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ChapterTwenty-Four
KENAN
A few hours later, Blake, Quinn, and I were back in Fireweed Harbor. We had flown back on the plane together. Quinn had hopped in her car, making some excuse about needing to get back to the office for a scheduled phone conference.
We were driving back when Blake commented, “So what the hell is going on with you and Quinn?”
I kept my gaze trained out the passenger window where I was already watching the landscape roll by. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t make it so easy on me,” he chided. “You’ve been close friends for years, but something is different.”
My jaw clenched, and I took a breath, willing the tension to ease. “We’re just friends,” I insisted.
Blake turned onto the side street that led to the parking area behind the main offices for Fireweed Industries. A moment later, he turned off the SUV. When he didn’t make a move to get out, I glanced over.
“What?” I was irritated.
His gaze was understanding as he studied me. “I’m sure if something has happened that you both want to keep it quiet. Obviously, I understand. But don’t hurt Quinn.”
I let out an annoyed breath. “I would never hurt her,” I said sharply.
“I’m sure you wouldn’t mean to. But you and Quinn are different. Everything is always casual for you.”
“Hey, that’s how you used to be,” I pointed out.
“Yep, and then I fell in love with Fiona. I’m just saying that Quinn is a big part of your life as a friend, and she works for us. It could get really messy if things get weird.”
“It’s not like I don’t know that.” I shifted my shoulders, trying to ease the tension bundling at the base of my neck and between my shoulder blades. “You know how much she means to me.” My heart twisted in my chest.
“I know that,” Blake said, his tone completely serious. He shook his head slowly, letting out a disbelieving chuckle. “I can’t believe this, but I think I need to worry about you more than her.”
“What the hell do you mean by that?”
“I’m not going to pressure you to tell me what’s happened, if anything, but I get the sense you’re falling for her, and you never expected this to happen. I know you didn’t because you’ve always sworn you were just friends and there would never be more.” He reached over, clapping me on the shoulder and squeezing firmly. “If you need any advice on romance, I’m here for you.”
“Oh my fucking God,” I muttered under my breath. “Can we end this conversation now?”
Blake chuckled as he climbed out of his SUV. With a wave, he headed over to the brewery and I walked into the main offices, intending to scout out Quinn. I knew she’d been deliberately vague about her doctor’s appointment. I’d seen the sign on the doctor’s office when she walked out. I’d already looked it up.
Minutes later, I knocked lightly on Quinn’s office door. I could see through the windows flanking her door that she was, in fact, on a phone call. Her eyes lifted from her computer screen, and she gestured for me to come in.
As I was closing the door behind me, I heard her saying, “Thank you, I’ll give you a call if we have any additional questions.”
She tapped the button on her phone to end the call, lifting the receiver and setting it down again, a habit she had to ensure she didn’t accidentally leave a call line open.
“And here I thought you were bullshitting,” I said as I crossed the office and stopped in front of her desk. My lips curled into a smile automatically. I was in a room with Quinn, and that alone elicited a smile.
“Bullshitting about what?” Quinn leaned back in her chair as she gestured to the one I stood beside. “You know you can sit down.”
“I was waiting for you to offer,” I teased.
She rolled her eyes. “To my point.”
When she looked at me with her lips pursed just a little bit and her eyes narrowed behind her glasses, a look I knew well, a jolt of lust bolted through me. Fuck me. I’d thought and re-thought about what was happening between us. The way my body reacted to her was still startling. I’d honestly believed that the edge of this need would start to wear off. If anything, my need for her was getting sharper with each encounter between us serving to hone its blade.
“I thought you were bullshitting about your call.” I waited just long enough that her brows arched up.
She picked up this little wand she kept on her desk. She tipped it up and watched as the glitter fell inside the narrow tube. “Why would I bullshit about that?” She held my gaze.
