She’s standing near the front counter with a large white bakery box open in front of her.Her blonde hair falls in loose waves over her shoulders, catching the light from the front windows.Her blue eyes sparkle as she laughs at something Skye just said.
God, she has a dangerous smile.The kind that sneaks up on you and rearranges your insides without asking permission.
“Damien!”Skye spots me first and waves wildly like she’s directing air traffic.“Perfect timing.Quinn brought cupcakes.”
Quinn looks up and our eyes meet.And for a second the entire damn room feels like it gets quieter.
“Hey, Damien,” she says, smiling, licking frosting from her thumb and scattering every thought I’ve ever had.She didn’t do it to entice me but, damn, that’s sexy.Her tongue swipes slow and deliberate over her fingertip, and for a heartbeat, I can’t help picturing what it might feel like if she ever looked at me that way—intentionally, hungry, wanting.
I shove my hands into the pockets of my jeans to keep from doing something stupid like grabbing her and kissing her so I can lick the taste of the frosting from her tongue.
“Hey, Quinn.”
Her gaze drops briefly to the glasses on my face and she grins wider.“You’ve been hiding in the numbers cave again, haven’t you?”
Numbers cave.That’s what Skye calls the office upstairs.
“Someone has to keep this place from going bankrupt,” I reply dryly.
Laine snorts from across the shop where he’s wiping down his station.“You say that like it almost happened.”
“It did almost happen,” I point out.“Three times.”
“Details,” he mutters.
Quinn laughs softly and picks up a cupcake from the box.
“I made chocolate with peanut butter frosting,” she says.“Your favorite.”
My stomach flips.Which is ridiculous.It’s just a cupcake.But the fact that she remembers my favorite flavor?That does something weird to my chest.
“Thanks,” I say, taking it from her.
Our fingers brush briefly and it’s barely a touch.But it’s enough.A small spark shoots up my arm before I can stop it.
Quinn doesn’t seem to notice.She’s already turning to hand another cupcake to Skye.
“You spoil us,” Skye says dramatically.“Seriously, if you ever open a bakery I will personally invest.”
Quinn laughs.“I bake for fun, not profit.”
“You’re wasting your talent,” Alistair calls from his booth.
“Traitor,” Skye mutters.
I lean against the counter, peeling back the cupcake wrapper slowly while watching Quinn interact with the crew.
She fits here.That’s the thing.She always has.Even before she started stopping by regularly.Quinn has this way about her that makes people relax.She remembers everyone’s name, asks about their day, listens when they talk.
She’s sunshine in human form.And the guys eat it up.
Laine finishes cleaning his station and wanders over, grabbing two cupcakes at once.
“You’re going to kill my diet,” he tells her.
“You don’t have a diet,” Quinn replies.
“Exactly.”
