“You could say that.”
Regina wanted to hear more about his adventures. “So you’ve been out of the states before?”
Quinton smiled again. This time the corner of his eyes crinkled and his lips stayed curled even while he spoke. “Let’s just say the only continent I haven’t logged yet is Antarctica.”
“Oh my,” Regina mumbled, suddenly feeling outclassed. She had never been out of the state before, let alone another country. Wayne kept promising to take her and the kids to Canada, but Regina knew it would never happen. Her husband could never leave his precious mill for more than a day or two. But why was she thinking of Wayne when this gorgeous stranger was just a few inches away?
Quinton must have noted her momentary discomfort for he continued on. “So, you just have the two kids?”
“Yeah. Have you ever been married?” Regina asked but instantly regretted it. The smile feel off Quinton’s face, and a pain seemed to cloud his features for a moment.
“No. Once I was engaged... but never married.”
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked such a personal question.”
Quinton’s face lost its haunted look, and he grinned again. “Nothing is too personal for you to ask. It’s just not something I talk about much.”
Regina could certainly relate, but before she could speak, the waitress interrupted. “Would you like dessert?”
Quinton nodded to Regina, but the waitress once again cut in. “She doesn’t have dessert.”
Bristling, Regina retorted, “I might tonight. Could you get us a dessert menu?” Perhaps Wayne would not allow her to order dessert, but that was not the circumstance tonight.
The waitress gave a knowing smile. “When the cat’s away...”
Regina could only imagine how red her cheeks were. Hot tears stung her eyes. She had been a fool to think that she could just casually sit here with a handsome stranger and enjoy a leisurely meal. Wayne was omnipresent. Regina could never escape him.
CHAPTER 5
Quinton watched Regina fight back tears. He wanted to reach out to her. He wanted to hold her hand and tell her everything was going to be okay, but that was not true. The reality was Regina was married, and Quinton would leave within the week. Everything for her would not be okay; it would be the same. From her reaction just now, Quinton could assume that the same meant that her life was pretty crappy.
How he longed to ask her why she was married to such a prick as Wayne, but he knew this was not the time nor the place. Perhaps there never would be a good moment for such a conversation. Was that why he was drawn to her? Was it because she was so unattainable? Regina was nothing like Natalie. That young woman oozed availability. Quinton had no doubt that Ralph would find himself a bed partner tonight. But this woman, past the age where many would call her gorgeous, tugged at his heart.
He was certain that she needed a knight in shining armor, and Quinton longed to suit up. The urge to kiss away her unshed tears was so strong that Quinton had to dig his nails into his palm to keep his hand from caressing her face. Besides, how did he know that she reciprocated his feelings? Regina was probably a devoted wife who was dragged alone by her wayward friend. The woman probably thought of him as only a minor distraction in her hectic family life. It was best if he just played it safe.
The waitress was back, looking annoyed that they were not ready to order. “You decided yet?”
“Hmm?” Regina looked up and turned the menu towards him. “This looks too decadent.” Quinton had to agree. The picture showed a huge triple-decker hot fudge sundae. The woman sounded shy again. “I don’t think I could finish it.”
“Then we’ll split it. Bring two spoons please.”
So much for playing it safe. He could think of nothing more engaging than flirting with his spoon. Regina’s cheeks blushed a bit. Quinton had not known how many shades of pink that a woman’s skin could turn until tonight. It seemed that Regina had a different hue for every passing moment. He even liked the tiny lines that etched her around her eyes and forehead. They seemed to broadcast each of her changing moods, even when she was trying to hide them.
Before the sundae could arrive, Ralph and Natalie came back to the table nearly panting. They were both flushed and laughing a bit too hard for the amount of fun that one could have at the Wagon Wheel BBQ Pit in Crow’s Landing. Their giddiness was from another source all-together.
“I’m going to show Ralph the only site worth seeing in town. Want to join us?” Natalie asked.
