Read Online Seduced in September (Spring River Valley Book 9) by Clarice Wynter - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Clarice Wynter
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managed a wan smile and a weak thumbs-up. He had to give the lady credit. Despite what appeared to be a hip fracture, she’d managed to remain alert and in good spirits while he and Tanner maneuvered her onto the flat board and the stretcher that would keep her mostly immobile for what would probably be a tedious ride to the hospital.
“Tell Lily—”
Quinn held up a hand. “I’m going to get her. She can come with us. I’ll be right back. You just relax, and we’ll be on our way in a few minutes.” With a signal to Tanner who sat up front listening to a radio report about road closings, Quinn hopped back out of the rig and met Lily in the driveway. With her face partially hidden by the damp hood of a voluminous windbreaker, she bore no outward resemblance to the sultry seductress from the other night. Nevertheless his already hammering pulse quickened when he looked at her.
Rather than yell over the relentless wind, he put a hand on her arm to get her attention. “We’re ready to go.”
“All right. I’ll meet you at the hospital,” she said guardedly, not meeting his gaze. He told himself it was probably because the driving rain made it hard to focus on anything for too long.
He shook his head. “You can’t drive in this. There’s a travel advisory. You can ride in the back with me and your aunt.”
“Are you sure?”
“No other choice. If you need a ride home later…I’ll drive you.”
She gave him a skeptical look. “We’re not going to mention anything about the other night to my aunt.”
He nodded. Not that he’d planned on blabbing. “But we can talk about it later, can’t we?”
Finally she met his gaze. Something warm settled in the pit of his stomach. Even with damp hair plastered to her face and the wind whipping her hooded jacket around like a tent, she was stunning. Every moment they’d spent in his bed was etched in his memory , and now it seemed so ridiculous that he hadn’t been able to remember her name.
“Later.” There was a finality to her response that worried him, but there wasn’t time to question her inflection. He ushered her toward the rig and helped her climb inside where the interior heat and lights provided a welcome change from the wet, frigid storm.
“We’re secure,” he told Tanner after Lily had buckled her seat belt and took her aunt’s thin hand in her own. A second later the ambulance pulled away from the curb and began the long, slow ride to the hospital.
“Did you let Ricki out of the bathroom?” Mrs. Moriarty asked.
“Yes, he’s fine. I locked the house up, too, so there’s nothing to worry about. Just relax. You’re in very good hands.” Lily didn’t look at Quinn when she spoke. He had to fight not to grin at the reluctant compliment, though he supposed Lily might have said that about any team that had come out in the storm to rescue her aunt.
“Oh, I’m not worried. I know Quinn and his partner will get us there in one piece. He’s a bit of a hero, you know, Lily. Quinn’s been in the paper a number of times for daring rescues.”
Lily’s eyelashes fluttered. “Yes, I know. He’s got quite a reputation, Aunt Maddie.” This time she made eye contact, and her brief glance spoke volumes.
“Please, ladies, settle down,” he said with mock seriousness. “I’m just doing my job.”
“You’re too modest,” Mrs. Moriarty said. “Do you see that scar above his eye? He got that rescuing someone from a car wreck.”
“I know,” Lily repeated. “I was on duty when he came into the ER.”
“He’s a black belt in karate also.”
“That’s impressive.”
“And he doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
Quinn’s gaze met Lily’s once again, and he felt that familiar twinge in the middle of his chest.
“Where are you going with this, Aunt Maddie?”
Despite her discomfort, the woman smiled and shook her finger at her niece. “I’m just saying, Quinn has a lot of nice qualities. And Quinn, did you know Lily is an
“Tell Lily—”
Quinn held up a hand. “I’m going to get her. She can come with us. I’ll be right back. You just relax, and we’ll be on our way in a few minutes.” With a signal to Tanner who sat up front listening to a radio report about road closings, Quinn hopped back out of the rig and met Lily in the driveway. With her face partially hidden by the damp hood of a voluminous windbreaker, she bore no outward resemblance to the sultry seductress from the other night. Nevertheless his already hammering pulse quickened when he looked at her.
Rather than yell over the relentless wind, he put a hand on her arm to get her attention. “We’re ready to go.”
“All right. I’ll meet you at the hospital,” she said guardedly, not meeting his gaze. He told himself it was probably because the driving rain made it hard to focus on anything for too long.
He shook his head. “You can’t drive in this. There’s a travel advisory. You can ride in the back with me and your aunt.”
“Are you sure?”
“No other choice. If you need a ride home later…I’ll drive you.”
She gave him a skeptical look. “We’re not going to mention anything about the other night to my aunt.”
He nodded. Not that he’d planned on blabbing. “But we can talk about it later, can’t we?”
Finally she met his gaze. Something warm settled in the pit of his stomach. Even with damp hair plastered to her face and the wind whipping her hooded jacket around like a tent, she was stunning. Every moment they’d spent in his bed was etched in his memory , and now it seemed so ridiculous that he hadn’t been able to remember her name.
“Later.” There was a finality to her response that worried him, but there wasn’t time to question her inflection. He ushered her toward the rig and helped her climb inside where the interior heat and lights provided a welcome change from the wet, frigid storm.
“We’re secure,” he told Tanner after Lily had buckled her seat belt and took her aunt’s thin hand in her own. A second later the ambulance pulled away from the curb and began the long, slow ride to the hospital.
“Did you let Ricki out of the bathroom?” Mrs. Moriarty asked.
“Yes, he’s fine. I locked the house up, too, so there’s nothing to worry about. Just relax. You’re in very good hands.” Lily didn’t look at Quinn when she spoke. He had to fight not to grin at the reluctant compliment, though he supposed Lily might have said that about any team that had come out in the storm to rescue her aunt.
“Oh, I’m not worried. I know Quinn and his partner will get us there in one piece. He’s a bit of a hero, you know, Lily. Quinn’s been in the paper a number of times for daring rescues.”
Lily’s eyelashes fluttered. “Yes, I know. He’s got quite a reputation, Aunt Maddie.” This time she made eye contact, and her brief glance spoke volumes.
“Please, ladies, settle down,” he said with mock seriousness. “I’m just doing my job.”
“You’re too modest,” Mrs. Moriarty said. “Do you see that scar above his eye? He got that rescuing someone from a car wreck.”
“I know,” Lily repeated. “I was on duty when he came into the ER.”
“He’s a black belt in karate also.”
“That’s impressive.”
“And he doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
Quinn’s gaze met Lily’s once again, and he felt that familiar twinge in the middle of his chest.
“Where are you going with this, Aunt Maddie?”
Despite her discomfort, the woman smiled and shook her finger at her niece. “I’m just saying, Quinn has a lot of nice qualities. And Quinn, did you know Lily is an
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