Until Next Time (11 page)

“Yes, it’s an interesting business, you know—dead baggage and all.” She waved him off and strode across the room. “Shall we do the embalming items now?”

Another bright smile lit his young face. “My pleasure.”

<<<<>>>>>

Quinn had left Piper messages that went unanswered. That was the only reason why he was standing on the doorstep of the funeral home. The only reason.

He knocked, as usual, and waited several beats before the door swished open. Margo, the undertaker helper, stood on the other side. She looked much better without her Halloween paint. He gave her a warm smile.

“Hello, I was stopping by to see if Piper was available?”

“You know…” She grabbed his elbow and jerked him over the threshold. “I don’t know how many times we have to tell you not to knock. This is a place of business, just
come in
.”

“I’ll make a note of it.” He tapped the side of his head. “I’ve left Piper a few messages. Is she in?”

“Of course, she’s downstairs with Mr. Morgan.”

Quinn tried to place the name but found he couldn’t. “I see. Would you mind if I wait for her?”

Margo’s face lifted into a sly grin. “Certainly.” She ushered him into the arrangement room and pointed to an overstuffed paisley covered chair. “Sit here. Piper should be up shortly. She’s been down there
forever.
”

Frowning, Quinn took a seat and waited. And waited. He studied the room and found it relaxing with the autumn colors on the wallpaper, and even somewhat artistic with the decorative display of quarter caskets, mock-up flower arrangements, and soft music playing. The room wasn’t sad; it was inviting, comfortable. He imagined people who’d lost someone would be at ease in the warm space. Glancing at his watch, he realized he’d been waiting a half hour. Knowing he had to meet his father at two, he rose, slightly upset that he would miss Piper again. Crossing the room, he froze at the doorway when he heard Piper’s voice. Then he heard her giggle. A man’s voice chimed in, mumbling something ridiculous about lanolin-based massage oil, and the hair on the back of Quinn’s neck damn near flew off.

Quinn didn’t rush out, though. He ducked behind the half-closed door and watched. Piper appeared around the corner, her hair bouncing with her excited steps. A skinny man bopped in behind her, his skin tan, his eyes focusing on the wrong part of Piper’s backside.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Quinn tried his best to gauge the situation.

“Seriously, Miss Downing,” the man said, “the lanolin will be better for the skin. Much better than that nineteen-fifties cream you’re using.”

Piper shook her head, continuing to smile. “I’ll consider it.”

Mr. Massage Oil pulled something out of his ridiculously oversized briefcase, and Piper dashed off down the hallway. When she returned, her pale cheeks were flush, her eyes bright. She handed a huge manila folder to the man. Quinn didn’t miss the way their fingers touched. Did she blush?

“So, tomorrow then?” Piper said, a little out of breath.

The man zipped up his bag and tossed the strap over his shoulder. “Yes. Noon still okay?”

“Yes, I checked my calendar. Assuming anything doesn’t come up here, I’ll see you then.”

The man took her hand, shook it gently, and gave a slow smile. Quinn cringed.

“Excellent,” the man replied, finally releasing her fingers. “I’ll see my way out.”

Piper gave him a confident grin before focusing on Margo, who was sitting behind the desk. The front door clicked shut, and Piper’s mouth started to open to say something.

Margo spoke first. “Mr. Oliver is here to see you.”

Piper’s cheeks went twelve shades of red. One hand flew to her hair and the other flew to the front of her blouse. “Oh. Where?”

“The arrangement room.”

Quinn backed away from the door several steps and started to walk towards it again, hopefully giving the illusion that he was walking to it when Piper breezed in. From the look of surprise on her face, it worked.

“Oh, hi, Piper.” Quinn stopped. “I’m sorry. I was getting ready to leave. I didn’t realize you were so busy today. I’ve got some appointments of my own I need to make.”

“You have to go?” Her smile fell.

“Yes.” He side-stepped her. “Return my call when you get a chance.” He took another step, stopped, and turned. “On second thought…” He plucked a card out of his wallet. “Call my grandpa. The business I was going to discuss involved him and his foundation. Maybe it would be better if you spoke with him.”

When she didn’t reach to take the card, Quinn set it on the table near the door.

“Is that all you wanted?” she asked, her voice low.

He blinked and nodded.

“Okay then.” Her hands twisted in front of her. “Then, will I see you later?”

