Quinn's Woman (22 page)

“You’ve always known what you wanted,” Quinn said.

Gage glanced toward D.J. “What about you? There’s something going on. We can all see it.”

Quinn didn’t bother denying the obvious. He and D.J. did have something between them, but he wasn’t sure what. She could be everything he’d ever wanted and needed, but what about him? Did he come close to being right for her?

“When I figure it out, I’ll let you know,” he said.

Travis walked over and slapped Gage on the back. “Did he tell you that he’s heading back to Texas?”

“He did.”

Travis shook his head. “I’ve done my best to talk him into staying, but he won’t have any part of it.” Elizabeth joined her husband and slid her arm around his waist. “Honey, you’ve got to stop trying to get everyone in the family to move to Glenwood. We all think it’s the perfect place to live, but Gage seems very fond of his hometown. You need to respect that.”

Travis shrugged. “Can I help it if I want my brothers close?”

“I appreciate the sentiment,” Gage told him. “You don’t have to worry about us all losing touch. Now that we’ve found each other, you’re stuck with us.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Travis said.

Kyle walked up. “What about you, Quinn? You ever think about sticking around here? You could run for sheriff against Travis.”

Quinn chuckled. “I don’t think so. I’m not an election kind of guy.”

“So challenge him to an arm wrestling match,” Kyle said.

Travis shook his head. “Nope. He’d whip my butt.”

“You’re strong,” Elizabeth told her husband.

“Quinn knows things,” Travis said and kissed her. “But thanks for the support.”

Quinn watched them. While he didn’t begrudge them their happiness, seeing their contentment in their relationships left him feeling empty inside. As if he’d been missing out on something for a long time.

D.J. chose that moment to stroll up. She was on his side of the group, so he risked grabbing her wrist and pulling her close.

He half expected her to try to deck him. Instead she flashed him a startled glance, then stepped close enough for him to put his arm around her waist and rest his hand on her hip.

Travis and his wife looked at each other but didn’t say anything. Gage grinned, as did Kyle. Quinn had a good idea about what they were all thinking. Let ‘em, he told himself. No one’s opinion mattered except for D.J.’s and his own.

“How long will you be staying in the military?” Elizabeth asked him. “If you don’t have other plans, you could think about moving here when you get out. Even if you don’t want to run for sheriff.”

“Quinn always planned to stay in at least twenty years,” Gage said. “That means another ten to go.”

Quinn nodded. That had been his plan. Until a few days ago.

“I resigned last week.”

Everyone looked surprised. Gage took a half step toward him. “What happened?”

As his brother asked the question, Quinn felt D.J.’s hand on his back. He glanced down at her. She didn’t speak, but he could read the concern in her expression. He gave her a reassuring smile, then turned his attention back to Gage.

“I wasn’t willing to be that person anymore.” There was a whole lot more to it than that, but no one needed to hear the details. Later maybe he would discuss them with D.J., but not now.

Gage grinned. “Then you will be at my wedding.”

“I said I would be.”

Travis slapped him on the back. “You’re welcome to stay here. Glenwood could always use another deputy.”

“Or sheriff,” Kyle said, then chuckled.

“I appreciate the offer. I don’t know what I want to do, but when I figure it out, I’ll let you know.” The conversation shifted to plans for the evening. Eventually people started drifting away. Quinn kept his arm around D.J. until they were alone, then he leaned against the wall and grabbed on to her belt loop and tugged her close. “You’ve been quiet,” he said.

“I’m still in shock from your bombshell. What made you change your mind?”

He shrugged. “I never liked what I did – even though I was good at it. There weren’t enough rescues and there were way too many killings. That’s not what I wanted.”

“Makes sense.”

He couldn’t tell what she was thinking and it became important for him to know. Did any of this matter to her? Did she care that he was no longer going to be heading out of the country in a few weeks? Would she tell him the truth if he asked, and if she would, did he want to hear it?

“D.J....”

She cut him off with a quick shake of her head. “I’m glad,” she whispered.

Two words. Two little words that hit him with the power of a rifle blast at point-blank range. The air exploded from his lungs. His chest swelled and his heart rate doubled.

“Yeah,” he said, trying for cool and not sure if he made it.

He glanced around and saw a small powder room tucked under the stairs. After making sure no one was watching, he took D.J.’s hand and drew her along with him. When they’d both squeezed into the tiny room, he shut the door behind them and gathered her close.

He’d thought she might protest but instead she melted into his arms. Even as he pressed his mouth to hers, she parted for him. Tongues swept against each other. Searching, hungry, deep kisses shredded his self-control and left him desperate with wanting.

He touched her hair, her back, then dropped his hands to her rear and squeezed. She arched against him, bringing her belly in contact with his erection. She seemed as eager, as ready. Her slender fingers touched his face, then explored his chest.

“I want you,” he breathed against her mouth.

He cupped her face to hold her in place, then drew back enough to nibble along her jaw. When he reached her throat, she dropped her head, exposing her soft skin. He licked the sensitive spot just behind her earlobe and made her moan. Sucking the same bit of skin made her squirm.

She wore jeans and a tank top. Quinn grabbed the straps and pulled them down her arms. The knit fabric slipped over her breasts and pinned her arms to her sides. He knew she could free herself in a second, but there was the illusion of being trapped. Not exactly D.J.’s style.

“It’s all right,” he whispered as he unfastened the front of her bra. “I won’t hurt you. I promise.”

He kissed his away down her chest to her exposed breasts. As he took one tight nipple into his mouth, he teased the other with his fingers.

She tasted sweet and hot. He was so damned hard he could have lost it right there.

