by Debby Conrad
Bailey twisted her fingers in her lap and licked her lips. “That man behind the bar is not Stanley. His name is Quinn, and he owns this place. And I think I’m in love with him.”
Mimi turned to look over her shoulder, her mouth falling open. Pivoting back around in her seat, she said, “But what about Stanley?”
“Stanley is a creep. And besides, he dumped me. I was so humiliated and ashamed that I asked Quinn to pretend he was Stanley. I’m so sorry I lied to you and Dad. I just didn’t know how to tell you at first.”
Bailey went on to tell her mother how she’d also asked Quinn to offend her family and why. Mimi’s eyes widened, but she didn’t say anything. She probably didn’t know what to say. Her daughter was a charlatan and a liar. “And now . . .” Bailey said on a sigh, resting her elbows on the table and cradling her chin in her hands, “I’m afraid I’ve made a real mess of things.”
“It’s nothing that can’t be fixed.”
“But I told you I’ve fallen in love with him.”
Mimi smiled, her eyes filling with moisture. “That’s not such a terrible thing.”
“Yes, it is, Mom,” she said sadly. “Quinn doesn’t love me back.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” she said knowingly. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”
Bailey raised her eyes inquisitively. “I wish I could believe that.”
“What you need is a dose of your own medicine. You were quick to tell your sister and me to speak our minds. But what about you?” She shook her head and steepled her fingers. “If you really love this man, then you certainly aren’t going to sit back and let him get away, are you? All because you’re too afraid to take a chance? That doesn’t sound like the Bailey I know.”
“You think I should just march right up there and tell him how I feel?”
“Why not?”
Because I tried that once, and he nearly ran for the border, she thought, remembering their night of passion in Stanley’s guest room. “I can’t.”
“Of course, you can. Now go on. March up there and tell him.”
“I . . .” She paused, thinking she must be crazy to even consider something so foolish. So bold. So daring.
“Go on,” her mother said, encouraging her with a wide smile.
She thought about making an excuse, and knew it was futile. She loved him. She wanted him. And by God she was going to have him. Pushing away from the table, she tossed her napkin and her sweater on the chair. Squaring her shoulders and putting one foot in front of the other, she moved forward until she stood directly in front of the bar.
Quinn had his back to her, busy mixing a drink of some sort. But he’d seen her in the mirror, she was sure. Their eyes had connected briefly. Before she lost her courage, she blurted out the words she’d chosen to say. “I love you, you big oaf!”
Pete, the man she’d met earlier that week, spun around on his stool, his face turning a bright shade of crimson. “I’m really flattered, Bailey, but I think I should have told you the other day that I’m married.”
Bailey smiled awkwardly. “I’m sorry, Pete. But I was speaking to that other big oaf. The one behind the bar.”
“You mean Quinn?” Pete looked relieved and confused at the same time.
“Yes, Quinn,” she said.
Catching her gaze in the mirror, Quinn slowly turned around and scowled at her. “You’re making a scene,” he said in a low voice. “How many drinks have you had?”
Bailey’s mouth flew open. She’d just poured her heart out to him, and he’d accused her of making a scene. Of all the nerve. “Never mind,” she said. “I should have known you wouldn’t care.”
“Look, Bailey, I’m trying to run a business here. Can’t this wait until later?”
“Oh, sure.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’ll just put my feelings on hold until it’s more convenient for you.”
Leaning across the bar, he said, “I hope you’ll forgive me if I don’t put a lot of faith in your feelings. You turn them on and off as easily as a light switch.”
“Fine,” she said. “If that’s how you feel. And here I was . . .” She waved a hand at him. “Never mind. I won’t bother you anymore.”
Quinn looked as if he’d been about to comment, when a young man with bright yellow hair, a pierced eyebrow, and a microphone, strolled her way. He asked if she wanted to volunteer to sing karaoke. Not wanting to be rude, but unable to speak for fear she’d cry, Bailey simply shook her head, refusing his request.
