Chapter 14 #3
She reached across the table and took his hand.
He looked around nervously for a moment but she was gratified when he entwined his fingers with hers.
‘She described you perfectly, gentle, kind, patient, and you’ve been so patient with me.
I think it’s time we make it very clear that I’m not on the market for anyone else ever again. ’
‘You don’t have to do that,’ Quinn said. ‘You don’t have to prove anything to me or to anyone. I know where I stand with you and I don’t need anything more than that.’
‘But maybe I do. I’m tired of hiding it.
If I want to hold your hand in public or hug you or kiss you I will.
When someone asks if we’re together, like they’ve done many times before over the years because they’ve seen how close we are, I want to say yes, because we are and not just in a friends-with-benefits way – you’ve always been so much more than that to me.
Cleo saw what we were fighting against for years: that we are meant to be together. ’
He frowned slightly. ‘OK.’
‘Why are you frowning? I thought you would be happy about this. I’m yours and I want the world to know.’
‘I just don’t want you to regret it.’
‘How could I regret being with you? I love you. I know I’ve been scared of labelling it as a relationship as that’s big and scary and life-changing but that’s what we’re in.
We’re sleeping together, we’ve told each we love each other, we’re exclusive to each other, we’ve even talked about our future.
Labelling it as no strings attached is just rubbish.
There are strings whether we want them or not.
And I’m so sorry that I’m messing you around. ’
‘You’re not messing me around. You want to take things slow and I totally understand why. Liam hurt you badly and you want to be careful with your heart and who you give it to.’
‘I’ve already given it to you.’
‘OK, but we can take this as slow as you want or need.’
Alex nodded. ‘I know. Now as the meal is free, shall we have a look at the menu?’
They started looking through the menu and she didn’t let go of his hand as she did. When she glanced over at him she could see he was looking ridiculously happy about it, even circling the back of her hand with his thumb, making her feel weak and needy.
‘Are you ready to order?’ Max said, as he arrived at their table.
Quinn scowled at him. ‘Was this your idea?’
‘It was a mutual thing,’ Max shrugged, clearly not bothered by the scowl. ‘Cleo wanted to set Alex up with someone wonderful and I said there was someone who was perfect for her right under our noses.’
‘And you didn’t think you could just be honest with us?’
‘Nah, neither of you would have come if we had. But from where I’m standing, it doesn’t seem to have been a bad idea.’ He gestured to their hands.
‘Well actually—’ Quinn began, clearly about to tell Max that they had been seeing each other for a while.
‘We’ve decided, as you’ve got us here on a date that we’d treat it like a date,’ Alex quickly said.
Max grinned. ‘Well, I genuinely hope it works out for you.’
They placed their order and he left.
‘Why didn’t you tell him we’ve been seeing each other for a while?’ Quinn asked.
‘Oh, let them have it as a win. It is a good match. What would you have done if we weren’t together and they set us up on this date?’
‘I would hope I would have the courage to tell you that I loved you and if you wanted to date a real man who would treat you like a queen, it would make me the happiest man alive.’
She smiled at that. ‘And I would have said yes. Then I’d have probably suggested we get out of here to consummate our new relationship.’
He laughed. ‘Don’t tempt me.’
Max brought over the drinks, giving them a mischievous eyebrow wiggle. Alex wondered whether he’d heard the comment about consummating their relationship. He left them to it and Alex decided to change the subject so she wasn’t thinking about running out of here for a night of hot passion.
‘What are you most looking forward to about your Christmas celebrations?’
‘Oh, lots of things. The rugby club Christmas party should be good. They are doing a big murder mystery night where everyone is getting dressed up and everyone has a character to play. I have to go as a mad scientist. I love stuff like that. It’s right up my street.
But mostly I’m looking forward to spending more time with you and Zara on Christmas Day.
I’d really like to wake up with you in my arms on Christmas morning. ’
She smiled at that. ‘I’d really like that too. I’m sure that can be arranged. Zara seems rather blasé about it all.’
‘Well, that would definitely be something to look forward to.’
