Chapter 25
Quinn was floating in a fairy-tale land where the handsome, kind hero chose her out of all the maidens in the land. Knox Everett loved her as much as she loved him. It wasn’t one-sided. It wasn’t far-fetched. It wasn’t a fairy tale, but real life.
She was so lost in thought that the sudden banging on the door made her jump and almost fall off the kitchen chair.
Flashbacks to the man in her house filled her with fear.
She looked around and grabbed a knife from the knife block and crept toward the front door.
A scary-looking man stood there but she recognized him from the hospital.
“I hear you breathing,” he said through the door. “I am Ahmed. Knox sent me. I am here to escort you to your friend then to Founder’s Day. If you make me late and I miss a pie from Marcy I won’t be held responsible for my actions.”
Quinn opened the door and Ahmed looked mildly amused at the knife she was holding. The red dog sitting by his side growled. “Sorry, I had to make sure you weren’t here to kill me.” As soon as she put the knife down the dog wagged its tail.
Ahmed no longer looked amused. “If I wanted you dead, you would be dead and never know it was me. This younger generation has no respect for the governments I have overthrown or the bad people I have killed. Now, come on. Today is going to be a lot of fun. Nemi, car.”
The red dog shot off in a blur. He pressed a button and the back door of a very expensive-looking, sporty SUV opened. The dog leapt up and into a specialized dog seat.
“She is unhappy that she had to move to the backseat. You might need to buy her a dog treat to make up for it.”
Quinn couldn’t tell if Ahmed was serious or not, but the dog smiled at her and it was the cutest darn thing she’d ever seen. Decision made. Nemi was definitely getting a treat.
“This car is beautiful,” she said as Ahmed held open her door and she slid in. The seats were the softest leather she’d ever felt. Inside was modern, yet cozy.
“Thank you. I have a weakness for nice cars. I just got this one.”
Ahmed might be intimidating in his all black military get-up of cargo pants, a three-quarter zip top, and the glare on his face. However, his soft eyes when he looked at his dog told Quinn he was a good guy.
“Is that her?” Ahmed asked after Quinn and he engaged in enough small talk to realize he was Kale and Abby’s father.
Quinn looked up to see Helena in skin-tight jeans, leather ankle boots with a heel, and a cream sweater. “That’s her.”
“How . . . New York.”
The way he said it made her smile. He got out of the SUV and Helena froze halfway down the stairs. Her mouth dropped open and she was talking a mile a minute.
Her arms were moving, and when Ahmed turned to open the door for her, he glared at Quinn as if Helena was somehow her fault.
The second Helena got in the car Quinn figured out why.
“Oh my God. It’s Ahmed. I can’t believe it’s him.
I have so many questions.” Quinn didn’t have time to respond before Ahmed was in the car ready to drive the short distance to downtown.
“Tell me all about Sergei. And how you escaped capture and overthrew the government of—”
“Lawyers,” Ahmed sighed. “I should just write a book.”
“Yes! I will help you write that book. You totally should. Everyone will read it. I studied your case in my advanced international law class.” Helena was on a roll. She spewed out every fact she knew about Ahmed, which was shockingly little. That made Ahmed smile.
“And then there’s Bermalia and Crusina and their change of politics under Prince Ali Rahman’s tutelage. You must have some insight into that?” Helena scratched behind Remi’s ears and Remi groaned.
“My dog likes you. For that, I will introduce you to Mo,” Ahmed told her, prompting a very unprofessional squeal of delight.
Ahmed pulled up to the crowded downtown and parked under a large tree right on Main Street and behind some kind of giant wooden board that had to be ten feet by ten feet.
“I don’t think this is a parking space. It’s the middle of the road.
It’s not far, we can just walk from the bed and breakfast,” Quinn said, looking around.
“Nonsense, I am the Ahmed. I can park anywhere. Besides, the road is closed.”
Not her problem if he got towed. Quinn and Helena got out of the SUV and each earned a glare from Ahmed since they didn’t wait for him to open their doors.
It made Quinn shiver and Helena fangirl.
