Danger Zone (13 page)

“What are you doing?” Quinn said, his voice full of wonder and maybe a bit of exasperation. He was probably more used to people obeying his orders. He wasn’t going to find any of that here. Not with her.

“I’m getting water so I can take some Advil,” Ellie said.

“I could’ve brought it to you.”

“But you don’t have to because I’m here. Besides, it’s not easy to find.” Ellie opened the cabinet in the upper corner and spun the lazy Susan until she found the new bottle. Except, she was too short to reach it. She’d finished off the old bottle this afternoon. “Can you give me a refill on the water?” She handed her glass to Quinn because she needed to distract him. As he filled the cup with filtered water from the sink, she hopped up on the counter and snagged the bottle. “See, not a problem,” she said, smiling sweetly at him since his narrow-eyed gaze was all but tossing daggers in her direction. She opened the top, took off the protective shield, and tapped two pills into her palm. She eased the glass out of Quinn’s hand and tossed the pills back with her water.

Quinn continued to stare, his face a mask of disbelief.

“What?” she asked after she finished her drink and set the glass down. He moved next to her. Close. Maybe jumping up on the counter hadn’t been such a good idea. It put her more on his level. His lip level.

“
You
, is what,” Quinn whispered, and he stroked her cheek softly with his thumb. The touch caught her off guard, sent the hair on her nape standing at attention. Instinctively, she licked her dry lips. Quinn’s gaze riveted to her mouth then moved back to her eyes. “This is going to sound stupid,” he said.

“What is?”

“The question I’m about to ask you.”

“Why don’t you let me decide what’s stupid?”

Smiling, his gaze drifted back to her lips. “I, uh, I want to kiss you again. Make sure you’re okay.”

Her heart thumped along quicker. “So, me sitting here and telling you I’m okay isn’t enough?” The fact that they’d had dinner and laughed and talked and joked for the past forty minutes hadn’t been enough?

“No,” he said. And he looked in her eyes. Totally serious. “It’s not. I want to taste it.”

Zing. Just that fast, her insides melted. Okay, so she was a sap, a sucker, a complete weenie. She was actually buying this line. But why shouldn’t she? The solemn look in his eyes was no act. She’d worked with good actors before and Quinn wasn’t that good. Or was he?

“I know we said last night was it. A first and a last kiss, but…” He shook his head, his gaze so sincere it took her breath away. “I need to kiss you again. Need to know you’re really okay.”

Ellie forced oxygen into her lungs and considered his words. As long as that was all he wanted, she didn’t see a reason to turn him down. It was just a kiss. It wasn’t like she’d changed her mind since last night. It wasn’t as if one kiss now would end up with them naked in her bed… Right?

“I don’t think a kiss would be a problem,” she told him. “Just a kiss, though. What I said last night still stands.”

“Absolutely,” he vowed with a quick nod. “Just a kiss.”

“Okay, then.” Nope, she didn’t see a problem with kissing him at all.

Quinn nodded and smiled, his relief rushed out in a sigh. “Good, good, because I didn’t want it to be a problem.” He wanted her to know up front that he was going to kiss her. He couldn’t
not
kiss her. Actually, he’d been sure that she’d call him on it. Tell him he was full of shit and order him out of her apartment, but he’d had to take the chance.

Maybe he’d lost his mind. Why else would he feel this way about a woman he’d just met? Why did he have to kiss her to know if she was all right or not? He didn’t really know the answer to that and…well…that kind of freaked him out.

But he wouldn’t let it stop him either.

Cupping her face in his hands, he tilted her head toward him since he was standing to the side of her legs. Her eyes fluttered closed just before his lips brushed against hers.

Oh, Christ, her lips were so smooth. So he kissed her tenderly, softly. The same way he’d kissed her last night. Long and slow. But he wanted a better angle so he moved in front of her, placed his hands on her knees and opened her legs to stand between them, to get even closer to her spectacular mouth.

