Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
QUINN
I didn’t sleep very well last night, so as soon as I heard Miles unlocking the shop door, I stepped out and followed him, ready to go to work.
Although, to be fair, I hustled last week, and now that everything is organized, I maybe have an hour’s worth of work to check emails and walk to the post office. Most people pay online now if that’s an option, but maybe someone will pay by check and then I can add going to the bank to my list of tasks for the day.
I’m sure my days seem mundane and boring, but for me, the fact that I know I’m helping Miles, even if it’s small, makes me feel good.
I type the password into the computer and wait for new emails to load.
Traveling is great, don’t get me wrong. I love everything about visiting new places, but I think I’ve given off this vibe that I’m not available to those who need me. Like, maybe I’ve given the impression that all I know how to do is get on a plane or smile for a photo .
I mean, my grandma is getting married, and when I asked her if she wanted me to come back to help her plan, she said no, just take care of myself.
When Tobias told me the twins' due date, I told him I’d come back early, and he said no, don’t rearrange your schedule for us.
My parents were going to Vienna for a couple of weeks, and I asked if they wanted company since we hadn’t seen each other in a few months, but they said they had their days full and would meet up with me soon.
Either no one really needs me or they think that because I love to travel, that’s all I am. As if traveling is my only personality.
Not a loving daughter, aunt, or granddaughter. Not Quinn Banks, a woman who would drop everything if her family asked her.
I’m a lot more than some girl who travels, and the only person who seems to have noticed that recently is Miles Asher.
I let out a little laugh.
That’s one of the craziest thoughts I’ve ever had.
There are a couple of notifications for payments made, which impresses the heck out of me at how fast they came in, so I transfer the total to the checking account. Then, I print a couple of job applications we received over the weekend.
A yawn takes over, which makes sense. It’s early.
I could make coffee, but a walk to get something better will help wake me up before I review these new applicants for the shop position.
I grab my purse and step into the garage.
Miles has all three bay doors open, and the sunrise that peeks in makes me pause.
Is this why he comes to work so early? If I were promised this view every morning, I’d wake up for it.
I snap a quick photo. It’s not for my social account. It’s for me. I want to remember this view after I leave at the end of the summer.
“Hey, you’re up early,” Miles says, stepping around his current project. It’s blue with a horse on the front of the grill. He’d know the exact name, but I don’t know anything other than Mustang.
“Yeah, I couldn’t sleep,” I tell him, sparing him the details as to why. “I thought I’d get a jump start to the day, but I need coffee and probably a donut because it’s Monday, and that’s reason enough.”
“Are you walking to B’s?”
I nod.
“I’ll come with you.”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t think the town will be on high alert to see our relationship this early in the morning, so I can manage alone.”
“You’re probably right, but I’m not coming for that reason. I’m coming because I want something, too.”
“I can just grab it for you.”
He pauses and tilts his head. “If I recall, you told me that this deal of ours doesn’t need to change our daily routine. Mine includes occasionally walking to B’s for coffee. So, let’s go.”
He marches past me, and my eyes drift to his backside. Specifically, to where his jeans hug his ass.
Miles knows how to wear jeans better than any man I’ve met. I also love that he's a simple T-shirt guy. His tattoos are accessory enough. And I really like the backward hat look today.
All in all, Miles looks good, and for some reason, that makes my heart race a little more than normal.
I quickly catch up before he can spot me checking him out.
“Why couldn’t you sleep last night?” he asks to fill the silence.
“Just couldn’t. ”
“Nothing in particular kept you up?”
“Nope.”
And that’s going to be my answer, because there is no way I’m going to tell him that spending the morning with his family yesterday is what kept me awake. How they all know each other’s day-to-day, how they all make it a point to meet weekly, how they all live in the same town and love being around each other.
The memories they could make felt endless.
I grab my phone to text my brother and grandma.
Quinn
Dinner this week.
I debate using a question mark but decide against it. I’m tired of asking to see my family. I need them to know I want to see them. So, I send a follow up text.
Quinn
Just tell me the day.
“Well, I’ll tell you what kept me up,” Miles pulls me back into the conversation.
I put my phone in my purse and look at him. “What’s that?”
“I found a dog in Wind Valley, and once they approve my application, I’m going to go get him. ”
“What? A real dog? I thought you were making that up. You’re not just buying a dog to confirm our story, are you?”
He laughs at that. “I am not. I’m buying one because I always wanted one and I keep telling myself I’ll get one, but I’ve never done the work to make it happen.”
See, he’s making things happen too. Taking charge isn’t so bad.
“What kind of dog are we getting?” I ask.
“We,” he says, “are adopting a golden retriever.”
“That sounds like the perfect dog for us. What will we name?—”
“Wait.” Miles jerks his arm out in front of me to stop me before we open the door to B’s Bakery.
I pause and look side to side, as if something happened that I can’t see.
“What is it?”
“Look at the line.”
I glance in the front window; Brooke has a longer line this morning. She does really well and this isn’t anything new, but I love that the visitors of this town can see her gift as much as the locals.
Still, I’m not sure what exactly Miles is referring to at the moment.
“Is it too long? Do you want me to wait while you go back to the shop?”
The look he gives me says he really wants to roll his eyes right now, but he’s powering through.
I grin.
“Don’t,” he says, because even in our short amount of time together, he can apparently read me well enough to know my next move. “Just look at the third and fourth person in line.”
As nonchalantly as I can, I look into the window again.
The third person is Cherry and the fourth is Danny .
Oh.
“I’ll come back later.”
