Chapter 19 Quinn
Quinn
As I stepped out of the car and waved at Arthur, my phone started going off. I balanced the container on my hip and pulled it out of my purse. The guys would go silent for most of the day and then all of a sudden there would be thirty messages.
I smiled as I read through the messages I'd missed in the three minutes my phone had been stowed away.
I loved being a part of their only group chat.
Loved how they so easily folded me into their group and acted as if I had always been there.
I had my friendship with Aubrey but this was something else entirely.
Noah
Q, when are you coming in today? Knight has been hogging you.
Oli
Aren’t you going to be in the meeting. Can’t you look at your calendar?
Will
Lazy.
Noah
Both of you are rude. I just prefer if Quinn could confirm.
The last time she was supposed to be here she didn’t show…
Theodore
I have not been hogging her.
Asher
Yes you have.
They were right, since we’d slept together three weeks ago we’d been spending a lot of time together, most of it alone. I’d spent more nights at his house than my own.
Our sex was something like I’d never experienced and I swear it got better every time. He was the right level of demanding and sweet. His stamina was also something else.
He was older. More experienced and it showed. In the best way. I’d never had such regular orgasms, my serotonin levels were through the roof, and I’d never been so horny.
But we also went to the club with everyone on Fridays and spent Saturday mornings watching sports.
We went on dates, ran errands together, talked for hours at night before we fell into bed. I’d never felt more cherished than when I was with him.
I once asked if he wanted to stay at his apartment on a night when he had an early meeting the next morning, but he said no. Then he casually mentioned that he had already told the property management division of their company to rent it out since he was never there.
Each night so far this week he’d gotten home at the same time as me, we cooked dinner together and then either I would read in his office while he did more work or we would watch TV.
Then we would end up in bed and he worshiped my body until we both collapsed with our release.
I slept incredibly well in his arms each night.
I was determined to sleep at home tonight though because I didn’t want him to feel like I was clinging to him or moving in.
Even though I could easily spend every night with him.
Our relationship had flown so easily that I wanted to take a step back from him, give him a chance to make sure this is what he wanted.
Space was good for both of us.
Healthy really.
Jaxson
You two better be at the club tonight, otherwise we’ll all feel neglected, not just Noah.
Oli
They only made it an hour last week.
Theodore
Calm down, we’re coming out tonight. And you’ll all see her when she shows up for our meeting in ten minutes.
Noah
Thank goodness, I thought you were avoiding me. I’ve been lonely.
That put a kink in my plan. I wanted Theo to spend time with his friends and bowing out because I was exhausted from a long week seemed like a good way to sleep at my own house tonight. Maybe I could make it work. I texted back as I made it to the elevator.
Me
Noah. Based on your escapades last night I doubt you’re feeling lonely.
By the way, you really don’t need to share as much as you do in writing here, buddy.
Noah
Quinn!! Where are you?
Will
Agreed, seriously. Next time you pick up a girl, we don’t need a play by play of how you got her out of the club and into her car.
Oli
Don’t forget he then went back inside and picked up another woman to take home.
Theodore
Can we agree to ban him when he starts that shit?
Jaxson
By the way, I’m pretty sure he’s asking after Q because he’s running late and forgot what time our meeting with her is.
Me
I would bet money on that.
But banning him seems a little harsh.
I tucked my phone back in my pocket as I stepped into the Knight Enterprise offices, assuming the boys would continue this conversation in person as they wandered from their offices to the conference room.
I’d been working hard on the proposals the team had put together over the last two weeks, not telling Theo much because I didn’t want him to evaluate it any differently because of our relationship.
So he was in the dark and I was both nervous and excited.
The three people I’d asked to accompany me to the meeting from our team were sitting in the lobby.
I hadn’t come from the office this morning, so I asked them to meet me here.
James waved from his spot on the couch and the other two designers smiled.
They’d been great to work with and were fine that I wanted to give them more options than we normally offered a client.
“Morning, Shelly,” I said as I noticed Theo’s executive assistant chatting with the receptionist.
“Hello, dear!” She leaned in and kissed me on the cheek and patted my face. Given how much Shelly and Arthur treated me like one of their own children, it was no surprise why Theo kept them both close. “I need your passport information.”
