Spring Into Love

by Chantel Rhondeau

  “No,” Brad admitted, “but I was going to if she ever came to the stables.”

  Since Larissa admitted to having a fear of horses, that wasn’t likely to have happened. Still, it wasn’t impossible that they could have met at a company party. Maybe his younger brother would be a better fit for her. He’d never been divorced like Quinn. He was more pristine—more what Larissa hinted she searched for.

  However, the thought of breaking off his date made Quinn’s whole body tense with anger. It wasn’t as though he and Brad had ever gotten along. Even if Quinn broke the date, it would change nothing, except to make Quinn miserable.

  “You don’t know anything about Larissa.” Quinn struggled to keep his tone level and not show his irritation that Brad would try to guilt him out of dating her. “She’s just a pretty girl to you. You don’t actually care about her.”

  “So. Why does that mean you get to have her? I should have a chance.”

  “Sorry, little brother. I know in the past I’ve always given in and let you have your way, but not this time. Nothing I’ve tried before has made us friends, and I like Larissa a lot. I’m not breaking our date.”

  Brad crossed his arms, looking sullen. “I wasn’t asking you to.”

  He was, and Quinn knew that. Just like he’d asked Quinn to stop so many other things throughout their lives. It was never enough for Brad. Quinn didn’t know exactly what happened to make his brother so unhappy, but there was nothing he could do to fix it. He was tired of trying.

  Uncertain what else to do, Quinn ducked beneath the lead rope, coming over to Brad’s side of the horses. He grabbed the younger man in a tight hug. “I do love you, you know, even if you hate me.”

  Brad shrugged away from him. “Enjoy your date. Maybe one day you’ll actually learn how to love something more than the spotlight.”

  Quinn watched Brad stalk off, knowing it would be pointless to say anything else. That was how things always ended between them. It was exhausting, trying to figure out what Brad’s problem was.

  A shove to the back brought Quinn’s smile back as he turned around.

  Shadow nudged him again, pressing his black nose against Quinn’s chest.

  “Okay, old boy,” Quinn crooned softly, scratching the horse’s face up to his ears. “You always were part dog, I swear. Have to get in your lovin’.”

  Shadow sighed, leaning into Quinn’s hand and restoring Quinn’s happy mood with his antics.

  Brad’s pettiness wouldn’t spoil the day. After all, Larissa was the first girl special enough to show the waterfall. Anticipation of just what, exactly, might happen between them sent tingles through his body. He checked his watch again. She should be with her client by now. He’d just head over to get the food and then hang out near Larissa’s apartment. Shadow wouldn’t mind waiting. He loved being out of the stables.

  As Quinn put his foot in the stirrup and swung himself across Shadow’s back, his phone buzzed. He fumbled to pull it from his pocket, praying it wouldn’t be an emergency requiring his attention. He didn’t want anything to spoil this day.

  It didn’t look good. His father’s number showed up in the caller ID.

  He swiped to answer. “Hey, Dad. What’s up?”

  “Mr. Skinner, that’s what.” John’s voice sounded grim.

  “Excuse me? What’s happened? I don’t have a lot of time. I’m supposed to meet Larissa soon.”

  “Larissa’s why I’m calling. You know I checked her schedule yesterday so that I could arrange for your date today?”

  An uneasy feeling crept into Quinn’s belly at his dad’s agitation. “Yes. What about it?”

  “Her client is Mr. Skinner. The name was nagging at me, so I went and checked the records.” John sighed heavily. “He’s one of the guests who Vanessa claimed partook of her services.”

  Quinn took in a deep breath. That didn’t mean anything, not really. If he asked for a Happy Ending, Larissa was sure to tell him no. “Do you think he’ll get violent when he can’t get what he wants?”

  “I’m not sure,” John said. “But I think you’d better get over there. Say it’s a surprise inspection or something, but I have a bad feeling about her being alone with him.”