“And what would that be?” Regina replied, her voice sounded incredulous.
“Why, the supposed UFO landing site out past --”
“Gilman’s Clearing? Natalie! That’s way out of town, and it’s night. You won’t be able to see a thing.”
The younger woman was beginning to sound annoyed. “I’ve got high-beams.”
Regina looked like she was trying to remain calm, but Quinton was fairly sure the woman was bordering on panic. “But I rode in with you.”
Natalie shrugged. “Quinton, here, can give you a lift home.”
“We walked,” Quinton answered with a level tone, even though he was becoming excited by the prospect. If the younger couple left, that would leave Regina with him for the rest of the evening.
“Then you can walk her home. It’s not too far.” Before either of them could object Natalie grabbed Ralph’s hand and pulled him towards the door. “Ta-ta!”
Ralph pointed to Quinton as he hurried after the younger woman. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” His assistant waved to Regina. “Nice to meet --”
Ralph’s voice was cut off by the door slamming behind the young couple. The world seemed a slightly calmer place now that they had left.
Regina was all red-cheeked again. “I am so sorry. I’m sure I can call someone to give me a ride home.”
“Don’t be silly. It would be my honor to walk such a beautiful lady such as yourself home.”
Quinton’s statement got the desired affect. He loved the way Regina tilted her head to the side and pulled her shoulders up just a bit in embarrassment. It made him want to shower her with compliments all night long.
“There ya go. Try not to go into sugar shock or anything,” the waitress said as she slammed down the sundae. The thing did not look nearly as appealing as the picture, but it did give Quinton an excuse to lean closer to Regina.
“You first,” Quinton said with his spoon posed.
The fudge was so hot that the ice cream was already melting, causing it to drip down the sides. Regina took the daintiest of spoonfuls and missed all the whipped cream. Quinton dug into the toppings and then caught some of the drippings with his spoon. His bite was so large that Quinton had to open his mouth full wide and cram the spoon in. Regina giggled a bit, making him start to laugh so that he almost blew whipped cream out his nose.
Regina covered her mouth as she giggled, but Quinton noticed she took a much larger taste on the next spoonful. He paused just long enough before his next bite so that their spoons collided. “Hey, that’s my nut.”
A little spoon fight ensued as each of them tried to claim the same peanut chunk. The woman seemed to warm to the game. “It’s on my side. Eat your own.”
As they dug deeper into the sundae, their pace slowed. Quinton took some of the fudge and swirled it in the melting ice cream. He wrapped the gooey topping around his spoon before bringing it to his lips. Quinton made sure to keep his eyes on Regina as he ever so deliberately sucked the chocolate from his spoon. He even pushed it a bit as he licked the last bit of fudge from the handle.
Quinton forgot how sensual eating could be. He would like nothing more than for the two of them to be alone together, preferably in a hot tub somewhere far from Crow’s Landing. To his surprise, Regina picked up the cheery stem and popped it into her mouth. He could not read her mood as the woman’s jaw worked. Within a few moments, she pulled out the stem, only now it was tied in a knot.
“Can you do that?”
&nbs
p; Raising his hand to summon the waitress, Quinton answered. “We’ll see.”
After the waitress recovered from the shock of being asked for ten cherries, she brought the toppings. Quinton made sure to roll the cherry over with his tongue before he bit into. He noticed that Regina did not look away this time. Tying a cherry stem with your tongue was not as easy as it looked. Quinton worked on it for what seemed to be the longest time while Regina tied knot after knot. She had them piled up in front of her while he had yet to tie a single one.
“Want the secret?” Regina asked, her tone far more bold than before.
Quinton nodded, unable to answer given the tangle of cherry stem in his mouth.
“You’ve got to use your teeth too. Not too much though. If you bite too hard, it’s all over.”
Just like so many other things in life, Quinton thought but did not say. He did not want Regina to feel inhibited again. He liked this new outgoing aspect of her personality. Using her guidance, Quinton finally tied his first knot. Regina graced him with a broad smile and clapped a bit.