She didn’t stop him, didn’t pull back and smack him. In fact, her hands brushed along his shoulders and circled his neck, brought him more tightly against her.

Hello, yes, yes, yes.
That’s what he wanted. Her tongue in his mouth, her legs tightening around his hips. She tasted faintly of salt from the fries and Tabasco sauce she’d poured onto her pizza. Hot, spicy. Delicious. He kept his hands on her skin and there was so much to touch. No jeans and T-shirt this time, no way. Wearing those miniscule shorts, she left him a whole lot of soft skin to explore. He palmed her calves and kept a steady stroke of his hands as he started back on the outside of her legs and up her thighs. His fingers grazed her soft skin. Up, up, up all the way to the tops of her outrageously short shorts, his thumb caressing the edge of that line, so near the vee of her long legs.

She arched her back and made a noise in her throat. A purr. Jesus, he thought his insides might catch fire. He was so hot for her. There was nothing he wanted more than to divest her of the skimpy clothes and push inside of her. His dick had never been this hard before. Okay, maybe it had, but not in a long time. And never like this.

But he still didn’t touch any part of her where clothes covered skin. Just like the time in her trailer, he kept his fingers only on skin he could touch. Those long legs, her strong arms, that graceful neck and her soft hair. She was an absolute work of art. A work of art melting against him with every touch of his hand, every stroke of his tongue.

He wanted to pull her closer to the edge of the counter. Wanted her to feel exactly what she did to him. But what if knowing exactly how freakin’ hard he was for her sent her running? He couldn’t risk it. Not when he wanted to keep kissing her. And kissing her and kissing her…

Sweat beaded his brow as her fingers alternately ran through his hair and stroked his chest, sending fire blazing in his blood. He could only imagine how she’d feel underneath him, all soft and strong at the same time, making the same sexy sounds that were turning him upside down.

He didn’t know how much time had passed, but a click and turn at the front door signaled Ashley’s return from the grocery store. Quinn reluctantly pulled away from Ellie, rested his forehead against hers.

“Jesus, you sure know how to make a guy sweat,” he murmured.

“Who me?” She smiled and lifted questioning brows, a gesture so full of naïveté that he laughed. “I didn’t do anything.”

Yeah. And he wasn’t rock hard.

Her fingers moved firmly along his scalp, right over his ears and his eyes nearly rolled back in his head. Shit, that felt good. “I should go help Ash bring in the groceries,” she said softly.

His eyes snapped open. “The hell you will. I’ll help her.” Her dimple came out to play and Quinn’s heart rolled over a couple of times. “And don’t even think of smiling at me like that,” he told her, forcing himself to back away.

“Like what?” She shrugged innocently, but her dark green eyes sparkled with mischief. “I didn’t
do
anything.”

Nothing but wrap him around her frickin’ finger. Unsure of how much time he had before Ashley came back, he swiftly picked up the bags from inside the door where she’d left them and set his load on the counter next to Ellie. Turning to help Ashley with the remaining bags, he felt a tug on his shirt as Ellie snagged him and pulled him back to face her.

“I think you deserve a little something for carrying those bags,” she whispered.

This sounded too promising. No way to fight the grin that curved his lips. His hands moved over her bare thighs of their own volition. “Oh, yeah…?”

“Definitely.” The word seduction came to mind as Ellie tugged him closer and brought his mouth down to hers. Her warm tongue glided over his bottom lip and sent a fresh wave of lust crashing through him. “I think I could kiss you forever,” she murmured against his lips.

He didn’t honestly think he could do that, because this was killing him. Except no one told his mouth, which stayed connected to Ellie’s. In a most excellent way. Until someone—Ashley—cleared her throat behind them.

“I hate to break up your party, but, uh, I need to put the groceries away.”

Quinn literally had to hold Ellie’s head and drag his lips away from hers. Her green eyes were dark, full of heat and desire, and if Ashley hadn’t returned, his chances for more than a few hot kisses would’ve been much better than fifty-fifty.

