Bullied by the Boss(22)

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.