Authors: Shannyn Schroeder
More Than This (17 page)
“Bye.” She hung up and went back to her computer profile. She’d ramp it up and find
new guys to date. She could plan dates for every night of the week. Her phone rang
as she typed. She paused and listened for the machine to pick up.
new guys to date. She could plan dates for every night of the week. Her phone rang
as she typed. She paused and listened for the machine to pick up.
“Hi, Quinn. It’s Mr. Carlson. I hoped you could stop in one day this week and talk
with Shari Ackerman about summer school. She’s having some difficulties, and since
you’ve always taught the class, I thought you might be able to talk her through it.
Thanks.”
with Shari Ackerman about summer school. She’s having some difficulties, and since
you’ve always taught the class, I thought you might be able to talk her through it.
Thanks.”
Brian was good. He always knew the gossip before anyone else. Quinn had no urge to
talk about work. Instead, she focused on finding someone to love for the summer.
talk about work. Instead, she focused on finding someone to love for the summer.
CHAPTER 11
H
ours later, Ryan’s neck was cramped and his eyes bleary. He stretched at his desk
and rolled his head from side to side. The bar had quieted, as it did every day after
lunch and before dinner. He headed to the bar to check with Mary before going to Twilight.
He had another few hours of inventory there. Twilight wasn’t open until evening, though,
so he’d have no interruptions.
ours later, Ryan’s neck was cramped and his eyes bleary. He stretched at his desk
and rolled his head from side to side. The bar had quieted, as it did every day after
lunch and before dinner. He headed to the bar to check with Mary before going to Twilight.
He had another few hours of inventory there. Twilight wasn’t open until evening, though,
so he’d have no interruptions.
To his surprise, Colin was there, but he stood behind the bar, drying glasses. Ryan
didn’t comment. If his brother wanted to dry glasses, why should he care?
didn’t comment. If his brother wanted to dry glasses, why should he care?
The tables were clean and empty. A few regulars sat at the bar, nursing an afternoon
beer while they watched sports on TV. The old guys often reminded him of his father.
Even though he’d handed the daily operation of the bar over to Ryan, Dad still sat
at the bar every day, like he didn’t know what to do with himself.
beer while they watched sports on TV. The old guys often reminded him of his father.
Even though he’d handed the daily operation of the bar over to Ryan, Dad still sat
at the bar every day, like he didn’t know what to do with himself.
Mary walked by. “Hey, boss. We’re looking good for Tuesday.”
“Tuesday?”
She shook her head at him. “Speed dating.”
“Oh, yeah. Good. I’m going to Twilight. I don’t know if I’ll be back.”
“Okay.” She turned to walk away.
Ryan touched her arm and lowered his voice. “Colin can occupy himself doing whatever
you need him for, but I don’t want him at the register.”
you need him for, but I don’t want him at the register.”
Her eyebrows raised a fraction at the request, but she nodded. He felt a little crappy
for saying it out loud, but if he learned anything from his father’s mistakes, it
was to never underestimate Colin.
for saying it out loud, but if he learned anything from his father’s mistakes, it
was to never underestimate Colin.
He turned back to the bar. On his way out, he stopped between the old timers. “How
are you guys doing?” he asked, patting them each on the back.
are you guys doing?” he asked, patting them each on the back.
“Hiding from our wives, like we do every day.”
“It’s not hiding if they know where to find you.”
The men chuckled and returned their attention to the TV. Ryan’s gaze followed theirs.
The Cubs were playing.
The Cubs were playing.
The Cubs reminded him of Quinn and the fight they’d had earlier. He didn’t even know
why he was so mad. She was right. He didn’t want to be a father. At least not right
now. He was stupid for saying he’d take his chances. Thinking with his dick usually
led to stupidity.
why he was so mad. She was right. He didn’t want to be a father. At least not right
now. He was stupid for saying he’d take his chances. Thinking with his dick usually
led to stupidity.
He’d been mean and even a little cruel, but she needed to hear it. Ryan turned from
the TV and walked out the door. He’d stay away from Quinn. Give her time to cool off.
