hey, Olivia is starting to ask some questions about us.
Quinn: Uh-oh. I didn’t say anything to her. I promise.
Me: No, it’s my fault. I was telling her how we should wait to do the banana bread and she noticed how close we were standing under the umbrella.
Me: I kind of brushed her off, but I think she suspects.
Quinn: Honestly, she will find out one way or another.
Quinn: It may be better if you just tell her.
Me: Right. Okay, when she gets back from her mom’s on Sunday, I’ll sit down with her.
Quinn: Okay. I just hope it doesn’t affect us in class.
Me: I’ll talk to her about it.
Quinn: Oh, heads up, the girls and I are coming to the cider mill tonight.
Me: Book club? Who chose the location?
Quinn: Yes. Wasn’t me, but I didn’t argue. :)
Me: Beware—you know what happens when you show up here.
Quinn: Ha ha. You’re cute.
Me: I miss you. And …
Quinn: You miss my kisses.
Me: Well, I miss those, too. And other stuff.
At seven, Quinn and her group of friends descend upon my cider mill, all chattering voices and happy smiles. They’d been highly amusing the last time they were here. That was the same night Quinn and I hooked up the first time. I’ll probably be suffering from flashbacks of that particular event all evening.
My eyes are immediately drawn to Quinn. I could feast for hours on the sight of her long legs encased in skinny jeans and the sexiest heels I’ve ever seen in my life. I should just face it right now—the fact that I’m turned on doesn’t need to be blamed on flashbacks of the two encounters we’ve had here. All it takes is one look at her and I’m done.
The ladies seat themselves at the same table they’d occupied the last time they’d been in. Coincidentally, it’s the same table I’d laid Quinn out on—bare—the last time she was here. That’s sure to help the growing situation in my pants. Pun intended.
I take a deep breath, exhale, and try to calm the furious beating of my heart. As I approach, their faces light up. “To what do I owe this special surprise tonight?” I look around their circle, giving a nod to Sophia, who I’ve been in touch with about reception planning quite a bit lately. My eyes finally land on Quinn, and she gives me a cautious smile. “It’s good to have all of you back.”
From the look on her face, I’m starting to wonder if this won’t be awkward as hell. Huh. I’m curious to know if she’s shared with her friends what we’ve been up to or not. Quinn’s a private person, but surely not with her people.
One of the women grins. “I liked the place so much when we came in January that I just knew we had to come back when it was my turn to choose where to meet. I’m Zoey. I’m one of the guidance counselors at your daughter’s school.”
“Ah. Very nice to see you again.”
The woman next to her with long, curly hair glances at where my hand has come to rest on Quinn’s shoulder. She says with a wiggle of her fingers, “I’m Madison, the school’s librarian. Olivia comes in to talk books with me all the time.”
Another of the women winks at me and points to herself. “Hadleigh. And I’m going to cut to the chase. We heard you and Quinn have gotten friendly since she came back for Piper’s hat and gloves.” She just barely contains her giggles, covering her mouth as she finishes speaking.
Okay. Based on that, I’m no longer worried Quinn’s somehow embarrassed about our, well, whatever this is we are doing.
The woman I assume is Piper nods with a gri
n. “Yes, thanks for keeping my things safe until Quinn could fetch them for me.”
“You’re welcome. I, um, was happy to see Quinn again. Speaking of, would you excuse her for a few minutes?” I glance down at her flushed face. “I have a question about that assignment you sent home with Olivia.”
“Is that right?”
I nod firmly. Definitely. I have questions—they just aren’t about my kid. More like, why am I so completely drawn to you? What is it about you that sets my blood on fucking fire? Where the hell have you been my whole life?
At her friends’ assurance they don’t mind, I lead her down a hallway to my small office. I open the door and let her in before I join her, closing the door behind me.
“Come here.” I hold out my hands for hers and when she places them in mine, I pull her in, wrapping my arms tightly around her.
Every moment I spend without her is sweet agony dipped in devastating need. The idea that I don’t get to just be with Quinn hurts. So, if I see an opening like we have tonight, I’m taking it.
