Page 33 of Turning Up the Heat

I took a chance, circling the island and standing near enough to smell his now-familiar scent of clean pine, see the vein pulsing in his neck.

“I’ll tell them. Just give me time, okay?”

“Fine.” His shoulders relaxed, but he still didn’t smile.

I inched closer to him, drawn to his body like a magnet. He moved a tiny bit towards me and my heart instantly lifted. I was definitely getting through to him.

Placing my hand on his chest, directly over his heart, I looked up at him, met his stony gaze.

“I’m sorry, Quinn. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

He didn’t say anything, just leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips.

“It’s okay.” He placed his strong hands on my neck, kissed me again, harder. We kissed for one minute, two, before he whispered in my ear, “I’ve been known to be a little too serious sometimes.”

I smiled up at him, reaching out and touching his face.

I vowed right then and there not to hurt this beautiful, serious man if I could possibly help it. Mars was right. I needed to make sure I didn’t screw this one up.

* * *

The next few days were crazy-town as we got ready for Thanksgiving. Mars and I took a ton of orders and cranked out pies, cakes, and pastries as fast as we humanly could. I slept about ten hours over three days. Needless to say, I’d done very little thinking on the Holden bakery proposition and had zero time to talk to my brothers about my relationship with Quinn. Hell, I barely had time to talk to Quinn. He was working anyway, so the timing was perfect. I promised him I’d broach the subject by Thanksgiving, so now was the time to make good on that.

“Gawd, it’s freezing,” Mars said, shivering on the front step of Josh’s house.

“Mars, you’re from New York. This is the deep South. It’s nowhere near as cold as Manhattan right now.”

“It’s a weird humid cold or something.”

I sighed. “Sure, whatever.”

“Mars! Delaney! Thanks for coming!” Sue Ann said, throwing open the door. “Let me take those pies from you. Delaney, just throw your coats in the mudroom. Wine?”

All her words tumbled out at me, but I couldn’t focus. The only thing on my mind was telling Josh I was sleeping with his lifelong best friend.

You sure know how to pick ‘em, Lanie.

“White? Red?” Sue Ann stood at my elbow, still asking about wine.

“Uh, white’s good. Thanks. Can I help in the kitchen?” I prayed she’d say yes so I could avoid my brothers.

“No, no, sit with your family. I’m sure you’ve been working non-stop all week. I’ve got this!”

Sue Ann bustled off to the kitchen, leaving Mars and me in the foyer. I took the coats, then we made our way to the living room. The guys were watching football on TV while the boys ran around in circles, playing tag.

“Happy Thanksgiving!” I said in a forced cheery voice.

The boys ran straight at my knees, happy to have another potential player. Everyone else kind of grunted in our direction. Sue Ann dropped off the wine, then hightailed it back to the kitchen. She was no help at all.

“Lanie, come sit by your old dad.” He slapped the spot next to him on the sofa. I kicked a nephew off my leg and took a seat, trying to ignore the fact that he looked even older and grayer than the last time I saw him.

“Hey, Dad,” I said, leaning over and giving him a squeeze.

“How’s it going? How’s the bakery?”

“Everything’s good. How’re you holding up?” I searched his face for clues. This was his first Thanksgiving without my mom. It was sure to be painful, hence the change of venue to Josh’s house.

“I’m good, Lanie, don’t worry about me.” He patted my arm. “Tell me about work.”

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