His shoulders lifted and fell. “Maybe. That depends on you, of course. Please call my grandpa when you get a chance. Goodbye, Piper.” He shuffled to the door, not bothering to look back or even try to deduce the strained expression on Piper’s face. He was feeling a bit strained himself.

<<<<>>>>>

Piper spun about, head suddenly pounding. “How long has Quinn been here, Margo?”

“Oh, about thirty minutes, I’d say. He mentioned he’d phoned a few times, and since he hadn’t heard back, thought he’d drop by.” She made her way to the staircase. “If you don’t need anything else, I’ll get back to my underground station.”

Piper was dizzy. He’d waited that long to see her only to shove a card in her face and say goodbye?

“That’s fine,” Piper mumbled.

Sure, Piper hadn’t called Quinn back yet, but it wasn’t because she hadn’t wanted to. She’d been busy. Dead people didn’t wait. And the living didn’t either. She’d had a surprisingly wonderful time on their date, had enjoyed seeing him briefly at the market, and was looking forward to it again. Her subconscious was screaming at her to keep a wide berth from him, but Piper had told Quinn about what she could offer. He’d accepted it. Therefore she shouldn’t be afraid of their impending dating and possible relationship. And she wasn’t.

She sank down in to the reception chair and glared at her bleeping email icon. She should call him, explain a few things. Grabbing a pen from the desk, she tapped it against her lips. Then again, she’d had the time several nights this week to call him and she hadn’t. Blowing a breath, she jerked up the phone receiver and punched in the number on the card Quinn had given her.

She would call Quinn. Right after this phone call.

Chapter Nine

When Piper pulled up to Mr. Oliver’s house, she finally took in the sheer size of it. The first time she’d been here, she’d been so nervous about fraternizing with clients that she hadn’t had a moment to let it set in. But this house…was
huge.
Victorian style with ornately carved porch rails and beams covering the entire outside perimeter. It was a sun bursting yellow with white trim and windows, two stories with turrets on every corner. Her funeral home
home
was big, but this dwarfed it.

After parking in the blacktop drive, she gathered up the items Mr. Oliver had asked her to bring. She understood the new funeral funding help initiative, but she didn’t understand how she could help them really launch the thing. Then again, she had connections they didn’t, and there was a big National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association Convention coming up. Not one to shy away from a challenge, she’d come, as requested, to hear the man out. She hoped Quinn wasn’t here. Since the day before, she’d called him, left him two messages, and hadn’t heard back. If the man wasn’t confusing…

She lurched back in her seat at the rap on her window. Cradling her paperwork, she glanced out. And blinked. The eyes staring at her under shaggy blond hair looked like Quinn’s. Only these were the same color, not like Quinn’s light eye and lighter eye. After shaking her head, she looked at the whole picture. Long, straight nose. Perfect skin, even around the right eye. This man was smiling, waving at her to get out of the car. No dimple. Not Quinn, but someone who looked a great deal like him.

The car door swung open, and she slid out.

“Hey,” the man said, reaching out to help her. “Grandpa said you might need some help when you got here.”

She awkwardly let go of the files and folders. The man scooped them up. “You must be Del, or KC, right?”

Another quick flash of a thousand-watt smile. “KC.”

“Nice to finally officially meet you. I’m Piper.”

He nodded, swooping his long arm toward the sidewalk. “After you.”

She scurried inside, KC at her heels. Within minutes she was seated at a dining room table twice the length of the one she’d had while growing up. The last time she’d been in the house, it had been crammed with people, so this time she allowed herself to gaze around.

Rich, bold colors adorned the walls, immaculate dark woodwork surrounded her, family photos hung in every room, and obvious antiques were perfectly placed about. And the lights! Crystal chandeliers hung from every ten-foot ceiling.

KC folded himself in a high back chair next to her, raking a hand through his hair. “Would you like a drink? I think there’s some fresh lemonade.”

“No, thank you.”

He settled himself, stretching out his legs and resting his hands on his knees. “Grandpa said you’re helping him with some foundation work.”

“Honestly, I don’t know what I’m doing here.”

He winked at her. “He does that a lot.”

“Does he?”

“Before you know it, you’ll have signed your life away, getting less than a pack of gum, and you’ll be happy about it.”

At that, she laughed. “I’m guessing he gets you boys to do a lot for him, then?”

“You boys?”

