“That sounds nice.”
“I have a new cheese spread with some crackers and fruit we can nibble on before dinner.”
Another change, Anna thought as she followed her mother up the stone path toward the front door. When she and Andrew had been in the house, Lillian had run their house and schedules with military precision. Now her mother had become much more relaxed. Anna couldn’t complain. On the nights she stopped by to visit, she enjoyed sitting on her mother’s back veranda where the sound of the water sweeping into the bay was an excellent backdrop to their conversation.
Tonight, however, Anna felt herself a little on edge about the upcoming discussion. She was in fact surprised that her mother hadn’t already asked about today’s tour. And Quinn Lancaster.
Rehearsing in her mind exactly the tone and words she’d use, and hopefully navigate around her mother’s usually spot-on perception, Anna uncorked a bottle of white wine. Taking a sample sip, she nodded in approval before filling two glasses. She’d just stuck her head in the refrigerator to find the cheese, and lifted a brow at the size of the salmon her mother intended to grill tonight, when the doorbell rang.
“Can you get that, Anna?” her mother called out. “I need another minute or two.”
“Were you expecting someone?” she called back. No reply came so Anna paused at the door and looked through the peephole. Her hand shot out and jerked open the door.
Quinn didn’t jolt at the abrupt opening, and he didn’t seem surprised to see her. On the other hand she was stunned to see him, not to mention dismayed at feeling that fluid warmth of attraction slide through her.
He had changed out of his baseball uniform and was casually dressed in shorts, a polo shirt and boat shoes. She suddenly felt rumpled and wilted since she hadn’t changed after the end of the school day.
He held a small bouquet of flowers in his right hand. As she stood dumbfounded, his mouth slowly curved into a smile that had her closing her fingers around the doorknob in a death grip.
“What the hell are you doing at my mother’s?” she asked.
“Really, Anna,” Lillian said from where she’d come up behind her daughter. “Is that any way to speak to our guest?”
“Our guest?”
“Yes, I invited Quinn to have dinner with us. It appears I’ll start that evening with an apology for my daughter’s rude behavior. Come inside, now. Oh, isn’t that thoughtful of you,” she said when he offered Lillian the flowers. “Anna, why don’t you pour that wine while I put these in a vase?”
“None for me, thanks.” He winked at Anna as Lillian walked to the kitchen and he stepped into the house. “Looks like we’ll have that dinner after all.”
Chapter 2
The day might have started with disappointment and irritation, but it was ending on a fine note. Of course the middle part of the day, the part where he’d given the kids in Anna’s class a tour, hadn’t been bad either. But he had to admit, Anna was the biggest reason for the turn-around in his day.
Right this minute, Quinn liked knowing his appearance had thrown her off-course. The fierce demand in her question when she’d opened the door bothered him a little. Until he considered whether or not the attraction between them was the basis of her attitude. Still, she could try all she wanted to ignore it, or pretend it didn’t exist, but there was no doubting the air sizzled when they were in close quarters.
“How did your throwing session go today, Quinn?” Lillian Reynolds asked as she arranged the flowers in a vase. “Oh, Anna, would you please pour Quinn a glass of that raspberry tea I brewed earlier today? I remember you liked it the last time you were here,” she said to Quinn.
“You’ve been here before?” Anna asked.
Quinn watched the hem of her dress slide up the backs of her legs as she reached into an upper cabinet for a glass. He had a sudden thirst that he wasn’t holding out much hope the tea would satisfy. “Yes, Lillian was kind enough to invite me and a couple of other players to dinner last month.”
“I see.”
“No, you don’t.” He waited until she turned around to look at him. “You’re wondering if I’m taking advantage of your mother.”
“That’s nonsense,” Lillian argued. “I’m too old for you boys to think of me as anything more than a substitute mother.”
Quinn almost smirked at the thought of two of his temporary teammates being called boys, especially since one was older than him, and the other only a year younger. Then he recalled that Davy, a center fielder with a rocket-launcher for an arm, had been called-up to the major league team tonight.
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” he teased Lillian. “I’m not the only guy on the team that’s said we’d give up playing ball if we had your cooking to come home to every night.”
While Lillian blushed, Anna looked at him as if startled by his comment. Quinn waited until she’d poured the tea over ice and approached. He closed his hand over hers on the glass. Her fingers felt fragile beneath his grip, but she met his gaze with directness and challenge. He imagined it was the same firm look she used to get a disruptive student back in line. Standing this close he had the strongest urge to wrap his arms around her and kiss her senseless.
“I can swear I’d never hurt your mother.”
She must have heard the sincerity in his vow as she nodded once. Slipping her hand out from beneath his, Anna turned to the counter and began loading cheese and crackers onto a tray.
Quinn stepped forward to offer to carry the tray, only to have Anna shake him off. He might have thought she was still angry about his appearance, but she glanced at his shoulder, giving him a silent message that she didn’t want to jeopardize his rehabilitation.
Instead he extended his right arm to Lillian.
“I’m a lucky man to enjoy a glorious sunset with two beautiful women by my side.”
