Chapter 16
Quinn
“Girl, I’ve been waiting for Friday all damn week,” Callie squeals as we walk arm and arm through the parking lot of the Diddled Fiddle.
“God, me too. I’m exhausted. I need a few hours of cocktails and laughs.” I’ve literally worn myself out going door to door asking for donations. I need to clear my head of all stress tonight.
“Well, first round is on me,” Callie declares as the hostess leads us to a booth with a great view of the bar and the dance floor. “Can we get two margaritas with salt?”
“Coming right up.”
“Okay, spill the tea, sister. Tell me what happened when Jason tried to apologize to you. I need all of the glorious details.”
I give my sweet friend a play-by-play, leaving out that I was tempted at one point to tell him I was partially to blame, given I was on him like a cat in heat to do that calendar. But the more I thought about it, I wasn’t letting any man speak to me that way.
I’d read a quote recently, and it stuck with me. Don’t settle for breadcrumbs when you deserve the whole bakery. I have no idea who said it, but they were absolutely right. I’ve always believed you teach people how they’re allowed to treat you. And if I want the fairy tale happily ever after, I’m not accepting any less.
“Hey, isn’t that your broody teenage dream?”
I follow Callie’s index finger to the bar. There sits Jason with an incredibly hot guy that could almost be his twin. Jason’s a little taller and leaner, but they’re both incredibly fit with dark inky hair and a thin layer of sexy scruff over their sharp jawline. They’re also both covered in ink. Lifting a menu, I start to fan myself. “Holy hell, Callie. The only thing hotter than Jason Bristow, is two of him.”
“Right?” She giggles. “I don’t recognize his doppelg?nger. Think he’s visiting from out of town?”
Lifting my cocktail to my lips, I take a big sip. “Possibly. Gah, do you think he’s a firefighter too?”
Callie bites down on her lower lip. “If so, I might need a road trip to visit that mountain town they’re from.”
We continue to sip our drinks and watch them from a distance until we’re interrupted by Corbin and his friend.
“Hey, Callie. Quinn. This is my friend, Terrence.”
“Hey, Corbin. Nice to meet you, Terrence,” I add.
“We literally got here fifteen minutes ago, but my girlfriend called, and she has a flat tire. You want the chips and guac they just delivered? Otherwise, it’s going to go to waste.”
“Sure. You’re such a good egg, Corbin,” Callie says almost dreamily.
“Be careful out there.”
“We will.” Terrence deposits the food on our table. “See you guys.”
Callie shakes her head. “See, that’s as attractive as a guy’s looks, in my opinion. A good man who knows how to treat his girl. Dropping everything to rescue her.”
“Yeah. You’re right.” I chomp on a tortilla chip. “But the view still ain’t bad from here.” I laugh between bites.
Jason
“Hey, can we get another round?” Trevor asks the bartender.
“Sure thing.”
“This place is great.”
The waiter deposits two amber bottles in front of us, and we clink the necks in unison. “To good friends,” I say. “Thanks for coming down here on your break. I’ve only been here a few weeks, and I’m so ready to get home.”
“Well, we’re ready to have you back. Between the annoying rookie and the replacement Chief Roberson sent, it’s bordering on painful.” He chuckles. “Your dad looked good.”
“Yeah, he’s pretty amazing. Hopefully, after I get the Christmas tree farm prepped for him, he can take over until my next stretch of days off.”
Out of the blue, a current of electricity pulses through me as a small hand lands on my back. Turning, I find Quinn stepping between us as she saddles up to the bar. “Jasper? Can Callie and I get another round of margaritas?” She points over her shoulder to where her friend is seated in a booth, smiling in our direction. Ignoring me, she continues, “The server’s been busy with that group over there.” She thumbs over her shoulder to the boisterous table of people who I’d bet are tourists. The women are adorned in flashy resort attire and the men all seem to be wearing golf tees and polos.
“Let me get those,” I tell Quinn.
She spins, giving me a bright smile, those glorious gray eyes nearly causing me to sway. Does this woman have any idea how attractive she is? “Okay.” How can four letters sound so seductive?
“How are you?”
