“Quinn, I’m sorry. I never considered any of that. It’s a job. It pays the bills.”
He reached over, sliding his finger gently across my lips. “I’m not mad at you, Jess. This job allows you to buy those pink swoosh Nikes. Besides, I might start loving these bus tours, now that they brought you back to me.”
“I still don’t know how you found me,” I said.
“And I still don’t know why you didn’t want me to.”
My cheeks flushed. “It’s complicated.”
“Not from my end, it’s not. I like you, Jess. Hell, I’ve been beating women off with a stick since the whole Jesserella thing blew up. Who knew chicks loved grand gestures?”
“Who knew?” I grinned. God, he was so endearing.
“I mean, I always knew it was a possibility that you were avoiding me, but imagine my surprise when I’m in the driveway of my family’s home and I hear your voice projected over a 1970’s intercom system. I think, ‘Huh, that sounds like Jess, but no way could it be the girl I’ve spent weeks searching for over the internet, because if it is, that would mean she’s known where I’ve been all along and purposely did not want to be found.”
He stopped, scanning my eyes with his own. “Have I missed anything?”
Even when he was irritated, he was giving me an out. He wanted this. He wanted us. And I wanted the same.
“You missed thewhy,” I replied.
“There’s a why?”
“Of course there is. No woman in her right mind would walk away from you.”
He stepped in closer, gripping my arms. “Then why? Tell me.”
I looked back at my bus. “I can’t. Not here. I’m working, Quinn. This isn’t professional. I’m not giving my passengers the experience they’ve paid for.”
“Actually…” Quinn glanced over to the bus and waved. A chorus of swoons followed. “I think they’ve been fully compensated.”
He had a point. And if it were just that, then there would be no issue, but what I had to say was not for public consumption.
“Listen, just let me get back to work, and as soon as I drop them off, I’ll call you.”
“Uh-huh. I’ve heard that before,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Excuse me if I don’t believe you.”
“I get it. But this time, Quinn, I promise.”
“So last time you didn’t promise? Because it sure seemed like you did.”
The first inklings of anger crept in. And he had every right to be mad. I was one hundred percent in the wrong. If I’d given any consideration to his feelings, I would’ve afforded him an explanation, but instead, I’d been cowardly, all because I knew if I saw him or even just talked to him on the phone, I wouldn’t have the willpower to stay away.
My fingers tiptoed over his forearm, his smooth skin as delectable as it had been that night on the couch. “I know I was wrong, Quinn. I should’ve texted you back. I’m so sorry. And I promise as soon as I’m done with this tour, I will call you. Just go back to your house.”
“Actually, I don’t think I will. In fact, I think I’m going to take your tour.”
“Oh no, you’re not.”
He smiled. “Oh yes, I am.”
“There’s no room on the bus for you.”
“Then I’ll sit on the floor.”
“That’s against the law.”
“Since when do you care about the law?”
