Page 175 of Savage Suit
She’d shuddered, but she hadn’t cried. I didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Honestly, I hadn’t known what to tell her. My sisters hadn’t ever come to me for advice. Nathaniel was the only one who’d given me a chance. I didn’t know how to be a big brother to a girl. I only knew Quinn needed that from me.
“I don’t know how to help you,” I’d said after a moment. “Ryan’s at the office. We’ll head there.”
“She’ll wonder why we’re together.”
Fuck, I knew that. “I’ll tell her I bought clothes for you,” I said bleakly. “I’ll think of a reason. When’s your birthday?”
“Long past.”
Of fucking course it would be. “I’ll think of something. You need her right now. I can’t be so selfish that I don’t bring you to her.”
I’d never understand women. Whatever I said thawed her.
“No. Don’t do that. Just give me my phone back and drop me off at a bar. I’ll get home okay. I’m fine, I swear. Don’t tell Ryan anything. It will distract her from you, and whatever you two are doing is too new.”
“If you’re out for a good time, keep your dates.” I held the phone out to her. “Otherwise, cancel them. You’re not hurting anyone but yourself.”
Her lower lip had trembled as she reclaimed the device. I thought she’d let her dates stand. She didn’t. She’d canceled all of them.
When we pulled up in front of a hard to get-into eatery, she’d straightened in her seat. “I’m not leaving you to drink alone and try to find your way home.”
Close to six in the evening, I dropped Quinn off at the apartment she shared with Logan. Not once had I called in to my office nor had Ryan contacted me. I’d phoned her immediately. She’d been cold to me until I explained an aunt who lived several hours away took ill. She forgave me and accepted my invitation to come to my place.
And here we were.
“I’m happy you’re not a pineapple person,” Ryan said, glancing up at me. “I tried a pineapple and pepperoni pizza once and almost threw up.”
Her dramatic shiver made me chuckle. “Pineapple on pizza is tolerable,” I said. “I just don’t go out of my way to get it.”
“Tolerable is too kind a description, but to each their own.”
I brushed my lips over hers, serenaded byOver The Rainbowby Israel Kamakawiwo. Her playlist’s mix of songs intrigued me. The artists ranged from Sam Cooke to Israel Kamakawiwo to Tupac. “You like all these songs?”
“Duh. That’s why they’re on my playlist.”
“Smart ass,” I said with mock severity, laughing at her smirk. “You have varied music taste.”
“Both my parents loved songs of all genres. It’s in my genes.”
My heart ached at the sad look entering her eyes. Yet, I understood her emotions at losing a much-loved parent.
“Sweetheart,” I whispered, kissing her brow, her nose, her cheeks and tangling my fingers in her hair.
“It’s okay, Noah. Truly.”
I waited for her to continue, giving her a moment to collect her thoughts.
“Daddy was a Dental Assistant,” she said softly. “Did I ever tell you that?”
“No.” Although I knew it from my background check.
“His first love was boxing, but he gave up that dream for Mama. Then, after choosing a career he could tolerate, he got his certification. He always intended to become a proper dentist, but he had an army of kids to help care for, so he never did. He’d always say he’d do it after Logan turned 18, but y’know…”
She trailed off and averted her gaze. When she looked at me again, I doubted she saw me. A faraway look clouded her gorgeous eyes. Distracted, she made tiny circles on my arm with a slender finger.
“My mother was a chemistry teacher. She was a whiz at the subject, something I didn’t inherit from her,” she said with an airy laugh, her tone wistful. “Armani and Quinn favor her, you know. My brothers and I resemble our father. We weren’t rich my any means, but we had a decent life. Armani’s house has been in my father’s family since the 1950s and was paid off by the time we moved in, so we never had to worry about having a roof over our heads.”
Doubting she’d appreciate the extent of my probe into her life, I feigned shock. “Really?”
