“My turn now,” Riley said, interrupting her thoughts. “What’s your type? Do you have one?”
Quinn mulled over that as she nibbled on an olive. She wasn’t sure how far she could go with her subtle flirtations, but she decided to take a chance. “Physically speaking, I like feminine women, and I’m a sucker for a pretty brunette.” She leaned in closer and locked her eyes with Riley’s.Yep. She definitely looks flustered. “But there has to be chemistry, of course. That’s important.”
Riley bit her lip and nodded. “Yes,” she whispered. “Chemistry is important.”
“And I like intelligent and independent women,” Quinn added. “I guess someone like you would be my type.”
At that, Riley moved back even more. She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again and frowned through a long silence. “Are you flirting with me?” she finally asked.
“No,” Quinn said casually. “I was just answering your question. I wouldn’t dare flirt with you. You’re straight. You’ve made that very clear, so you wouldn’t be interested in me anyway, right?”
“Right.”
Quinn gave her a small smile as she looked her over. “Sorry, but I have to ask again because none of this adds up. Are you sure you didn’t go on that app because you wanted to meet women?” She rested her chin in the palm of her hand. “It’s okay. I really won’t tell anyone.”
“Not even Lindsey?”
“Especially not Lindsey.”
Riley twirled the wine around in her glass and looked up at the ceiling again as if all the answers to difficult questions were plastered over the intricate woodwork. “I was curious,” she finally said. “I wanted to…” She stopped herself with a subtle shake of her head. “I just had a few drinks, and I was curious.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being curious.”
“I know that.”
Quinn nodded, relieved to learn she hadn’t imagined the pull between them. She was unsure if she could push any further with her questions, but Riley’s confession felt like an invitation to discuss it. “Have you been curious for long?” she asked, aware this conversation could change their new friendship for the worse or for the better.
“No,” Riley said matter-of-factly. “I never had time to think about these things.” She paused, then repeated her previous statement. “I was just curious.”
“Did you find what you were looking for?”
“I wasn’t looking for anything.” Riley’s eyes darted to the door now, seeking an escape.
“Okay. But if you’re curious, there’s no harm in talking about it.” Quinn shrugged. “You might as well. I’m gay. It might help to talk, and we’re friends, right?”
Riley braced herself with a deep breath, then met Quinn’s eyes. “I was filling in the profile,” she said. “It asked me for my sexual preference, and for the first time in my life, I actually started to doubt myself.”
“Like a hunch?”
“Maybe.”
“Any reason you suddenly started to doubt your sexuality?” Quinn asked, her core tightening as she considered the possibility that she might have ignited something in Riley.
Riley pursed her lips and hesitated. “No. It was probably the wine. I had too much.” She shook her head. “So no, I don’t feel the need to talk about it.”
“Sure.” Quinn held up the bottle. “Would you like another glass?” She winked. “Or would that turn you gay?”
Finally, Riley’s shoulders dropped, and she laughed, visibly relaxing a little. “It might.”
“In that case, I’ll keep topping you up,” Quinn said humorously, pouring them both a generous amount. The night had been interesting to say the least, but Riley was no less of a mystery.
23
RILEY
Riley couldn’t sleep, but for once, the house wasn’t the reason. There were still the constant creaking and howling noises and the occasional slamming doors, but her mind was elsewhere. She’d been tossing and turning for hours, her thoughts consumed by Quinn and the way she’d regarded her while she shamefully crawled back from her lie. And then there were the looks between them that quite frankly set her on fire. She had a feeling it was mutual, especially after Quinn’s teasing comments and the flirty glimmer in her eyes.
A tightness spread between her thighs, and she lowered her hand between the sheets and under her T-shirt. She gasped, shocked at how sensitive her nipples were when she caressed her breasts. Her body was reacting to the vision of Quinn in ways she’d never experienced, and Quinn wasn’t even here. She imagined Quinn’s hands stroking her, Quinn’s lips on her mouth and neck, those intense eyes locked with hers while she gave her that lazy smile.What would it be like?
