by C. A. Harms
He took a seat next to me on the couch and propped his feet on the table in front of us. “So this is what you do all day? You sit here and ogle all the guests and your staff?” I was waiting for the moment he noticed her. Once his lips lifted in a cocky grin, I knew he had. “Oh, I see who you’re watching. When did she start working here? I thought she worked at Spencer’s,” he said as if he frequently visited the place.
I cocked an eyebrow at him. How the hell did he know she worked there?
“I was there with Ryker the night after the party. She was working then. I had to distract him so he would leave the poor girl alone.” He answered the question before I could ask. “He was getting all handsy and shit.”
The thought of Ryker, or anyone else for that matter, touching her sent irritation flaming through me.
Silence set in as we both watched the floor. Then out of nowhere, he sat forward and turned to face me, a knowing smile on his lips. “Is she the girl you took home that night? After Ryker’s party, you said you went home with someone.”
A small grin pulled at the edge of my mouth. “Yeah, it was Quinn,” I replied.
“Damn,” he groaned.
Kade’s the only one I’ve talked to about Quinn and that night. I’d never told him her name, but he knew the details of our time together. He also knew that she disappeared on me that night and I woke up alone.
“She wants to forget it happened. I’m having a hard time with that,” I confessed. “I just have to find a way to make her feel the same without being pushy.”
I pressed the button on the intercom system displayed on the table beside the couch and watched as Callie immediately looked in my direction. She touched her earpiece, smiling. “Yes, boss.”
“How’s she doing?” I asked.
“I’m pretty sure you already know the answer to that, Jett. I can feel your eyes burning a hole right through that glass. Have you actually gotten any work done today, or has the entire morning been spent admiring Quinn?” She laughed.
“I think shadowing is pointless, don’t you?” I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of admitting she was right. Her eyes narrowed the moment she caught on to what I was about to do. “In fact, I’m thinking section three looks like it could use a second server. Some of those tables need to be cleaned off a little faster too. We need to seat some more guests. Why don’t you bus some tables, Cal?”
I ended the session before she could respond. A deep chuckle ripped from Kade that matched mine. “Damn, you pissed her off,” he said as he continued to laugh.
“Yeah, I know. I seem to be able to do that quite easily. Makes the days pretty entertaining.”
***
For the rest of the day, Quinn took care of the section Callie had assigned her. She was flawless and handled everything with grace. The guests seemed to love her, and by her smile, she too enjoyed the interactions.
When her shift ended, I sent a message to the hostess station asking that they send her to my office before she left. I know it probably wasn’t the brightest move. Nothing great could come of it, but damn, I couldn’t let it go. I sat at my desk, waiting impatiently, my leg bouncing as nervous energy set it. I stared intensely at my office door, feeling as if at any moment I may charge out there and get her myself.
The soft knock on the door set my stomach on fire. “Come in.” I said as I stood up and walked around the front of my desk. I had to move; sitting still was not an option. The last thing I wanted was a desk between us.
“You wanted to see me?” Quinn questioned as she peeked around the edge of the door, nervousness sketched out over her beautiful features.
I held her curious stare, fighting against the urge to charge her and pin her against the wall. “Yeah, I just wanted to know how your first day went.” I sat back onto the edge of my desk, crossing my arms over my chest.
She stepped the rest of the way inside and closed the door behind her. Her black pants hugged her curves perfectly. The polo shirt with my business name just above her right breast made me feel like pounding on my chest, a sense of possession that was crazy, considering about twelve different girls that worked here wore the same one.
“It was great. Callie is really nice. She made it pretty simple to find my way around. I met the staff. Jude’s a little intimidating, but other than that everything was great.”
I chuckled at her comment regarding my chef. “Jude’s harmless,” I assured her. “He’ll warm up to you. Once he does you’ll feel different. He’s a really great guy. Guarded, slightly on edge, but loyal.”
She shrugged and smiled. “So, um, if that’s all, I think I’ll head home. I have to work tonight at seven.”
Hearing that she would be going in to Spencer’s tonight didn’t sit well with me. The idea of her there only made my blood boil. I didn’t think before acting; I just knew that I wasn’t ready for her to leave yet. I rushed toward her, reached out, and took her elbow in my hand. I turned her to face me.
“Wait,” I said as my line of sight shifted to her lips. She nervously licked the lower one, looking up at me. “This is so out of line, I know that, Quinn,” I stated as I stepped in closer. She took a step backward, bumping into the door behind her. “It wasn’t a mistake, you and me. I can’t agree with you on that.” Her gaze met mine as her chest heaved. “That night was not a mistake. It wasn’t wrong. I know you feel the same way. Something that felt that amazing can’t be a mistake. For some reason, though, you want me to believe you regret it. Why?”
Her sweet breath skimmed over my neck. “I can’t do this,” she whispered.
“Just tell me why? I want to know what I did to make you run.” I had gone over that night in my mind so many times, only to come up empty. I analyzed every word I had spoken, every move I had made, but I couldn’t pinpoint anything that would make her feel like I wanted her to leave.
