Start Me Up

by Victoria Dahl

  She laughed, but her nerves were jangling. What was so important that he’d broken through the pass during a storm? Not just the backhoe, surely. Was he here to declare himself over her?

  “You can keep it until spring. I’m definitely not trying to go around the gate again. I think I almost slid off the mountain at one point, but it was hard to tell with my eyes closed.”

  As she grinned and nodded like an idiot, Quinn crossed his arms and glanced nervously toward the lot. “So anyway, I guess I’ll just…”

  Was he leaving? He couldn’t go now! “I’m sorry. I’m being rude. Come in. Please?”

  He followed her into the house without a word.

  “Do you want some coffee?”

  “No, I’m fine. Hey, look at this place!”

  Her mouth went suddenly dry as he spun around. Her decorating skills were amateurish. She knew that. But Quinn kept smiling as he turned.

  “It’s a bit feminine for my taste,” he said. “But it suits you.” When he finally looked at her, his eyes were warm light. “I thought of yellow for you actually.”

  “You did?”

  “Yeah. I had a fantasy I might break in and fix this place up for you. But even I knew that would be a bit heavy-handed. See? I’m learning.”

  Her fluttering heart paused, frozen with hope, then it beat harder than ever. “Come see the bathroom.”

  Quinn laughed out loud at the sight of it. “It looks great.”

  “I saved the countertop for you. It’s in the garage.”

  “Seriously?” His laugh turned to pure delight. “That’s perfect.” Crossing his arms, he leaned against the doorjamb and met her gaze. “So you anticipated maybe seeing me again someday?”

  Her heart shook. “Someday, yes. Just not on the day they closed the pass.”

  “I couldn’t wait.” His voice was lower now, soft and deep.

  “Is something going on?”

  “No,” he said. “I just couldn’t wait anymore, Lori. I’m sorry. I know a backhoe isn’t a grand romantic gesture. Or maybe it is. I didn’t really mean it to be. I just…”

  She was sure her heart was responding to that, but she couldn’t feel anything beyond the pull of his hazel eyes. She shook her head.

  “I’m sorry,” Quinn said again, “for what I said to you. I wanted to say that in person.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re an amazing person. And you’ll do amazing things when you’re ready, and I know that has nothing to do with my schedule or my ideas or my life.”

  Something bubbled up inside her. “I’m taking classes,” she blurted out, then wanted to cover her eyes in embarrassment. But she didn’t. “I enrolled at the University of Colorado. I’m taking online classes.” Her eyes filled with tears, though she wasn’t sure why. And when Quinn’s arms came around her, she didn’t care.

  “In international business?” he asked, his breath warming her hair.

  Lori sniffled. “No. Accounting.”

  He pulled back and bent down to meet her eyes. “Accounting? Really?”

  “I loved doing the books for the shop. So I thought I’d try it out and see if I liked the courses. I do.”

  “That’s great.” He looked so proud that she folded herself back into his arms and held on. He didn’t feel as if he wanted to tell her good riddance. Not at all. In fact, his arms tightened around her and he sighed against her temple.

  “Have you had dinner?” she ventured.

  Quinn shook his head.

  “I’ve got hot dogs.”

  “Perfect,” he answered. And it was. They sat at her table and ate hot dogs, smiling in between bites.

  “I really am sorry,” Quinn said after he finished his second dog.

  Lori set down her beer and folded her hands together. “You were cruel—”

  “I know. It was—”

  “But you were right. Not about me becoming your kept woman, but about everything else.” She smiled to break the tension, but Quinn still looked miserable. “It’s okay, Quinn. Honestly. I was so mad I had all the energy I needed to start getting my shit together. Your evil pep talk worked.”

  “Well…good. You look great. And the house looks like it belongs to you now. And the accounting classes…I’m happy for you, Lori.”

  “Thank you.” She finished her hot dog and was wiping off her hands when Quinn cleared his throat.

  “Thanks for dinner. I’m staying at Ben’s tonight. Maybe you’d consider going out to Grand Valley for lunch with me tomorrow?”

  “Oh. Don’t you have to work?”

  He tipped his beer in her direction. “I think Jane will be thrilled if I call in sick. In fact, I think she’d insist.”

  “Do you have to go now?”

  Quinn leaned back in his chair and looked at the ceiling. “I didn’t come by to try to insert myself back into your life.”

  “But you’re so good at inserting, remember?”

  His sudden laugh was so loud it startled her into a jump. “How could I forget? I had new business cards printed. Poor Jane was scandalized.”

  “Liar.”

  Quinn sighed and aimed a tired smile in her direction.

