by C. L. Stone
“Or maybe you’re instincts are just right on. It wouldn’t be beneath me to try a stunt like that to get you to do something. I like to win, pathologically.”
“Oh. Okay.” Good to know …
We walked in together, and sure enough there were five elderly women laughing around a table while they played cards. I grinned.
They all rose when we came in, each in turn letting out a shriek. They hugged Quinn like he was their favorite person on the planet, which he very well might be.
“Ladies,” Quinn finally got a word in edgewise. “This is Paloma Devereaux. She’s lovely and too good for me. Still, I thought maybe you could all talk me up a bit. Give me a fighting chance to win her heart.”
My face must have been bright red. “I …”
He winked at me. “Pathological, P.”
Even despite his strange, disconcerting introduction, I had a wonderful time with Quinn’s harem of old women. Despite his statement that he needed to be talked up for me, the opposite happened. I had no questions about what was going on as far as the widows went. They were making sure I was good enough for him.
He sat back in his chair and watched the whole thing with a grin on his face. By the end of the day, they knew where I was from, how I had been with the Sisterhood, why I had been with them—which shocked me that I once again confessed my bad behavior. Quinn’s ladies didn’t seem at all shocked. They dug even deeper. By the time I was done, they had learned that my best subject in school had been history and if I had a dream job it would be running my own restaurant.
I remembered the sandwiches and hurried to hand them out—they were a big hit.
On the way out, I elbowed Quinn. “That was some dirty pool. Letting them dig into my past for you.”
He held up two fingers. “Two birds. One stone.”
“Check on the women and get my information at the same time.”
He put his arm around me. “No, actually. The second part surprised me as much as anything. I thought they’d fawn over you. Guess I didn’t realize how much they’d get protective. Check on the ladies, spend the day with you. That being said, if I’d followed the steps, I would have predicted this. Not upset with the way it turned out.”
We drove back in silence, so when he abruptly stopped before we reached their home, I was once again left wondering what the hell Quinn had going on.
“Was that too much? Did I … scare you before we went by not telling you? I thought you’d like a surprise, a fun day.”
I placed my hand on his arm. “I had a fun day. You made me nervous, not scared. I used to love surprises. Maybe I’m not ready for them yet.”
He placed his fingers over my own. “Fair enough.”
We finished our drive to their home and got out of the car. Quinn grinned and pointed further up the hill. “Tommy must be checking on the shuttle.”
It was the biggest shuttle I’d ever seen; looked much more like a ship than any shuttle. It took up most of the hill. Painted white with just four numbers on the side. Presumably that was the shuttle that would take me to Mars Station.
A loud boom sounded, and fire shot out the back. My heart rate immediately kicked up. “Is that normal? That noise?”
Quinn shook his head. “Actually, no. Shouldn’t be doing that.” His lips quirked, which seemed strange, but I didn’t have time to analyze. “Son of a bitch. I never see him coming.”
“What?” I didn’t understand. The shuttle revved again, and I fell backwards on my rear end. I shrieked, covering my ears.
I knew that noise. I’d heard it tenfold by what had to have been at least ten similar shuttles overhead. Ships like that one, that made the same noise, had launched bombs at our heads in the Sisterhood. I’d thought I was doing well, but hearing it again brought it all back. The fire. The noises. The death. I covered my ears. Damn, I could even smell it.
Quinn grabbed me, pulling me into his embrace even as he kept me on the ground. “What’s the matter?”
“The bombs. They came on that ship. That noise. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m …”
He kissed my cheek, hard. “Don’t you dare say sorry. Don’t you dare. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I hoped they wouldn’t come. It was a soft target, a nothing, an afterthought. He shouldn’t have taken it so early.”
His words made no sense. All I knew was he was crying, his tears mixing with my own. “I don’t understand.”
“I know.” He kissed both my cheeks again, his body shaking. “Damn it.”
“What’s going on?” Clay appeared next to us. Quinn and I were soaked with the rain, our hoods having fallen down and neither of us having the wherewithal to pull them back up.
