She worked her lips together.No.If it hadn’t been for his disappearance and lack of contact over the last eight months, she’d never have believed the rumors.His fingers moved to the inside of her arm and a prickling sensation spread through her.She turned and stared down at him.“You were caught on video with a gas tank at the scene and had no alibi.”
At this angle, his hazel eyes, which she’d committed to memory, appeared almost obsidian.The dark lashes that fanned around his orbs only heightened his appeal.“Someone who looked like me,” he said.
She hissed a breath through tight lips.She didn’t need this conversation right now.
“I need your help.”His tone held the hint of a plea.
Curiosity lit a flame inside her.God, she’d always been a sucker for Quin.Not that she ever would have explored her attraction to him.She huffed out a breath and caught his hand, tugging him to his feet.“Hurry up, I want to go to bed.”
As soon as the words left her mouth heat seared her cheeks.Had it sounded as if she were suggesting he’d be joining her?God.If things weren’t so tense between them, they might have shared a chuckle.Back when they’d had a carefree friendship.Before Liam died.She remembered his extra-long smiles, his gaze that would hold hers for a second beat and make her heart flutter.A hundred times she’d second-guessed that grin because Quin was just that kind of man—he held everyone’s attention.His teddy-bear demeanor made him one of the most trusted people she knew, and he never,ever, would have crossed the line and hurt Liam.
Now was no different.
She climbed the steps and reached the back door.Quin’s heavy footsteps gently shook the wood on the porch that Liam had wanted to redo this time the previous year.She opened the screen door and shed her coat, which she hung on the hook near the door.Quin kicked off his boots, his gaze swinging around the snug cabin.
The light in the kitchen accentuated the red glow of his face.She’d caught bear spray in her eye once and had wanted to die.Wincing at the memory, a tiny bit of guilt struck her.
She gestured to the living room and he followed.So weird.He was acting as if he’d never set foot in her house, but his presence here was strong.The walls held their memories, even if he wanted to pretend that they didn’t.She dropped into the armchair, not wanting to risk him sitting beside her on the sofa.“What do you want, Quin?”
He lowered himself to the couch, propped his elbows on his knees, and interlaced his fingers.“I need you to believe that I didn’t set that diner on fire.”
She cocked her head to the side.Hot air blew through her nose.Resting her hands on her thighs, she puckered her lips.“Fine.I believe you.But something tells me that’s not what you really want.”
His gaze flicked down her body, almost too quickly.He plucked his hat off his head.His blond hair jetted out as if he’d put his hat on after a shower.His normally tanned cheeks glowed with irritation.
“You’re really red,” she said.
His thick fingertips moved to a spot beneath his left eye, which had taken the brunt of the spray.“Yeah, remind me never to piss you off again.”
“Let me grab you another cloth.”She got to her feet and bustled to the kitchen.Curse him to hell and back.She didn’t need to get caught up in drama, and sure as hell not roped back into Quin’s life.Especially after what he’d done.But the healer in her couldn’t kick him out with an injury—especially not one that she’d caused.If she didn’t know better, she’d think he’d hoped she’d injure him just so she’d hear him out.He knew her weakness well.
Except the Quin she knew wouldn’t do something so conniving.The Quin she knew also wouldn’t have abandoned her when she’d needed him most, either.
Abandoned.
She couldn’t sound any clingier or more deluded if she tried.She and Quin hadn’t had a relationship.He hadn’tlefther, even though her heart had interpreted his absence that way.After snagging a bag of peas from the freezer, she slammed the drawer shut and stalked back to the living room.
Quin’s hot stare met her.Dark.Hooded.Unreadable except for...guilt.The tension around his lips screamed that he had more to say.She slapped the peas on the arm of the couch.“I know there’s more you want to tell me.Spill it, Quin.”
He lifted the plastic bag and the corner of his mouth hooked into a smirk.“What, no calendula?I feel like you’re shafting me on the Josie Ryan treatment.”
A chuckle stopped at her throat.“Let’s help the swelling first.Why are you back in Whistlemore?”she asked, not letting his playful comment distract her from her goal.Her fingers ached to inspect his injury, but she didn’t dare.Touching Quin was a bad idea.
He pressed the peas to his left eye and leaned back into the cushions.His gaze turned soft, reminding her of the devastating news that stare had once accompanied.She folded her fingers in front of her abdomen.Her legs trembled but she couldn’t make herself sit again.“What is it?”
Quin lowered the bag and reached out to snag one of her hands.The heat of his palm scorched her skin as his gaze ensnared her.“It’s about Liam, Jos.His death wasn’t an accident.He was murdered.”
CHAPTER 2
The pain flamingacross Quin’s face paled in comparison to the regret stewing inside him.Josie’s soulful brown eyes turned huge, and her ivory skin became a sickly gray.She looked so damn small standing in front of him.He shouldn’t have come here.Dragging Liam’s grieving girlfriend into this mess wouldn’t help matters, and it sure as fuck wouldn’t help her mourn.
He gripped her hand lightly, not daring to let go for fear she’d fall over.He ached to stand and pull her into his arms but knew the invasion wouldn’t be welcome.
She circled her bottom and top lip with her tongue.“W-Why would you say that?”
He shouldn’t want to touch her.From the day he’d met Josie he’d resisted the pull between them—only because Liam had expressed his interest first and he wasn’t into taking another guy’s girl.Plus, there were plenty of fish in the sea.Yet, since he and Liam had professed their interest in Josie to each other, every other woman hadn’t compared to her.
But that wasn’t why he was here.Born and raised in Whistlemore, Josie knew everyone in town and she was the best person to help him, and the only person who probably wouldn’t call the cops and have his ass arrested.Although that was yet to be seen.