“Good.” She spins to face Trevor. “Hi. I’m Quinn.”
A slow, sexy smile curls Trevor’s lips.
“Oh, where are my manners? This is Trevor from back home. He’s on my shift at station 12. He and his girlfriend, Addison, are two of my closest friends.” His brows nearly jump to his hairline, calling me out at inserting his girlfriend into the conversation.
“It’s nice to meet you, Trevor,” Quinn says in a flirty tone.
Jasper brings her drinks, and she carefully lifts one to her lips, darting her tongue out to lick salt from the rim. My cock comes to attention, and I have to forcibly swallow a groan.
“See you,” she chirps as she returns to the other side of the bar.
“Holy shit, man.” He slaps both palms flat on the bar. “That’s the first girl I’ve seen have any effect on you.”
“What? You’re crazy.” My eyes stay peeled on Quinn’s delectable ass as she sways her hips provocatively. She’s barely seated before a server brings more drinks, turning to point to two gentlemen across the bar.
“Awe, man. You’ve got it bad.”
I shake my head, knowing denying it is futile.
“Stop being so stubborn and go for it.”
“It’s not that simple.” I give him the lowdown on my history here. I lay it all out there. My best friend and my fiancée, the almost ten-year age difference, and Quinn running a PR campaign to improve the reputation of the station here.
“Listen, it doesn’t sound all that different from when I came to Sycamore. The only difference was that I hadn’t had the chance to give my ex the engagement ring yet. My live-in girlfriend was sleeping with a pro football player. In my house! I swore I’d never trust another woman again. Especially models. I was dating down from then on.” He smiles at the memory. “Then Addison came along. She was a force of nature. I couldn’t fight it. And in the end, I’m glad I didn’t.” Trevor chuckles before taking another sip of his beer. “This girl, Quinn, even looks a lot like Addison. But thank God my girl can dance.”
Following his line of sight, I tip back my amber bottle and immediately start to choke. Quinn and her friend are on the dance floor. Yet, while Callie is swaying her arms and hips to the beat of “Finally,” by CeCe Peniston, Quinn looks like Elaine from Seinfeld.
“Is she dancing or having a seizure?” He laughs. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. Go out there and help her. I’ve seen your moves.” Am I actually considering this? “Go on. I’m probably going to finish this one and head back to the house. You should offer to drive those two home.”
Standing from my spot, I give my friend a brotherly slap on the shoulder and head over to the jukebox and look for another song. I can’t believe I’m doing this. Ah, “Rump Shaker,” by Wreckx-n-Effect. A classic, I snicker to myself.
As the recognizable notes of the song begin and people in the bar start to hoot and holler, I make my way over to Quinn. Sliding in behind her, I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her trim body against me, willing my dick to behave.
Callie gives me a slow grin as she continues to dance.
Nudging Quinn’s ear with my nose, I whisper so she knows it’s me. “Hey, short stuff.” Placing my hands on her hips, I encourage her to sway in time with the beat of the music. If nothing else, so I don’t lose an eye.
She spins to face me, and I continue to hold her close, my hands on her hips. She doesn’t appear intoxicated. Glancing over at their table, several cocktails appear untouched. Quinn places her palms on my pecs, both her undeniable fragrance and her nearness making my pants grow snug.
I bend my face down to meet hers and have to stifle a laugh when she closes her eyes and puckers her lips. As tempting as that is, I’m not doing that here. I whisper against her mouth, “Okay. I’ll do it.”
Quinn blinks her eyes rapidly, looking confused.
“I’ll be your Mr. December.”
Her mouth falls open in shock momentarily, before gazing up at me with a dreamy expression.
Hell, I probably look the same way.
Unable to control myself, I pull her tighter against me, allowing her to feel exactly what she’s doing to me. Her gray eyes turn dark and stormy the moment she’s aware how hard I am. And it’s all for her.
“I should drive you and Callie home. I haven’t even had two beers, and you two…” I point at their table, and Quinn giggles.
“We’re not drunk, but we won’t turn down a ride.”
After settling up with the bartender I wrap my arm around Quinn, and lead her and Callie to the door when I notice a familiar male silently observing us from a corner booth.
Ian.