kid.
I did.
Does Quinn know? she asked.
Nope and he s not going to either.
Colin...you should tell him. He needs to know.
Why? So he can fix me? There s no fixing the past.
50 Tatum Throne
You re right, but there is a chance for healing. She reached out
and took his hand, gripping it tightly. Think about telling him when
the time is right, okay?
I will.
Through the windows, Austin and Quinn were chatting at a table.
Quinn was in his navy tactical gear that showed that he was working.
A black radio crisscrossed over his chest. He was a man who knew
that he was good-looking, but didn t flaunt it. He stretched back in the
chair, cocking his arms behind his head. He glanced toward the
parking lot and caught sight of them.
We should get inside, Colin said.
I suppose we should. Quinn only has a little while before he has
to get back to the station.
How long are you guys staying in town?
We leave tomorrow. Austin has to get back for a board meeting.
Colin opened the door to the pizza place for Sam and then
followed her inside. Red checked cloths covered the tables. There
were lots of things Colin found appealing about Quinn. One was the
way he looked at him when he entered the room. It wasn t a broad
grin or even a smile at all. Those hard blue eyes turned possessive and
hot as they drank every ounce of his being in. Austin stood, giving
Sam a quick kiss before holding out her chair. Colin took the open
seat next to Quinn and the window. Their knees brushed under the
table, sending an erotic shiver over Colin s leg.
Quinn put his arm over the back of his chair and leaned in close.
Hey, babe.
Heat moved over his cheeks as Sam gave him an encouraging
nod. You guys order?
Just drinks, Austin said. How s business?
Colin felt Quinn s hand tighten on the chair. We re in the black.
Can t complain.
They ordered a pizza to share and chatted about life in Manhattan.
Colin didn t miss life in NYC. He wasn t sure when it happened, but
High Heat 51
Boone was now home. He leaned back in his chair, content to listen to
Quinn talk about life as a firefighter. He had a way of talking with his
body that most men didn t have. The radio on Quinn s shoulder came
to life.
He tilted his head to listen. Car versus motorcycle on Route 14
south of Mountain Parkway.
Quinn was quick to respond. Copy central, 10-4. Unit 189 on the
way.
Quinn stood, squeezed Colin s shoulders and let his hand brush
the back of his neck in a forbidden caress. He gave Sam a quick kiss
on her cheek. Have a safe trip home, guys. Thanks again for dinner.
It was fun.
See you, Quinn, Austin said.
Colin watched Quinn as he hurried out the door to the white SUV
that boasted the Boone County Fire & Rescue logo on the side. Fuck
me. He looked good when he went to full-on work mode. Those blue
eyes turned dangerous. He flipped on his red lights and hit the road.
Colin knew exactly how good it felt to be on the receiving end of
Quinn s heroic actions.
Still hungry? Sam asked.
There was a wicked gleam to Sam s eye. Colin lifted a brow.
You know I am.
52 Tatum Throne
Chapter Seven
Quinn was hungry for a man who was playing hard to get. A thrill
of desire shot through his blood as he thought about coming face-to-
face with Colin. Quinn shut off his truck and stared at Colin s rustic
home in the fading sunlight. Dark-green pine trees arched around the
cabin, mixing with the native plants of Boone, North Carolina. There
were two cars in the driveway. The thought that Colin was having
friends over and he wasn t invited burned a little too much.
He left him twenty-four hours ago when he was called to an
accident. When he had a minute at work, he tried calling Colin. He
didn t answer.
Quinn knew he was stalking Colin, but he didn t care. Quinn ran a
hand over his buzzed, dark hair, wishing he d gone home to change
before he showed up in uniform. He wanted to catch Colin off guard.
Getting Colin to accept his apology for walking away from him
was on the top of Quinn s to-do list. The man was ignoring his phone
calls and that hurt. Guilt ebbed and flowed through his mind. He d [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]