He sighs and then shakes his head. “No, we’ll go in. I just didn’t think we’d have to be the happy couple first thing in the morning.”
“I think that’s a chance we have to take in this town.”
“Obviously.”
I grab the door, and he groans, basically moving me out of the way so he can hold it for me instead of the other way around.
“I can open my own door, you know.”
“I know, but it doesn’t mean you should have to.”
I lean in closer and whisper, “Look at you being a good boyfriend.”
He lets out a low chuckle that catches Cherry’s attention along with a couple of others in line.
She waves and smiles, her focus lasered in on Miles.
Her gaze only flickers to me before she turns back around in line.
Her movement must make Danny curious as to who just walked in, because now it’s his turn to turn around.
“Quinn, hey,” he says, smiling. He offers his hand to Miles. “Good to see you again, Miles.”
“Yeah,” Miles says but doesn’t return the smile.
“Getting an early start for some big plans today?” Danny asks.
“No. We’re just getting coffee and heading back to work,” I answer.
Danny chuckles and shakes his head. “I still think it’s crazy that you?—”
He stops mid-sentence, his gaze colliding with Miles’s. My fake boyfriend’s arms are crossed as he glares at Danny.
“Never mind.”
Danny turns back around .
I turn to give him my back and jerk Miles's arm down so that he’s forced to bend and I can whisper in his ear.
“Was that called for?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure, because?—”
“Oh my gosh, look at you two,” Brooke says as she walks down the line of customers. Daisy is helping at the counter now. “Whispering all early in the morning. It’s so cute, I could vomit.”
“Morning, Brooke,” Miles says.
“Morning,” I add in a much cheerier tone than the grump next to me.
“You’re here awfully early today. Was it a late night?” Brooke asks with a wink.
My cheeks blush. I pinch my lips to keep from laughing at how absurd her comment is, but I catch Cherry looking at me, and perhaps my attempt at not laughing is coming off as me hiding a smile for different reasons.
Cherry turns, her hair whipping behind her and hitting Danny in the face.
He steps back. “Whoa there, Red.”
Cherry doesn’t even give him the time of day. She just ignores him.
I glance at Miles to see if he saw that, too, but he’s watching me.
His gaze is so intense that I instantly feel my stomach bottom out like I’m about to get in trouble.
Oh Jesus, what now?
This man is giving me whiplash. One minute we are all friendly on a leisure stroll for coffee, talking like besties, and now he won’t take his eyes off me and is making sure people only say nice things to me.
I cannot keep up .
I pull my phone from my purse to see if my grandma or brother texted me back, but there are no notifications.
The line moves but slowly.
Before I know it, Miles and I are on our way back to the shop.
“Well, that definitely went a lot easier than I thought it was going to go.”
I sip my coffee. “Did it?” I ask, letting my tone stand in as an eye roll.
“Are you sure you’re telling me everything with Danny? He seems like a tool, and I don’t like the backhanded comments he gives you.”
“I did, yes. He is a nice guy, despite the impression he’s given you.”
Danny never spoke to me that way before. My guess is that he’s doing it now because the sight of me with someone else stings. It’s not an excuse, nor does it justify his behavior the last couple of days, but I have no other idea as to why he would act this way.
Miles sighs.
When he doesn’t say anything for a moment, I steal a glance in his direction.
He’s watching me.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing.”
“Oh, it’s something if you’re looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you don’t even know what to think.”
“I don’t.”
“About what?”
“You.”
I grin.
“Well, just ask me something that will help ease your mind so you can focus on work instead of thinking of me all day long.”
He guffaws.
“I won’t be thinking of you all day long.”
“You might now.”
“I won't,” he says quickly, as if that’s the end of the discussion.
“How many more times do you think we’ll run into them in town like this?”
“A lot more.”
“I’m afraid you might be right, and unless we want to have many more super fun and awkward moments like that, we need to knock this thing up a notch to get the point across. If we make them think we are absolutely lovesick, maybe they will avoid us. Cherry especially. Or we could set her up with someone.”
“I see where your mind is going with this, but the only options are another local, and I’m not letting that happen, or a tourist, and I don’t think we will get that lucky. We know?—”
“Danny!” I shout before he can finish.
“What?”
“Let’s set her up with Danny.”
Miles stops.
“Whoa, who said anything about setting them up?”
“Me. It’s perfect. You know her, and I know him.”
“I don’t know her, Quinn. We made out like teenagers maybe three times. That's it.”
“Seriously?” My shoulders drop.
“I would have thought by her behavior that you gave her the best night of her life with those killer listening skills of yours, and now she can’t get you out of her mind. Damn. Like a whole summer of bedroom fun.”
He shivers. “I’m glad I cut it off before it could get that far.”
“Well, I think this could still work. ”
“What?”
“Oh my gosh, Miles, keep up. We’re setting Cherry up with Danny.”
“We are not doing any such thing.”
“We are.”
“Quinn.”
“Miles,” I mock him. “It’s happening.”
“It’s really not. Now I’m going to get back to work and so are you, and I do not mean forming a plan that involves Cherry or Danny or me or you.”
I roll my eyes as he walks off, and a text comes in at the same time.
Tobias
Wednesday works for us. Bring Miles.
I grin and head to the office.
I don't care that I have to bring Miles—I’m just excited that I have plans with my family.
And I’m even more thrilled that I have a plan to help Miles avoid Cherry once and for all. He might not have thought this far ahead, but even after we fake break up, what’s to say she won’t come back next summer and try this all over again.
Nope. I have a plan to make this separation last.
I just need to get him on board with it first.