A Mighty Quinn Seduction (The Mighty Quinns) (2 page)

“And that’s where I think you ought to start.”

Claire blinked, suddenly drawn back to the present. “What?”

“Start,” Ian said.

“I—I’m sorry. I missed the last—I was...”

“I said, I’ve brought you a copy of the manuscript for Miss Quinn’s autobiography and I think you ought to read it and we’ll start there.”

“Right,” Claire said, feeling her face warm. “And where is this manuscript?”

“In my car,” he said.

“Well, let’s go get it then,” she said.

“Are we through here?” he asked.

“Yes.” She reached into her pocket for some money to pay for her dinner and he held out his hand.

“I’ll get it,” he said.

“I don’t expect you to—”

“No, it’s fine. Miss Quinn gives me money for expenses.”

“Well then, maybe you should take me out dancing as well.” He gave her an odd look. “Don’t worry, I’m not asking you for a date. I don’t date.”

Ian’s odd look registered his surprise. “Really? Neither do I. You’re married, are you? Or engaged?”

“No, I just don’t date. I think it’s a waste of time. I mean, it always ends badly, doesn’t it?” He held the door of the pub open and she stepped outside into the evening chill.

“It does,” Ian agreed as they started down the dimly-lit street. “It always ends badly. But how does one expect to meet the right person if one doesn’t date?”

“Oh, I meet plenty of men. I just don’t date them.”

“So you don’t...I mean, you haven’t...”

“Had sex? Oh, I don’t have anything against sex. I just don’t date the men I shag.”

Ian cleared his throat. “I was going to ask if you’d ever been in love.”

Claire stopped and thought about he question for a long moment. “I thought I was. Once. But now, I’m thinking maybe I wasn’t. Maybe I was too young. How about you?”

“No. Never,” he murmured.

They continued down the pavement until they reached a black Volvo sedan. Just as Ian reached for the door, Claire felt a raindrop hit her face and she looked up at the sky. “Really? You haven’t finished with me yet?”

“Come on, get inside,” Ian said. “We’ll drive back to your car and I’ll change the tire.”

Claire got inside and waited for Ian to jump in behind the wheel. When he settled himself in the driver’s seat he glanced over and smiled at her. “Where to?”

“I’m afraid that’s not going to be possible,” Claire said.

“I can change a tire.”

“Oh, I’m sure you can. Or could. If I had a spare. But I don’t. I never replaced it after my last puncture.”

“So what do you want to do then?”

“I suppose you could give me a lift home? I’ll figure it all out later. I live in Killarney.”

Ian started the car. “Let’s figure it out now,” he said. “We’ll go get the tire and have it fixed and put it back on the car.”

For a long moment, he didn’t move, then Ian turned to her. “How does that work for you? I mean, using men for sex?”

Claire shrugged. “Pretty well, actually. There are no expectations.”

“And these men, these blokes as you call them, are all fine with this?”

She sent him a dubious look. “Really? Wouldn’t you be fine with a woman who wanted nothing but great sex with no strings attached?”

“I—I’m not sure. I’ve never met a woman like that.”

“You have now,” Claire said. She studied his handsome face and watched as he processed her revelation. “Does it bother you, the way I talk?”

“No. Well, perhaps. A bit. It knocks me off balance.”

“Good,” Claire said with a smile. “Then you won’t fall in love with me.”

“Do you have that problem with men?”

“Oh, all the time,” Claire teased.

“Well, I can see why,” Ian said soberly. “It wouldn’t be hard to fall in love with a woman like you. You’re perfectly charming. And clever.” He took a quick breath. “And, of course, beautiful.”

For a moment, Claire didn’t know how to reply. Was he teasing as well, or had he meant what he’d said? Though she’d become fluent in sarcasm, Ian didn’t seem like the type who spoke that language.

“I think we’ll get on quite well, don’t you?” Claire said.

He chuckled softly. “I think so, too.”

“But I don’t think we should date. We would only make a bags of it all. Agreed?”

