by Jenna Sutton
Amelia had done something to him. He didn’t know what, exactly, and he didn’t know where to go from here.
Teagan stared at him, a speculative expression on her face. “Are you okay, Quinn?”
He sighed. “I only got three hours of sleep. I’m tired.”
She made a sympathetic sound. “You have a big job. And it’s going to get even bigger now that Daddy has decided not to come back to work.”
“I know.”
He wished his dad had made a different decision, but he understood why he hadn’t. Even though his cancer was in remission, James still tired easily. More important, his dad no longer had the same passion for his work.
No one outside of the family knew James had decided to retire. Quinn wasn’t sure when his dad would make the official announcement.
“Do you ever worry you devote so much time and energy to this company you’ll never find someone special?” Her eyes were locked on his. “I think about it a lot. I don’t want to be a party of one anymore.”
An image of Amelia popped into his head, and he scowled. “What’s with the introspection, T? Isn’t it a little early in the day to talk about our life goals?”
“I heard you and Amelia went out to dinner.”
It took him a moment to catch up with the new direction of the conversation. One of Teagan’s best negotiating skills was her ability to change the subject abruptly, catching people off guard.
“Where did you hear that?”
“Amelia. I stopped by earlier this morning to check in with her before the day got too crazy.” She smoothed the skirt of her dress. “She shared some of the freshly squeezed juice she made with the juicer you bought her.”
He tried to think of something to say that wouldn’t incriminate him. “That was nice of her.”
“It was nice of you to give Amelia something she’d like instead of the generic welcome basket. In fact, it was a really thoughtful gift. It’s something I would never have imagined you’d do.”
Quinn was offended by her assessment of him. “I’m thoughtful,” he countered, raising his hand and ticking off examples of his largesse. “I remember your birthday. I’ve never forgotten Mother’s Day, and I always bring Cal truffles whenever I’m close to his favorite chocolatier.”
“We’re your family, and you love us. Plus, you know Daddy would beat you within an inch of your life if you forgot Mother’s Day.” She leaned forward, her manner changing. “Since when do you buy a juicer for a woman?” Her tone was both accusing and incredulous. “Isn’t that in the bachelor rulebook—thou shalt not buy household appliances—for fear of sending the wrong message?”
His mood, which hadn’t been all that great to start with, soured. He wasn’t going to suffer through a lecture from his younger sister because he’d done something nice.
“You’ve got one more minute before I kick your ass out of here,” he warned.
She held up her hands. “I just thought you might want to know Amelia’s flying home to Nashville today.”
Blood rushed from his head, and he heard a roaring sound in his ears. He thought it might be his pulse.
“What?”
He was obviously having trouble with comprehension. He could have sworn his sister had said Amelia was leaving.
“She’s leaving,” Teagan said, enunciating each word.
“No, you’re wrong. She’s supposed to be here for two more weeks.”
“Well, she changed her mind.”
When he realized what Teagan had actually said, he vaulted out of his seat. If he had to, he’d tie Amelia to a chair in the penthouse to keep her from leaving him.
Wait, what? She wasn’t leaving him. She was just going back home, where she belonged.
“Amelia said she’d be back on Tuesday.”
His pulse returned to normal when Teagan disclosed that important detail. He was so relieved he was a little lightheaded, and he grabbed the back of his chair. He’d almost forgotten Teagan was still in his office until she spoke.
“Quinn, it’s obvious something is going on between you and Amelia.”
With an intent expression, she waited for him to respond. Unfortunately for her, he had nothing to say.
“Your minute was up a while ago,” he said, pointing toward the door. “This conversation is over.”
She must have known he meant business because she left his office without another word. He dropped into his chair, leaning his head back to look at the ceiling. He studied the exposed ductwork while his mind tried to make sense of the mess he’d made.
Should he go up to the penthouse and talk to Amelia? If he did, what would he say? “I’m sorry I ripped off your shirt” or “I’m sorry we were interrupted. Now let me take off your panties”?
