Chapter 8
Jason
Quinn Patterson. I stand there motionless, blinking at the beautiful woman in front of me.
Woman?
But Quinn isn’t a woman. She’s a shy, fresh-faced teenager with braces, her long dark hair in pigtails. When the hell did this happen?
“Short stuff?” I squeak out quietly, completely flabbergasted that this could be the same girl from all of those years ago. “You’re all grown up.”
“It happens,” she responds, shrugging in apparent nonchalance as her eyes make a slow descent from my head to my toes. She’s tall. With those fuck hot black heels, she stands confidently about four inches shorter than I am. She has a gorgeous figure with curves in all the right places. Her dark hair is still long, but now loose as it tumbles down her shoulders and back in soft waves. But her eyes… Have they always been this color? They’re a mix of blue and gray, hauntingly beautiful against dark lashes that seem to mock me with each slow blink.
There’s no disputing the instant attraction I feel. I can’t recall the last time anyone had this effect on me. Well, besides Corinne. That alone should make me run screaming in the other direction.
As I try to wrap my head around the fact this stunner is Ian’s little sister, she moves a few inches closer, and I’m engulfed in the most delicious sugary vanilla scent. It’s in this moment it hits me. She’s the ogler from Magnolia Market the other night. It makes me wish I’d taken the time to check her out more before I walked away.
Okay, ran away.
Hell, what are you saying, Jase? All women from this town are off limits, particularly anyone with the last name Patterson.
“Quinn is working in PR and has been tasked with improving tourism in Magnolia Point. She’s also going to tackle trying to boost the reputation of the fire department., and hopefully our revenue. She was going over the details of a firefighter calendar that’ll be used to raise funds for the station as well as pets waiting adoption at the local shelter,” Layton explains.
Out of the blue, she spins on her heels and looks at Layton animatedly. “Oh, this is perfect.” As if they’re both in on the same secret, they simultaneously break out into a huge grin. “We were short our last month. Now you can—”
“No!”
Quinn
Wow . Rude.
Is he quick to say no because he considers this degrading?
Or because it’s me?
I’m well aware he hasn’t returned to Magnolia Point since the rift with my brother unless to visit his dad and then leave. I have to admit, it’s always felt as if his anger was more directed at Ian than Corinne.
Does he still have feelings for her after all of this time?
Does he still harbor resentment for my whole family? I’d never speak ill of my brother, even if I’ve always felt he was in the wrong. But Jason has to know I’m only guilty by association. Brother or not, I’d never agree with what they did.
I can’t help but wonder if he’s aware she and Ian are embroiled in a messy divorce. Well, now’s certainly not the time to bring that up, I muse.
“Look, Layton. I’m only helping out around taking care of Dad and the Christmas tree farm. Once he’s on the mend and can handle things on his own, I’m out of here. I need to get back to my station at Sycamore Mountain. The timing of my dad’s fall couldn’t have happened at a worse time. So, you’ll have to find another calendar boy. Or girl,” he sneers.
Jeez . I knew from all accounts he’d likely be testy if I ever saw him again. But this Mr. Grumpy Pants routine is a bit much. I mean, it’s not like I asked him to pose nude. Heat instantly flushes from my neck to my cheeks before I can stop it. Get it together, Quinn. You can dream about this new version of your teenage dream once you’re in the privacy of your own home.
“There’s no time to find someone else,” I blurt. “It’s just one picture. You wouldn’t even have to wear a Santa hat.” I continue rapid fire before my cheeks can get any more red, picturing him in nothing but a white-trimmed red stocking cap. Gah… delicious . “And it’d be a great help to the station as well as the shelter.”
“Then get one of the hounds to be Mr. December,” he barks angrily.
I instinctively step back and grimace at the bitterness in his tone. He’s all hard lines and resentment as he stands before me. Nothing like the boy I knew. I’d been stopping by to see his dad over the years. He and my father are close, and I knew he had to get lonely with his wife gone and his kids in other states. He rarely mentioned Jason. I always assumed it was due to the fallout from years ago. I never wanted to pry. And honestly, there was a selfish part of me that didn’t want to hear he’d moved on with someone in North Carolina. Unrealistic or not.
My gaze returns to the gruff hottie in front of me. I guess I have to consider a pup may end up being my only option. Until then, I’m bound and determined to chase this stubborn man until I have no other choice.