Chapter 12
Quinn closed her eyes and took a moment to remember how Knox made her feel so she wouldn’t reach across the table, grab Karson by the ears, and slam his face into the desk.
“Nice that you can take a break, but all you’ve done is waste the past thirty minutes with your stupid barcode idea,” Karson said with all the superiority he felt he had over her.
Archie snickered. Neil mumbled that he’d never heard of a stupider idea.
“Well, what are your ideas then?” Quinn demanded. She enjoyed the moment of silence.
“I think we need to run antivirus software on it,” Neil finally told her.
“Fine, go ahead. Run it and let me know what you find. But you said you were going to run it yesterday. Why did you wait?”
“Because we were busy trying to figure out the mess you made of everything,” Karson answered for Neil.
Quinn narrowed her eyes at them, but put her head back down and went to work on the new barcode program.
There was nothing for the guys to do while the software scanned the program.
It was a good program. Neil had made it, but that didn’t mean there was a virus.
And why hadn’t that been the first thing they did yesterday?
Now Neil pressed a button and all the guys stood up.
“There’s that sports bar a block over. Let’s go there and get something to eat while this program runs,” Neil suggested.
However, by the way the three men had already stood up and grabbed their various puffer vests and hoodies, Quinn knew they’d talked about it beforehand.
Quinn was not invited to join them. They didn’t bother to say goodbye, either.
It reminded her of her time in New York with the team.
Karson would occasionally ask her to tag along, but most of the time he deemed it guy time, which actually worked for Quinn because she usually met up with Helena for lunch.
Now, it was just a reminder that they’d always see her as an outsider just because she was a female.
The guys filed out of the room talking about sports they never played, but they were sure they knew better than the athletes who played them.
“They’re assholes. I see why you took this job.
I’d move a thousand miles away from them, too.
” Quinn looked over her shoulder to find Juniper standing in the door with her arms crossed and gave her a little smile of agreement.
“Mr. Saccone is on the phone for you. Line three. Want me to bring you back something from down the street for lunch?”
“That’s very nice of you, and lunch would be greatly appreciated.
Just get me whatever you’re getting. Thanks, Juniper.
I’ll take it in my office.” Quinn grabbed her laptop and notes and hurried to her office where she could close the door and shut out the negativity from her former team. “Hello, Nico.”
“Do you have an update for me?” Nico asked, getting right to the heart of the matter.
“I do. I’m writing a whole new barcode program.
The tickets are printed correctly and are correctly entered into the system.
The problem comes when the barcode is scanned to give the payout.
I’m hoping this is a band-aid until I can find out what’s causing the issue, unless this is the actual issue to begin with. ”
“Does the team agree with you?”
Quinn thought about lying, but that wasn’t her. “No, they don’t. They think it’s stupid and a waste of time.”
Nico was quiet for a moment. “Those words exactly?”
“Yes, but I think it’s a way to stop the bleeding, so I’m working on it regardless. It’s my job and your company on the line. I’m not going to do nothing when I have a good idea.”
“Hmm,” Nico grunted softly. “What is their solution?”
“They’re running an antivirus program.”
“I know I’m not a computer guy, but wouldn’t that be the first thing you should do?”
“Yes, sir. It was the first thing I did, which is why I can tell you they won’t find any virus. But they wanted to run their own program.”
“I see.” His serious tone told her he got the gist of what was going on. “Keep me updated.”
“I will. I won’t let you take the blame for this. This is my fault. If I can’t find a solution, I’ll make sure all the authorities know this. I’ve kept meticulous records,” Quinn promised.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but we’re not out of options, Quinn. Don’t fall on that sword yet. I’ll check back in tomorrow.”
Quinn hung up and let out a long breath. She could do this. She opened her laptop and got back to work.
Knox had the best practice he’d had in a long time and he couldn’t help but think it was because of Quinn. She wanted to see him again tonight and for the first time he was letting himself see a future with her. He felt more centered. More determined. Happier. Fulfilled.
Practice had gone so well that Knox finished earlier than he thought he would. He showered at the stadium and headed to his favorite Italian restaurant to pick up his to-go order.
He knew it was early for dinner, but he wondered if Quinn had even taken a break to eat lunch. She tended to hyperfocus, at least what he remembered of her during school. He doubted she’d changed that much, especially after what he saw yesterday.
Knox opened the door to the lobby of Quinn’s building and almost ran into a young woman as she was headed out. “Sorry!” they both said at the same time.
Knox saw the recognition on her face. “Oh my God, you’re Knox Everett!
I’m your biggest fan.” Her eyes raked over him.
“Wow, you’re even bigger in person.” Then she looked slightly confused.
“But, what are you doing here? You shouldn’t be betting.
You know professional athletes can’t do that, right? ”
Knox chuckled. “I’m not betting. I’m here to see someone.”
That got a large brow raise. “Who? I hate to be nosey, but I kinda have to be since you can’t get into the elevators without an employee or security swiping you in.” She held up her ID card and Knox took a risk on the woman.
“Quinn Kennedy,” Knox said, trying to sound as professional as possible.
“Shut up! Are you the one who sent her the flowers?”
Now it was Knox’s time to raise his brow. “I take it you know Quinn?”
“Of course. I’m her assistant, Juniper.” Then she leaned in conspiratorially. “I hope you brought chocolate. She’s had a rough day.”
Knox frowned. “Not another rough day?”
