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Pulling her closer, I walked us out to my car sitting at the curb in front of the entrance. When you were an Olysses, you had special privileges wherever you went. One of them was parking in a no-parking zone and having an airport attendant guard it.
I didn’t want a driver today. For this weekend, it would only be Quinn and me. No interruptions. For once, I’d pretend the outside world didn’t exist. The memories would have to carry me through the rest of my life, and I intended to savor every moment I had left with her.
Opening her door, I watched Quinn get in the car, holding myself back from reaching for her again. I put her bags in the trunk next to mine and slid into the driver seat, tipping the airport employee who’d been standing next to my car.
Quinn turned to me with a warm smile, her eyes sparkling. “So what’s on the agenda for today? Do you still have to work?”
“It’s a surprise. And I’m not working while you’re here.” I didn’t want to miss a single moment I had with her.
My family had a beach house in Saugatuck, and I was taking her there. I wasn’t going to share my time with Quinn with anyone else. Not my sister or my parents, who’d all been asking about her.
I hadn’t even told them she was coming, and I had no intention of doing so.
Once we made it out of the busy city, I relaxed against my seat, taking Quinn’s hand in mine. The drive was smooth, and conversation came easy. Her enthusiasm at everything we drove past was infectious.
She made me stop at St. Joseph, and I didn’t even mind getting dragged into shops stuffed with random trinkets and incense that made my nose hairs recoil in fear.
We ate at a coffee shop that didn’t possess one matching piece of furniture, dish, or cutlery. I obviously didn’t hide my horror as well as I thought, because when Quinn’s attention turned to me, she burst out laughing.
Her hair was a mess, her cheeks red from the cold outside, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She’d never been more beautiful.
She nudged me while still chuckling. “Do you want to wait outside? I can order our food.”
Pulling her closer and away from the most likely flea-infested furniture, I shook my head. “Nonsense. But promise not to touch anything.”
She let out a snort, then slapped her hand over her mouth, her shoulders bouncing from the effort to hold back more laughter.
Pulling her closer, I buried my head in her hair. “Stop laughing at me. It’s not my fault this place should be condemned.”
“It’s perfectly clean and smells divine.”
I had to give her that. The smell of freshly baked bread, muffins, and coffee hung in the air, making my mouth water. The fact that the place was clean was the only reason I hadn’t dragged her back outside yet.
“Are you here on your honeymoon?” someone asked from behind us.
Lifting my head, smile still on my face, I looked at the woman who’d asked the question. She had short white hair, red-rimmed glasses, and wore a sweater with every imaginable color splashed on it.
I shook my head. “We’re only here for a visit.”
Quinn had gone stiff at the question, pulling out of my embrace.
“You make a lovely couple. When my dear Edward was still alive, he’d look at me like you look at your girlfriend.” She winked at Quinn. “Hold on to that one, dear. He’d do anything for you.”
We were saved from answering when the girl behind the counter called, “Next.”
Quinn ordered some weird tea concoction, and I opted for black coffee.
We stepped back outside, carrying paper bags that held our food and to-go cups. Quinn wanted to sit on the pier, and we were dressed warm enough not to freeze before we could finish our food.
I sank down beside her, watching her take a sip. “She was right, you know.”
Looking at me over the rim of her cup, Quinn raised a brow. “Right about what?”
“I’d do anything for you.”Except stay away.
She leaned in, touching her lips to mine in a chaste kiss.
I let out a deep breath, feeling more of the tension drain out of me. I knew I was doing the wrong thing by spending more time with her, but I was unable to stop the collision course I was on.
