ChapterTwenty-Seven
Jo knew she was being cowardly, but she couldn’t go back downstairs and watch Quinn leave.Besides, no amount of makeup or eyedrops would be able to disguise that she’d been crying buckets.She’d closed her door and muffled the sound with pillows so they wouldn’t be able to hear her downstairs, but with all those people in the house talking and laughing, they probably couldn’t hear her, anyway.
Through her sobs she listened to everyone filing out of the house.No doubt they’d all gone to wave goodbye as Quinn drove away.He’d been a popular guest.The sound of a car engine drifted up to her window, and a fresh wave of tears engulfed her.He was really gone.
When she heard her bedroom door open, she moaned.“Go away, Em.And don’t tell me I’m stupid to cry over him.”She sniffed.“I already know that.”
Footsteps approached the bed.
“Please, Emmy Lou.There are some things a girl has to get through alone.I should never have allowed myself to care about him, but I did, so now I get to pay the consequences.”
The bed sagged.
“Dammit, Emmy Lou.I don’t need mothering, l need—” She lifted her head and stared into Quinn’s blue, blue eyes.
“Loving?”he murmured, smoothing her tousled hair from her damp cheeks.
She buried her face in the pillow, mortified that he’d heard her babble about him and especially that he saw her like this, weeping like a dope because he’d left.“What are you doing here?”she mumbled into the pillow.“You’ll miss your flight.”
“Guess so.”He stroked her hair.
“Why are you wearing Benny’s hat?”
“He gave it to me.He likes me.”
“Well, I don’t.And don’t you dare stay here because you feel sorry for me!I’m not crying over you, anyway.”
“You’re not?”He kicked off his shoes, took off his hat and scooted down next to her on the bed.“Then what are you crying for?”
“None of your beeswax.”
He curved his arm around her waist.“I haven’t heard that since fourth grade.”
“Don’t touch me, either.”
“Why?”He nestled closer and pushed her hair back so he could nibble at her ear.“Because I have cooties?”
“Exactly.”She didn’t want to like his arm around her, or his warm breath on her ear.Maybe he wasn’t leaving tonight, but he would leave tomorrow.And she’d have to go through this all over again.
“But you like bugs.”
Apparently she’d cried so hard she’d sapped her strength.That was the only explanation for why she allowed him to roll her onto her back.And before she knew it, he’d plastered himself on top of her.And her stupid body was getting all hot and bothered about it, too.“Go away.”The words came out in a croak.
“No.”He began to kiss her eyes and her cheeks.
“Don’t kiss me.I probably look like hell.”
He grinned.“No, you don’t.Just a little red and puffy.”
“You missed your plane just so you could tell me that?What a guy.”
His grin faded.“No, I didn’t miss my plane so I could tell you that.I missed my plane so I could tell you this.I love you.”
The world stopped.She stared at him, her mouth open.
“Breathe, Jo.”
She gasped.