I frowned at her strange request. “Why?”
“You’re attending the upcoming charity event with Mr. Knight, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Well, he asked me to ensure everything is in place. I have to update the flight itinerary, and they need your passport number.”
“I didn’t know we had to fly…”
She smiled at me, not giving me any other details. “Can you email it to me tonight before six?”
“Ah yes,” I said, realizing I wouldn’t get anything else from her. At least she was giving me another reason to go home tonight. “Here, these are for you.” I held the container out for her to take.
“What did you do?” She rested it on the desk to pop the lid off.
“Well, I know how much work you’re doing for me, and someone let it slip that you’re playing gatekeeper for my boss so he doesn’t know when I’m here or what we’re doing, and I wanted to say thank you.” I shifted a little as she took the layer of parchment paper off.
“You made me Millionaire’s shortbread?” Her eyes lit up as she took one of the squares.
“I’d never made them before. I hope they’re okay.”
After dinner last night I’d kicked Theo out of the kitchen and got to work making them. I had tried a small piece of one and they tasted good, but I’d never had them before so I had nothing to compare it to.
“How did you know these are my favorite?” she asked, looking up at me.
“You and Arthur are doing a lot for me. I asked him what I could do for you, he told me you used to make these a lot and that you loved them. I’m sure yours tasted better.
” I wrung my hands together as she took a bite.
Part of me had hoped she wouldn’t taste them until I was gone.
I waited as she chewed, holding my breath until a smile broke out on her face.
“They’re amazing, sweetheart.” She patted my arm as I released a breath. “But you do not have to do things for me.”
“I know, but I wanted to. I can’t cook successfully every time but I can usually bake.”
“She slapped my hand yesterday when I tried to take one,” Theo said as he slid up beside me. I hadn’t noticed him, I wondered how long he’d been watching this.
“Good. I don’t want to share with you,” Shelly teased as she put the lid back on the container. “Watch it, mister, she might take over as my favorite.” She pointed at Theo.
“I don’t doubt it,” he muttered.
“And now that you’re here, I’ll let you take her up.” I smiled as she waved over her shoulder and Theo shook his head, keeping his hands in his pockets.
I had instructed him that we would have a no touching policy when I was here to work. He wasn’t happy about it and had grumbled about it all morning. Even texting me individually to see if I’d changed my mind.
I hadn’t.
“Make sure you tell me what I can do for Arthur,” I called after Shelly before turning to look at Theo. “Good to see you, Mr. Knight.” His eyes narrowed, everyone called him Knight but me so I figured I would do the same while I was here for work.
He pulled a hand out of his pocket and reached to push my hair back behind my ear, it was one of the things he did regularly now. When we were lying around together he also loved to twirl a piece of my hair around his finger, sometimes he didn’t even seem to realize he was doing it.
I loved it.
“Ah-ah, Mr. Knight. I told you the rules.” He grumbled something under his breath I couldn’t hear. “We’re ready for our meeting if you are.” I turned to my team and waved them over. I would make introductions when we were in the boardroom so I only had to do it once.
“Right this way, Miss West,” he replied in a deep voice that felt like it rumbled down me. He held his hand out for me to pass, well aware that I knew where I was going. He came up behind me, I could feel his heat but at least he followed my rule.
Noah turned the corner as we made it to the top of the staircase that led to the boardroom. “Quinn!” he said excitedly as he wrapped his arms around me, lifting me off the ground. The man was full of light and energy, always.
“Aren’t you too hung over for this?” I laughed as he set me back down.
Today I’d gone slightly more professional, I was in a black silk skirt that went to my knees and a cropped black turtleneck sweater with a pair of green heels. I wiggled my skirt back down and moved my hair back behind my ears.
“So he can touch you but I can’t?” Theo said tightly from beside me.
He was shooting daggers at Noah who just smirked back.
Not at all looking like someone who was as drunk off their ass as they claimed to be last night.
Noah was in a slightly rumpled suit, so he hadn’t gone home.
I knew they all kept changes of clothes here meaning that he hadn’t gotten time to go to his office yet.