Page 48 of My Best Friend's Sister

T W E N T Y S I X

- Quinn -

I’d never felt taller than when I saw Maddy walk in the bar and start looking for me. She was wearing a bright blue dress that was sleeveless, scoop-necked, and hugged her curves so perfectly it almost looked painted on. I might’ve thought she was a mirage if I hadn’t already had the pleasure of seeing her up close.

I raised a hand and caught the way her face lit up when she saw me, her dazzling smile energizing me from across the room and making me forget all the other people in it. She had a word with the hostess and pointed in my direction before heading over as The Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” began tumbling from the speakers. I stood off my barstool to greet her, trying to hide the fact that she looked so stunning I felt like I’d been hit by a truck.

“Hi,” she said without a trace of sulkiness even though our original plan had been for me to pick her up.

“Do I know you?” I asked, furrowing my brow as I extended my hand.

She rolled her eyes before playing along. “Madeline,” she said, her warm palm meeting mine. “My friends call me Maddy.”

“And if I’m not interested in being your friend?”

She blushed. “Woman’s good.”

I laughed and fought the urge to pull her close.

“Anytime you want to give my hand back, Mr…?”

“Quinn,” I said, releasing my grip.

“I hope I’m not interrupting your evening, Mr. Quinn.”

“Your arrival isn’t an interruption,” I said, pulling a barstool out for her. “It’s the main event.”

“You’re lucky I like cheese,” she said, hoisting herself onto her seat.

I stood behind her and scooted her closer to the bar as I spoke over her shoulder. “I’m supposed to meet this exhausted intern who’s had a rough week.”

“Try a rough two months.”

“But I think I’d rather buy you a drink.” I slid back onto my stool and let my eyes fall to the neckline of her dress, which cut across the top of her pale breasts just low enough to show a hint of cleavage.

“I take it you like my dress?” she asked, arching an eyebrow after allowing me a good long look.

I scoffed at the understatement. “I hope you wore your lucky panties.”

“I didn’t actually.”

My expression fell. Not that I believed in that stuff, but—

“I brought them, though.” She pulled her small leather purse across her body, flicked the clasp at the top, and held it open so I could look inside.

It was tough to make out the contents of her purse in the dimly lit bar, but it didn’t take long for my eyes to zero in on the lacy black thong beside her phone. My gaze lifted to her big brown eyes. “You brought extra underwear on our date?”

She drew the bag back towards her body and clicked it shut. “Not extra, no. Just the one.” The color drained from my cheeks as a Cheshire smile lifted hers. “Thanks for asking me out, by the way.” She reached for the cocktail menu in front of her. “It was nice to have something to look forward to this week.”

“My pleasure,” I said, still reeling from her sexy confession. “I feel the same.”

“Oh, I see why you brought me here,” she said, scanning the list of cocktails.

“It wasn’t obvious from the name of the place?”

She shrugged. “It could’ve been plane related.”

I assumed she’d like the oversized posters of GQ and Vogue covers lining the dark walls of Runway, but maybe she was sick of fashion related everything after her sixth week at BELLE.

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