He groaned, pressing his palms against his eyes. Maybe it was better if he just left her alone. He snorted. There was no maybe about it. It was better if he just left her alone.
He just wasn’t sure he could.
Chapter 16
“How’s the pressure? Would you prefer it deeper? Harder?”
Moaning from the pleasure, Amelia closed her eyes in bliss. “Ooh. It’s perfect now.”
“As you wish, Miss Winger,” the massage therapist replied, continuing to stroke and knead her shoulders and upper back with strong hands.
Amelia was ensconced in a treatment room in Beaubelle, one of the most exclusive spas in Nashville, and Ava Grace relaxed on a massage table less than a foot away.
“Thank you for arranging this,” Amelia said.
“You needed it,” Ava Grace murmured.
Amelia had texted Ava Grace before she’d boarded the plane yesterday to let her know she was returning to Nashville for a long weekend. When she’d woken up this morning, her best friend had announced she had booked them for a spa day. She couldn’t think of a better way to spend her Saturday.
The soothing sound of chimes filtered from speakers cleverly hidden in the ceiling, and the air was perfumed with frangipani massage oil. Amelia and Ava Grace enjoyed the diligent ministrations of their therapists for several minutes before Ava Grace broke the restful silence.
“Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong, Millie.”
Amelia hesitated, not sure where to begin. Should she start with Teagan’s threat to fire her if she told Quinn about the redesign? Or should she go straight to Quinn’s thoughtful gift and everything that had happened afterward? It was all related.
“I’m afraid I’ve made a big mistake,” Amelia admitted, her voice cracking slightly.
Ava Grace already knew Amelia was involved in two projects for Riley O’Brien & Co., the official project designing the new line of accessories and Teagan’s secret project to revamp the entire women’s division. She had also already heard about Amelia’s meetings with Deda, Diana, and Vandy during previous phone calls.
As the massage therapist worked on Amelia’s legs and feet, which had been tortured this week by impractical shoes, she shared the disappointing news from Shelby’s presentation and Quinn’s resulting distress. She also described everything that had happened after she and Quinn had talked about the presentation but left out the charged moment when he’d almost kissed her.
“Quinn was hurting. Badly. I wanted to tell him about the redesign because I thought it would give him hope for the company’s future, but Teagan was insistent we stick to our original plan and not tell him. She told me I still had the option of not working with the company if I didn’t want to keep our project a secret.”
“She threatened you?” Ava Grace asked fiercely.
“Not in so many words.”
“That’s bullshit. It was an implied threat, for sure. So what did you do?”
“I kept quiet because I didn’t want to lose this opportunity. It’s just too important to me. If I go against Teagan, it’s over . . . bo
th the accessories line and the full redesign. I won’t have anything.”
Her words tripped over themselves, and she paused to catch her breath. “You know I could work my entire life and never have another opportunity like this one. This partnership is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of deal. If Quinn likes the redesign, Teagan will fund my boutiques. Where else would I find that kind of money?”
“I know you see this partnership as your one chance to make it big. That’s why you went along with Teagan’s plan in the first place. What’s different now?”
Amelia didn’t have to consider Ava Grace’s question for long. She knew exactly what was different: her feelings toward Quinn.
“When I agreed to work with Teagan and go behind Quinn’s back, I didn’t even know him,” she reminded Ava Grace. “I hadn’t even met him. The redesign was about what I wanted and what it would do for me. I didn’t care how it would impact him. I know that sounds horrible and selfish, but it’s true.”
“Well, it’s obvious you don’t feel that way anymore.”
“He’s a good guy, Ava Grace, and I don’t want to be the catalyst for him to lose everything he cares about. He’s already struggling with taking over his dad’s job. Some of the employees don’t support him, and this redesign forces him into a corner. I wasn’t sure before, but now I have no doubt Teagan would push Quinn out if he doesn’t support the redesign.”