Quinn pulled me into his arms. “Tell Tommy to turn off the noise. Now. Fuck. I’m taking P inside. Get out of my way.”
Clay stepped back like it was the most standard thing in the universe for him to be yelled at by his younger brother. Without another word, he ran toward the shuttle.
We got into the house, dripping with water. Quinn once again took the steps two at a time, this time with me in his arms. He set me on the bed and ran to his closet. Next thing I knew, his strong, capable fingers pulled my clothes off me. I should have been embarrassed, except he quickly redressed me in his too-big-for-me gray t-shirt. He did the same himself, turning his back when he did. I tried not to look.
He kneeled down next to the bed and then shook his head. A minute later, he lay out next to me, placing a kiss lightly on my lips. “I’m so happy you’re alive, P. You’ll never know how much. I-I’m so happy.”
I let him hold me. I needed it, and from the way he shook, I thought he did too.
4
Someone to Talk To
After a while, Quinn kissed me hard on the mouth. I didn’t see the kiss coming, but I didn’t object to it either. I was terrified and needy. I didn’t understand most of what he said as explanation, which didn’t mean I couldn’t recognize fear when I encountered it. Something had freaked him out, too.
His breath was sweet, and his kisses were firm but kind at the same time. He lured me forward. I let him lead, chasing him but loving it when I caught his momentum, too. I was fully in his arms, and he made the smallest noises in his throat, each one encouraging me on.
Finally, I pulled back. I knew where kissing led to. I’d gone down this path once before with horrific ramifications.
“I’m sorry. I can’t go any further. I know it doesn’t make sense. But I swore to myself I would save myself for my someday-husband. I made a mistake once. The best I can do is say to him, someday, that I didn’t do it again.”
He nodded before he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. “I only want what you want, P. I don’t even deserve to touch you the way I have. I’m not really worthy of even your sweet kisses.”
I took his cheeks in my hand. “Explain. I can’t believe what you say is true. You’re so … kind.”
“Kind.” He raised his eyebrows. “Maybe in another life.”
A knock sounded on the door, and Tommy poked his head in. “You two okay? Sorry about the ship, Paloma. I didn’t know. Truthfully, the shuttle should not have been doing that at all. Someone screwed with it. And since I’ve sold thousands of this model and know there is no glitch to be found in the design, then I can safely say one of my brothers decided to make my programming glitchy. Want to take responsibility?”
Quinn rolled over onto his back. “I’ve been with the Widows today. P was with me. I didn’t have the time, interest, or motivation to screw with your shuttle.” He rolled over til he looked at me. “I would tell you all my secrets. I would beg your forgiveness a thousand times over. But they’re not just my own.”
“Quinn,” Thomas snapped. “Up. Take a walk or a pill. I don’t care which. But do one. Immediately.”
My bed companion groaned but jumped out of the bed as he’d been instructed. “You know, one day someone who doesn’t already know, will know.”
Thomas nodded. “That day isn
’t going to be today. Do you want a pill?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I don’t need to sleep off my demons today, thanks. P, I’ll see you later. Thanks for today. Best ever.”
I smiled at him and swung my legs over the bed. “Sorry. I wasn’t trying to pry. He kept trying to tell me. I’d just decided to let him, but he didn’t say anything.”
I wasn’t sure about Thomas. This family had secrets. I’d have to be dumb to not realize they had lots to keep hidden. Yet they were doing me favor after favor. I wasn’t afraid. But how far would Thomas go to keep their mysteries hidden?
Thomas made a low noise in his throat and knelt down. “You have no reason to believe me. I am trying to keep you safe, too. The less you know about Quinn’s troubles or even my own, the better. I can’t blame you for having the reaction you did to the ship malfunctioning. It won’t do that on our trip to Mars Station. One of these asshats I call my brothers did something to it. Maybe just to be obnoxious. Not one of us would have caused you pain.”
I stood. “Thank you. I don’t want to cause you any more issues. I’ll be the easiest passenger ever on your shuttle.”