  “Stay,” Lori whispered. “At least stay for another beer. We’ll talk. If you get too drunk you can walk to Ben’s.” Or you can just sleep here, she left unsaid. She wondered if he’d notice if she replaced his half-empty bottle with a full one.

  She still didn’t think she was ready for a permanent relationship with Quinn, but she couldn’t bear the idea of him leaving now. She just wanted to get close to him, smell his skin, maybe lick his throat just a little bit. Her body felt drawn to him, her skin pulling to get closer. But he still hadn’t answered her invitation. If he left, she’d have to embarrass herself by sneaking through one of Ben’s windows in the middle the night. And Ben had a gun.

  “I’m going to Europe in June!” she blurted out in desperation, feeling stupid even as she did it. Bragging about something not worth bragging out. But Quinn’s jaw dropped.

  “Are you kidding me?”

  “I’m not. I’m going to get a little more money out of the land than I’d expected. I’m selling it on speculation and I’ll let the developer take the risk. They’ll either be very sorry or very rich. And I’m taking a six-week trip to Europe. Finally.”

  “Lori…Wow. Six weeks?”

  “So will you stay and tell me about your favorite buildings in Paris? It’s my first stop.”

  Quinn didn’t even answer. He just grabbed his beer, took her hand and led her to the couch. She asked a few questions and then he was off, describing cathedrals and libraries and ornate palaces. She didn’t take notes. Hell, she didn’t even listen. She just watched his face shift from seriousness to reverence to awe. His hands shaped and turned, gesturing toward structures she couldn’t see.

  Lori melted into the couch. He was a work of art. A man made beautiful by his passion. She could watch him for hours. She could have sex with him right now. When he finally came to a stop, Lori breathed out a deep sigh.

  “You’re amazing. If you ever looked at a woman like that, she’d be in deep trouble.”

  His brow lowered and his eyes finally came back into focus. “Pardon me?”

  “Nothing.”

  He glared at her. “I hope you’re not serious.”

  “Oh, come on, Quinn. You’re like a different person when you talk about architecture.”

  “You think I like buildings more than I like you?”

  Lori cringed and didn’t answer, trying to be diplomatic. But apparently Quinn didn’t appreciate the diplomacy. He set down his empty bottle with a thunk and stood, holding out his hand. “Come on.”

  “What?” She took his hand and found herself towed toward the bathroom. “What?”

  “Look,” he said, facing her toward the mirror. He stood behind her, hands on her shoulders.

  She looked…and realized she’d forgotten to put on a bra under her tank top. Not a terrib
le mistake, considering.

  “Look here,” he whispered. He wound one of her curls around his finger. “You’re beautiful, Lori.”

  She cringed a little.

  Quinn shook his head. “You’re amazing. A work of art and engineering.”

  “I’m pretty sure I’m not.”

  “Look.” He wound her curl a little tighter. “Your hair is arabesque tracery…”

  She started to shake her head.

  “Falling down to hide the fragile volute of your ear.” His lips touched her ear and paused there for a moment, mouth brushing her skin in a butterfly touch.

  Lori shivered.

  “And here…” His hand slid down her throat to rest against her chest. “Your collarbone, a formeret, sweeping out to your shoulder. I’ve traced it in my mind…” Lowering his mouth, he pressed his lips there, following the shape of the bone with a trail of kisses.

  Lori’s heart thundered and her chest tightened until she couldn’t breathe. Quinn’s words wound around her, the consonants brushing her skin. Was this really happening?

  “The lancet arch under your arm—” he brushed his fingers down her bicep “—and the perfect rounded vault of your breast.”

  She watched his fingers spread over her breast and curve beneath the slight weight as her knees went weak and helpless. He paused there, looking at their reflection in the mirror.

  As they both stared, Quinn raised his hands and slid both thin straps off of her shoulders. Her top fell, exposing her breasts. Lori gasped and heard the gorgeous sound of Quinn sighing behind her. He slid past her and dropped to his knees.

  “Here.” He breathed the words against her breast. “Your nipples are delicate rosettes, straining to be noticed. I notice.” Before his words had finished shivering through her, he put his hot mouth to one nipple and drew it gently into his mouth. He sucked at her until she moaned, then dragged his wet mouth lower. “Your ribs…” He nuzzled each individual line of her ribs. “Your ribs are molded struts forming the frame of your body.”

  “Quinn…” she gasped, but he moved lower still.

  His tongue dipped into her belly button. “Your navel is a circled niche hidden in the curve of your belly.”