Ellie’s fingers pressed against the base of his skull in a mini head massage and Quinn closed his eyes. Imagined those hands somewhere else on his body. Stroking, sliding, sending him into a frenzy. Which he’d be in very shortly unless he got the hell out of there.

“I should probably get going,” he whispered.

After one last quick kiss, he took a step back—every cell in his body hating him for it. “Thanks for dinner,” he said to both women. But he looked right at Ellie. Couldn’t take his gaze off her. A hazy, dreaminess clouded her eyes, a look he put there. With his kiss. He wanted to see the same expression while he was inside her, taking her so high she’d never forget him.

But she blinked and the dreaminess faded. She grinned and that dimple came out and made his heart flip. “You brought dinner. We should thank you.” Her blond hair caught the overhead light and she all but glowed. “Really, that was very nice. Thank you.” Her voice was soft and inviting. Quinn would bet a million bucks she didn’t know how she sounded.

“You’re welcome.” Shit. Why was he leaning in like this? Why couldn’t he keep his lips to himself? Apparently he was into torture. His mouth connected with hers. All soft and sweet and perfect. Quinn took one quick taste of her. One sweep of his tongue past her teeth before stepping back. “I’ll see you on the set tomorrow.”

She nodded. “Okay. Drive safe.” This time she was breathless and Quinn loved the sound. Loved that he had her just as crazy as she had him.

Why
was
he doing this to himself? She’d been absolutely clear when she’d told him there was no chance for sex. Still, kissing her ranked almost as good as any sex he’d had with any woman before. There was just something about her.

The next day’s location took them to a hotel not far from the studio. In usual California style, the sun crawled into the sky, blazing heat, manufacturing sweat.

Mac had left a message for Quinn that they should talk. Hopefully big brother finally got it through his thick skull that things were going to change whether he wanted it or not. Good.

Quinn walked toward the set, the second floor of the hotel parking structure. The heat was heavier here in the enclosed space. After negotiating lights and cables, he found Mac and Trace talking to Julie between a silver Navigator and a beat up Honda. The Honda looked strangely familiar before recognition dawned on Quinn. That was Ashley’s Honda. He remembered the conversation between Ellie and the stunt guy yesterday and realized Ashley had Ellie’s Mustang.

Quinn spotted Ellie talking with her boss. Mark
Jerkoff.
She wasn’t wearing the Julie Fraser wig so maybe she wasn’t in a shot today. She glanced around, her blond hair swishing against her back, and her gaze stopped on him. She smiled, big and bright, and Quinn’s chest tightened up. He started toward her when Mac stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

“I was hoping to talk to you this morning,” Mac said, checking his watch, “but Trace’s publicist scheduled another interview and she wants me with her. Can we meet this afternoon?”

“As long as we meet today,” Quinn told him. “I’m serious about what I said, Mac. I’m not doing this anymore. We talk today. I’m running out of time.” Not to mention patience.

Mac’s hands went up in defense. “I hear you. I swear. This afternoon. I’ll set a timer.” He hit a few buttons on his watch. “Three o’clock. My trailer, okay?” Mac was already moving toward his wife.

“Three o’clock,” Quinn repeated, voice raised. He wanted witnesses, dammit. He looked around for Ellie, disappointment strong when she no longer stood with her buddies.

Someone tapped his shoulder and he turned. And smiled. It was as if Ellie’s presence made a cellular difference in his body. His mind. She filled his senses with just her smile and the light in her eyes.

“Hey there. Long time, no see,” she said. “How are you?”

Now that he had her this close, he was damn good. “Fine. Great. How ’bout yourself?” Forcing his gaze from her very soft and kissable lips, he looked at her feet. She had on a pair of loosely laced sneakers. “How’s the foot?”

“It’s good. Looks much better today.”

He grinned. Couldn’t help it. That little dimple just stared at him and her eyes sparkled like dark green gems. “If ‘much better’ means that it’s all sorts of funky colors, I’ll bet you’re right.”

