Read Online Happy Endings by Chantel Rhondeau - Free Book Online
Authors: Chantel Rhondeau
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“From what I gather, you’re the one being railroaded here.”
Quinn glanced at her, but in the darkness it was too difficult to see her expression. He was used to reading people’s reactions, but it looked like he’d have to dive forward on his own here with no safety net. “In the beginning, maybe, but all they did was bring you in my line of sight. I asked you out tomorrow because I want to go with you.”
“Are you sure about that?” Her voice was sharper than he’d ever heard it, even when she kicked him out of the studio. “You married someone because they wanted you to. I’m not sure I want to be involved in that sort of drama.”
He should have known that would be a problem for her. She hadn’t been shy about expressing her disgust with his divorce, after all. She believed in true love and long-term relationships. A girl like her would sure distract him from his work if he wanted a chance with her.
Before he could question himself, Quinn stopped the car, pushed the gearshift into park, and grabbed her hand. “I’d understand if you cancel our plans tomorrow, I really would, but I’m hoping you’ll reconsider. I want to get to know you better. I... like you.”
She squeezed his hand briefly. “I like you too, Quinn, but I’ve had my heart broken before, and I’m really not looking for someone who is so obviously unavailable. You don’t want a relationship. You’re too consumed by work.”
He knew she was right. So why did it hurt to think of not spending more time with her? “What if the reason work was always more important was because I hadn’t met the right girl?”
“I’m not sure I want to risk myself while you figure it out,” she said softly.
Before he could second-guess himself, Quinn reached across the darkness, running his hand along the smooth skin of her neck and pulling her toward him. “What if I already figured it out?”
Leaning down, Quinn found her mouth with his, reeling from the excitement that zinged across his skin when their lips met.
Larissa made a soft moan that sounded like encouragement, and Quinn wrapped his other arm around her, pulling her as tightly to him as he could with the console between them.
She stroked a hand up his cheek, the soft skin of her palm leaving a trail of heat as she made her way to his hairline. Larissa ran her fingers through his hair, pulling it slightly toward her as she opened her mouth and sucked on his bottom lip.
Quinn’s heart beat so fast, he wondered if she could feel it. The heat of her against him made his groin tighten with need. However, she wasn’t some weekend fling—he needed to control himself.
He pressed another kiss against her full lips, but then forced himself to back off. His body begged for more, but Larissa already said she was an old-fashioned woman as far as love went. He was sure that extended to not having sex after the second date. Besides, no matter how much he desired her, the front seat of a car was no place for their first time.
Their first time... He squeezed her hand and tried not to laugh at himself. Already so confident there would be a first time with her. Then again, she hadn’t pulled away from his kiss.
“Please say you’ll come with me tomorrow,” he said. “I didn’t ask you because my parents wanted it. I asked because you’re the first woman who has invaded my thoughts and made it hard for me to work.”
“I am?” She sounded breathless, and Quinn’s smile deepened. She’d obviously felt something in the kiss too, just like he had.
“You are,” he confirmed. “I know my parents can be heavy handed when they want something, but this is my decision, not theirs. I’m my own man, and I am making my own choice here.”
Larissa reached across and stroked her thumb against his lips.
Quinn kissed the tip of it as his uncertainty left him. She craved his touch as much as he did hers. “Is that a yes?”
“I have a client tomorrow, but I’ll be finished with him at
Quinn glanced at her, but in the darkness it was too difficult to see her expression. He was used to reading people’s reactions, but it looked like he’d have to dive forward on his own here with no safety net. “In the beginning, maybe, but all they did was bring you in my line of sight. I asked you out tomorrow because I want to go with you.”
“Are you sure about that?” Her voice was sharper than he’d ever heard it, even when she kicked him out of the studio. “You married someone because they wanted you to. I’m not sure I want to be involved in that sort of drama.”
He should have known that would be a problem for her. She hadn’t been shy about expressing her disgust with his divorce, after all. She believed in true love and long-term relationships. A girl like her would sure distract him from his work if he wanted a chance with her.
Before he could question himself, Quinn stopped the car, pushed the gearshift into park, and grabbed her hand. “I’d understand if you cancel our plans tomorrow, I really would, but I’m hoping you’ll reconsider. I want to get to know you better. I... like you.”
She squeezed his hand briefly. “I like you too, Quinn, but I’ve had my heart broken before, and I’m really not looking for someone who is so obviously unavailable. You don’t want a relationship. You’re too consumed by work.”
He knew she was right. So why did it hurt to think of not spending more time with her? “What if the reason work was always more important was because I hadn’t met the right girl?”
“I’m not sure I want to risk myself while you figure it out,” she said softly.
Before he could second-guess himself, Quinn reached across the darkness, running his hand along the smooth skin of her neck and pulling her toward him. “What if I already figured it out?”
Leaning down, Quinn found her mouth with his, reeling from the excitement that zinged across his skin when their lips met.
Larissa made a soft moan that sounded like encouragement, and Quinn wrapped his other arm around her, pulling her as tightly to him as he could with the console between them.
She stroked a hand up his cheek, the soft skin of her palm leaving a trail of heat as she made her way to his hairline. Larissa ran her fingers through his hair, pulling it slightly toward her as she opened her mouth and sucked on his bottom lip.
Quinn’s heart beat so fast, he wondered if she could feel it. The heat of her against him made his groin tighten with need. However, she wasn’t some weekend fling—he needed to control himself.
He pressed another kiss against her full lips, but then forced himself to back off. His body begged for more, but Larissa already said she was an old-fashioned woman as far as love went. He was sure that extended to not having sex after the second date. Besides, no matter how much he desired her, the front seat of a car was no place for their first time.
Their first time... He squeezed her hand and tried not to laugh at himself. Already so confident there would be a first time with her. Then again, she hadn’t pulled away from his kiss.
“Please say you’ll come with me tomorrow,” he said. “I didn’t ask you because my parents wanted it. I asked because you’re the first woman who has invaded my thoughts and made it hard for me to work.”
“I am?” She sounded breathless, and Quinn’s smile deepened. She’d obviously felt something in the kiss too, just like he had.
“You are,” he confirmed. “I know my parents can be heavy handed when they want something, but this is my decision, not theirs. I’m my own man, and I am making my own choice here.”
Larissa reached across and stroked her thumb against his lips.
Quinn kissed the tip of it as his uncertainty left him. She craved his touch as much as he did hers. “Is that a yes?”
“I have a client tomorrow, but I’ll be finished with him at
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