“Somehow I doubt that. Listen, I don’t want to overstep, but I have this ridiculous need to make the people around me … okay. You reacting the way you did, it makes sense. It should have been expected, even. I have someone you can talk to.”
I cleared my throat, dread forming in my stomach. “I don’t want spiritual counseling. I don’t feel better after whatever they tell me. Starvation. Whippings. Staying silent. It doesn’t work. Maybe I’m past help.”
He took my hand and kissed my knuckles. I didn’t know what to do; out of all of them I thought Thomas the least likely to touch me. His lips were warm even as his gaze remained cold. “I cannot believe all the things that were done to you. It breaks my heart. Or whatever heart I have left to break. I’m not talking about a spiritual counselor. Someone quite different. In fact, if you even suggested to Ari Bennett that he was any kind of spiritual counselor, he’d lose his lunch. He’s a doctor. After dinner I’m going to introduce you.”
Thomas stayed very close to me during the meal preparation. I decided to do a simple meatloaf with salad and potato salad. Anytime I reached for something, he handed it to me. The third time I wasn’t able to get my own spoon, I took a deep breath.
“I’m not going to fall apart. I only do that once a day.” He didn’t laugh at my joke.
“I don’t think you are. I’m helping.” He cleared his throat. “Unless I’m crowding you?”
“I think I’m done anyway.” I put the meatloaf in the oven and dressed the salad. There was nothing left to do but wait.
Thomas nodded. “How were Quinn’s widows?”
“Nosy and not sure if I was good enough for your brother.”
He snorted. “They love him, and he’s good to them.”
“I could tell.” I set about setting the table, stopping when Thomas grabbed my wrist. “What’s wrong?”
“You cooked. I’ll set the table. Sit down and wait until it’s ready.” He pointed to the stool by the counter, and I sat down on it.
Clay came into the room. “What is that smell?”
“Cooking food.” Thomas lay out the silverware. “This is what a house smells like when someone makes food in it.”
“Thank you, Paloma.” Clay leaned over and kissed my cheek. “I haven’t smelled food cooked in a kitchen so frequently since I was a kid. Our cook did it after our mother died. Still, somehow it was stale. Not warm like this.”
Thomas groaned. “Mom didn’t cook before she died. The fact that Paloma can cook is different from most of the women she grew up with. I’m not wrong, right, Paloma? You didn’t make dinner on Mars Station?”
I shook my head. “You read that situation correctly. I only learned to cook in the Sisterhood.”
“Must have been a shock.” Clay leaned over and pulled a bottle of wine out of a small fridge under the counter. “Seems like a red night.”
I touched the label and the side of the bottle. I’d never, ever had any. I was too young on Mars Station and alcohol was forbidden with the Sisters. Couldn’t feel the universe move if you were drunk …
“I screamed so hard and so loud my first two nights with the Sisters I lost my voice for a day. I was in utter terror. It was like my family had dropped me off into the care of monsters. I … I didn’t know how I was going to survive.”
Clay grabbed some glasses and poured three. “But you did. The other two will be down, I’m sure, as soon as they smell the food. Hope you like this one.” He took a sip of his wine. “Not bad. I bought it in town.”
“I’ve never had any before. I was too young on Mars Station and the Sisters frown on drinking.”
Thomas plopped down next to me. “Then go slow, okay? You start to feel drunk, stop. I’m really not in the mood to hold your head over the toilet.”
Clay kicked him in the shin. “I swear he’s not always an ass.”
I pushed the wine away. “He’s probably right. I wouldn’t want to do anything else to be disruptive.”
Thomas groaned loudly. “I was kidding. It was a joke.”
They bantered back and forth for a while, and I watched them. When Thomas was alone with me, he was less difficult than he was when his brothers were around. He was kind and didn’t seem to mind my presence in their life. The second one of his younger siblings came around, his back got up and I wanted to run to my room and hide.
