Page 8 of Scotch & Shortbread

Belle laughed. “We are on your side, silly!”

“I think he likes you,” Meg added with a sly smile.

Quinn scoffed. “You are insane. He can’t stand me!” It grated that he didn’t seem to like her at all. She got along with practically everyone, but for some reason, it was like she was a thorn in his side. Well, the feeling was mutual.

“I don’t like him, and he doesn’t like me. Not that it matters anyway. I doubt we will be running into him again.”

“Uh-huh,” Meg said appeasingly, but Quinn could sense she disagreed.

Quinn stopped walking and turned to her. “Why would you think that he likes me?” she asked, feeling completely floored at her friend’s ridiculous assertion. “It’s obvious I tick him off, and he definitely ticks me off.” She huffed, crossing her arms.

“Sparks were flying, Quinn. There is some kind of electricity crackling between the two of you,” Meg said, and Belle nodded in agreement.

“Whatever. I’m done talking about that jerk cop.” Quinn huffed, choosing to ignore such a ridiculous notion.

“Hot cop,” Meg corrected breathily.

Quinn rolled her eyes.

6

Christmas Introvert

Intensestormyblueeyesheld hers as he backed her against the wall. “Are you arresting me?” she asked huskily. Arousal slowly drizzled through her as his strong body pressed against hers, his mouth hovering so close, so tempting. She wanted him to kiss her. But in a flash, she realized she was naked, and everything seemed all wrong.

“You should put your clothes on.” His lips lifted in a cocky smirk.

Embarrassment and anger bubbled up. “Jerk,” she snapped. As she tried to step around him, she realized he’d handcuffed her. “No,” she moaned, “No.”

“Quinn. Quinn!”

“What, what?” she snapped as she rolled over in her bed not fully awake yet. Why on earth had she dreamed that? She lay replaying the dream, feeling a groggy mixture of horniness and irritation. Cracking one eye open, she saw Belle standing over her.

“What?” she said again, hoarsely trying to clear her muddled morning thoughts.

“I can’t tell if that was a good dream or a bad dream you were having,” Belle quipped with a raised brow.

“Ugh,” Quinn grunted not sure herself.

“That good, eh?” Belle asked still staring down at her.

“Nothing worth retelling,” Quinn said with a yawn. She didn’t want to think any more about that man. And it annoyed her she’d had a dream about him. He was just as infuriating as in real life!

“So, breakfast?” Belle grinned brightly down at her.

“God, it is so beautiful here,” Belle said letting the sun beat down on her face from where she stopped on the mountaintop.

“Heaven on earth,” Quinn agreed, catching her breath while taking in the view. After a few hours of hiking along a trail and gaining elevation, they’d come to a clearing that overlooked the town below them. Quinn was sure she’d never seen a more spectacular vista. The sun streamed through brilliant blue skies illuminating the picturesque town that lay nestled among the giant snowy mountains. The air was crisp, and everything was quiet except for the sounds of nature. The snow rustled on the trees as the warm sun melted its surface. Birds were happily singing. Quinn took a deep breath, soaking in nature’s salubrious effect on her very soul.

“I didn’t think I’d ever feel hungry again after that breakfast this morning, but I’m getting pretty peckish,” Belle said digging through her pack for a snack. Quinn would be willing to bet that Belle could plow through a plate of cookies faster than St. Nick on Christmas Eve, but it didn’t matter what she ate, her five foot two frame always stayed perfectly slim and petite. Sometimes it was hard to not be envious of Belle’s incredible metabolism.

“When I saw the line up for that breakfast place, I’m not gonna lie, I wanted to bail, but dang, it was worth the wait. Have you ever seen cinnamon buns that size? Shoot, I could totally go for another one now,” Megs swooned, sucking in her lower lip and pressing her eyes closed, as if she could will a sticky hot cinnamon bun to magically appear.

“Oh my god, me too. They were so good. And the eggs Benedict was chef’s kiss,” Belle said, pulling out a chocolate-covered granola bar from her pack.

“As much as I love this, I’m done girls,” Meg said after a few minutes. “My legs are dead.”

“Hiking a mountain is no joke,” Belle muttered, pressing her booted toes against a rock to stretch her calf.

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