Page 89 of Loving You

QUINN

I’ve seen some of the most beautiful landscapes that could make you smile so big your face hurts, but nothing, and I mean nothing, compared to the smile on my face when I woke up this morning.

Last night was amazing.

Yes, I had this fantasy of walking into the shop, Miles would see me and grin, then walk right up to me and kiss me. Maybe even prop me up on the hood of one of his cars and pick up where we left off.

Gah. I hate how far I let that daydream get.

Especially now.

I feel like such a fool.

I woke up and rushed to the bakery for coffee and muffins. We have a full day of interviews, and I thought, if I’m lucky, we’d spend another night on his porch with just the two of us. After the hood moment, of course.

I was so eager to see him. I had confidence that he would be just as happy to see me when I walked in. I mean, you don’t have the connection we do and not do more with it, right?

No way.

But none of that happened.

I take a breath and stare at the applicant waiting for Miles to wash up. Miles had asked him to show him how he’d remove the … oh, I don’t remember. I know nothing about cars, but I know that the oil that sprayed, causing Miles to clean it up a few minutes ago, isn’t right.

The kid has no idea how quickly a person's life can change. He could have had a new job today, but one wrong move and now his chances are gone.

“That’s all I have. Thank you,” Miles says.

The kid nods. “Yeah, cool. See you later.”

And he’s gone.

Miles shoves his chair back and heads for the shop door as if the room were on fire.

He’s been like this since the moment Cherry’s dad left.

Short. Distant. Won’t look me in the eyes.

The whole thing made me uncomfortable, too, especially when he mentioned that he looked me up, but I’m not going to let it ruin my entire day. Miles’s behavior though, that might ruin it.

I don't know what happens next for us, but if he keeps this up, the only place I see us going is right back to where we were before our deal.

“We have two more interviews today. What is going on?” I ask when he tries to walk out of the office without talking to me.

“Nothing.”

“Miles.”

“It's nothing, Quinn. Forget it.”

“No, I will not forget it. You don’t get to do the things we did last night and then pretend like it never happened the next day. It’s unacceptable.”

Refusing to look at me, he rubs the back of his neck.

“It wasn’t anything special.”

Oh, hell no.

He’s lying.

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