Page 9 of A Convenient Ring to Claim Her

Behind him, he heard Quinn draw a breath as though she was about to say something.

He pressed the door closed and swung the latch into place, then turned to see Quinn rearranging whatever had been in her expression to something more blasé.

“You’ve decided to enjoy the room, too?” Her tone lilted with amused challenge.

“If you’d rather be alone, say so.”

“And deny you the view of Canada’s most famous natural wonder? I couldn’t.”

“I presume you’re referring to yourself?” He glanced up from behind the bar where he found a clean glass.

Her cheekbones had gone bright red. Her reddish-blonde brows pulled into a flat line.

“Why do you always assume my compliments are mockery?” he asked with exasperation.

“Because it wasn’t a compliment. You were being sarcastic.”

And there was the clash. He had thought he was throwing out clever and sincere flattery, but she loved to take everything he said the wrong way.

He poured himself a scotch that he took to the sofa, sitting and propping his feet on the coffee table, far happier to watch her shop than stare at however many liters of water were falling off a cliff.

She continued to glare at him.

“What do you want me to say? That Idon’tfind you attractive? I think you’d call that disingenuous.”

“I’m pretty sure you find me convenient,” she muttered.

Did she really think living with an ocean between them was convenient?

“If you really believe that’s all I think of you, then you ought to tell me to take a leap over those falls. You’re better than that and we both know it.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Oh, am I giving you too much credit? Or is it that I’myourconvenience?”

“You are many things. Convenient has never been one of them.” She gave the clothes a final swish and turned away from the rack in disgust. “You’re a distraction.”

“Iam,” he scoffed. She filled his head at the most inopportune times. From the moment Eden’s wedding had been announced, Micah had been wondering when he would see Quinn. How often. She was his quiet obsession and he would love it to stop.

“If I hadn’t been so consumed with getting away from the vineyard without you catching me, I would have remembered to bring my laptop. I could be working right now.”

“So I’ll take you back to the vineyard and you can work. What are you working on?” he asked with confusion. “Did you get a job?”

“My proposal for my PhD. But I wouldn’t get anything done there and you know it.” She set aside her half-empty glass and casually stepped over his knee so she straddled his thighs. As she set her knee next to his hip, the hem of her dress rode up, almost exposing her underwear. The cushions sank on either side of him as her weight settled warmly across his legs. “Let’s get this over with.”

“I don’t claim to be a romantic, but even I find that off-putting.” It was a lie. His blood was already singing. The fragrance of sunscreen and sunshine and that subtler honey and nutmeg she naturally exuded began to numb his brain. He set aside his glass so his hands could settle on her waist and tug her an inch closer.

“We both know it’s going to happen. At least once it’s done, we can start behaving like adults again.”

He snorted, doubtful, but she was right. This seemed to have become inevitable whenever they crossed paths. Without conscious thought, he was slouching lower and pulling her tighter into his lap. A rough noise rattled in his chest as her heat penetrated his fly and warmed his hardening flesh.

The way her ice-blue eyes melted and her golden lashes drooped was deeply satisfying. He watched her catch her bottom lip, all shiny and pink. Heneededto suck it.

“Do I need a condom?” He had one. Three, actually. He had anticipated he would be alone with her at some point and had wanted to be prepared.

“I haven’t been with anyone else since last time.”

“Me, either.” He refused to contemplate what it meant that they seemed to say that every time. “C’mere.” His voice was a rumble he barely recognized.

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