“I knew you had a talented tongue,” the woman seemed shocked that she had said that, but Quinton also noted that she did not demure away like she normally had.
“You’ve only seen the start.”
This time Regina did look away, but every few seconds she would glance towards him. Good, he had not completely flustered her.
After finishing the sundae, they both leaned back against the booth. The waitress had been right. That was a lot of sugar for even two people. Quinton looked around to find the place was nearly deserted. Had they been here that long? Checking his watch, he found that it was nearly ten PM. Quinton had to look at it twice to be sure. He was loathe to have the evening end, but he could not turn back the clock.
“Looks like I’d better get you home.”
Regina did the same double look at her watch. “Oh, my. It is late. Are you sure you don’t want me to call someone?”
“I would be insulted.”
When they got to the register, they found that Ralph and Natalie had left them with the entire bill. Regina did not seem to be surprised by this turn of events. Quinton pulled his wallet out, but the woman lightly touched his wrist and urged him to put it back. He let the moment linger before speaking. Her fingers were warm, and whether she meant to or not, she had found his pulse. Quinton did not want the moment to end, but they could not stay like this forever.
“I’ll get the bill.”
“No, let me,” Regina said as she pulled out a Visa.
“But --”
“It’s the company card,” the woman replied as she waved the card in front of him.
Oh, Regina seemed to have a wicked sense of irony as well. To make Wayne pay for this dinner was nearly as delicious as the meal itself. “By all means.”
The woman’s lips turned up, and she flashed him a look that could only be interpreted as playful. Quinton was certain that she actually winked at him. This walk was going to be a difficult; he could already tell. Every hint Regina gave him that she was interested, was a moral dilemma for Quinton. Was this a mere flirtation, or was he more serious than that? Was she toying with him, or was she feeling a stirring as he was? Damn, but none of those questions could be answered here at the register.
Guiding her out the door, Quinton took the liberty of placing a hand on her shoulder as they exited. Regina seemed surprised and even flinched a bit. Quinton let his hand drop and chided himself for being so forward. He should have known better.
“It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it?” Regina asked, her voice soft and distant.
Quinton looked up and found that the night was even more luminescent than before. As the town’s lights had been extinguished, nature’s beauty shone through. A half-moon glowed overhead, spreading a diffuse light over the forest surrounding the town. How badly Quinton wished to hold this woman’s hand. The moment would be complete if he could feel her warmth right now. But after her reaction in the restaurant, Quinton did not even dream of doing something so daring. She was a married woman after all.
“How long are you going to be in town?” Regina asked.
“Not long enough,” Quinton answered before he caught himself. Where had his mind gone?
The woman did not seem disturbed by this answer though. “Long enough for?”
Crossing his fingers, Quinton tried speaking the truth. “Long enough to get to know you better.”
He did not even need to look; he knew that her cheeks were flaming right now. Daring a glance, he found Regina looking right at him. For a moment, it appeared she was going to ask him something, but then she turned away and hurried forward. Cursing his libido, Quinton rushed to catch up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“No offense taken,” Regina stated flatly.
Quinton tried so hard to read the woman but could not. He knew that he had crossed some line, but he was not quite sure which one and exactly how far. Trying to regain some semblance of rapport, Quinton went back to the basics. “So you like gardening?”
The woman turned sharply back to him. “How did you know that?”
“Your shirt yesterday. It said ‘Gardeners do it in the dirt.’”
Regina snorted lightly, then laughed at herself. “Oh, yeah.” They walked on a ways, but this time the pace was more relaxed. “I’m sorry that I was short. This is just... this is just a bit...”
“Awkward?”
“Exactly.”
