Page 45 of Between Love and Honor

“We are. And you’ll be happy to know, I’ve made some improvements over the years.”

They each grabbed a line as the boat idled.

“You actually own it?”

“Yeah. They were going to tear it down.” He shrugged, deliberately avoiding the truth. “I had nothing else to do with my money.” He cut the engine and reached for her suitcase.

“I can’t wait to see it.” She grabbed her purse, her camera bag, and the food before gingerly climbing out of the boat.

“Careful,” he warned when she slipped on one of the weathered planks leading up the hill. “The terrain is still a bit rough.”

All the better to keep the general public away.

She reached the door first, bouncing up and down on her toes in her eagerness to get inside. Ben hesitated a few feet away. He was taking a huge risk bringing her here. Not only was this his private sanctuary, it was also a secret government facility. He wasn’t even sure what or who Quinn was. But with its unique location and high-tech security, this was the most secure place to keep her safe while he sorted out her connection to Ronoff. Hell, had he known being back here would unleash the younger version of Quinn, he would have gone all caveman and made off with her the minute he caught her snooping around the Seas the Day yesterday. It would have saved them both a great deal of drama.

He walked over to her side and lifted one of the cedar shingles. When he leaned in and scanned his retina, the locks on the door clicked open automatically. She stopped bouncing and simply gaped at him.

“You are James Bond.” There was definitely awe in her voice.

“Or a psycho mad scientist.” He winked. “Now you have to decide whether or not it’s worth the risk to come inside. But beware, you only get to leave when you tell me the truth. The whole truth.”

She considered him a long moment. There was no trace of insecurity in her expression. No fear. In fact, she looked pretty damn confident that she could beat him at his own game. And damned if he wasn’t turned on by her poise.

“I guess I’ll take my chances,” she called over her shoulder when she stepped inside.

The lights flickered on with every stop she took. Ben followed her to the great room. She dropped her bags on the sofa and walked to the middle of the room where she began slowly pivoting in a circle, taking everything in.

Suddenly, he was wary about her opinion of the place. He hadn’t realized until just now he’d restored it in hopes of preserving the memory of what they once had.

The memory of her.

And now that he’d glimpsed the Quinn of the past, he didn’t want to let her go. If only he could create a scenario where time stood still. Where Ronoff and the Phoenix didn’t exist. Where they could go back to being the two people they once were and have the life they’d dreamed of all those years ago.

Lightning flashed beyond the panoramic windows drawing her attention to the view of the ocean just off the deck.

“My God, Ben, this is spectacular.” She turned to face him, her eyes shining. “What you’ve done here is . . .” She shook her head in bewilderment. “It’s perfect.”

Air rushed through his lungs once again. He gave his head a shake hoping logic would return and chase out the screwed-up scenario he was spinning inside it. They couldn’t go back to who they were. Hell, he had no idea if the Quinn he knew back then was even real. He’d refurbished this place based on a fantasy.

Too bad that didn’t make him want her any less.

Unsure of how to deal with his newfound revelation, he made his way to the spare bedroom off the great room and placed her suitcase just inside the door.

“You can sleep in here.”

She didn’t follow him, but went to explore the kitchen instead.

“And where are you going to sleep?”

There was nothing coy about her question. Remembering her plea not to be left alone at the townhouse, he ignored his raging libido.

“There’s another bedroom upstairs. Don’t worry. This place is secure. No one goes in or out without a code. You’re perfectly safe here,” he reassured her.

She nodded.

“One of those bags from the boat should have some provisions in them.”

They collided into one another as they both reached for the bag. Ben winced when Quinn’s palms landed on his chest.

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