“Healthier?”Viktor asked Heath, and the two men discussed what a healthy pizza might include.
As they descended the stairs, Quinn couldn’t stop thinking about Heath’s expression when he’d looked at her.She’d made a mess of things with him, and it was because her bio dad had sent Viktor.That move had ruined everything.All she wanted was to cry.
“Perfect timing,”Sara called to them from the great room.“Kayn and his wife, Sona, were able to join us.”
Heath raised a hand in acknowledgement.
“We’d have had to eat outagainif not for you,” a short Asian woman said from where she was setting the table.“I’ll be so glad when this remodel is done.Eve is letting me borrow her oven for tomorrow’s game night, so I’ll have a contribution.”
“What is this game night?”Viktor asked.
“We usually hold them on most Fridays,” Kayn said as he carried a large salad to the table.“We moved it up, so y’all—” He stopped himself with a scowl.“That Rafe is rubbing off on me.I willnottalk Southern.”
Sona looked like she was trying not to laugh, and it felt to Heath like things did at the Citadel.Like family.No wonder he’d connected with Kayn so well already.
What followed was a boisterous meal.Heath watched as Quinn spent her time chatting with the women and racing cars with the children on a miniature track.She also took pictures throughout the evening, especially of the Wallach family members.He wished she’d look at him more.
When the evening drew to a close, Kayn offered to give Heath a quick tour of the programming wing.
“You go along,” Quinn said, waving Heath toward the door.“This will give me a perfect chance to get a few shots of the Wallachs all together.”
“Would you mind if I accompanied you?”Viktor asked.
“Not at all,” Kayn said.
When their hosts went out the door, Heath began to follow.The viscount took his arm and pulled him around to face Quinn.Viktor spoke quietly to her.
“Your fiancé is leaving, yet you do not kiss him in farewell?Do you not recall what you preached to me yesterday?”
Quinn’s cheeks had gone red, and she shot Heath a quick look, her expression conflicted.He wouldn’t force her, so he did nothing but lift one hand a little, holding his breath.When she took it, he inhaled again.Her touch reminded him of the times they’d kissed, also for the benefit of an audience.He continued to wait for her to make the move.With a resigned look in her eyes, she lifted on her toes and pressed her mouth to his.
From her reticence, Heath expected a quick peck, but the moment their lips touched, fire seared through him.The next thing he knew, she’d flung an arm around his neck and was tugging him closer.He wrapped her up, savoring the light fragrance of her shampoo, the softness of her skin.This was what he wanted forever.
As soon as she stiffened, he released her.Quinn wouldn’t look at him.
“Have fun with the Wallachs, sweetheart.”Heath grimaced at how the words sounded like a line from a poorly written parody.
“I’m happy to have seen that,” Viktor whispered, looking between the two of them.“Her Highness deserves to have a love such as the Wallachs share.I was worried I might have to reconsider my decision not to pursue her.Come, Savage.”
Viktor strode to the doors.Bemused, Heath hurried to catch up to the others.
Sona and the four men made the trek down the music wing, through the eerily quiet central hub, and to Kayn’s domain.His wife left them with a wave before heading down the corridor to their apartment.
“It’s usually busier than this,” Kayn said.“While you’re the only programmer off-site at the moment, Heath, we do have staff from the other departments all over the world.Because of that, we frequently have people in the office twenty-four/seven, depending upon what promotion we have going on.Since we’re coming off the Worlds Championship—” He glanced at Viktor and added, “It was in Berlin this year.But we’re in a lull before we gear up for the new season.”
“What are your requirements for hosting this World Championship?”Viktor asked.
While Kayn went into details Heath wasn’t interested in, his thoughts drifted to Quinn.He had to get her to talk about this growing thing between them.She continued to act like she was interested one moment but then retreated the next.It scared him that one of these times she’d never come back.Theyhadto talk.
Kayn gave Heath a pat on the back, pulling him from his worries.
“You’ll see how different it is in the morning.There’s an energy we share when we’re in the middle of a project.It feeds the team.That’s one reason why I’d love to have you here with us.You can’t capture it in the isolation of working remotely.You miss the team vibe.”
“I get it, but I’ve explained why I can’t.”The idea of moving here might have tempted Heath until he thought about leaving his family behind.Sure, they could hire someone else to do the work he did, but he was part of the family and not just a job team.
“I understand.I wonder if you’d be willing to fly out here for a few days once a month.”
“Like this visit?”