“You didn’t do anything, Jett. There is just so much about my life that—” She looked down and took a deep breath. “I just don’t have any room for anything more than that one night. I’m sorry. I wish things were different, but right now everything is so screwed up.”
She looked up at me, and our gazes locked. Her hand came upward, rested on my chest, and toyed with my tie. “If things weren’t so backward, and if I didn’t feel like my world was falling apart, I wouldn’t be running. I wouldn’t have left, and you would be sick of me by now.” She blinked up at me and my stomach tightened.
“I doubt that,” I reassured her. “I’m almost positive getting sick of you would be impossible.” I rested my forehead against hers, closing my eyes tightly, breathing her in.
When her lips brushed mine, my hunger took over, and I pressed harder, kissing her. I closed the distance, nudging her to the door behind her. I put my hands on her hips, and she wrapped hers around my neck.
A soft whimper escaped her, bringing back memories of our night together. I nipped at her lower lip, sucking softly. “Don’t run, Quinn,” I whispered between kisses. “Don’t assume I can’t handle whatever it is you’ve got going on. Just give this a chance.”
She hesitated against me, and I took her lips once again. I could feel her pulling back, but I wasn’t ready for this to end yet.
She released my neck, lowered her hands to my chest, and pushed against me. I stepped back, letting my hands fall to my sides. I waited for her to tell me again why this wasn’t going to happen. My body was still humming from our kiss.
“I need to go. I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Before I could stop her, she rushed from my office, leaving me feeling aggravated and confused.
Chapter Ten
Quinn
My mom wasn’t there when I got home from Jett’s. I changed quickly into my clothes for Spencer’s and snuck back out. I was sure she was sitting in a bar somewhere, drowning her sorrows. I had no doubt I would come back tonight to find her passed out on the floor, or worse, on the front lawn again.
So imagine my surprise when I wal
ked in at almost one a.m. and there she was, sitting in our darkened kitchen. She was sober, which had me once again staring back at her in confusion. She fidgeted with the tablecloth as she waited for me to remove my shoes and approach her.
“Quinn, I know I was wrong on so many levels. I should have told you, and I should’ve found a way to make him see me so I could tell him about you. After you were born, I tried to see him.”
I took a seat across from her as she began to explain.
“He wouldn’t accept my letters or grant me visits. It was the same for Brandy. He just cut himself off from the outside world. I would get my letters returned unopened, weekly. I tried, Quinn, I truly did.” She looked up at me, her eyes glossy with tears. “He refused to allow me to wait for him. I never stopped loving him, though. Sure I dated other men throughout the years, but they were never anything true to my heart, not like Beau was. He just said it was too hard and told me from the beginning to move on. He left me no choice.”
Silence set in as I stared at a worn spot in the tablecloth. “Why didn’t you just tell me? I deserved to know, Mother. After everything, I deserved to know the truth. If it wasn’t your fault, then why hide it from me all these years?”
“I thought about it so many times, but the more time passed, the less nerve I had. I just kept pushing it away and pretending he was someone I didn’t know. It was easier than admitting the life I wanted would never happen.” She took in a deep breath. “That night, when he stabbed that man, it all happened so fast. The other guy had a weapon too. Beau was just protecting himself.”
“I found the story online. I looked it all up, Mom, I know,” I told her.
She only nodded as we sat in silence.
“Do you think he’ll even try to contact you? I mean, after all this time, do you think he’ll try to find you?” I couldn’t imagine after twenty-five years of no contact that he truly cared. If he loved my mother the way she appeared to love him, how could he live all these years without at least seeing her?
I could see the pain in her eyes at the thought of him rejecting her. I could also see the hidden hope that he would come to find her.
“I don’t know,” she whispered in return, averting her eyes to her hands as the toyed once again with the tablecloth.
***
I woke up late for work, a sense of panic hitting me hard when I saw the clock at the side of my bed.
10:42 a.m.
I was on the eleven o’clock shift, and I knew I would never make it. My heart sank instantly.
I had never gotten ready faster in my life. Pulling into the parking lot of Jett’s, I was still trying to put my hair back in a ponytail and put on my shoes. After parking, I rushed out and rounded the corner of the hall toward the employee’s break room in a panic, only to come to a screeching halt, almost colliding with Jett.
Oh shit. He looked back at me with hardened eyes. “Not a way to start out at a new job, Quinn,” he stated coldly, his tone catching me completely off guard.
“Um, yeah, I, uh,” I stuttered.
“Let me guess,” he said. Crossing his arms over his chest, he narrowed his eyes. “Late night and you slept in. Out burning the midnight oil, so to speak, with those who are much more important than your employment here.”
I don’t know what came over me, but his attitude was completely unnecessary. I knew I was late, but only by fifteen minutes. Yes, being late was inexcusable when others were relying on me to be here, but my lateness wasn’t worth his arrogance. I know the way he was acting all boiled down to his ego and how I had made him feel rejected. He just needed to check himself, because job or not, I wasn’t going to stand by while he was a total jerk to me.