“I thought the O’Brien siblings were really close. Would Teagan really do something like that to her brother? It’s so . . .” Ava Grace paused, clearly trying to find the right word. “It’s so mean.”
“I agree. And I know it sounds stupid, but I’m disappointed in Teagan. I knew she was frustrated by Quinn’s attitude, but I guess I thought she would at least give him the benefit of the doubt once I told her how upset he was.”
The massage therapists finished their work, and after letting Amelia and Ava Grace know they could stay in the room as long as they wished, the two spa employees left the room. She and Ava Grace remained on the massage tables but turned their heads to look at each other.
“But there’s a chance he would support the redesign, right?” Ava Grace asked. “You just said he was upset the company isn’t as strong as it used to be. If you tell him, and he’s okay with it, you don’t have a problem.”
Amelia sighed. “I’m not sure how he would react. Teagan was so sure the presentation didn’t change his mind, and of course, she knows him better than I do.”
“Do you have the option of testing the water with Quinn? You could casually bring up the idea of doing something entirely new with the women’s division—maybe not be specific, but just the general idea—and see how he reacts. And if he reacts negatively, you could make it a priority to change his mind. Kind of like a Jedi mind trick.”
She laughed at Ava Grace’s suggestion. No one would ever have guessed, but Ava Grace was a huge sci-fi nerd. Huge as in she had a set of toy light sabers at home and routinely cajoled Amelia into dueling with her.
Ava Grace deepened her voice and waved her hand in front of her face to imitate a Jedi. “You want to revamp the women’s division. You’re eager to expand the product line. You can’t wait to see my new designs.”
Holding her sheet under her arms, Ava Grace sat up on the massage table and tucked her feet under her. Amelia did the same, and they faced each other.
Ava Grace studied her intently. “There’s more, isn’t there?”
She nodded. “Things got a little messy.”
Ava Grace plucked an elastic band off her wrist and pulled her blond hair into a loose ponytail. As she gave it a final tug, she pinned Amelia with a knowing glance.
“Don’t they always,” she quipped cynically. “What happened?”
Amelia unloaded. She told Ava Grace about Quinn’s surprise visit to the penthouse, dinner at the pizzeria, and getting busy among the produce. Surprisingly, Ava Grace remained silent the whole time, although her hazel eyes got bigger and bigger as the story spilled from Amelia’s mouth.
Finally, she finished her story. She looked at Ava Grace, her best friend, her only family, the person who knew her better than anyone in the world and loved her anyway.
“Wow,” Ava Grace whispered, her eyes unfocused. Then she very obviously came back to Earth because she added in a much louder and firmer voice, “I no longer think you’re the smart one in this family. I’m the smart one.”
It was the absolute last thing Amelia had expected her to say. She shook her head uncomprehendingly.
“What?”
“Millie, that’s not messy, that’s a freaking disaster. What were you thinking?”
Amelia’s mouth dropped open in shock. Where were the love and understanding she needed from the person who was supposed to love her unconditionally and support her without question?
“Oh, my God, Ava Grace! Are you blaming me?”
“Well, you were the one who went all Girls Gone Wild on the kitchen island,” Ava Grace shot back.
Anger washed over Amelia. It wasn’t as if Ava Grace was perfect, after all.
“I thought you would understand—” she began hotly, but Ava Grace interrupted her.
“Amelia Deanne Winger, you know better! When you first told me about Quinn O’Brien, I never, ever thought you’d let things move past flirting. That’s why I teased you about him. I didn’t think you’d lose your mind and have sex with him!”
“We didn’t have sex!” Amelia exclaimed loudly, uncaring that she might disturb the spa’s other clients.
“Close enough,” Ava Grace countered.
