Chapter 9 #2
“He would sink all our money into something new. My mom would let him and then he would fall into a depression when it didn’t work out.
My mom finally got tired of it and they had a messy divorce when I was in high school.
” She bit her lip, almost like she wanted to stop herself from talking.
I would need to let her know I found her propensity for babbling on charming.
“That’s shit,” I commented and took another drink. I didn’t mean for this conversation to put a sad, distant look on her face. “Do you have any siblings?”
“Nope. Just me, which is why I was used as a pawn in said messy divorce.” She shrugged a shoulder like it was no big deal.
“My father is a piece of shit.” She looked up at my comment and waited as I worked to keep my own surprise off my face.
I didn’t talk about myself but here I was, volunteering real information.
“I lived with my mum full time when I turned two, they were never married.
She moved us here to start a new life on our own.
“I never heard from him really, he sent money in a birthday card that he just signed his name to but that was about it. We moved back to London when I was eleven, but she always thought we’d come back here”
“And you’re here now.” She gave me a sympathetic smile and reached out to put her free hand on my knee. She probably guessed that something had happened since I was talking past tense about her.
“She got sick and passed away less than a year after we moved back to London.”
“That’s shit,” she said, and I grunted in reply. I hated when people said sorry when something was out of their control.
“This conversation is too heavy for a club.” I cleared my throat as I finished my drink.
She took her hand off my leg and I instantly missed the contact.
It was probably for the best, though. I didn’t want to get hard if she squeezed my leg again, especially sitting here in my suit with my brothers around.
If one of them saw, they would’ve pointed it out, made it awkward and then never let me live it down.
“Bar.” Noah coughed from behind us and snatched my glass out of my hand. “Want another?” He nodded at Quinn’s glass.
“Sure,” she passed it over. “Okay, let’s think of lighter topics to discuss.
” She tapped a finger on her chin in thought while I tried to remember the last time I’d talked this much with someone who wasn’t one of the guys, outside of a business meeting.
I couldn’t. “Do you think socks should be worn with sandals?”
Her question was so out of left field that I snorted. “You say that like I think sandals should be worn at all.”
We spent the next couple of hours talking, mostly just her and I. Once in a while one of the guys would distract us but I was mostly able to hold her attention. I prompted her with question after question just to keep her talking.
I listened to her passionately explain why peppermint mochas should be available all year round and why hummingbirds were her favorite animal.
I learned that she wanted to be a vet until she was eleven years old, then a friend’s dad asked her if she thought about how she would handle putting a sick animal down. She told me how she cried, and the next morning declared she would no longer be pursuing such a career.
Just like at our coffee, she never pushed me to answer any of the questions I asked her, even though she snuck in a few.
I managed to keep the conversation mostly focused on her.
Tucking information away for later, like how she has always wanted to travel to Greece or how her favorite flowers were lilies.
About ten minutes ago she had pulled her other leg up and rested her head on the back of the couch.
I would only have to move a finger, and I would be able to touch her.
More than once I had the urge to run my hand through her hair or tuck a loose piece behind her ear, but that was bordering on creepy, so I resisted.
Her eyes were looking heavy now and she yawned for the third time.
“You look like you might need to go home,” I finally relented. I didn’t exactly want her to leave but I didn’t want her to feel like she had to stay either.
“As much as I don’t want to leave, I’m worried I might fall asleep if I don’t.
” She smiled at me again in that way that did something to my chest. “I’ve had a long week.
I’ve been dealing with a stubborn asshole at work who won’t take no for an answer.
” I shook my head as she sat up and stretched her arms over her head.
She didn’t seem to realize how much time had passed with the two of us just sitting here.
“You heading out, sweetheart?” Noah smiled as I shot him a glare over her shoulder.
“I think I probably should.” I liked that she didn’t want to leave either, especially with how hard I had to work to get her to agree to come in the first place.
“That’s good timing, I believe it’s time for me to go downstairs and find some company for this evening.” Quinn laughed at Noah as we all stood up.
She said her goodbyes to the group as I fired off a quick text to Arthur. She shook her head at Noah with the rest of us as he went prowling down the stairs, Oli following after. She turned to me but I shot her a look.
“I’ll walk you out.” She looked like she was about to argue so I stepped to the side and held a hand out for her to go first. She really must have been tired, she didn’t argue with me.
Going down the stairs after her meant I got a great view of her ass in her jeans, which was unintentional. I had to force my attention elsewhere so I didn’t get hard.
Damn. When was the last time a jean covered ass was enough to get me going?
I stuck close to her on our way out of the club, shooting menacing glares over her head at the men who stared at her too long, they quickly looked away.
I was tall, and with the muscle I put on from working out I knew I was intimidating, which came in handy most of the time. But particularly right now.
Quinn took a big breath of air as we stepped out of the club, and I nodded at the bouncers. I stepped up beside her at the curb where Arthur was already waiting, I’d told him to stay in the car.
“Thank you for tonight.” She turned to face me.
We were close together, she had to tilt her chin up to look at me. I didn’t over think it this time, I reached out with my right hand and tucked her hair behind her ear, letting my hand linger for a moment before pulling away. She rewarded me with a sheepish smile and looked down for a moment.
“Did you have fun?” I asked.
“I did actually.” I chuckled at the true surprise in her voice.
Since she didn’t hit me for touching her, I figured I would push my luck a little further. She held her breath as I bent down and kissed her on the cheek. Her scent hit my nose, and I had to force myself to move back.
I’d never been this attracted to a woman before, don’t think I’d ever been turned on by every aspect of a person. I’d never given much thought to my type. But my type seemed to be five foot-something redheads with freckles on their shoulders, a propensity for talking and a bright personality.
“Thanks for finally giving in.”
She nodded and held my gaze as I reached around her to pull the door open. She looked a little stunned as she turned to climb in the car but gasped and grabbed my arm.
“Wait,” she said, sounding panicked. I tensed and looked around, ready to fight what had freaked her out. I wasn’t used to the protective surge that sprang out of me at her distress. “How are you going to get home? This is your driver. I can get a cab so he doesn’t have to come back.”
I let out a breath and relaxed my shoulders, the tension bleeding away. “You’re getting in this car,” I said as she looked down.
“Oh, sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed.” I frowned as she twisted a ring on one of her fingers. “Probably going to follow Noah,” she mumbled.
I smirked as I realized what her problem was. “Jealous, Love?”
“No.” She answered too quickly, only making my smirk grow.
She cared enough to be jealous and that made me fucking ecstatic.
I put a finger under her chin and lifted her head so she had to meet my eyes. “I’m not going to pick up a woman. Asher and I have apartments in the same building, we’ll ride home together. He has a service on call.”
“Oh, okay…” I locked eyes with her to make sure I saw understanding and then dropped my hand from her chin. “Guess not everyone can bring their personal driver with them across the ocean.” I stepped back so she could climb into the back seat.
“Text me when you get home.” I was surprised to realize I actually cared if she made it home safe, even though Arthur could provide that information to me. I wanted to hear from her.
“I’ll be fine.” She waved me off.
“Quinn,” I said firmly, which had her meeting my eyes again. “Text me,” I demanded. That got me a nod and a smile.
I took a moment to memorize the soft look in her eyes and that smile on her face before I shut the door. At least if she wasn’t coming home with me, I knew I would see her in my dreams tonight.