“Uh, yeah, you and your brothers.”

A playful smile showed at the corner of his lips. “Have you met my brothers?”

Sweet peas. Had Quinn not told his family about their date? “Quinn, yes. Del, no. Not officially anyway.”

His eyes narrowed briefly, and then they warmed. “Well then, if you met Quinn, I imagine you know that he’ll do about anything for anyone. It’s in his blood. Just like the rest of us. So, yes, we do a lot for Grandpa, and we always do it with a smile.”

“Sounds like you enjoy it, even without the million dollar smile.”

“True.” He leaned back, stretching his arms over his head. “Truth is, Grandpa’s got a good thing going with his foundation. All he needs is a few extra wings.” His brow wiggled.

“Wings?”

“Yes, help?”

“Ah, I see. Well, I don’t have any wings, but I’ve got fingers and they can help, although I’m not sure what I’m going to be doing with them exactly. Nevertheless, Quinn has mentioned the foundation, and one of my clients recently benefited from it. The client was most grateful, and Quinn so helpful, I’m interested in learning more.

“About the foundation…or Quinn?”

“Excuse me?”

“Do you want to learn more about just the foundation?”

She shook her head, confused. “Well, I think your family is special when it comes to dealing with people during times of mourning, so I imagine that passion and drive are what has made the foundation a success—as Quinn has said.”

“Quinn’s said a lot, huh?” His eyes gleamed mischievously.

“Well, uh, he’s said a little. Enough that I know the basics, I think. Quinn’s very special himself.”

A full out grin lit KC’s face. He rapped on the table with his knuckles. “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”

A shuffling sound in the hallway drew their attention to the door leading that way.

“Sorry, sorry,” George Oliver huffed as he appeared through the arched doorway. “Sometimes people won’t stop talking when they get you on the phone.”

KC laughed as he rose from his seat. “Not to worry. I kept your guest company.”

George patted him on the shoulder as he made his way to a seat next to Piper. “That’s my boy.” His eyes slid to Piper’s. “I’ve got some friends who’ll be arriving soon to discuss the foundation. Thanks for seeing me on such short notice.”

“Oh, no problem.” Although, it had caused quite a problem. Jessica was still out with her son, who had in fact broken his leg when falling from the monkey bars at school. The office wasn’t normally open on the weekends, but someone had to be there because Piper did not want to have the phone with her while she discussed whatever she was getting ready to discuss with Mr. Oliver. While leaving the phone duties in someone else’s hands gave Piper the willies, she didn’t have a choice. Margo could handle it.

As George settled himself in his seat, KC strode over, dipping his head to whisper in Piper’s ear. “Remember what I said about signing your life away. Oh, could you do something for me?”

Her brow drew together. “I don’t know. What?”

“Put my brother out of his misery.” KC gave her a mischievous grin and strolled out of the room with sort of a cool arrogance.

For the love of chocolate, what in the heck had just happened?

<<<<>>>>>

Quinn slammed his car door and stalked up the sidewalk to his grandpa’s house, barely registering the slew of cars parked around the house. Glancing at his watch, he realized it was eleven a.m., which meant that Piper would be meeting with Mr. Massage Oil in less than an hour. Probably for a date. So much for his chances.

She’d called him, of course, after seeing him the day before. She must have finally felt guilty for not returning any of his calls for a solid week. Either that or she felt bad about having a guy in her house while he’d waited in the wings. Not that it mattered. Had she been interested, she would have called him back. The date they’d had must not have gone as well as he’d thought. He should’ve known something was a little off when he’d seen her at the grocer. She didn’t quite seem like herself. Distant, perhaps. Preoccupied, maybe?

He stomped up the steps, jerked open the door, and damn near bumped right in KC.

“Whoa!” KC jumped out of the way. “In a hurry?”

Quinn snorted. “No. God. Sorry. My mind was somewhere else. Grandpa here? And what’s with all the cars?”

KC gave him that sly grin he always used when he was up to no good.

“What?” Quinn asked, eying his brother speculatively.

“Yeah, he’s here. Having a meeting with your lady and some friends.”

“Piper? She’s here?” He rocked back on his heels, shuffling back onto the porch.

“Why you looked so freaked?”

He shook his head, straightened his shoulder. “Freaked? I’m not. I didn’t expect to find her here, is all.”

KC’s brow arched. “Uh-huh. Liar.”