He chuckled softly. “Agreed.”

2

I
AN
STOOD
BEHIND
Claire as she put the key into the door of her flat. They’d found a local mechanic to fix her tire and after they’d sorted it all out, she’d invited him back to her flat to give him a book she’d mentioned during supper. But Ian wondered if the book was merely an excuse to spend more time with him.

They got on quite well, better than he had with any other woman he’d ever known. And though they’d made a silly agreement not to date, that didn’t mean he wasn’t curious about what could happen between them.

Though the prospect of spending a night in bed with Claire Kennedy was intriguing, he wasn’t certain he wanted to be added to the bottom of her long list of blokes. And how many were on this list, he wondered. Maybe that’s a question he ought to ask.

“It might be a bit messy,” she said as she stepped inside and flipped on the lights, Aileen’s manuscript clutched in her arms. “Dex has been living here since he got back from South America and he has his things scattered all over the place.”

Ian glanced around the spacious flat, searching for clues about the woman he found so fascinating. She liked strange art. And photography. And color. The decor was a riot of bold prints and bright hues. His own tiny flat was decorated in shades of gray and black.

“I’m just going to wash up,” he said, holding out his muddy hands.

“And I’ll go find that book I mentioned.”

Ian scrubbed his hands in the kitchen sink then grabbed a towel to dry them. When he was finished, he wandered over to the mantel and examined a row of photographs. He picked up a framed picture of Claire, Dex and what he assumed were their parents. He stared at the attractive older couple, searching for similarities to their daughter, then realized they looked familiar.

“They’re actors,” Claire explained, shrugging out of his jacket and handing it to him. “My dad was Captain Toldar on Battle Station Zenith and my mom does mostly theatre. She plays a lot of spunky old ladies these days. They live in Los Angeles.”

“I loved that program. I used to—”

An instant later, her lips met his and it wasn’t until she wrapped her arms around his neck that Ian realized she was kissing him. His initial surprise turned to desire and he slipped his hands around her waist and drew her closer.

When she finally stepped back, Ian opened his eyes and looked down at her pretty face. A wry smile curled the corners of her mouth. “What did you do that for?” he asked.

“I was curious,” Claire murmured.

“About what?”

“Just curious,” she said.

“And?”

“It was good,” she replied before taking a ragged breath. “It was...grand.”

“Grand,” he repeated.

“That’s Irish for amazing,” Claire said.

She drew back, but Ian hadn’t had enough. He reached down and hooked a finger beneath her chin, tipping her mouth up to meet his again. But this time, he was the one who controlled the kiss.

Claire grabbed the front of his shirt and dragged him along to the sofa, then fell back into the soft cushions, pulling him down on top of her.

It seemed like the most natural thing in the world to kiss her. And it wasn’t as if there were any professional rules that kept them from indulging. Yes, they would be expected to work together over the next few months, but this was bound to happen sooner or later. He was just happy that the attraction was mutual and not simply in his imagination.

The desire between them was instant and intense and within the course of a deep kiss he found his thoughts wandering in more erotic directions. He fought the urge to unbutton her blouse and examine that pretty scrap of a bra that he’d seen beneath the damp fabric.

She moaned softly, shifting beneath him, and Ian pulled back and he met her gaze. “Grand,” he murmured. “Good word. I’ll have to remember that.”

“So, would you like to take this to the bedroom?” she asked.

Ian wasn’t completely surprised by the question, but he was shocked by his answer. “I—I had better leave. Not that I wouldn’t like to enjoy this a bit longer, but I’m not sure I fancy a turn as one of your playthings.”

She blinked in disbelief. “You’re rejecting me?”

“No, not at all,” Ian quickly said. If there was a way to make a mess out of this, he was about to do it. “I’m just...delaying. But I’m sure if you make the offer again soon, I will most certainly be tempted to accept.” The truth was, he might not have the strength to say no again. Somehow, he knew if he leapt into bed with Claire Kennedy at this moment, she’d never look at him as anything else but one of those “blokes” she seemed so fond of. He needed a bit more time to romance her, to show her that he had more to offer than a quick shag and kiss good-bye.

