Chapter Two
Quinn grunted as Dorothy threw herself into his arms. "You made it."
"I would have been here sooner if my sister picked me up."
She blew a raspberry. "I'm already letting you crash here. Besides, don't you feel like a loser staying with your much-younger sister?"
Closing the door, he dropped his bag. "You've not told Kaley I'm coming, have you?"
He knew his sister well.
"You're in love with my friend. I know Kaley better than anyone, Quinn. If she knew you were coming here to stay, she'd be going back home. I don't know why she's so skittish around you." Dorothy shrugged. "Anyway, she's at the library and will be for the next-" she stopped to look down at her watch, "-three hours. You're safe to unpack."
They lived in a three-bedroom apartment. Both of their families had chipped in to make sure the girls weren't in any danger. The apartment building was a good one and located in a decent part of the city. Quinn wouldn't have Kaley living anywhere else, and neither would he let Dorothy.
Folding his arms over his chest, he stared at Dorothy. "What's to say she won't run away?"
"I won't let her. I've already got a date lined up. My plan is to sit and eat, then remember I've got a date, leaving the two of you together. If I don't, she'll come up with a reason to be out of the apartment. It'll work."
"How do you feel about me dating Kaley?"
"You're not interrogating me, Quinn. I'm happy for you both." She cut off to start laughing. "Actually, it'll be fun to see you working hard for something you want in life." She snorted. "Kaley's not so easily taken with muscles and your Seal past."
"You're already a pain in my ass."
"I'm the enjoyable pain, brother. I'll leave you to get settled. I'm making Kaley's favorite. Chicken parmesan. I'm going to need for her to forgive me, as otherwise I'll kick your ass."
Picking his bag up, Quinn crossed the apartment to the spare bedroom. Before he opened the door, he couldn't help but take a peek in the other room. Kaley's room.
Opening the door, he stepped inside then closed it quickly so Dorothy wouldn't interrupt him.
The room was feminine. The walls were plain white, and the bedding was a light peach color, as were the curtains. The desk held several creams pushed to one side. What dominated the desk was her closed laptop. Beside her laptop was a notebook. He picked up the notebook, flipping through the pages to see lots of notes.
Quinn closed the book, not wanting to take his invasion into her privacy any further. His years as a Seal had taught him to play dirty as well as nice. Standing near the edge of the bed, he closed his eyes, inhaling her floral scent. He moved over to her single bookshelf that was full to bursting with books. He ran his fingers over each well-worn spine. Kaley had always been a reader, a lover of all books. He used to like watching her read with the way her tongue stuck out as she did.
He quickly looked through her collection of books, seeing some more erotic titles amongst the educational ones. He'd not expected her to have any sexy titles, and he liked this side of Kaley. His woman liked to read sexy stories. Quinn could work with that. Did she wish she were the heroine in some of the books? He'd gladly play out all of her fantasies. He would remember the titles so that he could look for them.
Seconds later he left her bedroom and entered his own. The walls were white, and Dorothy had put some blue sheets on the bed. He went to the window to look out over the city. Their parents all lived in a small town in the country where fields as far as the eye could see surrounded them. The city never appealed to him, but he knew how important it was to start up a business within the city. Security was a good business to use all of the skills he'd built up in the Seals.
Once his company was established and Kaley finished her Master's, he'd be finding them a place back home. Quinn had a business plan that he intended to stick to. He had the money and the contacts, so all he needed to do was see his dream come true. In the last couple of years, he'd dabbled in the stock market, investing in products and companies, which had showed a great return.
He unpacked quickly, then answered the texts sent by his parents before making his way out toward his sister. She was bent over putting a dish into the oven.
"Shut up, don't speak." She closed the oven, rubbing at her brow. "You better make sure Kaley loves you. I hate cooking and only ever make sandwiches when it's my night."
"You're making it up to her for not telling her about me?"
"Yeah. You asked to stay here. If you weren't my brother I'd leave everything up to you."
"I appreciate you helping me." He leaned against the doorframe, staring at his frazzled sister. For the most part Dorothy always came across as easygoing. Nothing stressed her, yet this did. "I'm not going to hurt her. Kaley will be safe with me."
"I know. Don't go into her bedroom again. She likes her space to be private."
"I saw the notebook and laptop. What's that all about?"
"Kaley likes to write. I've not been allowed to see any of her stories, but I've heard her typing away late at night. It's what she likes to do."
He'd be looking at those stories. They were important to her. He could sense it.
"I'm trying to get to know as much of her as possible." He moved toward the kettle. "She'll be fine. Stop worrying." He made himself a coffee, while making his sister tea. She didn't need anything else to make her skittish.
"I hope you're right." She started to move around in circles the watch that rested on her wrist. "Dinner is done. I'm going to get my outfit ready so I can leave quickly."
"No. I can figure everything out."
"Good. Quinn, I like the thought of you two being together. Go easy on her. I think she's, erm, she's still a virgin. She didn't pay any attention to the guys in school or in college. I've not seen her with anyone. I just want you to be careful with her."
"I'm not going to hurt her, Dorothy."
No, he wasn't going to hurt her. The last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt Kaley. He was going to spend some time with the woman he'd come to love. Kaley deserved to be loved and cherished, and he was going to be the man to give her everything her heart desired.
Walking up the steps, carrying the ice cream and a movie, Kaley was exhausted from the long day. She'd gotten plenty of studying in, yet it wasn't enough to push the thought of Quinn from her mind. Maybe it was because of Dorothy's strange behavior that morning.
She inserted her key into the door, entering the apartment. The scent of chicken parmesan filled her senses, making her mouth water. Removing her satchel, she set it on the floor.
"Hey, I'm home. I bought some ice cream and that movie you've been talking about for the last couple of weeks." She stopped when she saw three place settings at the small table. "Do we have company?"
She walked into the kitchen and froze when she saw Quinn standing beside Dorothy. He held a bottle of beer. Both siblings turned toward her.
"Hey," Dorothy said. "Awesome." She took the tub of ice cream from her along with the movie. "I can't wait to watch this.
"Hey, Kaley," Quinn said. His voice was deep, masculine, and he had the power to make her melt.
"Hey." What else should she say? "Erm, I thought you were, erm, working." Where were her words?
"I was. I've got some time off."
"Dorothy didn't mention you coming here." She looked toward her friend, who conveniently busied herself.
"It was a split-second decision. I'm not ready to go home. The folks know I'm staying here." He tipped the beer bottle to his lips, and took a sip.
Get yourself together, Kaley.
"Great. Is that chicken parmesan I smell?"
"Yep. I'm pulling it out of the oven."
"I'll go and sit. It's my favorite," Quinn said, passing her.
Did he have to get so close to her when he passed?
"This is why you were baking this morning, wasn't it?" Kaley asked, facing her friend.
"What? I knew he was coming, but I also knew you'd find some reason not to come home. I'm not kicking you out of our apartment while he's here. What's wrong with Quinn?"
"Nothing."
"Good. He's staying here a few weeks. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Kaley, but you wouldn't have been here tonight. Please, we're all friends."
Dorothy was using the guilt card. Whenever Dorothy begged, Kaley never failed to feel bad for putting her friend in this predicament. Quinn was a nice guy. In all the years she'd known him, he'd never once made her feel unaccepted or uncomfortable. All of her problems when it came to this man were her own.
"Fine. Is there anything you need me to carry?"
"You can take the pasta. Love you." Dorothy kissed her cheek, exiting the room.