“So beautiful,” he told her, moving to her other breast. “Perfect curves. Your nipples are so tight.” He licked the hard tip. She jumped.

“I love how you react to my touch,” he said, then opened his mouth and drew her in.

He sucked rhythmically. Her breath caught, then she shifted, freeing herself of the tank top. Quinn braced himself for her rejection. But instead of pushing him away, she buried her fingers in his hair and held him in place.

“Don’t stop,” she whispered.

They were magic words, he thought, both relieved and gratified by her response. She trusted him. Maybe not fully, but more than he’d hoped was possible.

While he wanted to push her up onto the narrow vanity and take her right there, he knew this wasn’t the time or the place. When he next made love with D.J., he wanted privacy, a big bed and a whole night. Still, a man could dream, right?

He straightened. While keeping his hands on her breasts, he stared into her eyes and pushed his arousal against her. Her pupils dilated and her mouth parted. She shifted, parting her legs and then moving against him. Rubbing herself on his erection. Taking pleasure.

“I want you so much,” he breathed. “Tell me you feel the same.”

He was asking too much – he knew that. But he wanted to hear the words. Needed to hear them.

She pulled back a little. He kept his hands on her bare breasts.

“D.J., don’t,” he whispered, then kissed her.

He didn’t know if he was telling her not to draw away, or giving her permission not to say the words. When she kissed him with the uninhibited passion of a woman desperate for a man, he told himself it was enough.

Eventually he became aware of his surroundings and lifted his head. “Someone’s going to need this bathroom pretty damn soon,” he said.

“I know.”

He released her breasts and reached for her bra. “You’re a terrific date.”

She drew on the cotton undergarment and smiled. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

They both straightened their clothes. Quinn tried to adjust himself so his erection wasn’t so obvious. D.J. watched, then grinned.

“You should probably stay close behind me until that goes away. Otherwise, the entire family will be talking.”

“Good plan.”

She reached for the door handle, then paused. “Quinn, I –” She shook her head. “I just... Hell.”

She fumbled with the front of her jeans. Before he could figure out what she was doing, she unzipped them and took his hand in hers. Then she pushed his fingers down the front of her panties. He felt soft skin, softer curls, then a slick, swollen heat that made him groan.

“I do want you,” she admitted, even as she turned away and fastened her jeans. “Just so you know.”

Then she opened the door and stepped out into the hallway.

Stunned, aroused and more than a little awed by her courage, Quinn followed. And came face-to-face with a very amused Rebecca.

“Gee, after all this time, I would have thought you could manage the bathroom on your own,” Rebecca said.

D.J. blushed. If Quinn hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed it.

“Nothing happened,” D.J. told her friend.

Rebecca raised her eyebrows. “Too bad.”

After the dinner, the men cleared the table, served dessert and made coffee. Quinn found himself in the kitchen, carefully cutting a large sheet cake into small pieces. Rebecca walked into the room.

“I brought you a cake server,” she said as she set down a silver spatula-like device.

“Thanks.”

He used it to transfer the first corner piece to a plate.

She leaned against the counter and watched Kevin pour coffee into a carafe. When he’d left, she turned her attention back to Quinn.

“I’m pleased that D.J. has finally let herself fall for someone,” she told him.

Quinn was smart enough to recognize a mine field when he stepped into one. He carefully kept quiet.

Rebecca smiled. “Is the subject matter making you nervous?”

“Maybe.”

“It shouldn’t. You make her happy and that’s good.”

He scooped up another piece of cake. “Okay.” Rebecca sighed. “Fine. I’ll talk. You can listen. That probably feels safer.” She began putting plates on the tray. “I know there are a lot of dark secrets from D.J.’s past. Something horrible happened when she was still a kid. She doesn’t talk about, but I recognize the scars.”

Quinn looked at her. She shrugged. “I’ve been around orphaned kids for years,” she told him. “Loss and pain are fairly universal. D.J. has a wounded spirit and it’s not just because her parents are dead.”

“Okay.”

“There’s a certain irony in all of this,” she continued. “D.J. has done everything she can to stay safe. At least by her definition of the word. Then she goes and falls for the one man who will always be stronger, faster, more deadly. Maybe she recognizes something of herself in you. Or maybe you see a kindred spirit.”

Quinn wasn’t about to go there. He still hadn’t decided if normal was in the cards for him. Although if it was, he put his money on D.J. being the one. “She doesn’t trust easily,” he said.

“I know, but she’s starting to trust you. When she pushes you away, and she will, take heart in that.”

He handed her a plate. “What makes you think I’m worth it?”

“D.J. doesn’t give her heart easily and never without the person earning the privilege of receiving it. Besides, I’ve met your brothers and I’ve spent time with you. You’re one of the good guys.”

Yeah, right. “Do you have any idea what I used to do for a living?”

“No. Why does that matter?”

“You wouldn’t be alone with me if you had a clue.”

“You’re wrong,” she told him. “It’s not what you do, it’s who you are.”

“Haven’t you heard that men are what they do?”

“Sure. And you just walked away from your job. I think there’s hope, Quinn Reynolds. More importantly, D.J. does.”

Rebecca was too trusting by half. “Maybe you should warn me off. Maybe you should tell me not to hurt her.”

“I don’t think you will. There’s a part of me afraid she won’t give you the chance. I hope she does. I hope she can open herself enough to be hurt, but I can’t be sure. I wish –” Rebecca glanced at the doorway.

D.J. walked into the kitchen. “Don’t stop talking on my account.”

“I have to. We were talking about you. It’s no fun if we can’t do it behind your back.” She tried to hand D.J. the tray. “Take this out to the dining room so we can go back to gossiping.”