The meal had been delicious and the conversation had flowed easily just as it always did. As first dates went, it had certainly been one of Alex’s best.
Cleo had sat up at the bar all night, chatting away to Max and giving them excited thumbs up every time they looked over at her.
The plates had all been cleared away and they were just finishing off their drinks. Alex decided it was now or never. She scooted round the booth so she was next to Quinn.
‘I’m going to kiss you now.’
He looked alarmed. ‘Here? In front of everyone?’
‘Don’t look so scared.’
‘I’m scared for you. If we kiss, the whole town will know within half an hour. There’ll probably be a bulletin on Facebook or the neighbourhood forum.’
She laughed. ‘I don’t think our love lives are that interesting.’
‘If you were just dating some random man, people probably wouldn’t care less, but you’re with me, Liam’s brother. Lots of people are going to think that’s weird or inappropriate.’
‘And lots of people who have been rooting for us to get together for years will be delighted for us.’
He scowled.
‘I don’t really care what people think, do you?’ Alex said.
‘I care that you’ll be subjected to some not so nice comments.’
‘Oh, let them talk. It will only be hot news for the next few days until the next piece of gossip comes along. And it has to come out eventually. We can’t keep it secret forever.’
‘Yes, but we can soft launch – be seen together for a while, then slowly up the ante, be seen holding hands, then maybe a kiss on the cheek – before we unleash a proper kiss on them.’
‘And drag out the reaction and gossip even longer? This way, we get it out of the way in one big hit, the pearl-clutchers can all talk about how terrible it is and hopefully it’ll be old news before Christmas.’
Quinn didn’t look convinced.
‘Look, what’s the worst that can happen?’ she asked.
‘The worst is that our fragile tentative relationship could shatter before it’s even begun.’
Alex looked at him in surprise and she stroked his face. She realised that by holding back, her reluctance to properly define their relationship and her desire to keep it a secret had made him doubt what they had and she hated that.
‘I don’t fear that at all, what we have is special. I love you.’
She leaned up and kissed him and after a second he kissed her back.
He stroked her face and she melted against him.
She heard an excited yelp come from near the bar which she guessed was Cleo, and could hear other people talking in excited whispers too.
Quinn was right, this was going to be big news.
But as the kiss continued everything faded away and she was only aware of this man, his scent, his touch, his taste, the feel of his lips against hers.
This wonderful man was hers and she wanted everyone to know that – but more importantly she wanted him to know that too.
She pulled back slightly and looked at him. ‘Let’s go home.’
He nodded and stood up. She slid out of the booth and he helped her on with her coat, his fingers deliberately grazing the back of her neck.
She looked back at him, his mouth just inches from hers, and the look he gave her was dark with need.
It made her feel weak with just the thought of being with this man again.
She was never going to have enough of him.
Just then Cleo came bouncing over. Quinn took a step away from her but Alex firmly took his hand and pulled him back by her side.
‘Did you enjoy your meal?’ Cleo asked.
‘Very much so.’
‘It looked like it. But you don’t need to hurry off, you can stay for dessert or coffee or—’
‘We have somewhere important we need to be,’ Quinn said and Alex giggled.
A lady called Tina who was sitting having dinner with another woman tutted loudly and Alex nearly laughed.
Why would anyone care what Alex did or who she was with?
What harm was she doing to anyone else? The only person who had any right to be upset by Alex moving on was Violet and, judging by her reaction to her and Quinn declaring their love for each other over iced cookies the other day, it seemed she was OK with it too.
Deciding to annoy Tina some more, Alex curled herself around Quinn. ‘We’ve got a lot of lost time to make up for.’
Tina glared at them and Alex ran a hand up Quinn’s chest for good measure. Quinn stared at her incredulously.
A huge smile spread across Cleo’s face. ‘Well, that sounds like the date went very well.’
‘Very well,’ Alex said, looking at Quinn like she wanted to eat him.
‘How much do we owe you for the meal?’ Quinn asked.
‘No, no, on the house, as I said. It was our pleasure.’
