Quinn could be beyond shy and timid when a man was concerned.He’d known that almost from the first week he’d hired her to run his office a year ago.She’d been all of twenty-two years old, turned red every time he’d looked at her, and he’d been hesitant.His work was demanding, long hours, he hadn’t been able to pay much at first, she was so quiet at times, and he knewbothof them had had to learn on the fly.
But she’d looked at him with big hazel eyes and told him she wanted a chance to try.That she worked hard and wasn’t afraid to learn.He’d told her ninety days, and then they’d reevaluate.He’d needed an assistant who would keep him focused and going forward.He hadn’t thought she’d been assertive enough back then.
He had learned.Boy, had he learned.And now…she fascinated him completely.
He’d practically been in love with her since day four.At first, he’d thought that problem would get better, would go away and they’d settle into a strong work relationship.The work relationship, yes, but the other problem.No.It had just deepened.There was no one else on the planet he trusted more with his business than Quinn Danielle Clary.She could run his businesses backwards and forwards, probably better than he could.
She had more than earned her salary over the past year.
But the woman just wouldn’t stophauntinghis dreams at night.He was starting to get a bit pitiful here—he’d lost twenty pounds.Kameron almost thought he was pining over this woman here.It just got worse every time she got too close.Like…she was now.They were crammed close on the booth to make room for the little girl’s booster seat.Quinn was all pressed up against him.He could smell her shampoo, damn it.What was a sane man supposed to do?
He just wanted to scoop her off her feet and carry her back to his cave.And keep her there.Forever.They could make two or three little versions of themselves, and live happily ever after.Together.And be wildly happy.
That was all he really wanted in this world, he decided, as Quinn looked down at Auggie’s baby girl, now in Quinn’s lap, and smiled.She handed the baby back to Auggie, as they all stood.
So he asked her the questions he had to—not the one he really wanted.Business.He had to keep it business right now.
She looked up at him, big hazel eyes wide, as she waited for his next words.“It’s for sale?”
He nodded.They’d been talking about branching off into multi-unit real estate lately, when he had enough money saved up.And there were several properties he had in mind now.Now that the police had sent them to auction, it was even better.He’d probably have to put some money into fixing them up but a default sale had the potential for a lot of profit.“I just need to make it happen.What do you say, go with me to the auction in Cheyenne next week?”
“Why are they holding the auction there if the property is here?”she asked, as Cal kept flirting with Auggie in the background, and helped the other woman get the little girls out to her van or something.Cal had it bad.Kameron would rib him about it later.Much later.He had his own woman to focus on now.Quinn and Auggie were friends, too.He hadn’t realized that.
“It’s the WHP who are technically in possession, I think.We can go early Friday.I’ll take you to the Atlas that evening.We can stay at the Barratt.”Anythingto get the woman to realize he even existed.That he was aman.
That he was right there in front of her and would do anything to make her happy.He was ten years older than she was, though—maybe…maybe he should just…not…hell.
That had been his problem to begin with.He was too old for her, too experienced…and maybe he wasn’t what she’d need?
Kameron didn’t know what to do about this woman at all.
Of course, Quinn was more the “buy me a book” than a “romantic dinner” type.She’d told him that bluntly once, when she’d had a disastrous date with one of those idiot Hauffman brothers six or seven months ago.Hauffman had tried to take her someplace sleek and sophisticated—and Quinn had told Kameron she’d felt out of place.But hell, he understood it—Hauffman had wanted to take her someplace special.
Because Quinn Clary was the most special woman in Masterson County.
He just didn’t know how to convince her of that.
Someone stood up at the back of the diner—Kameron looked instinctively, one hand going around Quinn’s elbow.He automatically looked at the man standing there.Kameron did everything he could to keep his disgust from showing.He pulled Quinn closer.
“Hang on a moment, honey.”The endearment just slipped out.It did that sometimes, when he didn’t take time to censor it.“That’s my brother right there.”
She turned, and he caught a whiff of her shampoo again.Her hair was sleek, milk chocolate brown.Soft.He knew how soft it was.
Damn it, this woman ate at him.And she didn’t have a clue.
Jacob came lumbering over.Hell, didn’t he ever bother taking a shower?Kameron’s brother was eight years younger than Kameron, but he looked twenty years older.His stomach hung over his belt, and Kameron swore he saw flesh.His brother’s shirt was oil-stained.No surprise, since he had his own business collecting cooking oil to be dumped, as well as hauling dumpsters.But had Jacob washed his hair in Crisco or something?
“Kam.On a date in the middle of the day?”Jacob looked at Quinn and almost sneered.She’d told Kameron once that she remembered Jacob from school.She’d been a freshman in high school when Jacob had quit his senior year.
Kameron had gotten the impression she hadn’t liked his brother very much.She always sort of shrank into herself whenever they crossed paths with Jacob.
Something about it always made Kameron want to protect her.Even from his own brother.
Quinn almost pressed against Kameron’s chest, trying to put space between her and Jacob.Kameron just held her closer.
“Jacob, this is my assistant Quinn Clary.You going to be home tonight?There’s something I need to talk to Dad about.”
His brother just grunted.Then turned back toward the counter.Where some of the Talley girls were.Jacob had said things about those girls many times before.Kameron knew his brother had a thing for little Daisy.The school teacher, one of Quinn’s friends.