I tuck my face down next to her neck and let her scent flood my senses. With a groan, I cradle her head in my hands, and lower my lips to hers in a searing kiss. I’d meant for it to be soft and sweet, but her lips part under mine and now I can’t help myself. My tongue sweeps inside to rub against hers, to taste her, to make sure the connection we have is still as strong as I remember. I feel like a hundred days have passed since I’ve had my hands on her, since I’ve devoured her mouth and gotten lost in the urgent passion that erupts between us each time we touch.
I spin her around and press her back to the door, my mouth closing over hers again. She moans low as we kiss, and her hands grip my ass and tug me close. Her pelvis thrusts against mine, grinding into me. This moment is everything I dream of night after night when we’re apart. I grasp the back of her knee and pull her leg around me, fully aligning my erection with the juncture of her thighs. Raw need surges through me as I yank her shirt up and pull one bra cup down, exposing her nipple. It’s already drawn to a sharp point, just begging for me to tease it with my tongue. My head dips down, catching it between my lips. Her skin tastes like the sweetest honey, and she pants as I work her over, her back arching to give me more access. I pull away for a second, and she whimpers until I shift to her other breast, pulling the cup from that one, too. My teeth scrape lightly over the tight bud of her nipple before soothing it with the soft caress of my tongue.
“Sweet. So goddamn sweet,” I murmur next to her ear. My fingers make quick work of the button and zipper of her jeans. I slant my mouth over hers again and don’t hesitate to slide my hand over her stomach, my fingertips teasing the edge of her lacy panties.
“I need your hands on me, Liam,” she breathes out as she grasps my shoulders tightly, her back bowing toward me.
I slip my hand down, winding my way between her legs to her pussy. She’s so warm and wet my dick hardens painfully behind my zipper. “Ah, fuck, Quinn. I love the way you feel.” I press my thumb to her clit at the same time I push two fingers inside of her.
She moans so loudly, I chuckle and cover her mouth with mine, my tongue mimicking my fingers as they slide in and out of her.
Quinn rides my fingers like a goddamn champ, taking all the pleasure I’m willing to give her. “That’s my girl.” I touch my tongue to her neck and then suck on her skin, unable to stop once I’ve had a taste.
“I’m so close, I’m—fuck, fuck, fuck …” She throws her head back, and her inner walls convulse around my fingers, rhythmically tightening. Her legs go weak, and I find myself holding most of her weight with the arm I’d wrapped around her back.
She shudders, and the only sound that fills the room is our harsh breathing. I slowly remove my hand from her, zip her jeans back up, and button them. Leaning in, I kiss her swollen lips and adjust her bra cups, giving her breasts a squeeze as I do. My lips twitch into a smile as I ease back, looking into her hooded hazel eyes.
Tongue in cheek, she asks, “Um, so did you really have questions about Olivia’s assignments?”
“Well, no. I didn’t even know she had an assignment. I just wanted to get you alone.” With a groan, my lips skim over her jaw, and nuzzle into her neck, dropping kisses along the length of it. “You make me crazy. I can’t think about anything else when you’re near.”
“Anything else but what?” She gives me a sly grin.
I growl. “Getting you naked, Ms. Lockmore.”
“Careful, Mr. Ramsey. You might get what you ask for.” She pushes lightly on my chest so she has room to straighten her clothing. “I’ve got to get back to my friends.”
“I assume from Hadleigh’s comment that you’ve told them …” I hesitate, not sure how to put it.
“I’ve told them that we’re having sex, yes.”
“Right to the point, huh?”
“I could have said we’re fucking. I guess you could call it that, too.”
I shrug. “True.” I pause again. Do I dare ask? “Do you think it could be something more than that?”
She blinks. Once. Twice. Then a slow smile creeps across her face. “I’m not sure yet.” She lays her hand lightly on my chest. “We’ve got an angsty, emotional teenager and a semi-bossy ex-wife in our path, not to mention an overanxious mother who’d like nothing more than for me to marry the first man I meet and give her grandbabies.” She pats my chest. “Once we overcome all that, I guess we’ll see what else this could be.”
