Until Next Time (22 page)

George looked up to the blue sky. “That she would.” He clipped off a few buds. “Have you talked to your dad today?”

“No, why? Something wrong?”

“Heavens, no. He’s on cloud nine, actually.”

“Find someone to boss around, did he?”

He severed a few more red roses and laughed. “That would make his day now that you three boys are all grown up, but no. Delaney called.”

“Then I guess Del isn’t in trouble like KC and I thought?”

“Nope. Actually, he was granted a bump up in the ranks.”

Quinn’s jaw dropped. “No. Really?”

A proud smile slowly grew on George’s face. “Major Oliver.”

“Wow.” Quinn’s heart swelled. His troublemaking brother was finally getting into his groove. Quinn never thought his youngest brother would make a life out of the Air Force. This news changed everything. “Dad must be over the moon.”

“He is. Taking a trip up to the base this weekend for official congratulations.” He trimmed a few more blossoms. “There.” He stood back, admiring his work. The bush was now completely bare, save on single blood-red bloom on the very top.

“Grandma would be proud,” Quinn commented.

“Indeed.” George hobbled to the steps, his back hunched from the work, or the heat, Quinn couldn’t really tell.

Quinn wiped the sweat that had formed on his forehead. “You really should limit your time in this heat, Grandpa.”

“I’ll limit my time doing whatever I please when I’m dead.” He swiped at Quinn’s hand trying to help him up the steps. “Then I won’t have to worry about the heat or these old bones. Until then, a man should do whatever he wants.”

At that, Quinn stepped back and allowed his grandpa to trudge up the few porch steps himself. He strode past Quinn and into the house. Quinn followed with a chuckle.

“Want some lemonade? Dinner?” Grandpa asked, making his way to the fridge.

“No, thanks. I’m meeting Piper later.”
Hopefully.
Quinn glanced at his watch. It was six and Piper hadn’t called.

“How’re things going with you and the beautiful mortician?”

Quinn rolled his eyes. “Rather well, I’d say. Which brings me to why I’m here. You remember when you talked to her about arranging to introduce the foundation to her next Funeral Convention?”

George pulled out a jug of lemonade and poured himself a glass. After taking a long drink, he answered. “Yeah. The next one is in a few weeks.”

“Piper got the dates mixed up. It’s
this
weekend.”

Grandpa didn’t flinch or show any reaction that would make him looked surprised. He simply set his now empty glass on the table and wandered through the archway into the dining room.

“Well, then,” he huffed, dragging out some booklets and files from the cabinet in the corner. “That doesn’t give me much time, but I think I can pull the information together.” He scribbled something down on a steno notebook. “When are you leaving?”

“Friday. Not sure what time. Piper wants me to fly with her so we might have to rebook her flight. I imagine pretty early, though.”

“So I’ve got twenty-four hours, then?”

His lip quirked. “Thirty-six. Maybe.”

George nodded, jotting down a few more things. “I need to call the press and see if they can get the brochures printed. I finalized the print last week. I think Tom was working on a display of some sort and some survivor stories. Those would help, you think?”

Quinn nodded, leaning comfortably against the door frame as he watched his grandpa bustle around the room, collecting various packets and pieces of paper, all the while noting things down and jabbering. “Sounds good.”

George stopped short. “Uh, you think you’ll be okay on such short notice, Macy? I mean, you know a lot about the foundation.”

Quinn withheld an amused groan. Of course he knew a lot about the foundation. He and all his brothers helped whenever they weren’t doing their regular jobs. “I’ve got it covered, Grandpa.”

“That’s my boy. Now, where did I put those medals?”

“What medals?”

“Oh! I know.” George bustled out of the room and came back in slightly out of breath.

“Here they are.” He popped open the lid of the box and reached in. When his hand came out, a glittering red medal dangled between his fingers.

“What’s that?”

He held it up to Quinn who examined it. Etched into the painted brass was the phrase:
Until Next Time.

“They’re for the surviving spouse,” George said quietly.

“That’s touching.” His finger brushed over the intricate font, his thoughts instantly sliding to Maddie and then bouncing to Piper. Two different women, two different kinds of love, one person he was forced to live without, and the other, he suddenly didn’t know if he could. His phone buzzed, shattering his thoughts. He dug the phone out of his pocket. “Hello?”