  Chapter 9

  Larissa finished massaging the client’s hamstrings, trying not to shudder as she worked deep into his gluteal muscles. It wasn’t that she minded touching someone’s butt. She was, after all, trained to relax the muscles. It was Mr. Skinner’s repeated innuendoes that were getting to her.

  “There we are, Mr. Skinner. Looks like you’re all relaxed.” She stepped away from the table and glanced at the clock. Darn. She still owed him twenty minutes. “Would you like me to do a traditional massage on your back now and get those tissues really oxygenated?”

  “No.” He slid off the table and turned to face her. “I could really use some work on my front. Especially my thigh area.”

  Doing her best not to acknowledge his semi-erect penis, Larissa merely nodded. “Sure. Lay on your back.”

  His jeering grin flashed once again as he followed her command.

  Larissa firmly reminded herself that many men became hard while getting a massage. It was natural. She just needed to follow her training and ignore it, even if this particular client made her skin crawl.

  “Would you like me to heat up the rocks for your front, too?”

  He folded his hands behind his head, jutting his erection even more noticeably at her as it firmed. “Your hot hands are enough for me. Make sure you work it real deep with long, hard strokes. I like a lot of friction.”

  She was getting to the end of her patience, but it wasn’t as if he’d actually asked her to do anything inappropriate. There were always people hoping for more than a massage. It came with the territory. Unless he actually asked, she didn’t dare kick him out of the studio. She knew Quinn and his dad said they’d have her back in this situation, but she couldn’t be crying wolf every time someone made her uncomfortable.

  Setting to work, she massaged his upper thighs with a gliding motion, loosening the muscles. Unfortunately, it was obvious her touch wasn’t relaxing him.

  “So tell me, new girl, do you offer the full service here?”

  Larissa jerked her hands away. “Excuse me?”

  He laughed. “You can’t send me out in this state. People will notice. If you take care of me, I’ll take care of you.”

  Stepping further away from the table, Larissa put her hands on her hips, glaring down at him. “This massage is over. I’ll have your account refunded for the last few minutes.”

  She whirled around, heading for the door, when his hand fell heavily across her shoulder.

  “Don’t be so quick to say no.” He pulled her against him and bumped his erection into her ass. “Vanessa got a sweet deal once she left the island, and I could do the same for you. I’m here for two weeks, and I’d like to request your private services in my bedroom during the evenings. I pay really well, and I know how to please a woman. You’ll get as good as you give.”

  Larissa jerked away from him, fumbling for her phone. It was time to call Quinn. “Touch me again, and I’ll have you thrown off the island,” she said, continuing to the doorway.

  She was almost to it when it burst open.

  Quinn stumbled inside, nearly colliding into her. He breathed heavily and his steely eyes looked past her to the client. As they narrowed, Larissa figured he must have spotted the man’s aroused state.

  “Surprise inspection,” Quinn said gruffly. “We want to make sure things are going as they should here on McCallister’s Paradise.”

  “Well, they’re not,” she whispered. “Obviously, right?”

  Mr. Skinner laughed. “Don’t listen to the girl. She freaked out when I turned over and was aroused. It happens.”

  Larissa turned, seeing that his member was already shrinking.

  He ran a hand through his silvery hair. “You really need to hire more experienced people. Would you please te
ll her that this is normal for us guys?”

  Quinn grabbed her hand and then stepped around her, blocking her from the client’s view. “She doesn’t need me to tell her anything. She’s good at her job, a professional. My father called to tell me Vanessa used to be your massage therapist.”

  “What of it?” Mr. Skinner was starting to sound angry.

  “Those services are not sanctioned by this spa.” If the man sounded angry, Quinn sounded downright dangerous. “Put your clothes on, Mr. Skinner. You will no longer be using the spa’s services during your stay here.”

  “We’ll just see about that,” he said. “I’m calling John. He’s a close friend of mine.”

  “Don’t trouble yourself,” Quinn said. “I’m calling him myself. You have five minutes to get dressed and leave.”

  Quinn turned and headed through the door, pulling Larissa with him. He led her to the couch in the waiting room, and she sank into it, unsurprised to note that her legs were shaking.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, putting his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close to him.