“Aw, c’mon,” he said, winking at her. “Everyone’s a little shy at first, but someone has to get things rolling. And besides, you don’t look like the shy type.”
Pete spoke up. “Yeah, Bailey, you should give it a try. Singing is good for the soul. I’ll even buy you a drink if you do it.”
Behind the bar, Quinn rolled his eyes. “One more drink and, not only won’t she be able to sing, but she won’t be able to stand either.”
Because of his surly attitude, and the effects of the rum she’d drank, Bailey accepted the challenge. “I guess I could try it.”
Shaking his head, and mumbling something she couldn’t make out, Quinn stormed off to the kitchen without a backward glance.
“C’mon,” the D. J. said, “Let’s go pick out a song.”
* * * * * * * * * *
Quinn couldn’t believe it. Bailey had strutted right up to the bar and announced that she loved him. Right in front of God and everyone. Well, she either knew her mind, or it was the liquor talking. Probably the latter, he thought. He’d been tending bar for a long time and had witnessed his share of drunks. Although he wouldn’t exactly call her drunk. Tipsy, was more like it.
But still, she was one gutsy lady. He forced himself to remember she was also a liar. Although she’d looked so serious when she’d made her confession. It wasn’t the type of affirmation he’d expected. ‘I love you, you big oaf’ wasn’t exactly flattering. But still, it held a certain amount of appeal and charm.
Quinn barked orders at the cooks and dishwashers, inventing unjustifiable complaints, just so he wouldn’t think about Bailey anymore. But it didn’t work. Hearing her voice a few moments later, he hurried out of the kitchen to watch from behind the bar.
“You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog,” she bellowed thickly into the microphone, her eyes boldly meeting his from across the room. Tossing her hair across her shoulders in a gesture of defiance, she sang on. She wasn’t much of a singer. In fact, she had trouble reaching the notes she was supposed to reach. But her tear-smothered, throaty voice carried a unique force.
Getting into the song, she began to move provocatively; swinging her hips this way and that. Every curve of her body spoke to him, until he couldn’t take it anymore. Rounding the bar, he strode toward her and scooped her up in his arms. “Sorry, folks,” he said, “but the lady has another engagement.” With that, he marched behind the bar, through his office, and up to his apartment. Bailey pounded her fists into his chest and shoulder the whole while, demanding he put her down. But Quinn refused, even once they were behind closed doors.
“You want to tell me what that was all about down there?” he asked, his face close to hers.
“I was singing.” She lifted her chin and looked at a spot over his shoulder.
“Like hell. Don’t lie, Bailey. That message was directed at me.”
“Oh, what do you know! You’re so damn thickheaded, you wouldn’t recognize a subliminal message if it jumped up and bit you on the butt. Which I practically did already.”
“Honey, if you’d bitten me on the butt, or anywhere else, I would have remembered,” he taunted, managing to anger her more, her eyes blazing with fury.
“Put me down.” Her small fists pummeled him. “I hate you.”
“That’s funny. I distinctly remember you saying you loved me, not more than ten minutes ago. See what I mean about you not knowing your own mind.”
“You’re right.” She met his gaze. “
How could I possibly think I was in love with you? And how could I have possibly thought about offering myself to you?”
“Offering yourself to me? I don’t remember hearing any offers.”
“That’s because you don’t listen. I was willing to sacrifice my virginity, but you weren’t interested.”
“Honey, when I choose to make love to a woman, it’s because there’s a mutual desire between us,” he retorted in cold sarcasm. “Not because she decides to make a sacrifice of herself for God only knows what reason.”
Quinn set her on her feet and looked away, disgusted. Running his hands through his hair, he pinned her with his eyes and rambled on. “Why now? You’ve hung on to your virginity for this long, why is it so important that you lose it now?”
Her glare burned through him. “I thought maybe it would be fun.”
“Fun!” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You want to have fun? You want me to take your virginity just so you can have some fun!” His heart pounded viscously in his chest, his breathing so rapid it was nearly out of control. Resting his hands on his hips he dared her with a look to answer him.
