26
Ice Cracking and Pleasantries
T he smell of dinner made her stomach growl. She padded down the hall to the kitchen with Alex behind her. She was far too aware of the man, and she couldn’t help but think of the moment before all hell broke loose when his lips had touched hers so tenderly. She was sure she could relive that moment a thousand times and not tire of it.
“Have a seat.” Alex gestured to one of the chairs at the old wood kitchen table. Quinn took in the sight before her as she sat down. Their meals were plated, and in the middle of the table, Alex had lit a new red candle. It felt romantic, or maybe more charming than romantic. She was certain he didn’t intend to woo her.
He sat across from her, and they briefly looked at each other over the candlelight.
“I’m sorry, lass, for getting so angry. It wasnae fair of me.”
Quinn felt an instant relief hearing his apology. “I’m sorry, too. I truly didn’t mean to go through your private things. That’s the only thing I looked in. Otherwise, I was a perfect angel.” She grinned at him.
Alex scoffed as if he doubted the angel part. Clearing his throat, he added, “I’m sorry too for when I first came in.” His voice was strained. “I didn’t mean to…” he paused, looking up at her. “It willnae happen again,” he said with finality.
Nooo . Quinn’s mind rebelled against his words. Her most feminine parts desperately wanted it to happen again and then some. She couldn’t help the stab of disappointment. If she thought he was actually married, she’d feel guilt and his lips would not be on hers again, but there was something fishy about the photo and his reaction.
She was certain that he wasn’t married to the woman, at least not anymore. And the kids? Well, she really had no idea. But why was he so secretive about it all? It wasn’t like he had to divulge every detail, but could he not just give her the Coles Notes version of events?
Although she still didn’t know the situation with the woman in the photo, she did believe him when he said he wouldn’t have kissed her if he was married. Which was a giant relief, because the fireworks she felt would be very hard to keep at bay.
She cut a small piece of steak, picking it up with her fork. “I wouldn’t mind if it happened again,” she said quietly as she slid the fork into her mouth without looking up.
She felt his eyes shoot to her. Good. She’d surprised him. She guessed he’d thought he’d thrown her off track.
“Quinn.” He sighed.
As she chewed her cooked-to-perfection steak, she noted his brows had knit together in frustration. “Well, it wasn’t the best kiss,” she fibbed, pinning her hands together under her chin, “but I suspect if we tried again… I mean we are stuck here together.”
Alex could hardly believe what he was hearing. She wanted a fling with him? And the kiss he’d barely begun, but Christ, his blood had roared. Was she that unaffected? There was a part of him that wanted to show her exactly what he wanted to do being stuck here alone with her.
God, he’d love nothing more than to strip her of his clothes, handcuff her to his bloody bed, and kiss every square inch of her body before he slid his cock into her slick, tight wetness. Jesus. What was he thinking? No. No. No . No good would come of it. He knew that damn it.
He cleared his throat. “I dinnae think that’s a wise idea.”
“Why not?” she challenged, her big brown eyes sparking. “You’re not married, right?” she said casually, to confirm once and for all.
His eyes shot to hers. He wasn’t used to someone pushing back, and the truth was, he didn’t have a good answer for her. Before he thought better of it, the lie was out of his mouth. “It’s because I’m not attracted to you that way.”
She threw her head back, rolling her eyes. “Oh right, I remember now, you wouldn’t sleep with me even if I begged. How could I forget? I suppose that explains the shitty kiss,” she added as she nibbled a carrot off her fork, appearing unbothered.
Alex didn’t know what to say. He was damned either way, so he kept his mouth shut. It irked him, though, about the kiss.
At a standstill, they silently ate.
“Mmm, that was delicious,” Quinn said satisfied as she finished the last bite of her steak. Alex noted she’d eaten everything on her plate. “Guess you are a good cook after all.” Her grin was sly.
Alex eyed her, amazed at how easily she could let things roll off her. It seemed she wasn’t one to hold a grudge or stay angry. It was another trait he found he admired in her. It was like she couldn’t be bothered wasting time with bad moods.
“Aye, I’m no’ so bad in the kitchen. My mam is a great cook, she taught me a few things.”
“You must miss her cooking. I assume your parents are back in Scotland?” she hedged. He could tell she was testing to see if he’d shut down the conversation. It seemed like a safe one, so he answered.
“Aye, they are still in Scotland.”
“Have they come to see you here?”
“No. Maybe they will one day. I know they’d love it here.”
“Oh, I bet they would," she said as if she knew them firsthand. "Who wouldn't adore these mountains? They are otherworldly with the sheer size of them! Gosh, and you could take them on gorgeous hikes; I bet you know all the good places to go. Or if they don't hike, even just wandering around the town would be so much fun. Calen has so many cute local shops at least from what I've seen so far." Her features were lit up like a Christmas tree and Lord help him if he didn't find himself liking it. "Are your parents from Scotland originally?"
She looked at him expectantly. He supposed it wouldn’t hurt to chat with her a bit. Maybe it would distract him from his wayward thoughts.