When Amelia opened her mouth to reply, Ava Grace held up her hand. “It’s one thing to get involved with someone you work with. It’s not smart, but a lot of people do it, and usually no one ends up dead, unemployed, or brokenhearted. But you can’t expect anything but heartache if you start a relationship when you’re keeping a huge secret and lying to the other person about something so important.”
Leaning forward, she squeezed Amelia’s knees. “I don’t want my next hit song to be about you, and if you continue down this path, it will be. Count on it.”
Amelia pulled away from Ava Grace and hopped off the table. Grabbing her fluffy white robe from the hook, she jerked it on.
“Since you’re the smart one,” she said sarcastically, “what do you suggest I do?”
Ava Grace stood up, the sheet wrapped around her like a toga. “You know what to do. Stay away from Quinn O’Brien or tell him the truth about what you’re really doing. Better yet, demand that Teagan tell him.”
Amelia leaned against the massage table. “I can’t tell him the truth. If I do, I’ll not only lose the accessories, but I’ll lose the possibility of Teagan’s funding. I can’t give up this opportunity. And I can’t force Teagan to do anything.”
Ava Grace studied her grimly. “Then you have to stay away from him. You can’t even be alone with him in the same room because you clearly can’t control yourself.”
Amelia sighed. She knew with every fiber of her being Ava Grace was right. But she wished things were different.
“I know. I will stay away from him.”
Chapter 17
When Quinn stumbled from his bedroom on Saturday morning, he found Cal sitting at the bar in his kitchen. His brother’s dark head was bent over a tablet computer resting on the soapstone countertop.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee was strong, and he noticed two large to-go cups sitting near Cal’s elbow. Without bothering to say hello, he grabbed one and took a huge swallow.
He could literally feel the caffeine flood his veins, and he sighed with delight. How could Amelia intentionally forgo such pleasure?
With his requirement for coffee fulfilled, he addressed his next overwhelming need. “Food?”
Cal pointed to a covered pan on the Viking range, and Quinn punched him in th
e arm as he walked to the stove. He removed the lid, and fragrant steam drifted to his nostrils.
“Yes,” he breathed, almost drooling. “Denver omelets.”
Taking two plates from the white glass-fronted cabinets, he quickly transferred the omelets from the pan and slid one in front of his brother, along with a fork. He didn’t even bother to sit down before taking a huge bite of his own, moaning as the smoky flavors of ham and cheddar burst in his mouth.
Cal was a kick-ass cook. In fact, his brother kicked ass at everything he did. It was unnatural.
Leaning against the counter, he pointed to Cal with his fork. “Why are you here so early?” he asked, his mouth full of omelet. His mother would have killed him if she’d witnessed his hideous lack of manners.
“I booked us for an eleven o’clock tee time at the club. You need to get your ass moving and change your clothes so we don’t miss it.”
Quinn thought a day of golf with his brother sounded awesome, but he was annoyed by Cal’s assumption he was free. He should have at least checked to make sure he was available.
“How do you know I don’t have plans for today? And you could have interrupted something by showing up here so early. I might have had company.” He waggled his eyebrows.
Cal had the affront to laugh boisterously. “Yeah, right.”
With a scowl, he cuffed his annoying brother on the head. “Asshole,” he muttered before gobbling down the rest of his omelet.
Hurrying to his bedroom, he pulled a red golf shirt and khaki trousers off their wood hangers in his walk-in closet. As he donned his clothes, he assured himself that he could have had a woman in his bed if he wanted one there.
In fact, he had gone out for drinks last night with a woman he’d met at the neighborhood market. After a long day worrying about Amelia running back to Nashville because he couldn’t keep his hands to himself, he’d stopped at the store to buy some beer.
He had been in the produce section to grab some oranges for his wheat ale, and the fruit had reminded him of Amelia and their intense make-out session on the island. As he stared into space with a semi hard-on, a tall, thin blonde approached him. Her gray suit jacket showed off a nice rack, and the matching skirt drew his eyes to her long, lean legs.