Ian pushed to his feet, then shifted uneasily as he stood over her. “Why don’t we meet again tomorrow evening? We’ll start fresh. Right to business. I’ll pick you up from school. What time do you finish?”

She crawled off the sofa and raked her hands through her tousled hair. “I guess I could leave by four. It’s the secondary school in Milltown. It’s not difficult to find. There are signs.”

“You can show me your classroom.”

“All right,” Claire said, nodding.

As they walked to the door, she reached out and linked her fingers through his. It was a simple gesture, but one that seemed to seal the notion that they’d shared something special.

She opened the door and Ian realized that he ought to make a bold move, to leave her with no doubt about his attraction to her. Gathering his resolve, he turned and swept her into his arms, kissing her once more for good measure. He was careful to make it an expert effort, one that would leave her with a proper memory to savor.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he murmured. With that, he stepped out the door and hurried down the stairs to the street. When he reached the Volvo, he got inside and slammed the door, then finally took a breath. “Well done,” he murmured to himself.

She’d kept him off balance all day long with her probing questions and her brash statements. But now he’d knocked her back on her heels. Though it had cost him a wonderful night in bed with a beautiful woman, Ian was prepared to delay. Somehow, he knew that a passionate night with Claire Kennedy would be worth waiting for.

* * *

“M
ISS
?”

Claire looked up from the stack of essays she’d been grading to find one of her third year students, Shauna Donnelly, standing at her classroom door.

“Mrs. Warren sent me to tell you that you have a guest waiting for you in the office. She asked that you come down and get him.”

“Thank you, Shauna.”

“You look very pretty today, Miss.”

Claire smile. “Thank you, Shauna.”

“Is he your boyfriend?”

Claire sent her a dubious look. “My, you’re a nosy one, aren’t you? If only you were so curious about history. I wouldn’t have to keep bothering you about your grades.”

“Yes, Miss.” Shauna grinned, then turned and disappeared. A chorus of giggles erupted from the hallway and Claire shook her head. Boys. That’s all most of the girls in school thought about. But that was always a challenge when working in a co-ed high school. Then again, Claire could understand their intense fascination with the opposite sex. She’d spent the entire day thinking about Ian, about what might happen when they were together again.

After he’d left the previous night, she’d restlessly paced her apartment, trying to make sense of the feelings she was experiencing. From the moment they’d met, she’d felt an unexpected connection, as if they already knew each other’s secrets. Over and over again, she’d relived the moment they’d kissed and the wild flood of desire that raced through her bloodstream. She was on a carnival ride and it was thrilling and frightening all at once.

What did the next few minutes hold for her? Would the need she experienced last night still be there? As she walked down the corridor toward the office, her body trembled and felt as if she couldn’t catch her breath.

Cursing softly, she stopped and turned toward the wall. This was daft, acting like a silly goose over a man! If she didn’t gather her wits, she’d make a complete fool of herself. She pressed her forehead against the cool brick and closed her eyes.

“Just don’t make a bloody eedjit out of yourself, Claire,” she murmured.

“Miss?”

Claire spun around to find Shauna watching her. Ian stood beside the girl, an inquisitive look on his face. She forced a smile. “Hello. How are you?”

“I’m grand,” he said, sending her a wry smile at the use of her favorite word. “And how are you?”

“I’m grand, too.”

Shauna glanced back and forth between them, confused by the odd exchange. “I’ll just be leaving you two now.” She walked away, then looked back over her shoulder. “You two make a really cute couple.”

Claire rolled her eyes, then motioned to Ian. “Come on, I’ll show you my classroom.”

They walked down the hall together and she fought the urge to grab his hand and lace her fingers through his. She just needed to touch him, to gauge his reaction, to see if everything that happened the night before was real or just part of some dream.

She walked through the door of her room and Ian followed her, pulling the door shut behind him. Claire’s breath caught in her throat and an instant later, he cupped her face between his hands. “I’m going to kiss you,” he said.

