Authors: Meg Jolie
Her heart did that
painful little twist in her chest again when her eyes drifted back to her wedding picture. She rose from the couch and crossed the room. She reached up, pulling it off the mantel. Her eyes scoured over Jake’s face. They were looking into each other’s eyes. Even from the angle the shot was taken from, she could see the love and devotion he held there.
Her eyes stung with tears. She blinked them away as she rubbed her thumb over the cool glass. Without giving herself time to over think it, she turned with the picture still in her hand. The ache of missing Jake had dulled but she knew it would never go away completely. Yet it was time to let him go. It was time to move on. Move forward. When she reached her bedroom, she pulled open the top drawer of her nightstand and she carefully placed the picture inside. She sat
on the edge of her bed for a moment, taking deep breaths and telling herself everything was going to be fine.
She knew Jake would want her to be happy. She knew that with all of her heart and the thought brought her some comfort.
The crunch of gravel broke into Quinn’s thoughts. She slowly arose from her spot and headed to the door. She pulled it open just as Luke had his hand raised to knock.
“Oh my goodness!” she cried at the sight that greeted her.
“I hope that means you like them?” Luke asked with a grin. He was holding a vibrant assortment of tiger lilies and bluebells.
“You know I love them!” Quinn said with a laugh. When they were younger, these flowers had grown wild in the field behind their house
s. Luke had picked a similar bouquet for her quite often. These, however, were clearly from a florist. The bouquet was exquisite, a delightful contrast to the scraggly bouquets he’d put together in his youth.
“I know that red roses are probably more appropriate,” he said sheepishly.
She swatted his shoulder playfully. “Red roses are generic,” she argued.
She quickly hung her head as guilt pinged across her features. The first flowers Jake had ever given her were a dozen red roses. It
had
been a romantic gesture. She had thought so when he presented them to her. She still did think it was a romantic gesture. It wasn’t Jake’s fault that at the time, he hadn’t known her nearly as well as Luke had.
“Are you sure?” he asked. He’d noted the look on her face
, had misinterpreted it, and he suddenly seemed doubtful.
“Luke, they’re beautiful,
” she said quietly. She took the vase from his hands. “They’re absolutely perfect. Thank you.”
He beamed at her and the nerves she felt earlier faded. He looked perfect in a pair of
dark jeans and a cream colored sweater that peeked out of his brown leather coat. The sweater was the perfect contrast to his dark features. His hair still looked slightly damp from his shower and he smelled divine.
“Let me put these in the kitchen,” Quinn said. She made her way to the table to place them in the center. Luke followed. As soon as she’d turned the bouquet into a centerpiece she turned around to find herself face to face with Luke.
A wisp of something coursed through her.
Was that desire
? she wondered. It had been so long since she’d felt that way. Yet, as she breathed him in, as she noted the way he was looking at her, she was sure that’s exactly what it was.
He grinned at her and then picked her off her feet. He swung her around and she shrieked in surprise as he dropped her onto the countertop so that they could be face to face.
“What are you doing?” she asked with a laugh.
“This,” Luke said. His tone was suddenly serious as he moved his hands from her hips to the sides of her head. He tunneled his fingers gently through her hair as he closed the short distance between them.
Quinn barely had time to close her eyes before Luke’s mouth was on hers. Carly had been right. It was like riding a bike. Quinn instantly matched Luke’s rhythm as his mouth devoured hers. She didn’t hesitate when his tongue demanded entrance. She moaned, accepting it, returning his fervor with that of her own.
Her arms
slid around his neck, then one hand slid into his hair, urging him to continue. He did without the least bit of hesitation. She wrapped her legs around his waist, bringing him in until there wasn’t a sliver of space between them.
They kissed until they were both gasping for breath and Luke finally, reluctantly pulled away.
Quinn’s body was already alive with wanting him. She let out a little whimper as he broke the kiss.
“Holy heck,”
she murmured. “What was that?” Her voice was breathy as her legs slid from Luke’s waist. She didn’t surrender her grip on his shoulders. She needed to hold on to him for a few more moments. She was afraid she’d topple from the countertop if left on her own.
He leaned in, closing his eyes as he rested his forehead against hers for just a
second. When he finally moved back again, a mischievous smile had overtaken his face.
“
That
is something I’ve spent the last ten years wishing I could do again,” he said smugly. “I don’t care if it’s proper or not, I wasn’t willing to wait until the end of the date.”
Quinn couldn’t help but laugh at his honesty. That didn’t mean she was ready to part with honesty of her own. She didn’t want to admit to Luke how nervous she’d been about that kiss. But now, now that it was out of the way, instead of feeling relieved, she only found herself wanting to do it again.
“I don’t care what’s proper. I’m glad you didn’t wait,” Quinn said.
“Yeah?” he asked. He was taking in her expression, searching for any hesitation.
She was sure he wouldn’t find any. “Yes,” she said.
He let out a slow, calming breath as he tried to settle his body down. Quinn hadn’t let go of him yet and he was fine with that. He had no desire to move away.
“You look amazing,” he said softly. “I mean, even in sweats or pajamas, you look beautiful. But tonight, you look…just amazing.”
“It must be the hair,” she teased.
He smiled as he ran a strand through his fingers. “It’s longer this way. But I like it curly. I guess I just think you look great no matter what.”
