Even though I’m not about to deny I like her—hell, I outright admitted it last night—it doesn’t mean I want to discuss it with anyone. I barely understand what it is I feel for Quinn, and regardless of what it is, she’s not interested anyway.
She just left a shitty marriage to a fucking rock star. She’s left her home, her job and her friends and run away to Hawaii. The last thing she wants is a hook-up, no matter if we have both admitted we’re attracted to each other.
I don’t do relationships either, so there’s that.
My phone chimes with a text just as I’m finishing up with a board. Grabbing it from the bench, I smile when I see it’s a message from Quinn. A reply to the message I’d sent her this morning wishing her a good first day before I went out for a surf.
* * *
Quinn: So my day was busy, but really great. Owen’s family is AMAZING to work for and Sloane was there too, which helped. We had lunch together and Owen dropped by and it was just a really great day. Thank you for making this happen.
* * *
I type out a response.
* * *
Me: You’re the one who made it happen – just glad I could help and glad you had a good day. You wanna grab some dinner?
* * *
I stand, watching my phone screen, the small dots that tell me she’s typing popping up on the screen before finally, a message comes through.
* * *
Quinn: Sure, that would be great. I need to go home and shower first.
Me: Want some company?
* * *
I’m being cheeky, and I’m pretty sure Quinn knows that, but I quickly type out another message.
* * *
Me: Offer’s always there...but I’ll swing by and pick you up in like 30 mins?
Quinn: See you then.
* * *
I do the same and head home to take a quick shower. Thankfully, Eli is at work, so I don’t have to deal with his bullshit, which essentially continued all night last night, even after the guys left.
When I’m done, I drive over to Quinn’s rental place to find her waiting on the front porch for me, sitting in one of the old wooden chairs.
“Hey,” I say as I climb the front steps. “You look nice.”
She smiles, standing from the chair, and I automatically move in to give her a hug, which she reciprocates as she says, “I feel exhausted after today, but in that good way.”
“You sure you want to go out?” I ask. “We can just order in if you prefer?”
She shakes her head. “Nah, I’m good. Let’s go out. Staying in will make me feel old.”
I grin as I guide her down the stairs with my hand on her lower back, and we head to my car. “That reminds me, your birthday is coming up, right?”
Quinn glances up at me, a surprised look on her face. “You remembered that?”
Chuckling, I open the car door for her. “Of course I do,” I say as she slides into the passenger seat. “I have a thing for older women, remember?” I add with a wink before shutting the door.