  When he reached for the button of her jeans, Lori let her head fall back against the cool wood of the doorjamb.

  She felt him tug and heard the zipper and was afraid to open her eyes and find that she was dreaming. She’d thought of Quinn’s body every single night, even when she was furious with him. But she’d never imagined the beautiful words coming from his mouth.

  Her jeans slid down her legs. Lori stepped out of them and heard them hit the far wall. “The quadripartite,” he breathed, his voice so rough she could barely hear him, “where your thighs arch up to meet at your sex. And your sex…” Both his hands touched her, his fingers slipping into her curls while his thumbs slid lower, parting her.

  Lori whimpered.

  “Your sex is a gothic portal molded of delicate palmettes. Something too beautiful to have been created by man. Like nothing made of stone. I know. I’ve tried to build you in my mind. I’ve lain there at night sculpting your shape behind my eyes.” His wide thumbs traced the lines of her sex, tightening her belly into coils.

  “And finally…” He spread her gently and dipped his head to touch his tongue to her. “Finally, the hidden keystone of your whole body.”

  When he licked her, she moaned. She couldn’t hold it back and didn’t want to. His words were flying through her, swirling around inside her chest, her head. And his tongue was pressing at just the right spot. Sobbing, she came within seconds, her body rushing to meet the pleasure he offered.

  Before she’d stopped shaking, Quinn lifted her up and carried her to her new bed. He made love to her slowly. There was no roughness or dirty talk. There were no ropes and harsh words. It was just Quinn and his body on hers. Lori held him tight to her, even the thrust of his sex not close enough for what she wanted. She wrapped herself around him and took him in and cried as he reached his climax.

  Quinn brushed her hair from her eyes and kissed her tears away. “I like you more than buildings, Lori Love,” he whispered, causing more tears to fall. “A lot more. I won’t tell you how much. Not now.”

  “I missed you,” she choked out.

  “I missed you, too. And I’ve been thinking…”

  She froze beneath him. “Oh, no.”

  “Seriously.” He rolled to his side, but kept her body tight against his. “Ben’s going to move in with Molly.”

  Lori pulled her chin in to look at him. “She hasn’t said anything to me.”

  “She was trying to be delicate, I think. You’re sitting here with a broken heart and—Oof!” He pressed a hand to his damaged ribs. “Anyway, Ben’s going to rent out his house. I thought maybe I’d lease it for a year.”

  “What?” She shook her head. “That makes no sense. You can’t leave your office.”

  “No, I can’t. And I wouldn’t want to. But it’s winter now. I can’t go out and visit sites, so my time is occupied with planning and drawing and meeting with clients. There’s no reason I can’t work from here for a week or two every month. And in the summer, it will be no problem. I thought maybe, if I behaved myself, you’d consider giving me another chance. Just dating. That’s all.”

  His face swam in front of her. Not from tears, but just her reeling mind. “Just dating?”

  “You need time. I know that. I don’t want to pressure you, but I don’t want to give you up, either. I like you more than buildings, Lori. And I think that deserves a chance, if you do, too.”

  “You’d come here for me?”

  “I would. You were right. I asked you to sacrifice everything and that was shitty.”

  “Mmm.”

  “But my ego can’t take more than one more rejection, so just make it quick if you never want to see me again. But you’d better sound like you mean it, because I can still feel the imprint of your fingernails on my ass.”

  “Shut up!” she gasped, relieved at the chance to laugh. While she was still laughing, Quinn kissed her and didn’t stop for a long, long time. When he finally let her go, she’d melted into the covers.

  Quinn took a deep breath. “Will you let me move temporarily into your town and take you out to dinner a few nights a month so you don’t forget me this winter, Lori Love?”

  “Aren’t you going to get down on one knee while you ask that?”

  “I didn’t want to scare you.” He punctuated his joke with a yawn. “Plus I’m really tired.”

  “Yes,” she answered, “I will.” Smiling, she stroked his hair for a few minutes, thrilled that she could touch him again. “And, Quinn…? Do you think you might…Um…Will you meet me in Córdoba?”

  She held her breath, waiting for an answer that didn’t come. Awkward. “Quinn?”

  He didn’t answer, so Lori scooted down a little on the bed to see his face. Her studly erotica hero was dead asleep.

  Lori snuggled close, pulled the comforter over both of them, and fell fast asleep. She dreamed of dancing with a handsome stranger in a café in Spain, and strangely enough, the stranger had elegant hands and a keen interest in the local buildings. And he called himself Quinto.

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-3538-4

  START ME UP

  Copyright © 2009 by Victoria Dahl

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establish
ments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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