“Are you asking my permission?” Claire countered.

“Do I need it?”

She shook her head and he brought his lips down on hers, his tongue tasting the depths of her mouth.

It was a bold move, but Claire was thankful that Ian had made it. For some reason, her courage had deserted her today. She was afraid to misread the signals, afraid that she might make a mistake and ruin things between them.

Claire pulled him away from the door and they stumbled into a corner, a spot that couldn’t be seen from the hallway. She smoothed her hands beneath his jacket, feeling the expanse of his muscular chest beneath the crisply starched Oxford shirt.

“I wasn’t able to concentrate today,” he murmured, his lips trailing down her neck.

“Me, neither,” Claire replied, suddenly breathless.

“I haven’t done any decent work.”

“I know what you mean,” she said.

“I must have looked at the clock a million times.”

Claire pressed him back against the wall, her hips meeting his. She felt the evidence of his desire pressing against the fabric of his trousers.

“So—so this is your classroom?” he murmured, as if casual conversation might divert her attention from his reaction.

Claire smiled as his hands spanned her waist, then drifted down her to bum. “Yes. What do you think?”

He didn’t pause to glance around, instead kept his gaze fixed on hers. “Very nice.” His breath was warm, his voice low and infused with barely-concealed need. “Can we get out of here?”

“Absolutely,” Claire said. She grabbed her things from her desk and swept out the door. They both hurried down the hall and out the front doors.

“Where are we going?” Ian asked.

“My flat?”

“My car or yours?”

“Which one is faster?”

“You know that once we start,” Ian said, “we’re never going to be able to stop.”

“Would that be a problem?” Claire asked.

“Not for me.”

“Me neither.” She grabbed his face between her hands and gave him a furtive kiss, then looked around to see if anyone was observing them. “I’ll race you back to my place.”

“Good plan. Drive safely.” Ian kissed her again, pinning her against her car with his body.

Claire gently pushed him away and checked for observers as she got into the car. She’d never been quite so overwhelmed and her fingers trembled as she tried to start the car. The keys dropped to the floor and she searched impatiently, then sat up.

This was crazy. They were supposed to be working together yet all either one of them could think about was a quick shag. She’d made so many mistakes before with men, so many stupid choices. Was this yet another?

Ian wasn’t like the others. He was sweet and kind and a bit clumsy, but there was something about him that felt so right. Would that all be spoiled once they shagged?

Claire drew a deep breath and gathered her thoughts. For the past eight months, she’d been living a celibate life and it had given her a chance to realize that her past choices had nearly destroyed any chance she might have at happiness. And here she was, doing the same old thing with a man and expecting the results to be entirely different.

She might only have one chance with Ian and if she made a bollocks of it, it would be her fault. “Slow down,” she murmured. “Take a deep breath. Give yourself some time to get to know him.”

But how much time? A few days? A week? A month? She’d taken such a reckless approach to her love life that now she wasn’t sure how to proceed. What were the rules?

A rap sounded on her car window and she jumped, then saw Ian standing outside. Claire rolled down the window.

“Is everything all right?” Ian asked.

“Not really,” Claire said.

* * *

I
AN
FOLLOWED
C
LAIRE
to her flat, following close behind her car and wondering what was going through her head. She was obviously conflicted over her feelings for him. And he knew so little about the female mind that he was at a loss to figure it all out.

He was beginning to suspect that the confidence and bravado she usually displayed was just a cover for insecurities and doubts. She was beautiful and funny and smart. But he wondered if all that beauty hid some emotional scars.

Ian had plenty of those scars himself and yet, he had never revealed them to anyone. But then, as the adopted son of two very demanding parents, how could he possibly emerge into adulthood as a completely normal human being?

He pulled his car to a stop behind hers and then waited for her to get out. But when she didn’t, Ian walked to the passenger door and opened it, then slipped inside. “Are you just going to sit out here for the rest of the evening?”