I nod, resting my hands on my hips. “Stay. Stay with me tonight.”
She shakes her head, regretfully. “I can’t. I drove two of the girls. But I’m looking forward to our date tomorrow.”
Chapter 15
Quinn
“Well in that case, I’m not quite done with you yet.” Liam draws me to him, holding my head between his hands, thumbs skimming over my cheekbones. His hands are rough, and I have a flash of how they’d felt holding onto my ass as he plunged inside me. Pure lust zips right down my spine and skitters along all my nerves.
He stares into my eyes, like he’s trying to figure me out. Only I’m not hiding anything. I’m kind of an open book where he’s concerned. In fact, I feel like maybe my heart has been too visible on my sleeve when it comes to him.
After all, until tonight, most of the advances have been made by me. I’m the one who tracked him down, not once but twice. And I won’t deny it—I’d been after his hot, well-muscled body, wanting to know what he’d feel like under my hands, needing him to put a stop to the rather pathetic relationship I was developing with my vibrator.
These days it’s just so difficult to make time for dating. Actually—no, wait. What is difficult is finding the right person to date. That’s actually the worst. But, yeah, between school and helping Mom out at the bakery and at home, I’m really busy. So, while I’ve never before done anything like what I’m doing with Liam now, I’m not at all surprised that when I saw an opportunity, I hopped right on him, err, it. I’m not ashamed. I’m a woman in need, dammit.
I will admit, though, that I’m glad he’s asked for a date. I guess I would have been okay if he’d only been interested in my body, but more and more it seems like he’s looking for the relationship part, too. I don’t know if that should scare the shit out of me or not, seeing as how he’s already been married once. The overriding emotion I get when I’m with Liam is contentment. Well, unless we’re having sex, and then it’s just bliss.
Liam’s masculine lips cover mine, coaxing me to respond. I can’t ever help myself when I’m with him. My lips part, and I invite his tongue inside to tangle with mine. My heart begins to pound behind my rib cage, threatening to burst from my body. One kiss turns into three, and those turn into an all-out grab fest. Liam’s hands are all over my ass as my hand sneaks between us to cup him. He growls from somewhere deep in his chest. That’s what finally snaps us out of our lust-induced haze.
We stop, foreheads touching, and I pat his chest. “I really should get back to
my friends now.”
“Think they’ll know what we were up to back here?” He shoots me the cutest grin ever.
My heart melts into a puddle at my feet. I’ve got to get out of here before I lose my mind.
“Once you get to know them, you won’t even have to ask that sort of question.” I wink over my shoulder as I leave Liam in his office. I am truly excited for our date tomorrow night. But right now? My friends are waiting. And I have no freaking clue how long I’d been preoccupied by Liam and his soft, sensual lips and magical-as-fuck fingers.
Five pairs of eyes track me as I enter the main room and make haste to the table. I tuck my hair behind my ears and sit, giving everyone a glance and a red-faced, apologetic smile. “Sorry. Liam had some questions. What’d I miss out on?”
The silence is deafening right before Sophia snorts. “Nothing more interesting than what was going on back there.”
I sputter. “I didn’t. We didn’t …”
“Sweetie, you sound a little dick dizzy,” Hadleigh says with an amused laugh.
I shake my head. Maybe there’s something to what she’s saying. My brain feels a little like mush right now.
“Well, if you didn’t, then your mind is on it. That’s all.”
Madison slaps the table. “Good for you, Q. No one else is more deserving of a little Liam lovin’.”
Madison holds up her hand for five and Piper slaps it. “Hell yeah.” She grins at me, her eyes lit up with humor from the increased hilarity around the table.
“Oh my God, you are so bad.” A burst of laughter escapes my lips, and I cover my face with both my hands as my shoulders jerk up and down.
After we all calm down, I notice Zoey nibbling on her bottom lip, the only one showing even slight concern at the entire notion of whatever they think Liam and I were doing back there. “You like him, right, Quinn?”
Heat hits my cheeks again as he walks into the room and nods at us with a wink. “I do. Why?”
Fall for You (Flirting with Forever Book 4) Page 8