Quinn punched his arm. “Believe what you want. How long she been here?”

“Couple hours.”

Quinn spun about, headed down the steps. “Call me when she leaves, would you?”

“Leaves? You mean you don’t want to see her? See, I told you that you were lying.”

“Don’t. Just call me.”

“Don’t need to,” KC muttered as the front door swung back open.

Quinn turned, frowned, and locked eyes with Piper as she stepped onto the porch with Grandpa at her side. Holy mother, she looked fantastic. A white linen skirt gave a good view of her legs, and a black fitted thick-strapped tank-top drew his eyes to her soft arms. Not that Quinn knew they were soft. He imagined they were. Wanted them to be. Her hair was up, as it had been each time he’d seen her working. Had she only put it down for him on their date?

“Macy!” Grandpa called out from the steps.

Piper’s eyes stayed on his. She wasn’t smiling, but she wasn’t frowning, either.

“Did you just get here?” Grandpa asked. “Come up, come in.”

KC leaned against a thick porch post and chuckled.

Quinn shot him a shut-up glare. “I only came to see if KC told you about the fly-through this afternoon. Since he’s here, I’m guessing he did.”

Grandpa shuffled down the steps making his way toward Quinn. To his surprise, Piper followed. Grandpa stopped next to him and put a hand on his shoulder. “What? You mean you were stopping off for two seconds? What kind of a visit is that?”

“I’ve got other plans today.”

Quinn bit the inside of his lips at the sight of Piper sashaying toward him in that skirt. It swooshed around her legs, bringing his eyes to her swaying hips, up her torso, and seriously wondering if her arms, and now her glistening neck, were soft. And what they tasted like.

“Other plans? Other plans? Like what?” Grandpa demanded.

Piper still said nothing, and only stood like a beautiful statue beside his grandpa. What was she waiting for? Why didn’t she leave already?

Quinn forced himself to stop looking at her.

“Sorry, Grandpa. I’ve got some stuff to pick up for the VA before the fly-through. You’ll be there later, right? So I’ll see you then and catch up.”

Grandpa grumbled something under his breath, but smiled. “Well, at least see Piper to her car before you run off.”

KC chuckled again from the porch.

Piper spoke. “Oh, that won’t be necessary, George. I’ve got somewhere to be at noon, and I don’t want to keep Quinn from his errands.”

“Nonsense. It’ll take two seconds, and it’ll make this ol’ man feel better knowing that my grandson has manners.”

Quinn forced a smile when Piper gave him a confused look.

“Well, okay then,” she said. “Thank you again, George. It was wonderful talking to you and your associates today.”

“We’ll make a difference in the world. Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to see if your connections can help the new section of the foundation grow.”

Pink rushed to Piper’s cheeks. God, if that wasn’t the most amazing sight. Suddenly Quinn wondered if other parts of her pale skin blushed. He groaned inwardly. He wouldn’t have a chance to see them if they did.

He took her by the elbow. “Shall we?”

She smiled sheepishly, the blush darkening. It was only twenty steps to her car. But for some reason, they were the longest steps of Quinn’s life. He wanted to look at her. He wanted ask her
why not me
? Instead, he focused on the cracking sidewalk, ignoring her wafting floral scent.

He dropped her elbow as he open the car door. Piper went to slide in but paused, gripping the top of the door frame.

“Can I ask you a question?” she asked.

His eyes drew up, meeting hers. “That was a question.”

“I mean a real question.”

He cocked his head, studying her. “No one’s stopping you.”

“Why haven’t you called me back?”

He leaned toward her, the car door still separating them. “What a funny thing to ask.”

“Why is that funny?”

“I’ve called you, what, twice since our date? And it took you over a week to call me back. And now you want to know why I haven’t called you back in less than twenty-four hours? Ironic, if you ask me.”

Her cheeks went red. “I did ask you, but I hadn’t expected you to be so rude about it. Forget I even asked.”

She jumped into the driver’s seat and went to slam the door. Quinn’s grip on the top frame remained firm.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I didn’t call you back for two reasons. One, you took your sweet time returning my call, and two, when I came to see you yesterday, you were chatty and flirty with that guy, and I figured
he
was the reason you didn’t call me back. I get it, you aren’t interested. What’s there to talk about?” His eyes narrowed in on her. “How was that for honest? And hopefully not rude?”