But he’d have to hang around a while and win her trust.The minute he’d seen her walk through the kitchen door, no matter how disappointing her reaction had been, he’d been inclined to do just that.
While he ate, he answered Emmy Lou’s questions about New York.She’d never been there and had a fixation on the place, apparently.She proudly trotted out all the souvenirs Jo had brought her over the years, and Quinn made a mental note to send her something special when he got back to the city.
Finally he finished off the chicken and potato salad and pushed away his plate with a sigh of contentment.“That was delicious.Thanks.”
Apparently his knowledge of New York and his appreciation for her cooking had warmed up the housekeeper considerably.“You have to have a piece of apple pie to top it off,” she said.
He grinned at her.“Twist my arm, Emmy Lou.”
She flushed and put a hand over her heart.“Land sakes, but you look like Brian Hastings when you do that.Makes my heart go pitty-pat.”
“Maybe it’ll also make you serve him some of your famous pie,” Jo said.
Quinn had noticed that Jo was being terrifically friendly and obliging.He’d love to think it was his manly charm causing her to be so nice, but he also had the feeling she might be fattening him up for the kill.He just wasn’t sure what sort of kill.
“Would you like ice cream on top?”Emmy Lou asked as she popped the slice of pie in the microwave.
“Sure, why not?”A piece of pie à la mode wasn’t going to turn him into a mush brain, he decided.He’d navigated the tricky world of high finance without getting his butt kicked.Surely he could handle whatever this pair of women had in mind.
Jo watched him eat the pie with far too much interest.And every time she caught his eye she smiled a secret sort of smile.Something was definitely up.
He glanced at her.“Want a bite?”
“Oh, no, thanks.I just love to see a man enjoy his food.”
Quinn polished off the pie.“I’m afraid the show’s over.But I have to say that was the best piece of apple pie I’ve ever had, and I’ve eaten at some pricey restaurants.They could serve this pie with pride at the Waldorf-Astoria.”
Emmy Lou looked enraptured.“I would love to see the Waldorf.”
“I’ve offered to take you on my sperm runs,” Jo said.
“No, no, not like that.It would break my heart to fly in and out on the same day.I want to see the lights, feel the city’s pulse, breathe in the rich aromas.”She closed her eyes and took a deep, dramatic breath.
“You might want to give the rich aromas a miss,” Quinn said.“New York’s rich aromas can be overwhelming, especially on garbage pickup day.”
Emmy Lou grinned at Jo.“Spoken like a man who’s never cleaned out a chicken coop.You’d better keep him away from shovel duty while he’s here.”
“I had no intention of putting him on shovel duty.”
“Anyway,” Emmy Lou said as she turned to Quinn.“I don’t want to give anything a miss.I want to hear the noise, taste a hot pretzel, mingle with the crowd in Times Square, give my regards to Broadway.I don’t want a tiny bite of the Big Apple.”She spread her arms wide.“I want to have it all.”
Quinn curbed his impulse to immediately invite her there as his guest.It would be a real kick to watch her revel in the sights and sounds of the city.But he had no business inviting Emmy Lou Whatever to New York.He didn’t even know her last name.The sugar must be affecting his brain for him to even think of doing such a thing.
Jo leaned forward, her dark eyes sparkling.“So, Quinn, are you ready to extend your visit a few days?I think we’re having pot roast tomorrow night.”
Logic warned him to use caution.She was a little too eager.But his libido reacted to that sparkle in her eyes in a very primitive fashion.And he did love a good pot roast.“I think it could be arranged.”
“What about your job?”Emmy Lou asked.
“I can keep in touch by phone.With the help of Erin, my personal assistant, I can probably take care of anything critical from here.”Quinn began to anticipate what it might be like living in the same house with Jo, or more appropriately, sleeping in the same house with Jo.
“Great,” Jo said.“Because I have the most amazing idea.As long as you’re going to be here, what if you told everybody you were Brian Hastings?”
Quinn groaned and buried his face in his hands as his fantasies dissolved.There it was.The catch.
Emmy Lou clapped her hands together.“Josephine, you’re brilliant.”
Quinn took his hands away from his eyes and leaned toward Jo.Damn, but she was beautiful.And treacherous.He lowered his voice.“But you see, I’m not Brian Hastings.”