“A few days ago, you seemed bothered by the fact that I was a virgin. But now that you have a chance to do something about it, you don’t want to,” she challenged, her hands settling on her hips as well.
“Jesus, Bailey. Is that what you think? That I don’t want you?” He dropped his hands to his sides. “Don’t you realize how hard it’s been for me to keep my hands off you?”
Some of her anger evaporated, leaving only a confused look on her face. “No,” she whispered. “Why don’t you show me?”
He didn’t know who had taken the first step to close the distance between them. All he knew was that she was in his arms, and he was kissing her to distraction. He plunged his tongue in and out of her mouth, wanting more of her, afraid he would never be able to get enough. His erection was instantaneous, and without thinking of the consequences, or in spite of them, he pulled her against him. Her hips answered with a move of their own, until Quinn came to his senses. Dragging his mouth from hers, he pushed his face into her hair, smelling her shampoo and perfume. With ragged breaths, he whispered, “This isn’t right, Bailey.”
“Yes, it is,” she answered in a husky breath. “I love you. I don’t care that you don’t love me. I just want this one night with you. And then I’ll get out of your life forever.”
As appealing as her last statement may have sounded a few days ago, Quinn wasn’t so sure he wanted Bailey out of his life anymore. And besides, once he made love to her, he feared it wouldn’t be as easy as all that.
He needed time to think. But he couldn’t think straight with Bailey pressing her warm silky body close to his. And he couldn’t think straight with her warm moist lips kissing his neck and throat.
Disengaging her arms from around his neck, he moved back several steps and studied her. “Bailey, I think you had too much to drink--”
“No,” she said, tossing her head back and forth. “I didn’t.”
He blew out a long harsh breath. “Look, this isn’t easy for me.”
“And you think it’s easy for me?” she asked, taking a step closer. “All I want is for you to show me what I’ve been missing all these years. Is that so much to ask?”
Yes, damnit, it was. He grew so furious he could barely speak. “So, you want to throw away your virginity so you can have fun? So you can see what you’ve been missing? Is that it?”
“Yes,” she whispered, looking ashamed and desperate at the same time.
“Fine. If that’s what you want. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. I don’t want you having any regrets, and if you do, I don’t want to hear about them. Do you understand?”
She nodded, looking up at him, her eyes wide with innocence.
So, it was just sex she wanted. And it was just sex she would get. He’d be damned if he’d give her anything else. Certainly not a piece of his heart.
What a fool he’d been. She’d said she loved him, but he could see now that she’d only said that to convince him to take advantage of her. Or was it he who was about to be taken advantage of? Right now it didn’t matter.
Moving across the room, he reached under the sofa and gave it a hard yank, pulling the bed free while Bailey watched him. Nervously she licked at her lips and twisted her fingers. If she thought he was going to make this easy on her, she was wrong. He planned to be demanding and ruthless. She’d get everything he had to give her, physically that was.
“Take off your clothes,” he said, challenging her with a look and dropping his weight onto the bed.
She hesitated, her hands trembling, her bottom lip slightly quivering. Slowly her shaking hands disappeared behind her to fumble with the zipper of her black linen sheath. He wanted to go to her, to undress her himself, but he couldn’t. She was going to do this his way.
He heard the teeth of the zipper as her hands glided it downward an inch at a time, driving him crazy with waiting. Finally, she brought her hands to her sides and stared at him.
“Take if off, Bailey.” His voice was hoarse and nearly raw.
She swallowed, then lowered one shoulder, allowing the dress to slip erotically, exposing the strap of a black bra. She did the same with her other shoulder. The dress lay across her chest, showing the tiniest hint of cleavage. Then with both hands, she tugged the dress over her waist and hips and let it fall to the floor.
What a picture she made, standing there in her black bra and matching silk bikini panties. The panties were sheer; so sheer, he could see the cluster of dark mahogany curls through the fabric. Kicking the dress aside, she stepped out of her black sandals.