She smiled shyly at him
, glad that she’d gone to the extra effort of painting her nails. She realized she wanted to look nice for Luke. “Thanks. You look nice too.”
“And your perfume…it’s new,”
he said as he leaned in, nuzzling her neck. “You smell delectable,” he murmured as he moved up, nibbling her earlobe.
Quinn moaned and leaned into him involuntarily. She probably shouldn’t have been surprised that Luke would notice
she’d switched her perfume. But she was. She was flattered as well.
He began nibbling her neck and
she closed her eyes as her fingers returned to his hair.
He chuckled and then moved away. She opened her eyes once more to find his
gaze wandering over her. He gave her a small smile.
“I promised myself we’d take things slow,” he admitted. “I just don’t know if I can.”
Quinn nodded as her haze of lust started to dissipate. She let out a sigh. “You’re probably right,” she agreed.
He backed up and then gently hoisted her off the countertop, settling her back on her feet.
He couldn’t resist leaning in for one more kiss before they left.
6
“So are you okay with Carter spending the night at Mom’s?” Luke asked.
Quinn wrinkled her face up in embarrassment. “Yes and no. I know he’ll be fine. He’ll probably have a ton of fun but it seems strange. I do know it’s probably time, though.”
“And he’s in great hands,” Luke assured her.
“I know. Can I ask where we’re going?” she wondered as Luke pulled out of the driveway. The evening air was freezing but Luke’s truck was warm. She leaned back, enjoying the feel of his heated seats.
“Yeah. I thought maybe we could drive over to Baxter,” he said. Baxter was the next biggest town over. It was an hour away. It was also the town Luke had moved to for a few years when he needed some space from Quinn and Jake.
Quinn frowned slightly, wondering why on earth he wanted to take her out of town on their first date.
He noted her confused expression.
“A new restaurant just opened up a few months ago. The Emerald Grill? Have you heard of it?” he asked.
She nodded. “I have actually.”
“I haven’t been there yet. I’ve heard it’s got a great atmosphere and amazing food. So I thought, I don’t know, maybe it would be fun to try?” he said.
Quinn thought his tone sounded a little to
o convincing but she couldn’t fathom why. “I’d love to try it.”
“I also thought the drive would give us some time to talk and that it might be nice to get out of town,” he admitted.
Quinn glanced at him. Anyone else might not have known to read into that statement just a bit. Quinn, however, knew Luke well.
“Did you not want to be seen in Lanford with me?” she asked.
He darted a guilty glance her way before letting out a sigh. “I don’t know. Maybe. But it’s not the way you make it sound. Mostly, I just wanted us to go somewhere new. I also didn’t want to risk running into anyone we know.”
Her eyes widened
at his admission. “So you
don’t
want to be seen with me.” It wasn’t a question this time.
His tone was firm when he replied. “What I don’t want, is to run into anyone that might ruin this night for us. I want tonight to be perfect.”
Quinn relaxed slightly. “Do you mean you don’t want to run into Ashley or Tabby?” Tabitha had dated Luke awhile ago. Things had ended terribly. Quinn was fairly certain Tabby hated her and would not be happy to see her with Luke.
She also had to agree with him. Going out of town, getting away from Lanford, might not be a bad idea.
There wasn’t a single restaurant in town that she hadn’t been to with Jake at least once.
She
also couldn’t deny that she had some reservations about dating Luke because he was Jake’s brother. She didn’t want to feel that way, but she couldn’t help it. And though she didn’t really care what anyone else thought, maybe Luke was right to not tempt fate. It would put a sour note on the evening if they ran into anyone that might not understand their relationship.
“Are you mad?” Luke hesitantly asked.
She smiled as she leaned over to give his thigh a reassuring squeeze. “No, not at all. I actually think it’s a really good idea. As long as you don’t plan on hiding me away forever.”
He glanced at her, ready to protest. He did not want
her to think he was trying to hide her away. Then he saw the teasing look on her face and he smiled.
“I don’t know,” he teased back. “Hiding you away is kind of tempting. Now that I have you, I want to make sure no one else steals you.”
Her tone wasn’t teasing at all when she responded. “Luke, there’s no one that could steal me away from you.”
Not this time.
Not anymore.
~*~*~
“I had a reservation,” Luke grumbled.
Quinn put a comforting hand on his arm. “It’s okay, Luke,” she said with a smile. He did, indeed
, have a reservation. Yet, apparently too many earlier patrons were taking their time with their meals. A table wasn’t available yet. “She said it would be just a few more minutes.”
He nodded. There had been seating available
at the bar but Luke had declined, not wanting something so casual for tonight. The seats had quickly been taken by someone else. Luke had originally requested a booth because he knew Quinn preferred the privacy of a booth. Especially when a restaurant was as crowded as The Emerald Grill was. So, since it was a booth he’d reserved, it was a booth they were going to wait for.
“This place is gorgeous,” Quinn said as she glanced around.
The restaurant had a rustic feel, yet it seemed that no expense was spared to make it appear that way. The walls were painted a deep pumpkin. The tile was a rich chocolate tone. Bronze light fixtures hung from the ceiling, emitting a soft, subtle glow. The aroma that had hit them the moment they’d walked in had caused Quinn’s stomach to rumble.
Now, they were seated on the long, padded bench near the entryway. They weren’t alone
in the waiting area. Even though the establishment had been open a few months now, it retained its popularity. Especially on a Friday night.