Alex leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “My family has been Scots for many generations. Although my mom’s side has some Irish too. My sister Orlagh was named after my mam’s gran, she was Irish.”
“So I wasn’t off when I guessed Irish the day we met,” Quinn said with a smug little grin that Alex wished he didn’t find so intriguing.
He rolled his eyes. “Perhaps a wee bit off, lass. I’m about as Scottish as they come.”
“Fine. Scottish. Except a little bit Irish.” Her dark eyes flashed with humour, and Alex felt his lips twitch in a smile.
“I love the name Orlagh," she said as if to herself before looking back up at him. "Is it spelled O-r-l-a?"
"Ye want to use it as a character name in yer Budapest book?"
She blinked. "No, I-"
"O-r-l-a-g-h," he interrupted before she could worry her pretty little head about it. "She wouldnae mind if ye did."
Quinn nodded, the corners of her full lips turning up in a soft smile. "Good to know." She shifted in her chair. "Do you have more siblings or just Orlagh?”
“Two brothers and two sisters.” He paused, feeling tension lace his jaw. It never got easier talking about Helena. “My oldest sister, Helena… She died when I was seventeen.”
Quinn regarded him. The lass wore her heart on her sleeve; he could see the empathy in the depths of her expressive eyes. “I’m sorry. I can’t imagine.”
Alex took a sip of beer, the familiar feeling of the loss digging into his chest. He rolled his shoulders back trying to release some of the tension. “She was thrown from her horse and broke her neck.” He swallowed back the familiar lump in his throat, then quickly finished without looking up. “Losing her was one of the hardest things my family has had to face, but we’ve gotten through. I suppose time makes it all more bearable. Life goes on.”
Quinn nodded, and Alex had a feeling she truly understood. But before he could ask her about her own life, she asked him, “Are you all still close? I mean as a family?”
“Och, aye. We are lucky, I think. We have always been close. My one brother Drew went through a bit of a rebel spell. Actually, he was a complete arse for a time, but he’s come back around.” Alex smiled thinking of his family. “They will all get together tomorrow night for a wee feast and some Christmas cheer.”
“You must miss being there.”
“At Christmas, in particular, I suppose I do. I can see it now. They’ll have the fire going, and my da will be the one to start the round of carols. He loves to sing.” Alex smiled nostalgically. “Then on Christmas morning, they’ll cook up a big Scots breakfast, open presents, and then they’ll all head down to the seaside for the Christmas Day polar dip.”
“That all sounded completely dreamy right up until polar dip!” Quinn chirped.
He chuckled. “My brothers and I always do it. People come from counties all around. There’s upwards of a hundred people all freezing their arses off.”
“And you go into the ocean, in the dead of winter?” she said skeptically, looking uncomfortable at the very idea.
“Och, aye, we run in and huv a wee swim about.”
“Nooo!” She shuttered.
“It’s no’ as cold as it is here in Canada. Although it can be nippy. Ach, lass, the swim is a blast. Ye’d love it.”
Quinn snorted. “What makes you say that? I’ve pretty much been freezing my ass off since I met you, and believe me, I don’t love it!”
His chuckle was a deep rumble. “I watched ye try and trudge through snow in bare legs and high heels. I huv no doubt that ye’ve enough sass and stubbornness to do a polar dip.”
Quinn smirked, seeming to appreciate his estimation of her. “Maybe,” she agreed. “Are you supposed to be going home?” Her perfectly arched brows knit together in concern.
“Naw.” He sighed still feeling some regret at his cancelled trip. “I was supposed to fly out yesterday morning, but my work schedule changed. I had to cancel it.”
“Shitty,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Aye,” he agreed. “Probably a good thing it got cancelled, I wouldnae huv been able to get to the airport anyway with all this snow."
"Right," she said, throwing her gaze towards the window.
"Ah, ’tis fine. I’ll go another time. I would huv liked to see my nephews though. What about ye, lass? Do ye huv family?” He had wondered about how it was that no one expected to hear from her at Christmas.
“Not really. I am an only child.” Quinn bit her lip, and Alex realized it was something she did when she was uncertain. Christ, it set him on fire every time though.
Alex watched her intently and then she looked across the table at him decidedly. “Mine was not exactly an idyllic childhood.” She picked up her fork and absently fiddled with tines. “My mom was in her forties when she had me, and she was an alcoholic. It wasn’t a great scenario.”
“I’m sorry, lass,” he murmured.
“She died when I was fourteen,” she said, sounding emotionless. Either she’d gotten past it, or she was like him and knew how to keep the emotion contained. She rattled out the words like she was reading off a shopping list. “Complications from years of alcohol abuse. I ended up living with my grandmother, which was for the best really. And I never knew my father. He was non-existent.”
Alex sat back trying to take it all in. Christ, she’d been through a hell of a life. The strength he’d recognized in her made sense now. She was a survivor, a fighter. That protective feeling surged through him again.
“I was the fancy product of a one-night stand.” She tried to make light of the moment that had grown overly serious.
