‘All good. I’ll get on it.’ Quinn turned to the computer. ‘Is it worth ordering stock in now? Too late for it to be delivered.’
‘You make the call.’
‘You seem down today, Daniel. All okay?’
‘Hm? Oh, yeah, fine,’ Daniel said, his voice low.
Quinn would have tied up any loose ends way before this. The winter Hay festival had already ended, and by this time, Quinn’s shop had mounted a healthy amount of profit to see him through the quiet winter months of January and February. This time of year, for Quinn, usually involved selling last minute gifts, and he could handle that.
It gave him time to plan his own Christmas, start unwinding, and enjoy the season like the rest of the townsfolk of Hay.
This year was, of course, very different.
His shop was stumbling on a tightrope. And he’d never hosted a protest, two author signings, and a Christmas party on the week of Christmas before.
Well, maybe only one author signing.
Last night, at Hermione’s home, in Noah’s childhood bedroom, everything had changed. Now Quinn was certain that Noah had feelings for him.
He couldn’t believe it, but unless he’d misread the situation, they almost kissed.
And he felt awful about it.
How could he have let that almost kiss happen, knowing that Noah’s boyfriend was in the same house, in the kitchen playing happy families with Noah’s mother and Quinn’s now-client.
Yes, client. Hermione had sent through the contract and Quinn had signed it and sent it back, promising to get to work as soon as possible. He’d hoped that today he would have been able to start, but he hadn’t found the time, because he’d been fretting about the shop, the protest, the party…
And now Noah.
Would Noah still sign books?
Would Noah even want to see him again?
Was Noah feeling that heavy, gut-twisting guilt that Quinn was feeling? The type of guilt that made him not want to eat, go on hunger strike, change his name, and leave the country?
Noah had been worse. Hadn’t he?
Noah had the boyfriend. Quinn didn’t.
But if Noah had kissed him, Quinn would not have stopped him.
No, he wouldn’t, and that made him just as bad.
His thoughts turned to what would have happened if he’d kissed Noah. Would they have kissed again? And then harder, with hunger? Would they have ended up on Noah’s bed, stripped down to nothing, kissed and then…?
No, of course not.
But Quinn couldn’t be so sure.
Never had he felt so conflicted, so confused, over one man. He had lost the map to navigate Noah, and now he was adrift.
Despite everything, he wanted it to happen once more.
The hope of Matty not being as perfect as he first thought, that maybe there was trouble brewing between them, didn’t fill him with pleasure. Not at all. An upset Noah wasn’t what he wanted. Quinn worried about him and wanted to help.
He also wanted to know there might be a chance to be Noah’s.
Stupid, really. Because even if Noah broke up with Matty, he wouldn’t rush into a relationship with Quinn.