Then he’d try talking to her again.
the TV and walked out the door. He’d stay away from Quinn. Give her time to cool off.
Then he’d try talking to her again.
Space might do them both some good.
Quinn stomped into her loft and threw her purse at the couch. A scream of frustration
clawed at her throat, but she refused its escape.
clawed at her throat, but she refused its escape.
She’d thought it was serendipitous that within an hour of posting her improved profile,
a man contacted her. His profile said he was a lawyer, never married, and liked outdoor
summer sports. Nowhere did it mention liking kink.
a man contacted her. His profile said he was a lawyer, never married, and liked outdoor
summer sports. Nowhere did it mention liking kink.
The memories made the burn of embarrassment return to her skin.
If she were Indy, she would’ve had a smart-ass comment to throw at him, but she’d
had nothing. She was so flustered, she barely remembered to grab her purse before
storming out.
had nothing. She was so flustered, she barely remembered to grab her purse before
storming out.
She sank down on the couch, her rolling emotions taking their toll.
Two minutes of self-pity. I’m allowed that.
Two minutes of self-pity. I’m allowed that.
When the two minutes were up, Quinn changed into a pair of shorts and an old T-shirt.
She went to the kitchen to bake.
She went to the kitchen to bake.
The smell of chocolate would comfort her. The mixing of ingredients gave her time
to think and reevaluate.
to think and reevaluate.
The first pans went into the oven and the doorbell called Quinn’s attention. She went
to the intercom. “Yes.”
to the intercom. “Yes.”
“It’s me,” Indy said.
Quinn pressed the buzzer and turned the knob on the door. She went back to the kitchen
to prep the next pan of cookies.
to prep the next pan of cookies.
Indy closed the door with a slight thud. “Mmm. I smell chocolate. Someone’s having
a bad day.”
a bad day.”
Quinn peered at her sister from the kitchen counter. “You don’t know the half of it.”
Indy moved through the living room, pausing only to take off her navy pumps. She wore
a matching business suit with a deep-cut white blouse. Indy looked sexy in everything.
She slid onto a stool on the opposite side of the counter. “Ooo . . . you just started,”
she said, eying the bowl of dough. “Let me go change.”
a matching business suit with a deep-cut white blouse. Indy looked sexy in everything.
She slid onto a stool on the opposite side of the counter. “Ooo . . . you just started,”
she said, eying the bowl of dough. “Let me go change.”
Quinn waited while Indy went upstairs to borrow clothes. If Indy wanted to join her
in baking cookies, she was having a crappy day too.
in baking cookies, she was having a crappy day too.
Indy returned wearing clothes similar to what Quinn wore. The T-shirt was a little
too tight and the shorts a little too short, but Indy seemed to be comfortable. She
walked barefoot into the kitchen and stood beside Quinn. “I haven’t had Comfort Cookies
in ages.”
too tight and the shorts a little too short, but Indy seemed to be comfortable. She
walked barefoot into the kitchen and stood beside Quinn. “I haven’t had Comfort Cookies
in ages.”
“That’s because you don’t like to bake.”
Indy nudged her with her elbow. “Not true. I’m not as good as you. Yours are better
than Mom’s.”
than Mom’s.”
Quinn blushed at the compliment. Mom’s cookies were what saved every childhood disaster.
“I looked everywhere for the recipe after she died. I couldn’t find it. I re-created
what I could from memory. These aren’t necessarily better. They’re different. I can’t
figure out what these are missing.”
“I looked everywhere for the recipe after she died. I couldn’t find it. I re-created
what I could from memory. These aren’t necessarily better. They’re different. I can’t
figure out what these are missing.”
Indy laughed. “There isn’t a recipe. Don’t you remember? Mom made it up as she went
along. No two batches were ever the same.” She dipped her finger into the bowl and
licked it.
along. No two batches were ever the same.” She dipped her finger into the bowl and
licked it.
“She had a recipe. I remember a few times she tried to mix in other stuff. But I don’t
remember them being different every time. They were always good.”
remember them being different every time. They were always good.”
“Not always.” Indy scooped up more dough. “There’s something to be said for consistency.
Yours are better.”
Yours are better.”