Juniper nodded and glanced over to a group of three guys walking through the lobby.
“Because of them. The one in the vest is her ex. He got the others to turn on her. They won’t listen to anything she says and talk down to all of us, but especially Quinn.
I don’t know how she lasted so long in New York.
I would have had a breakdown or I would have killed at least one of them. Come on, I’ll swipe you up.”
Knox watched the three men laughing and chatting as if they weren’t here to fix a major issue.
He wasn’t surprised Quinn was still in the office and probably would be for many hours to come.
His hand tightened on the bag of takeout.
It was a poor substitute for what he really wanted to do, which was to punch that asshole in the face for making Quinn feel bad.
Knox swore he’d never do anything to make Quinn feel that way.
Juniper opened the elevator, swiped her badge, and hit the office floor. “There you go. And don’t worry, I won’t say anything about you and her dating. However, I will totally be asking Quinn for all the details tomorrow and I want tickets to a game.” Juniper wiggled her eyebrows and Knox laughed.
“Deal. Thanks for looking after my girl, Juniper.”
“Thanks for the tickets to the big rivalry game, Knox.”
The elevator doors closed on Juniper’s wide smile.
Knox found Quinn in her office. Her head was buried behind her computer and her fingers flew over the keyboard with a sandwich next to her with only a couple of bites taken from it. Knox didn’t want to interrupt her while she was in her zone, so he stayed quiet and watched her work.
However, it didn’t take long for her to look up. He hoped it was because of him, but it wasn’t. “Do I smell garlic bread and Bolognese? Oh my gosh, it smells delicious.”
“Are you excited to see me or is it just the Bolognese?” Knox smirked at her as he set the to-go bag down on the coffee table. Just like last night, Quinn stepped around her desk with a different pair of fuzzy socks on.
“That’s a toss-up,” Quinn teased.
“Does this tip the scales?” Knox reached into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out a pair of Lexington Thoroughbreds fuzzy socks and handed them to her.
Quinn smiled, but then bit her lip. “I don’t know,” she said slowly, struggling not to laugh. “Did you get the tiramisu?”
Knox reached into the bag and pulled out the container with Quinn’s dessert. “I’ll never let you down, Q.”
Quinn didn’t laugh when she looked at him. Instead, she looked thoughtfully at him. “I believe you. Now, let’s have some dinner. And I would love to hear how your day was. Anything that has nothing to do with coding.”
Knox told her about practice and about how this weekend was going to be busy as they prepared for their game on Monday night. He told stories about his teammates that had her laughing, but he couldn’t stop thinking of what Juniper had told him.
“I know you have to get back to work, but I have to tell you something.” Knox waited for her to put her empty dessert container down. “I met Juniper.”
Quinn smiled at that. “She makes me feel old, but she’s a great assistant, even if she hates using the phone to actually call people.”
“I met her in the lobby and she’s very protective of you, which I totally support. However, she told me you had another hard day and pointed out your ex. It took a lot not to punch him.”
“That’s strangely sweet. Thank you. But we both know your dad would lose it.”
Knox shook his head. “I’m not worried about my dad.
It’s Kate. Her pregnancy hormones make someone who was already a force of nature into an EF-5 tornado.
There’s no way I would face her wrath and that’s the only thing holding me back from a little assault right now.
” He liked the way Quinn smiled at that because he was about to be serious.
“Q, you are the smartest person I know. I appreciate your high IQ and find it sexy as hell. I also love your fuzzy sock obsession and the way you steal my sweatshirts. I will never think less of you if you don’t know something and you’ll never be a waste of my time.
” Knox stood up so that he was looking down at her sitting on her couch.
He bent and kissed the top of her head. “Now, use that sexy brain to write your code and let me know if there’s anything I can do to support you.
I’ll throw this away and watch film until you’re ready to leave.
Unfortunately, after today, I might not get much free time until after the game.
But, I will always be available to you if you need me.
I’m just a text away to cheer on my girl. ”
“Your girl, huh?” Quinn tried for levity, but when she looked up he saw that her eyes were glistening with unshed tears.
“If you’ll have me.” Knox tried to stay calm as he waited for her to answer.
“I think you might have been hit on the head too many times if I’m what you want, but I know you’re who I want.”
Knox scooped her up and held her in his arms before kissing her soundly. She melted into him, placing her arms around his neck as she kissed him back. Until he gave her lower lip a love bite.
“What was that for?”
“For putting yourself down. You’re mine, Q, and I think you’re perfect.
Are you telling me I’m wrong?” Knox challenged.
He wasn’t stupid, he knew Quinn wasn’t the typical WAG.
There had been situations here in the States and on the soccer teams overseas whose wives and girlfriends had been subjected to brutal trolling simply because they weren’t what those trolls thought a WAG should look like.
Knox never understood that. Why would it matter if he found Quinn more attractive than the plastic surgery-obsessed Hollywood actresses his mom knew and who had tried to get her to introduce them to Knox?
He liked the way Quinn looked abashed, but didn’t argue with him. Instead, she looked at him with so much emotion in her eyes and Knox couldn’t do anything except gently kiss her. “Now, use that sexy brain of yours to do your thing while I watch film.”
Just like the previous night, Knox got comfortable on the couch and got to work scouting the team they were going to play Monday night.
It was nice to be working alongside Quinn.
It didn’t matter that they weren’t talking and weren’t working together.
It was pleasant to just share the space together as they each did their own thing.