Breathing and exhaling deeply, her chest rose and fell. Quinn wanted to gather her in his arms and hold her, tell her how beautiful she was, and how excited she’d made him. But he refused, pressing her to continue. “Keep going. I want to see you naked.”
Her hands came to the front clasp of her bra and stopped. She licked her lips and smiled slightly. “Don’t you want to undress me the rest of the way?” she asked, her voice fragile and shaking.
Yes. God, yes. “No.”
Her smile slipped a little. Wavering for only a moment, she undid the bra with a quick snap and tossed it aside. Then, with her fingertips, she skimmed the panties over her hips and thighs and stepped out of them.
She was gloriously naked, and it was a purely sensuous experience. Quinn took his time admiring her, feeling like a boy of sixteen, seeing his first naked woman. His erection strained against his fly painfully. Locking eyes with his, her cheeks colored under the heat of his gaze. His heart lurched madly as he tried to ignore the strange aching in his limbs. It was too easy to get lost in the way she looked at him. When he’d had his fill, he said, “Turn around. I want to see everything.”
Blinking at him, she drew a careful breath, and then slowly turned in a circle, letting him feast his eyes on every delicious curve of her body.
His reaction was swift and violent. He dragged his shirt over his head and whipped his belt free from his jeans as he kicked his shoes off. He wanted nothing more than to plunge into her softness without wasting time on any preliminaries. Telling himself he needed to slow down, he took a few deep breaths and said, “Come here, Bailey.”
She inched forward and stood between his spread knees. Reaching for her, Quinn ran his hands appreciatively down her bare arms, enjoying the way she shivered at his touch. With a hand around the small of her back, he pulled her closer to him. Slightly leaning forward, she twined her fingers in the hair at the back of his nape, resting her weight against him. Her small breasts were at mouth level, and he took advantage of his position. Laving her nipples with his tongue, he tasted, nibbled and caressed each one thoroughly before moving on.
His tongue made a path down her ribs to her silken belly, while her hands moved gently down the length of his back. She kissed his forehead, murmuring words of encouragement.
Slid
ing his hands up and down her thighs, he nudged her legs apart and found her damp center; her scent was enticingly sweet. Instinctively she arched toward him, inviting him to kiss her there, to taste her sweetness. He did and nearly came undone hearing her tormented groans of ecstasy.
“Oh, God, Quinn. I want . . .” she panted. “I want you inside me. I can’t wait any longer.”
Quinn flipped her around and onto her back. Standing, he reached for the table next to the sofa and pulled open a drawer. His hands groped until he found what he was looking for. He tossed the box on the bed next to her and grinned as he straddled her hips on his knees. “Unzip me,” he ordered. It took two hands, but she managed to deftly pop the snap of his jeans and tug his zipper down. “Take it out.”
Her wide eyes implored his dreamily as she ran her tongue across her lips. With shaky fingers she traced along his flat nipples and drew a path toward the waistband of his shorts, the whole while keeping her eyes on his. She was driving him crazy with need, and he found himself wondering if she knew that. She was so innocent, yet somehow very secure with her femininity. He had an idea she knew exactly what she was doing to him.
At the first touch of her hand to his penis, his heart thundered so loudly in his chest he was afraid it might bust through his rib cage. “Bailey,” he whispered, closing his eyes, enjoying the feel of her hands on him. Taking her hands, he encouraged them to explore. “That’s it, honey. Just like that.” While she continued her exploration, Quinn jerked his jeans, socks and boxers off with one swift move.
“It’s so . . .” she breathed on a sigh, glancing up at him momentarily, a look of wonder in her eyes.
It was all he could do not to laugh. “Yeah, it is, isn’t it?” he mumbled, bringing his face down to hers. He kissed her forehead, her eyelids, her nose, her cheeks, finally taking that gorgeous mouth of hers with a savage intensity. Shock waves zinged through his body, charging his whole system. With reckless abandon, he broke away and reached for the cardboard box. Opening it, he dumped the contents on the bed and grabbed a small foil packet. With his teeth, he ripped it open and offered it to her. “You do it.”