“Thanks.” A smile tugged at Quinn’s lips and she was glad Indy came by.
The timer dinged for the first batch of cookies. While they cooled, Indy made a pot
of tea. She’d turned on the radio for quiet background music as she worked in the
kitchen. Quinn briefly wondered if Indy knew she was channeling their mother. In Mom’s
world, Comfort Cookies were only served with tea and music to soothe their souls.
of tea. She’d turned on the radio for quiet background music as she worked in the
kitchen. Quinn briefly wondered if Indy knew she was channeling their mother. In Mom’s
world, Comfort Cookies were only served with tea and music to soothe their souls.
“What’s wrong?” Quinn asked. Indy never moved into the comfort of home mode unless
something troubled her. Her own free spirit tended to fix itself.
something troubled her. Her own free spirit tended to fix itself.
“Richard wants to take a break. He still wants to keep our relationship a secret from
his wife. Every time they have a deal on the table for the divorce, she comes up with
something else to add. He thinks if she knows about me, she’ll drag her feet even
more.”
his wife. Every time they have a deal on the table for the divorce, she comes up with
something else to add. He thinks if she knows about me, she’ll drag her feet even
more.”
Quinn eased onto a stool and patted the one next to her. Indy took it and exchanged
a cup of tea for a handful of warm, gooey cookies.
a cup of tea for a handful of warm, gooey cookies.
“I know you don’t agree with our whole relationship. I have a good time with him.
Until last night. I didn’t want to bring it up and ruin your evening, but I guess
I did anyway. I told him if he thought I would sit around and wait on him, he’d better
think again.”
Until last night. I didn’t want to bring it up and ruin your evening, but I guess
I did anyway. I told him if he thought I would sit around and wait on him, he’d better
think again.”
“Good for you.”
Indy shook her head. “We both know I lied. I like the simplicity of our relationship.
No strings, no worries. Even my chances with Griffin were ruined after last night.
You didn’t see the way he looked at me. With the same disgust I get from Dad.”
No strings, no worries. Even my chances with Griffin were ruined after last night.
You didn’t see the way he looked at me. With the same disgust I get from Dad.”
“That’s not true. You should forget Richard. You can have any man you set your sights
on. I can show you the finer points of Internet dating,” Quinn said sarcastically.
“We can share stories of misery. I had my worst one so far earlier today.”
on. I can show you the finer points of Internet dating,” Quinn said sarcastically.
“We can share stories of misery. I had my worst one so far earlier today.”
Quinn walked around the counter and pulled cookie sheets from the oven. She checked
the raw dough remaining in the bowl and decided Indy would probably finish it.
the raw dough remaining in the bowl and decided Indy would probably finish it.
“You had a date tonight? It’s only eight now. How early did you go out?”
Quinn returned to her sister’s side. “I was pissed because Ryan and I had a fight,
so I came home and redid my online profile. Within an hour I got a message. This guy
Ken and I chatted for a while online and agreed to meet for coffee.”
so I came home and redid my online profile. Within an hour I got a message. This guy
Ken and I chatted for a while online and agreed to meet for coffee.”
“What did you fight with Ryan about?” Indy stuck her finger in the dough for another
bite.
bite.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Please tell me you didn’t go on a date looking like that.” Indy eyed the shorts and
T-shirt.
T-shirt.
“No, I changed into this when I got home. Anyway, I met him at a coffee shop. We kind
of hit it off. I mean, it wasn’t love at first sight or anything, but there was chemistry.”
of hit it off. I mean, it wasn’t love at first sight or anything, but there was chemistry.”
“So how did he end up at the top of the list ahead of the lizard kisser?”
“Because while we were talking, this woman showed up and sat next to Ken. He introduced
her as his girlfriend, Candy. They were hoping I would join them for a night in a
hotel room.”
her as his girlfriend, Candy. They were hoping I would join them for a night in a
hotel room.”
Indy rolled her upper lip in and bit it.
“Go ahead and laugh. I’m over it.”
Indy let the laugh out. “Where do you meet these guys? Sleaze.com?”