“I’m sure it’s not the first time that’s happened,” Anna muttered under her breath as she followed them outside.
The small patio invited relaxation with a canopy overhang as protection against the Florida sun while affording an uncluttered view of a lawn as green and lush as the front garden. A wrought-iron table and four cushioned chairs competed for space with a single chaise lounge and a gas grill. Anna set down the tray, and then arranged the placemats she’d carried under her arm around the table.
He liked watching her move through the ordinary motion of setting the table, sitting down and spreading cheese on a cracker, taking a bite. Her eyes were bright as they looked at him over the rim of her wine glass. “Is it wine you don’t drink? Or you don’t drink at all?”
“I have nothing against a drink at the end of the day or with dinner, but right now I’m staying off booze until my rehab is completed.” Her brows knitted as she drank more wine. “I had a teammate the first year after I’d been drafted.” He spread cheese on a cracker, offered it along with a smile to Lillian. “A second baseman who was rehabbing in the minors after he’d torn his ACL while sliding into third base. He got tossed off the team the second time he showed up at the ballpark high on a mixture of alcohol and medication in hopes of easing the pain enough to play.”
“Twice?” Lillian asked. “That seems rather severe.”
“It’s the nature of the business that there are plenty of young guys, often with a smaller paycheck, who are healthier and eager to play.” Quinn shrugged. “I’m lucky to have the talent to throw a baseball, and that I get paid well for doing so. I’m no longer on any medication, but I’m not going to do anything that will jeopardize my return to The Show.” He stared at Anna and ignored the spasm in his belly as he wondered if he was simply explaining his behavior, or warning both of them against any unnecessary complications.
“That’s what they call it when you play in the Major Leagues,” Lillian said to Anna.
“Yes, Mom. I know.” Anna smiled and met his gaze. “Quinn told the kids all about the various stages of playing today when we were at the field. It lead to a very interesting
discussion and object lesson about perseverance and dedication.” She lifted the glass to her lips to disguise her smile, only a bright light of humor danced into her eyes. “Much of what you said today made quite an impression, especially on Brian Drewes.”
“Enough to stop him from trying to drown you at the carnival?”
“Oh, I don’t think even you are good enough to talk Brian out of having his chance to dunk me.”
“He told me that you’ve been helping him after school with his spelling.”
She squirmed a little in her seat as she sipped her wine. “I’ve told all my students I’m available if they want additional help.”
“What about non-students?”
He grinned at the flush that rose up her neck, one that only got brighter when she glanced over and confirmed that Lillian watched them with interest and speculation.
“You strike me as very capable, Mr. Lancaster.”
He turned to Lillian. “She’s back to calling me Mr. Lancaster. I must have embarrassed her.”
“She’s always been the sensitive type. Shy, and yet always willing to help out. Of course, I now think those are some of the qualities that make her an excellent teacher.” Lillian sighed. “But they are also the very reasons why I worried about her whenever we were transferred.”
“She’s lucky she had you as her champion.”
“She is sitting right here,” Anna protested, but then sent her mother a soft smile. “And, yes, I’m very lucky.”
“I never had a teacher spend extra time helping me with classwork.” He lifted his glass of tea, tipped it in a salute. “Or offer to let me dunk her over and over at a school carnival. Even if it is for a good cause.”
“I suppose I should be grateful that none of my students have your pitching arm.”
“Right now, it’s not much of a threat.”
“Now, Quinn.” Lillian leaned across the table and placed a comforting hand on his arm. “You just need a little more time.” She patted him. “I bet you pitch one of those no-hitters within the first week you’re back in the pitching rotation.”
“Lillian, I would love to make that come true for you.” He set down his glass so he could lift her hand and brush his mouth over her knuckles. “I’m so going to miss seeing your smile in the stands.”
“Well, maybe I’ll come to a game when you move on.”
“I’ll make sure you have tickets anytime you want.” He glanced over in time to catch Anna’s frown.
“Do your parents get to come to many of your games?” she asked.
Every nerve in his body tightened. “Not lately.”
“I suppose it’s hard, what with them living in Texas and you here in Florida,” Lillian remarked. “I know Patrick hated missing out on so many of Anna and Andrew’s activities.”
“Yes,” he said, although the truth couldn’t be further from the truth. He drew in a careful breath, hating the way it felt like a knife slicing down his throat. His latest conversation with his stepfather hadn’t exactly been sweet and smooth. Then again, Richard Clark believed he knew more than Quinn’s coaches and the team’s medical staff. “And they’re busy getting ready for my half-sister’s high school graduation.”
“You won’t be able to go,” Anna said.
He refused to feel guilty or make any defense for what sounded like her disapproval. Just as he no longer allowed himself to feel slighted or hurt because his mother, stepfather or half-sister hadn’t asked him to come home for the occasion.
“No. But it’s hard for me to complain since I make a good living doing something I love.” He cocked his head and challenged her. “Isn’t that what you do?”
“I’m not sure there’s a teacher alive that would claim they make a good living.” She gestured with her glass. “Somedays I think we should receive hazard pay the way they do in the military.”
“Try standing at home plate and watch a ninety mile an hour fastball heading your way.”