  With a sigh, Larissa relaxed into him. “He was getting rather persistent. I think I had things under control, but I sure am happy to see you.”

  Quinn’s lips rested against her forehead briefly before he backed away. “My dad called me when he realized who the client was today. That man never should have been allowed in here on a day there weren’t more people around. I’m sorry. That’s a mistake that won’t happen with Vanessa’s other clients. You won’t be alone with them until we’re sure they aren’t going to ask for anything you can’t give.”

  Larissa shuddered, remembering Mr. Skinner’s offer. “Vanessa was doing more than getting them off during massages. He wanted me to visit his room every night during his two-week stay. Said we could take care of each other.”

  From the corner of her eye, she saw Quinn’s hand tighten into a fist and the sound of his teeth grinding vibrated between them. “I’ll tell my dad to put him on the first plane out of here.”

  “That’s probably a good idea. His idea of a vacation should include a whore-house in Vegas, not a resort.”

  To her relief, Quinn let out a strangled laugh. “You’re something else, Larissa. You know that?”

  She looked up, staring into his eyes. “I’m counting on that. If I’m no different from your other dates, then this is a waste of time.”

  “I thought you were innocent and wholesome when we first met.” He kissed her lightly, barely brushing his mouth against hers. “The truth is even more fascinating.”

  The door to the studio creaked open, and Larissa startled, leaning away from Quinn. It wouldn’t do to have the creep spread rumors about them. She was sure he would badmouth the company in some way, since he was about to be exiled from paradise, but she didn’t want Quinn catching the brunt of his wrath.

  For Quinn’s part, he stood, the hardness back on his face. “You should pack your bags, Mr. Skinner. My father will arrange for you to get off the island. Maybe he can find something on a resort in Hawaii for the rest of your vacation, but I’ll leave that to him.”

  “What do you mean?” he sputtered. “I’m not leaving.”

  Quinn pointed at the door. “Yes, you are. My father will contact you shortly.”

  ***

  Quinn hung up his phone, confident that his father had the situation in hand.

  Next to him, Larissa finished locking the spa door and then bounced on the balls of her feet. “Does this mean you have to cancel our date?” she asked.

  He wondered if it was because his parents painted him as a man more interested in the office than love that made her ask, or if Larissa had changed her mind about going. “Dad has it under control, but I’ll understand if you...” He broke off, letting the unspoken question hang between them.

  She snorted out a laugh. “You think one little erection is going to send me into hysterics or ruin my day? I was afraid you’d have to work now, that’s all.”

  “Little erection, huh?” Quinn arched an eyebrow. “With some men, you don’t have to worry about that problem.”

  Larissa bit her lower lip and her face reddened. “That’s what you all say, but I never believe the boasting.”

  Quinn suddenly found himself in unfamiliar territory. Larissa seemed to be baiting him, but he wasn’t sure what sort of response she wanted. Her looks still screamed wholesome to him, but the sexy vibe she exuded told him that she wanted to ride more than his horse.

  He swallowed hard, trying to moisten his dry throat. “I’ll go finish packing lunch while you slip into something more comfortable then.”

  “Not feeling like bragging anymore?” She batted her eyelashes with feigned innocence. “I didn’t take you as a guy who’d back down from a challenge.”

  Quinn grabbed her wrist, tugging her against him. He stared deep into her blue-green eyes, unblinking. “Some of us don’t have to brag.”

  Her delighted laughter filled him with pleasure and she shoved him backward. “Go get our food. I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”

  She sashayed away, walking up the pathway toward her housing unit. Even in relatively shapeless scrubs from her work uniform, the gentle sway of her hips fueled Quinn’s imagination. He’d never seen her in jeans before, but he just knew she’d have a nice, firm, round ass. He sure hoped whatever she deemed more comfortable was tight enough to show her curves.

  He walked to the shady side of the building where he’d left Shadow and Sunfire. Luckily, Shadow knew when Quinn dropped his reigns on the ground to stay put, and hadn’t wandered off while Quinn dealt with that sleaze.