“Hey, it’s Piper.”

Breathing was suddenly easier for him. His eyes stayed focused on the words on the medal.

“Is your schedule all clear?” he asked, mentally keeping his fingers crossed.

“I’m sorry, Quinn. There was an accident on the freeway earlier this morning. Families started calling a while ago.”

“Okay, well then, how about—”

“I’ve got to go,” her voice was hurried. “I’ll call you as soon as I’m free.”

The line went dead. Quinn stared at his phone.

“Bad news?” Grandpa’s voice drew his eyes up.

Trying his best to keep his disappointment from his voice, he answered. “Guess I’m free tonight, after all. That dinner offer still good?”

George’s face lit with a smile. “Of course. Then we’ll have time to go over all the details for this thing and make some phone calls. It’ll go faster with the two of us.”

“Sounds like my night got busy.” Which was good, because if he’d had to sit at home—alone—and think about wanting to hear Piper’s voice, see her smile, he might go crazy. “Let’s get started.”

Chapter Eighteen

Piper rushed around her office, completing a list of what-ifs for Margo. What if the embalming machine got clogged up again? What if the flower orders got messed up for Saturday’s service? What if the temporary hearse-driver came in with a hangover like the time when she’d had to have that emergency root canal? Okay, that hearse driver hadn’t been hung-over, technically, but she needed to be prepared for anything. She’d never left anyone alone to operate the funeral home. There had always been two people here before. Always.

The old grandfather clock in the hall struck four a.m. She’d been at this all night, and Quinn was due any minute to head to the airport. Her eyelids drooped as she finished the last of her list. And this, Friday morning, would be the first time she’d
really
get to see him since the past Sunday. Five whole days.

And while she knew it was healthy—for their sex-only relationship—not to spend every second with each other, she couldn’t get this wretched feeling out of the pit of her stomach. Any minute now he would stride through her door, certainly taking her breath away. Just like he did every other time he waltzed into a room.

With quick steps, she gathered her belongings and dropped them by the door, taking a minute to forward the phone to Margo. Margo finally picked up after the fifth ring.

“Uh, yeah?” Margo’s groggy voice sounded terrible.

Piper cringed. “I hope you will be answering the phone with a little more finesse now that the funeral line is forwarded to you.”

“Oh. Hello. Yes, of course.” Margo seemed suddenly awake and alert. “Sorry, I forgot you were calling so early. From here on out, total professional. Got it. Sorry.”

“I believe that. It’s all you, Margo,” Piper said. “Call if you need anything. I mean anything. Oh, and good luck.”

She hung up and glanced at the clock: 4:05. A knock made her heart darn near leap right out of her chest. With a calming breath, she swung open the door. Her pulse kicked up a notch. Even at four in the morning he looked wonderful. Eyes bright, clothes neat and pressed, hair perfectly tussled. Her fingers itched to touch it.

The corner of his mouth lifted. “Good morning, Piper.” He crossed the threshold, curling his arms around her back, pulling her close, and tilting her head up to meet his. “I’ve missed you.”

All of her thoughts scattered. She could only drink in the sight of his gaze so focused on her. His fresh scent of soap with a touch of aftershave soothed her nerves. And the length of him…so closely pressed to her. So hard, so warm, so…

He stole the rest of her thoughts with a kiss. A mind-bending, world-tilting, heart-thundering kiss. Lips met, parted, devoured. Teeth scraped, tongues twisted, lips suckled, and before Piper knew it, she was sweating. Hands caressed, body temperatures rose, and Piper went liquid in Quinn’s arms.

Thankfully, before she dropped to floor, Quinn eased back. “I’ve
really
missed you.”

A rush of air blew from her lips. “Well, I can see that.” She gave him a smile, knowing her face was twelve shades of red. “I’d be lying if I didn’t say the same thing.”

“Good.” He snatched her bags up from the floor. “Shall we?”

She followed him to the car, watching the way his frame moved beneath his T-shirt. This is was only the second time she’d seen him in a T-shirt and she had to admit it was a good look for him. Comfortable, sexy, relaxed. Not that he didn’t look relaxed in a suit—he did, which is something else she loved about him.

Once settled next to him, he brushed the back of his fingers over her cheek.

“You look exhausted,” he said.

“I haven’t been to sleep yet.”

