“Yes, Miss Quinn.”
“Just Quinn.”
“Quinn,” she repeated. “I’ll be happy to help you if you need anything during yourstay. The staff has been informed of your presence, and we are at your service.”
“I don’t suppose you know how to fly a plane.”
“No, Miss…Quinn, afraid no’.”
Abby stopped at the entrance to the dining room and gestured. Quinn gave her a good old southern smile and stepped inside the room, expecting to find Collin sitting alone at the table. She was wrong.
Chairs scratched the floor as three men stood. A blonde-haired woman sitting next to Collin at the table ignored Quinn’s arrival and continued drinking from the fine china. Quinn had learned early in life to ignore the aura’s around everyone’s body, but this woman’s color was hard to ignore. It was the same color as baby poop
Good thing the food didn’t smell the same way. The smell of fresh bacon drifted to her nose, making her stomach growl.
“Quinn, please come in and join us for breakfast.”
“If I can just get a lift back into town, I can grab something from the pub.” Quinn gestured with her thumb over her shoulder as she silently wondered if Abby knew how to drive.
“Great idea. I can take her.” The woman at the table shoved back her chair and raised her brow with a forced smile. Quinn had seen that smile before. She’d given it a time or two. It oozed “woman onher period ready to fight to the death for the last piece of chocolate in the universe.” Game on, sister. Quinn gave her a lopsided grin and sauntered into the room straight up to Collin, ignoring the others. She rested her hand on his bulging bicep and met his gaze. “Thanks for letting me sleep in your room last night. It was magical.”
Ian busted out in laughter as the woman’s eyes narrowed in contempt. The other man at the table rested his palm on Blondie’s arm as if ready to stop her from scratching out Quinn’s eyes. Quinn wasn’t worried. There was plenty of silverware within reach.
Collin’s eyes sparkled as he smiled down at Quinn and cupped her cheek. His palm was warm and soft to the touch as he lowered his head, never dropping her gaze until his lips were mere inches from hers. “You thought last night was magical? You havenae seen anything yet.”
He slipped his arm around Quinn’s waist and pulled her flush against his hard body as he kissed her lips. She didn’t question why he was helping her bait the blonde woman; she didn’t care. The heat of his mouth seared Quinn to the soul as her heart raced frantically in her chest. His tongue toyed with hers, sipping, taking, and meeting hers at every move. Touché.
He slowly pulled away. “You’ll stay and eat, then I’ll show you the grounds.”
“You win.” She grinned, already spying the biscuits on the table. She’d planned to grab one on her way out, but this was so much more fun than eating alone. She silently wondered how many locals she could piss off before Johnny got well.
“Ian, you wouldn’t mind moving down to make room for Quinn, would you?”
“Of course not. I've finished anyway.” Ian moved his plate and put a fresh one in its place before holding out Quinn’s chair.
Blondie snapped her mouth shut and tossed her napkin on her uneaten food.
“Well.” She huffed. “I’ve lost my appetite. If you’ll excuse me.” She stomped from the room.
“It was a pleasure meeting you,” Quinn called out after her, hoping for one last jab, even though she really wanted to sing,Booyah, I got your boyfriend,and then do a chair dance that would make her mother cringe. Okay, so maybe that was a dick move, or what men would refer to as a cock block, but she didn’t like Blondie’s sneer or her puke-green aura.
The other guy, who had been at the table, excused himself seconds after the woman, and Ian grabbed a biscuit and raised it in a wave. “It’s always a pleasure, Quinn.”
“Aww shucks, there’s no reason to lie to my face, Ian.”
Ian chuckled as he continued out of the room, leaving Collin and Quinn alone.
“I thought the blonde Barbie was going to jump me,” Quinn said, grabbing a biscuit and muffin from the table. She plopped down in Ian’s old seat.
“She’s jealous,” Collin said, retaking his seat. “She’s been trying to get me to kiss her like that since she stepped foot inside the castle. I’m going to owe you for the rest of my life, first returning my emerald and now getting Margarete to leave me alone. Avoiding her was a full-time job. I’m beginning to think you’re my good luck charm.”
“Now, Collin, I’m sure if you had just told her you only like brunettes or redheads with big breasts, she would have taken the hint.”
“I’m afraid you’re wrong. I dinnae think anything would have ever stopped her from trying. She would have dyed her hair and scheduled a breast implant.”
“If you don’t like her, then why is she here?” she asked before sinking her teeth into the blueberry muffin. She moaned in appreciation. The muffin was fluffy and flavorful, definitely not from a package of ingredients that she couldn’t pronounce. “I’m going to make your cook my new best friend.”
“She’ll be happy to hear that. You have a healthy appetite.” Collin grinned.
