“Why do you think that is?”
“I’ve asked myself the same thing, Josephine.I don’t know.All I know is that if I’m forced to drive away from here on Sunday without ever making love to you, I might have to throw myself off the top of the Empire State Building.”
Her cheeks grew pink, and her eyes sparkled.“How you exaggerate.Besides, they’ve put up barriers so people can’t throw themselves off the Empire State Building.”
“Then I’d have to tie a cement block to my feet and jump off the George Washington Bridge.And I’d probably land on a garbage scow and sink over my head into the muck, like Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, only I wouldn’t ever come up again.I’ll die covered in slime.”He kneaded her firm bottom with his gloved hand.“I’m sure you don’t want that on your conscience.”
“You sure know how to treat a girl, Quinn.”Her chin had a saucy tilt, but her bedroom eyes gave her away.“First you rope her and then you whisper sweet nothings about garbage scows and slime.”
“It’s a gift.”He smiled.“Take pity on me, Jo.I’m a desperate man.”
“But this is all we’d ever have.”
“I know.”His smile faded.“And I know that’s a problem for you.It could be a problem for me.If I could find the off switch on this obsession I’d use it.That was my plan, to shut down that part of me.Turns out I’m not as strong as I thought I was.”
“I need some time to think.”
Quinn glanced around.Dusk was upon them.After dusk came night, and it might be the longest, most frustrating one of his life if Jo shut him down.She thought he was kidding about the Empire State Building and the George Washington Bridge.And he was, sort of.But he’d never wanted any woman like this, and he wasn’t sure life would be worth living if he’d never know the ecstasy of holding Jo’s warm, responsive and totally naked body in his arms.“How much time?”
“You can see my bedroom window from the bunkhouse.”
“I guess.I never checked.”
“Well, take my word for it.You can.By eleven tonight everyone will be asleep.”
“Not everyone.”
“Everyoneelse, then.I’ll turn my light out at ten-thirty.If I flash it twice at eleven, meet me at the barn.I’ll bring a blanket.”
“We’re doing this outside?”Quinn got a quick picture of all sorts of creatures slithering around and decided he’d have to deal with it.“Hey, outside’s fine.Outside’s terrific.I love outside.”
“I was thinking the hayloft.”
That was only marginally better in Quinn’s estimation, but he smiled, trying to demonstrate extreme confidence.“Fine.The hayloft it is.Sounds great.A roll in the hay.I’m there.I’m?—”
“But if I don’t flash my light twice, then that means I think it would be better if we stay with our original plan and not make love while you’re here.”
Quinn had temporarily forgotten that she hadn’t committed to the plan.The realization hit him like a medicine ball in the gut.“Oh.”He was afraid he looked like an abandoned cocker spaniel as he gazed at her.This craving was turning him into a pathetic shadow of his former self.“Please flash.”
“I still think we’d be making a terrible mistake, Quinn.You’re thinking short-term.”
“Very short.Like from now until eleven tonight.What if you fall asleep and forget?”
“No chance.”She stood on tiptoe and brushed her lips across his.“Watch my window,” she whispered.Then she eased out of his arms, retrieved her hat and headed in the direction of the house.
Quinn stood in the shadows and knew exactly how Samson must have felt when bewitched by Delilah.Marc Anthony when captivated by Cleopatra.A woman had never wielded this much power over him, had never turned him into a beggar.
He picked up the rope and walked away from the post.He could barely see it in the darkness, but that made his new technique easier.He hardly had to squint to mentally turn the post into Jo.Rope me, and I’m yours for the night, cowboy.He twirled the rope, let it sail and neatly roped the post.
ChapterSeventeen
Sitting across the table from Quinn and contemplating her decision regarding the evening ahead, Jo could barely eat Emmy Lou’s delicious pot roast.Quinn appeared to have no trouble, though.
“You sure seem to be enjoying your meal,” Jo commented with some irritation as he forked up a second helping of meat.She thought it was highly unfair that nothing ever seemed to take away a man’s appetite, while women’s stomachs were affected by every little bit of stress.
“I love pot roast.”He gave her a dazzling smile before tucking into the meal once again.
Emmy Lou beamed from the end of the table.“It’s a pleasure to watch you eat, Quinn.”