His brow furrowed. “Lay back, then. And then you can sleep on the plane. You need to sleep.” His tone was calming, easy, caring. As always.

“We need to go over the convention stuff. It’s import—”

“You won’t be able to think in two hours, let alone concentrate. Sleep.” He gave her a worried smile. Even with frown line at the corners of his eyes, he was still melting her. “We’ll have plenty of time after we land. Sleep.”

Not able to argue with a man who was so genuine and concerned, she pulled the lever on the side of the seat, flopping back and closing her eyes. Within seconds, she was asleep.

Quinn woke her gently once at the airport. In a fog, she followed him, leaning on anything she could in the process of checking in. She was vaguely away of Quinn’s constant touch: his hand on her back, his fingers curled around her wrist, his support when she sagged against him down the long airport corridors.

“Sit,” he said once inside the plane.

Piper’s eyes fluttered closed as Quinn draped a warm blanket over her. Such a thoughtful man. Sleep consumed her all too quickly.

<<<<>>>>>

God, she was gorgeous when she slept. Quinn could only sit and watch her, enthralled at the steady rise and fall of her chest. Itching to kiss the pert pink lips as puffs of air slowly drew in and out. He couldn’t wait to get her alone at the hotel. A week away from her had been far too long. Quinn hadn’t realized how long until he’d kissed her on her doorstep. Even with dark circles under her eyes and exhaustion surrounding her, she was still breathtaking. And the aura that was only Piper had struck a bolt to his heart right then, reminding Quinn just how much he loved her. And how much trouble he was in for doing so.

A week was a long time to consider his feelings. Piper’s rule of no-love had rolled around and around in his head. He’d thought he could do it. He’d promised her. But he couldn’t help the way she made him smile with simply a look. The way his heart lurched when she wasn’t around, and the way it warmed when he merely heard her voice. He hadn’t even seen it coming, and now he didn’t know what the hell to do with it.

Every second in her presence was a tightrope walk with his emotions. Like on her doorstep—it taken every ounce of control to pull back from his lingering kiss and not show her how much her loved her right there on the wooden foyer floor.

He brushed his fingers over her cheek. “Piper.”

She murmured something about danger, tugging the blanket around her head.

“We’re here, Piper.”

Her eyes popped open, growing wide as she realized his face was inches from hers.

“Wha?” Sleep was still evident in her voice. She blinked once, and then again, the cinnamon of her eyes focusing on him. “Quinn.”

The breathless sound of her voice made his stomach knot. “Yes?”

“I had a dream.” She blinked yet again, her long lashes fluttering like she didn’t want to open her eyes. “A terrible…terrible dream about you.” Her lip quivered.

“Look at me, Piper.”

She hesitated but then obeyed.

“Tell me about it,” he said.

Her head shook slowly. “No. I can’t.” Her eyes clutched tight. “Never mind.” Her voice went distant.

He wanted her to open up to him, but knew pressing her would be a bad idea. Instead, he tried to lighten her sullen mood. “Sin City awaits.”

Within seconds she was fumbling with her seat belt. Quinn noticed her shaking hands and reached over to help. She stilled instantly.

“I can do it,” she whispered, nearly out of breath.

He drew back, studying her. While loads of people wrestled with their overhead baggage and inched down the aisle to the exit, Piper took the time to stretch. She kept shaking her head and mumbling under her breath. Quinn said nothing, only watched with mild curiosity.

Finally she spoke. “I. Hate. Flying.”

He cupped her face, forcing her to look at him. “Piper.” His lips brushed across hers. Slowly. Carefully. She sighed into his mouth. Good, he hadn’t lost her to some dream.

“Give me a second.” Piper’s voice was low, worried.

Stroking her cheek with his thumb, he did just that. He’d give her all the time in the world if she asked.

After several silent minutes and deep breaths, Piper spoke again. “Ever been to Vegas?” Her voice was more hers, a soft caress to his senses.

“Nope. You?”

Finally standing, she adjusted her lopsided ponytail. “Lots of times. The convention is in Vegas more often than any place else. I’ve been coming since I was legal.”

Quinn’s brow rose. “Legal?”

“Twenty-one.”

“Oh.” His hand found Piper’s waist, his lips found her mouth. “I’m glad my first time is with you.”

