Page 24 of A Simple Life

I flung some money on the table and rushed away before I gave in to my impulse and wrapped her in my arms again.

I hurried to my truck and drove away like the hounds of hell were pursuing me, one thought repeating itself in my head.

I had kissed her. Quinn. The woman who irritated me beyond anything else.

I had kissed her.

And I liked it.

Dammit.

7

JOHN

Isat on the porch, beer in hand, watching the sun sink low, the colors around it vivid. I enjoyed our sunsets, seeing the way the sky changed and darkened. Watching the light glint off the fields and pond in the distance. It was peaceful and calm.

Unlike my chaotic thoughts.

Since I had run from Quinn, she was all I could think about. The feel of her mouth underneath mine. How it felt to hold her. The all-too-brief encounter played on repeat in my head, no matter how much I tried to block it out.

The sound of a car approaching interrupted my musings, and I watched as Laura pulled up and walked over to join me on the porch, sitting in the other rocker.

“Hey,” I greeted her.

“Hi.” She looked at the beer in my hand. “You got more of those?”

“Yep.” I pushed the little cooler I kept outside toward her with my foot. “Help yourself.”

She chuckled and took one, taking a long drink, then resting her head back.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Yeah. Just been a day. I have a new client wanting to buy a house, and she is leading me on a merry chase. I don’t think I’ll find her what she wants.” She paused, taking another sip. “I don’t think anyone can.”

“Ah, one of those.”

She nodded. “I’m her fourth real estate agent.”

I blew out a long whistle. “How many towns had she looked in?”

“Six, so far. She’s from Toronto. Thinks she wants to live in a charming, small town.” Laura made air quotes as she spoke. “But the reality is, she wants the impossible. A huge house with all the modern features, but not new. Small town, but all the conveniences of a big city. Today, she asked me if there was a way of containing the number of fields and cows around here. She suggested that a Costco would be a good investment for the locals.”

I chuckled. “She’ll figure it out eventually.”

“In the meanwhile, she’s wasting my time. I’m going to suggest she look up north.”

“Good plan.”

We rocked and sipped in silence for a few moments. “Where’s Cody?”

“Off riding with his friends, then a sleepover at his buddy Mark’s place. Bob’s on the sofa watching a baseball game. Or so he says. I heard snoring before I left.”

“I see.”

“I went past 221 earlier.”

I tensed. “Problem?”