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Fuck my life. I would have to play it cool. I’d better figure out how to do that. I wouldn’t be able to avoid Quinn without stirring up far more questions than I cared to contemplate.
Turning, I pasted a casual smile on my face as Quinn stopped beside Blake. “Hi, Quinn.”
I hoped my voice sounded casual and easy. All the while, every cell in my body started firing, sending little lightning bolts of desire through me.
Her eyes met mine, and I could’ve sworn sparks sizzled in the air between us. “Hi,” she replied.
Her voice sounded husky, but that had to be crazy. I’d heard Quinn’s voice almost daily for years. How could I have missed that? Her voice was low and throaty with a raspy edge.
Rhys asked her about some paperwork. I took that opportunity to take a step back, commenting, “I’m going to grab us a table.”
I gritted my teeth as I turned away and heard Rhys say, “You should join us for lunch.”
Normally, I would’ve been the one to invite her to sit with us. I told myself I needed to get used to this and that this fiery-hot lust for her would have to fade. It fucking had to.
Blake was right behind me and sat down across for me. “Everything okay?” he prompted after a swallow of his coffee.
Blake was perceptive. Aside from Adam, my twin, he was my closest brother. Personality-wise, we were similar. We liked to joke around and got along easily.
“Of course,” I replied, my voice too forceful.
His eyes held mine for another beat before he shrugged, likely observant enough to realize I wasn’t about to share my thoughts.
A moment later, Rhys arrived at the table with Quinn. He pulled out the chair beside me for her, and she sat down after a beat of hesitation. He grabbed a chair from a nearby table that was empty after asking the couple seated there. That made our table crowded. Quinn, because she was polite, shifted her chair slightly closer to mine to make room for Rhys’s chair.
I took a breath, willing the pounding beat of my pulse to slow the fuck down. She took a swallow of her coffee. My eyes lingered on her mouth. When she lowered her cup, her tongue darted out to slide across her bottom lip, and blood arrowed straight to my cock.
Fuck me. Again. The problem was that I wanted Quinn. Every time I tried to tell myself that it was crazy to want her, another part of me, I supposed the devil of my desire, tried to talk me into why it was a great idea. We were good friends. It didn’t have to be anything more.
Yet I wanted more. So much more.
ChapterSeven
QUINN
I could literally feel the heat emanating from Kenan. Our thighs were maybe an inch apart at the small table. Every so often, he shifted in his seat, and his knee would brush against mine.
He couldn’t be as hyperaware of this as I was. We’d had lunch like this hundreds of times, and sitting close should’ve elicited nothing. I should not react to him.
I tried to focus on the conversation. Rhys talked about the upcoming opening of a winery and brewery in Willow Brook, Alaska, where one of their cousins lived. With Rhys returning Firewood Industries headquarters to Fireweed Harbor, he focused on expanding the corporation’s presence in Alaska and bolstering local communities with employment and business.
“Quinn?” someone prompted. Seeing as I was seated with three of the Cannon brothers and their voices were similar, I wasn’t even sure who I hadn’t been paying attention to.
I glanced up from my plate. “Yes?”
“I was asking if you knew if the business office had finalized the paperwork for that location,” Rhys said.
“Oh yes,” I replied quickly. “Everything’s taken care of. I think at this point it’s in David’s lap. He’s been coordinating with Archer in Willow Brook. As far as I know, they’re getting the place staffed and ready to roll. I’m assuming…” Pausing, I flicked my eyes among the brothers, quickly passing Kenan’s gaze. “McKenna will be setting up some kind of event for the opening.”
“Oh, she’s all over that,” Blake said with a grin before he took a bite of pizza. After chewing, he added, “She’s been bouncing in and out of the restaurant, checking with Fiona about menu planning and so on. Willow Brook will have a big opening event.”
“I’ll offer to fly anyone who wants to go down there,” Rhys interjected. “Or we can do a ferry trip. It’s cold, but it could be fun.”
“You should go,” Blake said, gesturing toward me.
“Oh, I don’t need to go,” I said quickly, thinking it was a guarantee that Kenan would be there. Avoiding him when I could, made the most sense at this point.
“Please go,” Rhys said firmly. “We’d love it. You work enough as it is, and that’ll get you out of your office for a few days.”