Cocking her head to the side, she clasped her hands behind her back. “What do you have against funky colors?”

“Nothing.” He shrugged, tipped his head and matched her move. “It’s the pain that goes with them that bothers me.”

“Do I look like I’m in pain?” She spread her arms wide.

Nope. She looked like a blonde goddess in black. Black stretch yoga pants and a tight black tank. But just because she looked good didn’t mean she wasn’t hurting. She did work with actors all day. Some of that bullshit had to wear off. He’d bet money she’d told her boss she was a hundred percent so she could be on the job today. “Nope. It seems like you’re doing fine.”

She smiled up at him. Oh, so wickedly. “Is that all? Just fine?”

Hell no. “Extra fine? Good enough to eat.” Shit. He probably shouldn’t have said that last thing. Except her smile broadened and, shit again, now he was getting hard just watching her eyes dance and sparkle.

“I could say the same about you,” she said in an extra husky, low voice to boot.

They’d wandered into serious flirt-mode. He knew the territory well. In fact, he’d developed a nice little tract here. Knew all the ins and outs. He also knew the stop signs and traveled the path that hopefully didn’t have any.

“If that’s the case, then I think I see dinner in our future. When things look good enough to eat, I’ve discovered that they should be consumed as quickly as possible. You know…to avoid spoilage.”

“I think if you go too quickly though, you lose the enjoyment, don’t you? Some things should be savored.” She didn’t back down. She stared up at him with innocent eyes, smiling and sparkling and sending his blood running hot with only a look.

Hello? Had she changed her mind? Had last night’s kitchen kissfest turned the tide in his direction? Quinn smiled wide. “I can savor with the best of ’em.”

Ellie’s cell phone rang and interrupted the best flirt session she’d ever had. She unclipped it from her waistband and checked the screen. Ashley. Wouldn’t you know it? She’d finally taken her roommate’s advice to loosen up and had been interrupted almost immediately.

“Hello, Ashley,” she said for Quinn’s benefit. He winked and she had to turn her head to focus on her roommate’s words.

“Ellie, please tell me you’re near my car. Please, please, please.” Her voice was all panic.

“I’m very near your car.” The beat up Honda sat six feet away. “What’s up?”

“Check the trunk. See if you can find a manila file folder. It has a green edge labeled Originals.”

“Be right back,” Ellie mouthed to Quinn. Production lights surrounded half the car, but Ellie popped the trunk from the passenger seat. When she got to the back, Quinn stood peering inside. What a mess. She would’ve said it out loud, but Ashley didn’t need to hear it in her current state of mind. Colorful reusable grocery bags littered the top of a cooler, beach chair and extra large umbrella. She still hadn’t taken her old hair dryer to the Salvation Army either. A large backpack nestled in the corner. That would be her earthquake kit.

“Do you see it?” Ashley asked.

Ellie shifted the grocery bags and a corner of a folder peeked out. She pulled out the file and saw the green edge. “Got it.”

“Oh, thank God. Okay, good. This is good. Oh shit. This isn’t good.”

“What’s going on? Tell me what you need,” Ellie said.

“I need that file today. Now. If I don’t have it for the afternoon meeting at two o’clock, I am so boned. Like fired, boned. I had everything in the trunk last night and that file must have slid out. But there’s no way I can get out of here before the meeting.”

Ellie checked her watch. It was twelve-thirty. “I can probably bring it to you.” Then she remembered. “Oh, scratch that. You have my car and your car is set for a shot. I can’t bring it to you.”

“I’ll take you,” Quinn whispered.

Someone had been eavesdropping. She flashed him a look of gratitude. “Ashley, you’re saved. Quinn’s going to bring me.”

“Oh, my God. Tell him he gets my firstborn.”

“Um…pass.” But Ellie chuckled at the thought of Quinn holding a baby. She couldn’t wrap her brain around the picture. “Let me talk to Mark. We’re supposed to break for lunch in a few minutes so it shouldn’t be a problem. I should be able to get to you and get back in plenty of time.”