Clay was always easy, always smooth. I wondered if he ever got rattled. He hadn’t liked it when Sister Sovereign hadn’t given in to him. I kind of thought he was used to winning—or at least getting his way. He had kind eyes, but I knew to be careful about appearances. To the outside world, Sister Sovereign had been someone to mold themselves after. She seemed so … good. I had seen the look in her eyes when she dished out punishment. I think the word was sadistic, and I hadn’t given her any consent to take that out on me.
It was hard to live with these guys and keep my guard up.
Keith bounded down the stairs and scooted in next to Thomas. “It smells like my idea of food heaven in here. Is that meatloaf?”
“You know”—Thomas laughed—“any one of you could learn how to cook. It’s not impossible. Now that Paloma’s cooking has shown us we’re all miserably hungry, you could learn.”
Keith shook his head. “Nope. I want Paloma to cook.”
“I haven’t done anything extraordinary. I can do better than meatloaf. I swear.”
Keith poured himself some wine. “Oh, Clay took out the good stuff. There must be someone special here he wants to impress.”
Clay’s cheeks tinged red. “Knock it off.”
“All right, all right.” Keith took a sip of the wine. “What are we all up to?”
Thomas kicked Keith’s chair. “My shuttle is broken. Someone screwed the code up so badly it is going to take me all day tomorrow to sort that shit out. Oh sorry, Paloma. I know better than to curse.”
I’d heard worse words, mostly from my father.
He continued speaking. “Quinn says he was busy all day with Paloma, and she’s not contradicting that. So either he’s not lying and one of you two went ahead and screwed with my shuttle. Or she’s lying. Are you lying, Paloma?”
I would never want to be really on the spot with Thomas. I hadn’t lied, and he was still making me feel like I’d done something wrong. “Not even a little bit.”
“I didn’t think so.” He pointed his finger first at Clay then at Keith. “Why did you screw with my programming?”
Clay raised his hands above his head. “Above my paygrade. I don’t know how to do that.”
Keith shook his head. “Why would I screw with your shuttle programming? Seems like a lot of hassle.”
He hadn’t really answered the question. I wasn’t going to point it out. This felt like a family thing. I wasn’t their family nor would I ever be. Although it would be nice. Would they e
ver consider sharing a wife? I tried to push the thought away. The McQueens had secrets, but they were good people. They’d taken me in and helped me. They were handsome, and I’d started to adjust to the way three of them liked to touch and kiss me.
The oven dinged, and I was glad for the distraction. Thomas continued to needle the other two, and they held steady, not admitting any guilt in the mysterious reprogramming of the shuttle computers. I took the meatloaf out and started cutting it. I dished four plates and then one more when Quinn dashed through the door.
“Did I miss dinner?” Quinn grabbed the wine bottle and poured himself a glass. “I took my walk. I get to have dinner right? Like the family dog? You’ll fill my plate?”
Thomas groaned loudly. “You needed the walk. And Paloma is dishing it out. Should we sit at the actual table and try to get through a meal without killing each other?”
Clay rose. “I think it might be more likely the three of us will grow wings and a tail.”
Keith walked over to me. “Need help?”
I shook my head. “I got this.”
The energy in the room was really positive. Thomas had his shuttle messed with, but he didn’t seem particularly worked up about it. He’d been angrier the night before when I’d mistaken his comment for an insult. Wasn’t he going to get really mad about the shuttle? My family always yelled. Loudly. Or my father did, at me. At my mother. At my little sister. At the world.
Thomas sipped his wine with a smile on his face. I served dinner. Conversation was easy. No one yelled at one another. Quinn seemed more at ease than he’d been earlier.
I still hadn’t touched my wine and wasn’t going to. I didn’t want to be drunk, not when my future was so unsure. I made bad enough choices with my head clear.
There was so much male beauty in the room I might forget my promise to my future husband and myself. After earlier, I was pretty sure Quinn wouldn’t say no. Heck, Clay and Keith wouldn’t either. And Thomas would yell at us all.
“What are you thinking about?” Clay pointed his fork at me before placing it down. “Your head. It’s somewhere else entirely.”
