Chapter 16

CHAPTER16

“Is that what I’m doing?” the incredibly handsome man sitting across from her murmured.

With a heartfelt sigh, Bailey said, “I’m afraid it is.”

“How do you figure?” Quinn asked as he opened the other can of Coke and took a sip.

“Because I’ve seen it before,” she said with a solemn nod, only to pause mid-nod, grumble, and reach up and shove the sleeping bag back when it began sliding down over her face.

“Have you now?” Quinn asked, sounding really amused for some reason.

“I really have,” Bailey assured him.

“Care to share?” he asked, moving to put his Coke down only to rethink that decision when he noticed that she was watching the move closely.

“I would, but I’m going to need another s’more,” Bailey said, gesturing for him to get on with it as she popped the last bite in her mouth.

“Fair enough,” Quinn murmured as he took another sip and set the Coke down, making sure to send her a look of warning as he did, and grabbed another marshmallow. “Start talking.”

Nodding, Bailey said, “Just as soon as I know that you’ve mentally braced yourself for what’s to come.”

“I’ll do my best,” he drawled, gesturing for her to get on with it.

Knowing that there was no point in putting this off, Bailey said, “I’m irresistible,” with a nod and another grumble when the sleeping bag began sliding down again.

“Clearly,” Quinn said as he finished making her s’more and handed it to her. “Anything else?”

“You have to know how this ends,” Bailey said with a sad shake of her head as she was forced to reach up and grab hold of the sleeping bag to stop it from getting in the way of tormenting the large man that had this coming.

He never should have come between her and her technology needs.

“How’s that?” Quinn asked, sliding another marshmallow on the stick as he watched her.

“Not good,” Bailey said with a sad shake of her head. “Not good at all.”

“That’s what I was afraid of,” he said, nodding as he took his time toasting the marshmallow that was going to taste delicious in her next s’more. “And you’re basing this on what exactly?”

“My research,” she said, watching as he made quick work of making another s’more before she held her hand out for more.

“And by ‘research,’ do you mean watching that overrated movie that you kept pausing so that you could stare at me?” Quinn asked as he placed the s’more in her hand and-

Left her swallowing hard when his fingertips brushed against her skin when he pulled his hand back. She watched as his normally cold gaze became heated as it locked on her and…just as quickly turned cold again as he dropped his hand away. Wondering what was wrong with her, Bailey focused on the s’more in her hand as she cleared her throat and said, “That’s exactly it.”

“Are you going to leave me in suspense?” Quinn drawled, picking up the Coke that should rightfully be hers.

“Are you going to share that Coke?” she countered.

“Start talking,” he said, gesturing for her to get on with it.

“If you must know,” Bailey began, only to feel her lips twitch when he said, “I must.”

Clearing her throat, she said, “I’ve broken this down for you.”

“That will make this easier,” Quinn murmured, gesturing for her to get on with it with the Coke.

“First, and remember, this is based on my extensive research, you got talked into taking a job that you didn’t want,” Bailey began as she held up one finger and took a bite of the delicious treat that was helping her focus. “That, of course, was followed by dealing with a client who didn’t believe that she needed help, a vicious attack that left me clinging to life and-”

“You startled Pam when you stood up and ran towards the wall as she swung the bat,” Quinn pointed out as he reached down and tossed another log on the fire.

Sniffling, Bailey said, “It was still a vicious attack.”

“Of course, it was,” Quinn said, once again gesturing for her to continue.

“After the vicious attack,” Bailey once again began, only to release a heartfelt sigh and a sad shake of her head when he added, “That you barely survived.”

“It was a close call,” she murmured in agreement before continuing. “That was followed by realizing that you couldn’t keep me safe and taking me away to an undisclosed location where you have fond memories, leaving you struggling to stay away from me, but realize that you can’t.”

“It’s a one-room cabin,” he reminded her.

“Which will just speed this up and leave you struggling to resist me,” Bailey said with a helpless shrug.

“Jesus Christ,” Quinn said, rubbing his hands roughly down his face.

“I know,” she said, nodding solemnly. “This is going to be a struggle for you.”

“What else?” he asked as he dropped his hands away.

“Did I mention the lingering touches and wistful looks from across the room?” Bailey asked.

“That really went without saying,” Quinn said, gesturing for her to continue as he reached into his bag and pulled out a bottle of water and handed it to her.

“Thank you,” Bailey said as she tossed the last bite of s’more in her mouth and accepted the bottle. “Now, where was I?”

“Lingering touches,” he said with a resigned sigh.

“That just leaves you with no choice but to fall madly in love with me,” Bailey said with a pitying look.

Nodding slowly, Quinn said, “And you have experience with this?”

“With incredibly handsome men falling madly in love with me?” Bailey asked, noting the way that he went still as she continued. “It happens all the time,” she said with a heartfelt sigh.

“Didn’t the bodyguard get shot saving her?” he pointed out.

“I’ve decided that we’re going to skip that part,” Bailey murmured absently as she took in their surroundings now that she was finished with her snack and really wished that she’d stayed in the truck when she saw the pitch-black woods surrounding them.

She hated camping, which, unfortunately for her parents, she didn’t discover until after they took her camping for the first time. That was quickly followed by her brother deciding that hiding in the woods at two in the morning to scare the hell out of her was a bad idea.

“That’s very generous of you,” Quinn said dryly.

“It’s the least that I can do for making you fall in love with me.”