Page 72 of Her Wild Coast Refuge

Quinn is silent, but I don’t turn around. I don’t want to see the look on his face.

“That homestead on Soren Lake. It’s her family’s.”

“Hold on a sec. Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” I brace against the counter. “And we’re about to put a mine in her backyard…”

“You want to call things off?”

“What I want and what’s possible are two very different things.”

“Let’s start with what you want.”

I laugh, but it’s bitter.

He pads over. “Come on, D.J., saying it out loud won’t hurt anyone. They’re just words.”

Words that tear my fucking heart out. “Sever my ties with Hemery Tate. And Brielle.”

Quinn stops me. “No. Not what youdon’twant.”

A car door slams outside. Lexie’s here. My spine tingles and the pit of my stomach hardens into a thick knot.

Lexie lets herself in. “It’s completely pouring out there,” she calls from the entryway. “I’m soaked!”

Quinn and I share a look.

Lexie walks into the kitchen, her dark lashes wet against her tanned cheeks. She’s dressed in a cream-colored sweater and tight jeans, the knees wet, like she hurried to the door.

Her pink lips curve into a smile, like she’s happy to be here. She looks so damn good, her eyes so bright and vibrant.

“Hungry?” Quinn asks, snapping me back to the room.

“A little,” she replies, plucking a slice of strawberry from the bowl on the counter and popping it into her mouth. Her face lights up. “Mmm.”

She reaches for another slice, and I watch her lips close around it, my pulse pounding in my temples.

Quinn hasn’t moved, but I can practically feel his muscles tense, like a cat preparing to strike.

“Maybe you’d like to get out of those wet clothes first,” he says.

Lexie’s eyes flash, and her smile turns mischievous.

I slide my fingers into hers. “Would you like that, darlin’?”

She sighs softly. I step close and press my lips to hers. The kiss is slow and deliciously tender. I savor her softness and sweet desire, the way her breaths rise and fall faster in her chest. Lexie runs her fingers beneath my shirt, her touch warm and silky.

With a groan, I soak in the way her touch makes me feel. Like she’s enjoying it too. Like she cares. My pent-up yearning and desire chatter through me, turning my heart upside down.

Quinn closes in behind her, sliding beneath the hem of her sweater to cradle her waist. Lexie releases a soft sigh into my mouth, and she trembles.

“Yes,” she says, glancing back at him. “Yes, I would.”

In one motion, Quinn scoops her up and carries her to the living room. Lexie gives a yelp and holds on tight. She glances back to me, her gaze tense with longing.

Quinn sets her on her feet and lowers to the edge of the couch. “You have exactly ten seconds to get undressed.”

Her eyes widen, but she’s fighting a smile. She likes this game. “What happens if I fail?”

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