“No, it’s a reputable dating site. I don’t know where he came from. The whole thing
definitely whittled away my resolve for finding romance soon. This afternoon I was
willing to set up dates every night for the next two weeks. Now I’m rethinking.”
definitely whittled away my resolve for finding romance soon. This afternoon I was
willing to set up dates every night for the next two weeks. Now I’m rethinking.”
“Don’t let one date—one more bad date—ruin your summer. There are millions of guys
looking for a great woman like you.”
looking for a great woman like you.”
Quinn pulled another cookie off the cooling rack and broke it into pieces.
“Why don’t you go out with Ryan? He seems like a good guy.”
“He is. We’re friends. I don’t want to risk the friendship. I can’t imagine starting
something with him and ending it in August. He’s not looking to be a dad. I really
want to be a mom. We fought about it today.”
something with him and ending it in August. He’s not looking to be a dad. I really
want to be a mom. We fought about it today.”
Indy picked up her cup of tea. “Let’s go find a chick flick on TV and wallow in tears
for the rest of the night. Tomorrow has to look better.”
for the rest of the night. Tomorrow has to look better.”
Ryan entered his bar looking for escape. He’d spent the weekend mostly alone, except
for a brief visit with his mom where she spoke of nothing but Colin. After that, he
was more than happy to seek solitude.
for a brief visit with his mom where she spoke of nothing but Colin. After that, he
was more than happy to seek solitude.
Until he found it.
Then he thought of Quinn working her way down her list. The thought adequately ruined
the rest of his weekend.
the rest of his weekend.
New week. New perspective. No Quinn.
Mary sat at the bar with a cup of coffee at her elbow and papers in her hand. She
swiveled the stool to face him. “Good. You’re here. I need to talk about setup for
tomorrow night. Speed dating.”
swiveled the stool to face him. “Good. You’re here. I need to talk about setup for
tomorrow night. Speed dating.”
“I remember,” he grumbled. He also remembered the reason he’d had Mary plan the event.
“Grab a seat.” She spread a couple of sheets out on the bar where he sat. “I think
everyone will fit comfortably if we take over the dance area. It will shut that section
down for a few hours, but it’s the best area for traffic flow.”
everyone will fit comfortably if we take over the dance area. It will shut that section
down for a few hours, but it’s the best area for traffic flow.”
Ryan inspected the sketches. “Whatever you think. You’re the expert.” He stood to
go to his office and noticed the clipboard with blue and pink sheets. He pointed.
“Participant list?”
go to his office and noticed the clipboard with blue and pink sheets. He pointed.
“Participant list?”
“Yeah, I asked Nate to type it up. He thought it would be cute to use blue for the
men and pink for the ladies.”
men and pink for the ladies.”
Ryan picked up the clipboard and read down the pink sheet. It was alphabetized, but
he still read it twice. No Quinn.
he still read it twice. No Quinn.
“Looking for someone?”
“Yeah, I thought my friend Quinn would’ve signed up. She was here on Friday.”
“She did. I took her registration myself.” She took the clipboard back and went down
the list.
the list.
“I know how to read, Mary. There’s no Quinn Adams on the list.” Part of him was relieved
he wouldn’t have to worry about her finding someone. Despite the fact that she’d turned
him down, he wasn’t done with her. Another part of him was irritated because he’d
spent hours lining up men who were totally wrong for Quinn. He let Mary do some of
the advertising; he’d feel bad if the whole event was a flop because of his sabotage.
he wouldn’t have to worry about her finding someone. Despite the fact that she’d turned
him down, he wasn’t done with her. Another part of him was irritated because he’d
spent hours lining up men who were totally wrong for Quinn. He let Mary do some of
the advertising; he’d feel bad if the whole event was a flop because of his sabotage.
Mary flipped the page up. “Oh, Christ. I’m going to kill him.”
Ryan peered over her shoulder and saw Quinn’s name typed in at the top of the blue
sheet. He chuckled. “To be fair, Quinn can be a man’s name. It’s no big deal. Just
move her over to the right list.”
sheet. He chuckled. “To be fair, Quinn can be a man’s name. It’s no big deal. Just
move her over to the right list.”
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