Quinton did not push her on a full definition. He knew as well as she did how delightful yet frustrating this evening had become. At least he was comforted to know that she was equally unsettled. If he was nothing more than a dalliance, Regina would not be quite so tongue-tied. Remembering the vintage store, Quinton picked up the conversation. “Do you prefer roses or pansies?”
“For what?”
The man shrugged. “Anything.”
Surprisingly, Regina took a few moments to contemplate her reply. Quinton had thought this was just simple request that might be answered in a single word, but he was wrong.
“That really depends. There are so many varieties of each, plus each lasts differently once off the stem.”
They walked on as Regina told him more about flowering plants than he had ever wanted to know, but Quinton did not stop her. He loved hearing her voice rise and fall. The woman became even more radiant as she expounded on a favorite subject. Her face became animated, and she even started using hand gestures to show him exactly how to aerate the ground before transplanting. How badly Quinton wanted to put his arm around her shoulder and walk side-by-side into the moonlight. Regina could talk about fertilizer and weeds until the sun rose, and he would be content.
“Oh my gosh. I have just been rambling on. I’m so sorry. I --”
Quinton took a risk and squeezed her hand as he shushed her. “I loved hearing you talk. Please, go on.”
Regina looked suspicious of his motive, but he noticed that the woman did not pull her hand away. Even though he was tempted to hold on, Quinton let her fingers drop away as they began walking again. “I believe you were up to good pruning techniques.”
A smile spread across the woman’s face. “So you were listening.”
“I’ve got a little bit of green thumb myself. Now go on. I’m dying from the suspense.”
At first her explanation was stuttered and had little flow, but once she began talking about pruning sheers, Regina hit her stride again. Far too soon, they made the turn up her driveway. It was hard to believe they had already walked across town. Both fell silent as they approached the huge house. It was dark and foreboding. All the humor and comfort they had establish evaporated under the glaring facade of Mr. and Mrs. Togglehorn’s home. It was a daunting physical reminder of the exact reality of their situation.
Once they got to the front door, Regina turned to Quinton. He had stayed back, not joining her on the front porch. Despite the house’s crushing presence, Quinton still feared t
hat he might try something he would regret later. Regina’s lips were just too kissable right now.
The woman looked nervous. “Let me give you a ride to your motel.”
As much as Quinton wanted any excuse to prolong the night, he knew that some matter of decorum needed to be maintained. “No thanks. I’ll enjoy the walk.”
Sadly, it seemed to Quinton, Regina nodded her head. “Okay then... I really enjoyed myself. Thanks for the company.”
Now was the moment of truth. Saying good-bye was always awkward even on a normal date, but this was torture. How did he convey exactly how much he relished the evening without being too overbearing? There was no way he could physically relate those feelings. At least, not without the risk of getting shot by Wayne. The window of opportunity was vanishing as Regina fumbled for her keys.
Before Quinton could contemplate the sheer stupidity of his words, he asked. “We’re going out surveying tomorrow. Would you like to join us?”
The woman sounded flustered. “I’m not sure. I have a lot to do.”
“It’ll be out in the northern quadrant in grid 2-A. I just... The dogs got along so well together that I figured they could play, and well, you were so informative about gardening and all and seemed to enjoy nature so much...” Quinton was flailing, and they both knew it. “I could identify species for you and explain the local ecosystem...”
Oh my god, he thought. Could he make this sound any less romantic? Quinton had done a better job of seduction when he was sixteen and luring girls to check out his hot rod. This was pathetic.
“I’ll see if I have the time,” she said as she opened her front door. Before going inside, Regina’s words were a little rushed, as if they were hard to say. “Maybe I’ll swing by after lunch.”
Their eyes met for the briefest second, and Quinton felt sure that she was actually going to do it. The moment of rapport was shattered by Fury barreling into Regina. The woman was thrown forward, and Quinton barely had time to catch her before she fell face first. Regina tried to get her feet under her but succeeded in only slipping on the slick steps. Quinton tightened his arms around her. “I’ve got you.”
Indian Moon Page 6