Page 57 of The Puck Charmer
? I ask.
“We need to talk, but it can wait until later,” he says.
My heart lurches. Do I dare hope he wants to talk about a future?
“You want some help here?” he asks.
“No, go,” I say and back up an inch when the dog runs circles around us and Quinn chases after Scotty. “Hang out with your friends. I’ll be in shortly.”
I watch him walk off, and go back to finishing what I’m doing. Once I get the shrub planted, I head inside to shower. By the time I finish, I hear laugher out by the pool so I head outside to join Alek and his friends. Quinn’s smile is wide and inviting as she pushes a chair out for me and holds up a bottle of wine.
“Tell me you’re joining me,” she says.
“I’m joining you.” I laugh when she pours a generous amount and slides it my way. She takes a sip of hers and exhales.
“I have to say, it’s so nice to have a girl to talk to. Usually I’m stuck listening to all the guy talk and guy barks,” she says with a laugh when Scotty and Captain Jack dart by. “So you’re a landscape artist,” she says. “That’s so interesting.”
“I really enjoy it,” I say and take a sip of the wine. “I’m excited to be doing Tyler’s yard. I have so many ideas. I hear you own a daycare?”
“It’s true, I’m insane, but please don’t hold that against me.”
I laugh. “I think it’s great.”
She stares at me. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say that, but if you’re ever in Boston, come by, I’ll show you around, take you to lunch.”
“Maybe I will,” I say, but I know that’s not ever going to happen.
Alek and Jonah are chatting by the grill, and Alek tosses the steaks on. My stomach takes that moment to grumble.
“They’re good friends huh?” I ask.
“Yeah, they go way back,” she says.
“What does Jonah do?” I ask.
Her gaze darts to Alek, her eyes drilling into him, and he stares back, shifting like he’s uncomfortable about something. Quinn’s lips thin, when she says, “He’s sort of in between things right now.”
I stiffen. Okay, clearly it’s not something she wants to talk about. I steal a fast glance at Alek, and his brow is tight, like he’s tormented by something as he shifts his focus back to the grill and Quinn leans into me all conspiratorial like, making me feel like I belong here with them all.
“So you and Alek, huh?”
“We’re friends.”
“Friends with benefits,” she states and grins. “It’s okay. I’m not judging. I think it’s great.”
“You do?”
“Sure.” She runs her fingers over the stem of her glass and says, “But I have to tell you something. I’ve never seen him look at a woman the way he looks at you.”
“You’ve seen him with many women?” I ask, and hate the wave of jealousy gripping my gut.
She shrugs. “Yeah, but he’s never been serious.” She taps her chin. “He’s never introduced us to anyone before, and having someone live with him.” She shakes her head, her blue eyes wide. “Unheard of.” She leans back in her chair. “But I can definitely see what he likes in you.”
I coil a strand of hair around my finger. “Thanks.”
“You like him too, right?”
I angle my head, take in the amazing man standing in front of the grill. My heart wobbles, and even if I was an Oscar-winning actress, I’m not sure I could hide my feelings from Quinn. “Yeah, I like him,” I say. “He’s a really nice guy.”