It was almost embarrassing, but Quinn was happy her friend was so excited as she began to ask Ahmed how he felt about violating international law.
Knox found Quinn with Marcy Davies. She and Helena were each buying an apple pie. Knox felt himself being shoved as Jaylen and half the team ran past him straight for the table.
“Quinn!” Knox shouted in the deep voice he used to command his team on the field. “Hurry! Buy me a pie!”
Quinn’s eyes widened as half the football team was running straight at her. He saw her snag a pie and hand over cash to Mrs. Davies just as Deon, Jaylen, and Zack reached the table.
“What are they all going crazy about?” Austin asked as he held his wife’s hand.
“Best apple pie you’ve ever tasted,” Knox told him as they jogged toward the table.
“Okay, I have to try this. Babe?”
“Ew, no. Carbs,” his wife shuddered as she began a social media livestream to her followers all about this cute town she was visiting.
Austin managed to get a pie, but when he tried to eat it the Rose sisters swooped in and dragged him off to meet people.
Normally, he would have complained, but this time he smiled and said, “Yes, ma’am,” when they asked him a question.
But Knox saw the sisters eying Austin’s wife.
Guess she was next up for manners training.
“This is hands down the best pie I’ve ever had in my life,” Quinn said, eating the pie straight from the tin with a plastic fork. Helena was right next to her nodding as she ate.
Then the fork froze halfway to her mouth.
Helena elbowed Quinn who followed her gaze and similarly forgot all about the pie.
What could make anyone forget about pie?
Knox turned to see what they were looking at and saw Colton, Nolan, Conley, Flint, and Jack all shirtless and in matching gray joggers standing in front of the fire department.
Next to them was a table full of firemen calendars.
Colton’s wife, Cady, whistled to get everyone’s attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, to help raise money for the fire department, you have two ways to help. First, is to pick up a calendar and the second is an auction where the winner gets to hose down a fireman!”
A rush of women and a few men ran toward the fire station. When Knox turned to look at Quinn, he found Helena gone. She was at the front of the bidders. Quinn smiled at Knox as she shook her head at her friend.
“Hel needs someone like that,” Quinn told Knox as they watched Colton go up for auction. Of course, Cady was leading the bids.
“Like a fireman? I see her with another lawyer or a Wall Street guy. Maybe a real estate tycoon.”
Quinn shook her head. “Helena’s rich, like rich rich.
She’s been there, done that, and it’s never worked out.
They try to push her into a box of being a trophy wife.
Which, if she wanted that, would be fine.
However, that’s not Helena. She doesn’t ever have to work with the money in her trust fund.
But she does and she loves it. She needs someone to help her shine, not try to dim her flame. ”
Knox crossed his arms over his chest and a small smile formed as Helena put in a bid for Nolan.
They were complete opposites. Tall and short.
Blue collar and white collar. Southern and Northern.
Yet the heated glances told Knox these opposites were definitely attracted.
The bidding got fierce but Helena dropped a massive bid that left everyone gawking and Nolan blushing.
Bette from the Thoroughbreds and Gianna from Sebastian’s office were both bidding on firemen along with several women Knox recognized as Belles.
Then the winners, one by one, grabbed the firehose and drenched their firemen.
Cady soaked Colton, who ran forward and wrapped her in a giant dripping wet hug.
Thank goodness the weather was cooperating and the sun was out or they’d all be freezing.
Next up was Helena who didn’t turn the water on full blast, but on a trickle.
She motioned for Conley to come over and pick her up.
Then she slowly wet Nolan’s hair, running her fingers through it to brush the wet strands from his eyes.
Conley set her down and immediately the bets began to fly.
Knox had already placed one. Helena might be from New York, but the chemistry sparks flying between them were enough to burn the place to the ground as she continued to wet Nolan’s body, very, very slowly.
“Well,” Quinn said slowly as Helena traced the path of water with her finger down Nolan’s pecs and up and down the numerous ridges of his abdomen. “Maybe Hel will be visiting me more often.”