“You have no idea what my life consists of outside of these doors. Everything is not black and white, Jett. Not all of us live the charmed life you do. If you want to fire me, go ahead.” I swallowed hard, trying to hold back the urge to run away in tears. The thoughts of nut punching him were swarming as well. I didn’t know which I felt stronger.
“But don’t stand here and attempt to intimidate me with you domineering stares, your overwhelming desire to overpower those who are weaker than you. I’m late. Not because I was out half the night partying it up. I worked until after one a.m. and then spent the next few hours talking with my mother. I was not out partying and—what did you call it?—‘burning the midnight oil.’ Those luxuries are not something I get to experience.”
We stood there having a silent standoff. He glared at me, and I offered the same in return, neither of us willing to back down.
“Jett,” Callie said from behind me. “Mr. Jackson is in your office waiting for your meeting to begin.”
He didn’t look away from me. “I’ll be right there, Callie.” He stepped around me, “Get to work, Quinn. This was strike one.”
I looked straight ahead, refusing to give him the satisfaction of knowing the effect he had on me. My heart was racing and my throat felt tight.
I wasn’t sure working here was the best thing for me, or for him. In fact, I was sure now that this was a disaster in the making. One that may leave me feeling weak and stripped daily.
Chapter Eleven
Jett
My meeting went on and on. My mind never once left Quinn and our face-off in the hall. She was pissed and she stood her ground.
I was beating myself up over the way I had acted toward her. The desire to have her again was almost unbearable. I had never before had such a problem with getting things I wanted until now. I could feel her in my veins, I swear.
Once my meeting with our new supplier was completed, I made my rounds through the dining area. I visited with some of my favorite guests, attempting to be casual. All the while Quinn refused to meet my gaze. She was obviously doing everything she could to avoid me.
When her shift came to an end, she didn’t stick around. I looked around in a panic, and Callie met me by the bar.
“What’s up, boss? You look a little lost. Forget how to make it to your office?” She bumped hips with me.
“Looking for Quinn. You see her?” I said, still scanning the room.
“This have anything to do with you and her having it out in the hallway earlier?” she asked.
“Yeah, I was an asshole. I need to talk to her, make things right,” I said, sitting back on a barstool in defeat.
“What’s going on with you and her? I mean, I noticed some sort of connection between the two of you the day of the interview.” She paused for a moment. “I never really thought anything more of it. But I see the way you watch her. The way she looks at you when you’re not paying attention. It just feels like there’s something there.”
Hearing Callie say that Quinn looks at me and she sees something in Quinn’s eyes, gave me hope.
“I’ve met Quinn before, I mean prior to the interview. I’m interested in her, in more than being just friends.” I stop and chuckle and her wide-eyed expression. “Yeah, smartass, I said I wanted more. She doesn’t feel the same, though, and I can’t accept that.”
“Well that is not surprising,” she stated.
“You know me. Rules and rejection, that shit is foreign to me.” I grinned.
“Yes, I know that.” She paused, smiling at a guest as the hostess led them past us toward their table. “As for her not wanting more, I don’t buy it. There is something there, Jett. Anyone could see she is attracted to you. She watches you with such appreciation. She observes you with customers and even the employees.” Callie lowered her voice so only I could hear. “There has to be more to this, to her. She comes across as someone with a hard life. Keep that in mind.”
Chapter Twelve
Quinn
Avoiding Jett was next to impossible. I snuck out yesterday before he had the chance to corner me, but today he was smarter than I gave him credit for. He was waiting in the break room when I entered.
I jumped back and placed my hand against my chest, startled. “Holy sh—” I took a step back. “Yo
u scared the hell out of me.”
He smiled and stood from the table. “Sorry¸ I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to apologize.”
I placed my purse in to my locker and busied myself. I did everything I could to keep from looking in his eyes.
“I was an asshole. You didn’t deserve that. I just—” I turned around to see him running his hands through his hair. He gripped the back of his neck and hung his head. “I just don’t take being told no well.”
I laughed. It was instinct. I slapped my hand over my mouth, but it was too late. His eyes met mine and he arched an eyebrow in confusion.
“You find something funny about that, sweetheart?”
“Yeah, I sure do.”
He stepped closer, and I stepped backward toward the door. “No,” I said, stopping him in his tracks. “I have to get to work. You see, my boss, he’s a real ass. If I’m late, he tends to get a little mouthy.”
“Mouthy?” he asked, smiling in return.
“Yeah, and I don’t want another strike on my record. Already have one,” I said as I pushed the door open with my bottom. I winked just before turning around and walking down the hall, leaving him staring after me.
***
“I need a side of marinara and an order of Mediterranean shrimp,” I directed as I placed the plate of appetizers on my serving tray. I waited patiently for the sauce.
Once the cook placed the dish of sauce on the serving counter, I reached out for it, but a strong arm snatched it from my grasp. I could smell him instantly and felt the heat from his body. “Do you need any help?” he whispered just inches from my ear.
“Uh, no, I got it,” I insisted as he placed the sauce on my tray. I had no choice but to look back over my shoulder. His eyes scanned over me, and my body heated from his obvious perusal.