“Fancy indeed.” His lips quirked in a half smile. “Thank God for one-night stands,” he added, quickly realizing how crass it sounded, but before he could take it back, the lass burst out laughing and clinked her beer bottle to his.
“Thank God for one-night stands,” she pronounced jovially, and he felt a warmth in his chest as he took a sip of his beer, his eyes not straying from her.
They chatted with a newfound ease as they cleaned up the dishes.
“Another beer?” Alex offered as Quinn did one last wipe down of the countertop.
“You have anything other than beer?” She bit her lip and he had to remind his cock to behave.
“Ye want to try the whisky again, lass?”
He looked at her hopefully. He didn’t know why, but he wanted her to like it.
“Sure, what the heck.” She smiled. “I suppose it must have some redeeming qualities if you Scots like it so much.”
He chuckled as he poured two glasses. “The key is to sip it slowly, Quinn. Dinnae guzzle it down.”
They sat in the great room in the chairs in front of the fireplace. “We could watch a movie if ye like?” Alex offered.
“We could, but maybe later. I want to hear more about your life in Scotland and what brought you here.” She turned in her chair to face him, her big brown eyes imploring him to spill all his secrets.
He threw his head back and rolled his eyes.
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic Sergeant Mackenzie,” she teased him, shoving her foot playfully at his shin. He was tempted to grab it, tear off her sock, and massage the pretty foot with those red-painted toenails. Shite.
“Oh, come on,” she cajoled, clearly having no idea the direction his thoughts had gone. “We are stuck together alone in this cabin—and you’ve made it clear sex is off the table—so we may as well get to know each other.”
Alex was taken aback by her blunt assessment, but then he chuckled despite himself. She made a decent argument, he supposed. Standing up, he walked to the kitchen bringing his phone back with him, and she watched him curiously. Christmas music began playing, and then the Bluetooth kicked in, playing from speakers in the living room.
“Christmas playlist” he explained with a twinkle in his eye.
She giggled lightly. “You have a Christmas playlist on your phone?”
“Of course.” He grinned unabashedly. “I hope ye dinnae mind a bit of Celtic Christmas music.”
“Not at all.” She stretched with a contented sigh and relaxed back into her chair. He watched as she took a tentative sip of the scotch.
“Bahh, my God,” she huffed, as if she'd just drunk fire.
He laughed. “So ye’r telling me ye practically raised yerself, making ye strong as fuck, but a wee bit of scotch is too much fer ye?”
Her lips quirked eyeing him from under her pretty brow, and he realized she knew damn well that she was a strong lass. And God help him if he didn’t like her all the more for it.
Quinn never shied from a challenge, and clearly, he was proposing one. She would master this damn whisky and learn to like it if it killed her.
As they sat chatting, she took tiny little sips of the scotch. It did seem to get better as the night went on. She surprised herself saying yes to a refill later in the evening.
“I can’t believe the time,” Quinn quipped with a yawn at midnight. It had been an unexpectedly pleasant evening. Alex seemed to have let his guard down, at least a bit and he definitely seemed more at ease with her now. It was Christmas Eve Eve and Quinn realized she'd actually had the best time with Mean Hot Cop tonight—though she wouldn't admit it out loud.
“Aye, I’m ready for bed.” He yawned, stretched his arms above him, and then groaned. “I’m a bit stiff from all that wood chopping.”
Quinn’s eyes were drawn to the sex line V that peeked out from under his shirt when he stretched. Good Lord, that little snippet alone was completely swoon-worthy.
Alex caught her eye and for the briefest moment, the tension crackled between them. Quinn knew that, despite the chemistry, the man said he was off-limits. Not that she believed that, but she didn’t want him to get all weird with her again. Especially after they seemed to have made headway tonight, so she stood and headed for the bathroom.
“I’m just going to wash up.”
Alex sat in the chair, staring into the last glowing embers of the fire. He’d felt her gaze on him, and when he looked at her, he saw desire in her eyes big brown eyes. It stoked his own desire. He’d kept it all in check the whole evening, distracted by surprisingly great conversation. He’d actually found himself rather engrossed in talking with her. But that look she just gave him? Fuck. He needed to keep it together.
Glancing over to the settee, Alex considered their sleeping arrangements. If he built up the fire, she could sleep out here again, but it would only last so long before she’d need to add a log. She’d be up and down all night adding logs. Shit. He couldn’t very well make her sleep here tonight, and he didn’t want to sleep here either. Memories of the night before crept into his mind.
The evening had felt safe between them. He’d actually managed to have a conversation with her without wanting to either throttle her or kiss her, so that was encouraging. Shockingly, he enjoyed the company of Ms. Quinn West. Wonders never ceased. The bathroom door opened, and as Quinn stepped out, Alex went to go in behind her.
“I’m not going to freeze my ass on your couch tonight,” she said matter-of-factly as she strode past him to his bedroom.
Alex swallowed, staring after her. She didn’t look back, just went into his room, and closed the door.
“Right, that settles it then,” he muttered.