“Don’t be so sure,” she replied, a slight edge in her voice. “A bunch of stuffy people who work around dead people twenty-four/seven. Not the most lively bunch.”

“You’re lively, Piper. And that’s all I need.” He gave her his best grin, hoping to shake her out of whatever frame of mind her slumber had put her in.

Her hand flew to her chest, right over her heart, and she sucked in a tight breath. “Well, let’s get this started, shall we?”

Frowning, Quinn swung around and stepped into the aisle and motioned for Piper. “Ladies first. I’ll get the carry-ons.”

They collected their luggage, picked up the keys for their rental, and made their way to the parking lot. Once inside the red sedan, Quinn asked, “Why does the air feel different here?”

“Oh, you mean really hot but not leaving you sticky?” Piper started the car and made her way out of the parking lot.

“Yeah. It’s weird.”

“It’s desert heat. Dry heat. I
love
it. You know, you can walk down the entire Strip and not be dripping in sweat.”

“Even when I breathe, though, it’s strange, like something’s missing.”

She laughed, filling the small space of the car with a majestic sound. “All the moisture’s missing. You’ll get used to it. Plus, you won’t be spending a ton of time outside, anyway. The convention keeps us pretty busy. Well, it keeps me busy…I’m sure you’ll want to wander whenever you get bored.”

Oh, he wanted to wander, all right. His finger stroked her thigh. “We’ll see about that.”

Quinn was amazed how quickly they got from the airport to their destination. The airport was practically jumping distance from the Strip and their hotel only a few minutes away from that.

He kept his gaze on the glittering, immense buildings floating by as the car hummed down the busy street. Hoards of people lined the sidewalks, and even in the middle of the day, the lights flickered brightly around him. He let out a low whistle as they pulled up to the hotel valet.

“What?” Piper asked, shutting off the car.

Quinn craned his neck, still eyeing everything around him. “I’ve seen pictures of Vegas, but I guess I didn’t expect everything to be so…big.”

Smiling, Piper got out and handed the keys to the valet. “This is the Mirage. One of the tallest hotels on the Strip, but not necessarily the biggest. In its day, it was the most expensive hotel built.”

Quinn fell into step beside her as they made their way through the golden glass doors. Piper’s steps were quick and determined. He held her waist, making her slow down. When she pulled completely away from him and hurried several steps ahead, Quinn slowed further. Was she putting distance between them? Even with the thought, Quinn couldn’t help but stare, jaw agape, at everything around them. His eyes danced from palm trees to the distance sound of binging slot machines, to people all around calling out strange things, to gold details and marble floors. And it was so bright—everywhere. It was like an orgasm for the eyes.

“Oh, my God.” Quinn stopped dead in the center of the atrium. “Is that…?”

Piper eased him forward by taking his hand. “Feel like you stepped into a paradise, huh?” Her own eyes skimmed over the lush foliage inside the front atrium.

Outside was hustle and bustle, but this was like stepping in a rain forest. Bright tropical floras, orchids, and a bird of paradise tree made him marvel. “Yeah,” he said, at a loss for words.

“There’s more.” She drew him into the lobby, pointing at the front desk. “Look at the fish tank behind the desk.”

Quinn stepped forward, his eyes constantly scanning. “It runs the entire length of the wall? It must hold ten thousand gallons of water.”

“Actually,” a voice called out from behind them, “it’s twenty thousand gallons. Saltwater. Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Quinn and Piper turned at the same time.

“Mitch!” Piper flung herself forward into the man’s outstretched arms. The man was no older than Quinn. He was clean-cut, shaven, with slicked-back hair, and a standard black suit.

Quinn could only stand, dumbfounded, as he watched Piper’s perfect funeral director façade disappear before his eyes. This complete stranger stroked his hands up and down Piper’s back as he whispered into her ear. Piper hugged him with everything she had and giggled. When she briefly leaned back, Quinn didn’t miss the
real
twinkle in her eyes. He couldn’t help the twinge of envy that shot through him at the thought of Piper being so open and easy with this man. How long had it taken Quinn to get that same thing? And he still didn’t have it all.

When Piper drew away, her cheeks were flushed. Quinn’s eyes narrowed, and he stood his full height. “Would you like to introduce me to your friend, Piper?”

Her hand waved between them. “Mitch, Quinn. Quinn, Mitch.”