Page 28 of What Love Can Do
Either way, it blazed a trail across her skin that lit her up inside. It was amazing what this man could do to her, the electricity that would spark across her arms and legs and down into her belly. All these years, she’d come here with her father, but now, the bridge had new meaning—she was here with Quinn, a man on a mission to know his mother—and because of Lilly, he was one step closer to that goal.
Suddenly, the massive arms embracing her in the kiss gripped and moved her toward the edge of the bridge in a quick but controlled way, though luckily, she caught a glimpse of his smartass smile, and she realized he was only playing with her. She shrieked anyway. “Quinn! Oh, my God! Don’t do that!”
He laughed and pulled her back to safety, laying her against the planks, and hovering over her. “I would never let you fall for real, Lil,” he whispered, lowering his face, kissing her gently in the cooling autumn evening air. Because of the kisses that followed, because of thoughts that she might not ever find a man as playful, sexy, or sweet as this in Miami, she missed the critical moment when the fiery ball of sunset disappeared below the valley’s hills.
“What are you doing to me?” Quinn asked between gasping soft breaths.
She held his face, watching the way his lips moved when he spoke, feeling her heart crunch when he said it, and knowing, fully well without a doubt, that she would not come out of this unscathed. She was falling and falling hard. “I was about to ask you the same.”
Eleven
He wasn’t being careful.
Though he’d told himself many times not to let things with Lilly go past a certain point, Quinn was letting it go past a certain point. And God knew he wasn’t ready. He wasn’t.
He needed to figure out whether to return to Dublin, explore places still unseen, or listen to his gut, which was telling him with every hour that passed that Green Valley was his home every bit as much as it had been his mam’s. Something about the place called to him, made him want to settle in and explore everything it had to offer, and after he did a bit more of that, he was hoping his brothers joined them to spread Mam’s ashes, but also just to experience the area’s beauty for themselves. Knowing Con already felt the power of this place and went wherever the wind blew him anyway, Quinn had no doubt he’d agree to stay longer. Brady might appreciate a relocation since his world had fallen apart, and the twins might be open to a long holiday here at the very least.
How fantastic would that be if they all came and stayed awhile?
It would make him happy, but of course, things wouldn't be perfect.
Not without Lilly here.
Before they’d left Langley Bridge, she’d told him about the wonderful opportunity she had to intern with a famous pastry chef in Miami. Her excitement had been palpable, even as she’d worried about how her mother would take the news. Quinn had hugged her until she’d squealed, overjoyed with happiness for her, but he couldn’t deny he’d felt a twinge of inexplicable sadness, as well.
It was already his fourth day here in California, and he still needed a roadmap to navigate the choppy waters of his uncertainty. Had part of him actually thought he and Lilly might have a future together? Rubbish. The last thing a bloke in his position ought to be doing was getting involved with a woman. Especially one leaving so soon.
And yet—he couldn’t keep his distance. Not when failing to do so meant more times like yesterday, making love in the morning, then sitting together on the bridge over the creek, talking quietly and feeding one another.
This morning, instead of heading out immediately to do more exploring—hell, he hadn’t even seen the house his mother grew up in—he’d stayed in, hoping to get some more time with Lilly. If that wasn’t a sign he was headed for disaster, he didn’t know what was. No sooner did he have the thought than Lilly found him in the living room. She was trying to restrain herself, but he could tell she was virtually vibrating with excitement, something having to do with the secretive smile on her lips.
“There you are. If you’re not doing anything today, then go pack a bag. Your brother too.”
He should’ve put the brakes on right there. He should’ve said he already had plans, and those plans didn’t—couldn’t—include her, but he didn’t. How could he? She was so excited by whatever it was she was scheming, that he hated to disappoint her.
And so, he went and fetched Con, who’d apparently fought with Dara the night before, and had yet to get out of bed. “Let’s go, maggot.”
“You’re the maggot.”
“You are, sleeping all day in your maggoty bed.”
“Same bed you slept in, you dry shite,” Con said with the enthusiasm of a sloth.
“Lilly wants to take us somewhere.” Quinn ripped the comforter off his stupid ass brother and gave him a playful shove.
“Feck off, ya bugger.” But eventually, Con did sit up, look around and brush the sleep from his eyes, and within half an hour, they’d packed an overnight bag, as Lilly had instructed, and met her outside by her car, sun shades drawn tightly over their eyes. “Will this involve thinking?” Con yawned.
“Not really,” Lilly said.
“Walking?”
“Not unless you care to walk to the ocean from here, or on the beach when we get there,” Lilly said brightly, throwing her bag into the car, along with a small cooler full of drinks into the trunk.
“Ocean?” Quinn narrowed his eyes in the morning sun, early fog burning away, giving way to a beautiful, wine country day.
“The Pacific. You said you wanted to see it.” Lilly smiled, relishing the astonishment on his face, because how could he not be astonished? This woman had everything—brains, talent, astounding beauty, compassion, and she knew how to pack a picnic basket, and she listened to every word he said. That was way more than he could say about Rita, a woman he’d dated steadily back in Dublin and who’d loved the sound of her own voice, that was for sure.
It was a short trip, only thirty minutes to the shore, but when they arrived in Jenner, a small coastal town at the mouth of the Russian River, Quinn’s eyes gravitated toward the majesty of the wide open ocean. The car stopped short of a rocky cliff, and everyone climbed out with mixed sighs of awe and wonder. The salt, the breeze, and cool air all hit him.