“No, thanks.”
“Neither one of you have it right,” Lillian argued and Quinn saw a sparkle in her eyes. “Try raising a pair of energetic twins.”
“Mom.” Anna laughed. “I thought we already established that Andrew and I were saintly children.”
“In your mind.”
“Why don’t I make up for my bad behavior then, and finish putting dinner together?”
“You will do nothing of the sort. I invited Quinn and I’ll finish the preparations.” She gave Anna a look that brooked no argument. “You stay and keep him company.”
Quinn waited until Lillian had disappeared inside before he leaned across the table. “Is it me or does it feel as if your mother is trying to play matchmaker?”
“I hate to bust your ego bubble, but you’re not the first guy she’s tried to pair me up with. Mom thinks every woman should be married and with a family.”
“You don’t?”
Anna stared at him a long time, as if weighing her words. “I don’t want to be paired with a man who’s away more than he’s home.”
In spite of that disclaimer, Quinn and Anna managed to find common ground and an ease of conversation throughout the rest of the evening. The next bit of disagreement came as they were saying goodnight to Lillian.
“Mom, I’m perfectly capable of walking home.”
“And I’m your mother so I worry.”
“You weren’t worried when I walked here this afternoon.”
“Exactly, it was daylight then.”
“I’ll make sure she makes it home safely,” Quinn assured Lillian when Anna rolled her eyes.
Anna opened her mouth as if to argue, and then simply turned and hugged her mother before stepping outside. She was standing beside the passenger door of his car by the time Quinn joined her.
“Look, I understand my mother’s position, but I’m perfectly capable of walking a few blocks to my apartment.”
“Okay.”
Her jaw dropped open a quick instant before she straightened her shoulders. “Well, good night then.”
He grinned as she turned and began making her way down the sidewalk. He took a few minutes in the faint light from the streetlamp she passed to admire the sway of her hips before he climbed into his car. Setting his cruise control at a low speed, he lowered his window. He counted to four before she noticed him.
“What are you doing?” she demanded, stopping and staring at him.
“Keeping my promise to your mother to see that you make it home safely.” He glanced in the rear view mirror to confirm he wasn’t holding back another car.
“Look,” Anna said. “I’ll tell Mom that you drove me home.”
“And what will I say when she thanks me? And we both know she will. Do you want me to lie?”
Quinn had to bite down on his lip to keep from smiling when he heard her whispered oath. “It’s ridiculous for you to be driving beside me while I walk.”
“I don’t mind. I’ve got the time. And, Anna?” He really got a kick out of the aggravation he saw on her face when she looked at him. “I just want to say thank you for the pleasure of watching you walk.”
She stopped dead, as he would have bet good money she’d do. She opened and closed her mouth several times while trying to decide on how best to respond. Finally, she must have decided silence would work best while sitting in his car.
He didn’t mind the way she stormed around the front of the car, slammed the door, or her obvious irritation at being coerced into getting in his car. What he minded was the realization that her scent would linger.
“You need to fasten your seat belt,” he said, earning a glare from her. After securing directions, he continued at the same slow speed as when he’d been following her.
“Do you have dinner with your mom often?” he asked.
“At least once a week.”
He heard the softening in her voice. “Lillian’s a great lady.”
“She’s always been the rock in our family. Had to be,” Anna added.
>
“When did you lose your father?”
“Four years ago.” She turned to stare out the side window. “Andrew and I were finishing up our last year of college. We’d always lived with the chance of losing him, but when it happened, it was hard.” She was quiet for a long moment. “I put off my senior year so I could be with Mom, but Andrew finished and then went into the Air Force. After I graduated, Mom and I moved here.”
As they arrived at her apartment complex, Quinn realized that in a manner of speaking she’d lost her twin as well as her father. By the time he found an empty parking spot close to her building he better understood why she walked rather than drove to her mother’s house.
“I’ll walk you to the door.” He wrapped a hand around her arm to stop her protest.
She pulled her keys out as they stopped in front of a door on the bottom level. Quinn was male enough to admit he’d been looking forward to walking behind her as they climbed stairs. “I’d like to see you again.”
“Barefoot Bay isn’t that large, I’m sure our paths will cross from time to time.” She paused. “Until it’s time for you to leave.”
“Until then, there is the school carnival don’t forget.” Quinn leaned forward a little. “My offer still stands.”
“Your offer? Oh.” He grinned at the flush that rose up her neck, visible even in the faint porch light. “I’m sure that won’t be necessary.”
“Pity.” He cocked his head, considering her. “Then again, maybe I should test out my theory.”
“Theory?” A hammering pulse joined the flush on her neck. “What do you mean?”
“Whether or not you’d raise a fortune in that kissing booth.”
Before she could protest, he brought her close and lowered his mouth to hers.
Chapter 3
Anna thought she’d been prepared for Quinn’s kiss. The reality was nothing could have prepared her. The strong attraction between them meant a kiss had been inevitable. He might have aggravated her, more than once, but she’d wondered, more than once, how his lips would feel on hers.
Barefoot Bay: Hot Summer Kisses (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 2