Knox laced his fingers with hers as they strolled through the Founder’s Day Festival.
They bought food, drinks, and even a Christmas ornament for their tree.
Deon and his wife, Chantel, strolled by and Deon gave him a knowing look.
It was a look from one man happily in love to another.
But in Deon’s case, it also held a little “told you so” since Deon had always preached finding love and not jersey chasers.
The day was perfect. Helena joined them and met the team. Interestingly enough, her gaze kept going back to Nolan even when Jayson laid on the charm. It felt so right and so exciting to have Quinn by his side all day.
“Q, I have to get home. Game day is tomorrow and I have a whole nighttime routine I do,” Knox whispered. “You can come with me or Ahmed can drive you home.”
“I’ll go back with you,” Quinn told him, but they were stopped by the sound of an engine revving.
Pam, the former PTA president turned terrorist punter, drove her gigantic Hummer down the middle of Main Street.
“Is that a giant fist?” Quinn asked.
“This town can’t get any better,” Helena said, clearly amused.
Pam stopped her Hummer and climbed out with a bullhorn. “Come up, one and all, to raise money for the schools! Ten dollars a throw to try to hit the target with an ax!”
“I know it’s late, but I’ve always wanted to do this. One throw and then go home?” Quinn asked.
“Sure.” Knox pulled out a twenty and handed it to her. “For you and Helena.”
“You don’t have to pay for me,” Quinn told him.
“Or me, but thank you. You are definitely my favorite boyfriend.” Helena snagged the twenty with one hand and Quinn with the other.
Knox watched as the line grew. Quinn and Helena were toward the back as the firemen assisted the throwers. Some sank the ax into the big wooden board and others hit the wood with the wrong part of the ax and bounced off.
Finally, it was Quinn and Helena’s turn.
Hel was getting advice from Nolan and Quinn was getting advice from Flint.
Then they threw at the same time. Both axes bit into the wood and the two women shouted in delight and jumped into each other’s arms. He really had to find a way to make sure they got to see each other more.
Knox didn’t want their relationship to take away from Quinn’s friendship with Helena.
“Very good!” Pam called out as Quinn and Helena made their way back to Knox. “But can you beat this? Gentlemen?”
The fire department came out and wrapped something around the giant fist as Pam got behind the wheel of her Hummer. Then Jack came out with a blowtorch and lit the fist on fire.
“Fist of fire!” Pam yelled, gunning the Hummer and tearing off down the street. People cheered her on.
Quinn suddenly grabbed his arm and gasped in horror, “Oh no.”
“What is it?” Knox asked.
“Ahmed’s car—” but it was too late.
The flaming fist shattered the board and went straight through the window of Ahmed’s custom-built luxury SUV.
“Nooooo!” The cry came from deep in a man’s soul as Pam’s flaming fist set the SUV ablaze. Since Pam had been traveling at a high rate of speed, she shoved Ahmed’s SUV down the road sideways until she came to a complete stop.
Pam backed up the Hummer as the interior of the SUV was an inferno.
Within seconds the firemen were in their gear and tables were being pulled apart to make room for the firetruck to drive the short distance to the now fully engulfed SUV.
Ahmed sat on the curb, staring at the disaster, with his wife rubbing his back as Remi licked the tears running down his face.
“Well, what a way to end the day.” Helena shook her head as if she didn’t believe what had just happened. “I think I’ll walk back to the bed and breakfast. We have a big day tomorrow.”
Quinn hugged Helena and so did Knox.
“I’m glad you’re here. Look out for her tomorrow. Okay?” Knox asked.
“I’ve been looking after her for longer than you’ve known her. I’ve got this.” Helena blew Quinn a kiss and headed out.
“So, what is this pregame routine you have to do?” Quinn asked as they walked by the firetruck soaking the SUV in foam.
“It all starts with a bath,” Knox told her giving her a wink. “Care to join me?”
“I think I’d better,” Quinn giggled. Her eyes alit with the glow of the flames as they walked to his car parked down the street.
Tonight was going to be the best pregame ritual ever because he had Quinn to share it with.