Page 43 of Dream Lover
“I’ll be taking them off you later,” I gritted in her ear, and she quivered.
“No. I don’t want to go with you.”
Her face was stone, and the freeze out made me uncomfortable. Quinn was my Quinn, always this person who soothed me even just thinking of her. I fucked up, and I needed her to see I wouldn’t do it again.
Her hand came on top of mine, stopping its process. She clutched me tight, making it clear I was in the doghouse.
“I’m sorry for not calling. It was a shit move, and I want to have time to explain everything to you. That’s why I want to do dinner. Please, Quinn.”
She bit her lip, inhaled deeply, then closed her eyes briefly. The war inside her was evident. I knew Quinn had feelings for me that matched my own, but I also knew the woman in front of me wouldn’t be accepting of games no matter the excuse. I needed her to take a chance on me, so I could show her without a doubt I wouldn’t fuck it up again. She continued to bite her lip, making me anxious. Opening up, she answered, “Fine. Whatever.”
“Is that a yes?” I nipped the shell of her ear, and she jerked away.
“Okay. It’s an okay, and if you nip me again it’s going to be no.” She rewarded me with a small smirk. I’d take it. I leaned in for a kiss, and she pulled away. “You haven’t bought me dinner.”
“Fair enough. You thought of where I’m taking you yet?”
“No. I don’t know.”
“I’ve never heard of I don’t know. What do they serve?”
Not until then did I get the smile I desperately craved as she said, “You’re such a shit.”
I felt a small bit of relief lift from my shoulders. She was giving me a chance, and it was more than I deserved, but I’d take it willingly. “You like it.”
“Maybe I do.” I smiled. Victory was mine, and soon Quinn would be too. We gave the baker our choice, and I walked Quinn to her car.
“Be ready at seven.”
“So bossy,” she teased me back, and more weight came off.
“I’ll spank your ass if you keep sassing me,” I growled low.
She stopped next to her car and gave me a devilish look. “That sounds like a challenge.”
She was making me crazy. The thought of spanking Quinn was making me turned on. I leaned down to kiss her, and she denied me again. Damn, I wanted to touch her lips.
“Dinner first.”
“Right.” Now I was the one pouting. She could play it that way for now, but by the end of the night I knew she’d be in my bed, under me, crying out my name and I was never letting her go. “See you tonight.”
“Later, Conner.”
I stepped back, and she closed her door. As she pulled out, I dialed Drew.
“How did it go? Was Rebecca pissed?” Drew asked before the word ‘hello’ came from my lips. He was probably afraid to catch hell fire from his woman. At least I had a bit of good news to brighten his day.
“Yeah, about that. Rebecca was a no-show. She sent your sister in her place.”
He paused for a moment, putting silence on the line, then he choked out, “She had Quinn come?”
“Something about an appointment she couldn’t reschedule. I don’t know, man. Anyway, we went with the sea salt caramel. It was the best out of the group.”
He breathed out deeply that seemed like relief. “Thanks, Conner. I appreciate it.”
“That’s what friends are for.” And it worked out damn fine for me.
“Yeah. Hey, I gotta get off here. I have a staff meeting to get to, but we’ll talk soon. Wanna grab a beer later?” I couldn’t remember the last time the two of us had gone out for just a beer after work, and I hated to tell him no. I sensed he needed a break. That he needed time just us, but tonight wasn’t that night. I had a woman to get back.