  Quinn hoped his dad stuck to the plan and kicked Mr. Skinner off the island. He didn’t want a jerk like that anywhere around Larissa.

  Swinging up into the saddle, Quinn decided to put it from his mind. He was dating Larissa today, not working. He was determined this date wouldn’t end like their last ones. He’d show her a good time.

  Chapter 10

  Larissa hung on for dear life as Shadow’s muscles bunched beneath her. He was getting ready to climb a hill again.

  Quinn’s chuckle floated back to her and his warm hand closed over hers where they clasped around his waist as tight as she could clench them. “Don’t worry, Larissa. This hill is small. Sorry about you sliding off back there. I didn’t realize Shadow still had that much power in him.”

  Relaxing marginally, Larissa remained plastered to Quinn’s back. After all, it wasn’t like that was a bad place to be. When they weren’t climbing through the dense vegetation and hills, it was actually quite the enjoyable trip. The interior of the island was more like a rainforest than the sandy beaches of the resort suggested, and Larissa was enthralled with the colors.

  “These wild flowers are beautiful,” she said. “It’s no wonder you like to get away. I thought the beach was paradise, but this is the real place.”

  Shadow crested the hill, and Quinn threaded his fingers through hers when Larissa relaxed her grip. “Just wait until you see the waterfall. We’re almost there. The pool of water beneath it is so clear that it looks like the bottom is close enough to reach out and touch, but it’s actually about fifteen feet down.”

  Now that he mentioned it, Larissa did hear the sound of water. It had been there for a while, but faintly until they made it to the top of that last hill.

  “I’m glad we’re almost there,” she admitted. “My legs are getting sore.”

  He glanced over his shoulder, a frown turning down the corners of his mouth. “Do you need to take a break?”

  She shook her head and snuggled closer to his back. “I like this, I’m just not used to it.”

  The sun beat down on them whenever they crossed a break in the trees and illuminated the reds, purples, and blues of the flowers around them. Large ferns of all different shades of green coated the ground beneath them, obscuring their path and adding to the beauty.

  Feeling daring, Larissa kissed the back of Quinn’s
neck. “In fact, this is practically perfect.”

  Pressed against him like she was, Larissa felt the shudder that rocked his body and the quickening of his breathing. She’d been right about one thing—Quinn desired her. It was crazy. She’d always made men wait for months before doing more than holding hands, but the feel of Quinn’s hard-muscled body against hers was causing Larissa to have thoughts that ran counter to what Quinn said was her wholesome image.

  They broke into a large clearing where the flowers had taken over. Directly in front of them was their destination.

  Water splashed down about twenty feet, thin streams in places with one large shower in the middle. Sunlight splayed across the fall, forming a rainbow over the hillside.

  “Wow,” she murmured.

  “Welcome to Quinn’s Grove.”

  Quinn stood in the stirrups and carefully swung his leg over Larissa as she ducked down to give him clearance. Once on the ground, he reached up, lifting her at the waist as though she weighed nothing and pulling her off Shadow’s back.

  When her legs touched the ground, tingling pain flared through them and she stumbled.

  Quinn was right there, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her against him. “Careful. Takes a minute to work the kinks out.”

  She laughed, feeling more stable by the second, but not wanting Quinn to let go. “We’re already talking kink, huh?”

  Humor flashed in his eyes and he ran a hand down her back, stopping at the top of her behind to run his hand across it. “If you’re into kink, pretty lady, that can be arranged.”

  Shadow sidestepped, pressing his side into Larissa’s back and shoving her hard against Quinn.

  Chuckling, Quinn pulled Larissa out of the horse’s reach, then released her to hug Shadow’s neck. “Sorry, Larissa. He’s a jealous beast and greedy about being the one to get hugs. I should have warned you.”

  Watching Quinn with his horse, Larissa had a hard time imagining the grumpy man she’d spent time with at the company party. “Shadow makes you truly happy, doesn’t he?”