Heath took another step forward.“That we care for each other beyond friendship.I refuse to believe it’s only physical.”
“Me neither, but I can’t get involved with you.”Quinn shook her head, but he could read the conflict in her expression.
“Why?”Heath crossed the distance between them but stopped an arm’s length from her, forcing his hands to stay by his sides.
“You know why.I’m leaving here eventually, and you’ve made it quite clear you’re staying.You even negotiated a part-time job with a company across the country with the stipulation that you could work remotely.So you can livehere.” She finally met his gaze.“I realize how important it is for you to be with your family.”
“And I understand how important it is for you to travel around the world as a photographer.”Heath reached forward and ran his knuckles down her cheek.“I wouldn’t ask you to give that up.”
“Isn’t this a little premature?We aren’t even technically dating.”
Technically dating?His pulsed quickened, but he forced himself to keep his tone playful.“But weareengaged.”
Quinn responded with a weak smile.
“I think we should see what happens.”Heath took her hand, and with the lightest pressure, she stepped into his arms.She slid hers around him and rested her cheek on his chest.
He closed his eyes and held her with a sense of completeness he hadn’t experienced before.Never in all his life had he felt a lack of family connection, never realized there was something missing from his life.How had he not known it was Quinn?
Quinn listenedto Heath’s beating heart, glad the accelerated pace matched her own.She appreciated that he didn’t kiss her again.Considering how his other two had made her feel, she worried she’d lose herself and never want to step away from him.
How was it possible her feelings could change so quickly from friendship?Orhadthey changed?Could someone slowly fall in love and not recognize the signs?Was it like those women who didn’t know they were pregnant and after having stomachaches suddenly delivered a baby?The image of a giant cartoon heart popping out of Quinn’s chest made her giggle.
“What are you laughing at?”Heath leaned back to look at her.
“It’s too silly to share.”She stepped away, needing to remove herself from the temptation, unsettled by her thoughts despite the laugh.“The microwave dinged.”
Heath darted ahead to pull out a chair for her.He’d always gotten her chair or the chair of any other lady near him when she’d eaten with his family.All the Savage guys did it, even Joel and Eli, when they remembered.
“It looked like you and the duke-let were getting along better,” Heath said once they’d both loaded their plates.“Were you able to talk with him about why he’s here?”
“A little.I feel a bit sorry for him.I think he’s trapped in a duty he doesn’t necessarily want to fulfill but feels an obligation to.”
“If he doesn’t want to do it, then why doesn’t he leave now that you’ve made it clear you’re not interested in him?”Heath had an edge to his voice.
“Are you jealous?”The words just slipped out, but Quinn wasn’t sorry she’d said them.She and Heath had always talked about anything, and she didn’t want that to change.
His cheeks darkened, and he shrugged.“It’d make an interesting story for a couple to tell their grandkids someday about how they got engaged without having gone on a date.”
Quinn chuckled softly, but an unexpected wistfulness washed over her.What would it be like to build a life with Heath, to raise a family with him?Grow old together.
She gave herself a mental kick.They might date, but there couldn’t be anything long-term between them because their life dreams were incompatible.
“That would be a funny story for someone to tell.”She moved the food around on her plate, not looking at him but wanting to reaffirm their situation.“I wonder if I’ll ever take the time to settle down.I’m not sure this wanderlust I have will be fulfilled until I’m a gray-haired old woman.”Quinn took a bite to make sure her mouth was full in case he said anything.
But Heath didn’t.He merely nodded and focused on his food.She knew him well enough to know she’d hurt him, and Quinn was sorry for it.But what else was she supposed to do but firm up the boundaries between them?
So why did it make her want to cry?
9
Heath maintained his distance for the rest of the meal and the subsequent cleanup.He knew exactly what Quinn was doing, and he thought he understood why.A part of him wanted to respect her wishes, but another part wanted her to stay here long enough to see if this growing thing between them went anywhere.
But he wouldn’t be like Viktor and presume to steamroll her.
When she went to the couch and put up her feet, it tempted Heath to go over and massage them for her.He was pretty good at it because Lia sometimes got foot cramps at night.The doctor had said it was because she spent so much time standing on hard surfaces, and she’d sometimes get too busy to hydrate enough.Heath used to massage her feet.When she and Coop had gotten together, it’d been one of the first things Heath had shown the big guy how to do.Didi, Wildstone’s massage therapist, had demonstrated even more techniques.
If Heath offered to give Quinn a foot massage, would she see it for what it really was?He glanced at his laptop, which he’d left on an end table, thinking to work during their break.Instead, he strode into the restroom and grabbed the bottle of lotion kept there.After returning to the living room, he lifted Quinn’s feet and took their place on the sofa.