After another warning look from Quinn, Alex resisted saying that shortly it would be their pleasure.
‘Thank you, Cleo, tonight has been an eye-opener,’ Alex said.
‘For me too,’ muttered Tina, loud enough for people at several tables to hear. There were a few giggles.
Alex looked around the room and was surprised to see how many people were invested in her and Quinn and she didn’t know how to feel about that.
Quinn squeezed her hand and she looked up at him. ‘Come on, let’s go home.’
She nodded and gave Cleo a wave before allowing Quinn to lead her outside into the coolness of the snow.
‘Why are you trying to wind Tina up?’ Quinn asked. ‘She’s the biggest gossip I’ve ever met.’
‘Why is she bothered by this?’ Alex shrugged. ‘It doesn’t affect her or anyone.’
They started walking up the hill towards her house with Quinn holding her hand. ‘Some people will find this weird, they’ll judge you for sleeping with your husband’s brother and judge me for sleeping with my brother’s wife.’
‘If Liam was alive, sure, I could understand people getting upset by that level of betrayal but, beyond that, surely the only thing anyone should care about is that I’m happy for the first time in years.
Besides, where were these people when I was living with a verbally abusive alcoholic?
All these people who are so invested in my life now didn’t give a crap about me back then.
So they can talk and bitch and whisper but you have made me the happiest woman alive and if that upsets them that says more about them than it does about me. ’
Quinn stopped walking and turned to face her. He cupped her face and kissed her and she smiled against his lips.
‘You make me ridiculously happy too and to hell with what anyone thinks.’
She took his hand and started marching up the hill with some speed. ‘Come on, I want to show you my bedroom.’
He laughed, caught up with her and scooped her up into his arms, then ran the last little bit to her house. He put her down as they reached the door.
They tumbled into the kitchen and Immy looked up from where she was working on her laptop.
‘Hey lovebirds.’
‘Hey, we’re, umm… just going to—’
‘Listen to music in your bedroom?’ Immy laughed.
‘Yeah, something like that.’
‘Don’t worry about me, I’ve got a big date with an action movie I want to watch, lots of explosions, gunfire, cool stunt driving, it’s very loud.
I won’t hear a thing. And it’s a long one too.
Just in case you want to… listen to more music later.
And when I go to bed, I’ll sleep with my headphones in and David Attenborough talking to me about the forests and the oceans. Just for your information.’
Alex grinned. ‘Good to know.’
She took Quinn’s hand and led him up the stairs. ‘This is my room,’ she showed him the door. ‘Immy’s room,’ she gestured to the door right next to it. And then pointed to the one opposite hers. ‘Zara’s room.’
‘Ah yes, I can see we’re going to have to work on being really quiet.’
She pulled him inside her room and started work on removing his clothes. ‘I’m not sure you can do quiet.’
‘I’m not sure you can either. I’ve heard you scream.
So maybe next year, or whenever you’re ready, we get a new place together.
Somewhere that isn’t overtaken by Santa and his elves every December, somewhere that isn’t tainted by memories of Liam and somewhere where Zara’s room is a significant distance from ours. ’
She laughed.
‘And somewhere that has a little granny flat for Immy,’ Quinn went on.
She smiled with love for him that he would include her sister in their future plans.
‘That sounds perfect.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, providing the weirdos of the town don’t come after me with pitchforks and burning torches.’
‘There is a real possibility of that,’ he said. ‘But I’ll protect you.’
‘Will you fight to the death for me?’
‘Always,’ he assured her.
‘Fortunately, I don’t think it will come to that. A few busybodies getting upset about me having the best sex of my entire life. They can jog on.’
‘The best sex of your entire life?’
‘Yes, well so far.’ She ran a finger down his chest. ‘Unless you think you can do better.’
‘I’ll give it my best shot.’
He picked her up and threw her down on the bed. She laughed as he struck a few really bad model poses before climbing up the bed over her. He kissed her and she couldn’t help giggling against his lips. He made her so damn happy; how could anyone be opposed to that?