Read Online The Mighty Quinns: Jack by Kate Hoffmann - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kate Hoffmann
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day lying around. We’ll have fun. I promise.”
He studied her for a long moment and Mia was afraid he’d see the truth in her eyes. So she grabbed her dress and pulled it over her head. “I’m going to change and I’ll meet you out front in fifteen minutes.”
She dropped a quick kiss on his lips and then ran out of the gazebo and down the path toward the pool. By the time she reached the house, she was breathless. Mia leaned back against the door and closed her eyes. She’d thought sex with Jack would be the answer to all her problems.
In reality, it just created more.
* * *
“Y OU HAVE TO TASTE ONE of these,” Mia said. “They are so wonderful, you’ll cry.”
It was the opening day for the farmer’s market, located in the quaint town of Napa in the middle of California’s wine country. The drive out through the countryside had been lovely, the sky clear, the temperature rising as noon approached. Jack had sat back and enjoyed the ride while Mia drove, giving him tourist commentary on everything they passed.
Though she might be able to put aside what had happened in the gazebo, Jack couldn’t stop thinking about it. Images of her naked body kept intruding on his thoughts and though he tried to concentrate on the moment at hand, he couldn’t keep from wondering whether they’d be together again.
When they’d arrived in the pretty village of Napa, Mia had parked the car and they’d set off in search of breakfast—or lunch. The atmosphere had been festive, as if the reappearance of the market was the official start of summer, even though it was only the first week in May.
Mia looked like summer, wearing a breezy cotton dress that fell to her slender calves. She’d twisted a scarf through her flaxen hair and her pretty toes peeked out from a pair of sandals. But all Jack could think about was whether she was wearing underwear.
He’d had more than one moment of regret that they hadn’t stayed in the gazebo and taken advantage of an entire day alone. But the more he got to know Mia, the more he cared about her. And was it really fair to take advantage of their sexual attraction, knowing that he was going back to Chicago in just twenty-four hours?
She held the pastry out in front of him. “What is it?” he asked.
“Just taste first,” she said.
He looked at the small roll and bit into it, then smiled. The flaky pastry was filled with sausage. “Oh, now that’s good. We need to buy more of those. I could eat them all day.”
“English sausage rolls,” she said. “But we have to pace ourselves. If you like to eat, this place can be dangerous.”
They bought three more rolls, then continued their walk through the stalls and tents, stopping at each vendor to look at the products offered. Even though they expected to run into Ben and Elyse, they hadn’t really made any attempt to find them. Actually, Jack was glad to have time alone to learn a little bit more about the woman who’d occupied his fantasies for almost an entire day.
“Chicago is a town made for foodies,” he said.
“I know. I’ve been there. I could spend a week eating through the pizza.”
“Do you get to Chicago very often?” Jack asked.
“Once or twice a year,” she said with a shrug. “I have a client who owns a couple of restaurants, one here and one in Chicago. I do all the graphic design for them.”
“What’s the name of the restaurant?”
“Caravello’s,” she said.
“That’s about seven or eight blocks from my place,” he said. “The next time you come, I’ll have to take you out and show you the town.”
For some reason, the thought of seeing her on his turf made him feel as if there might be something more between them, something to look forward to. Even now, he could picture her, walking along the streets of his neighborhood, stopping by his favorite coffee shop, chatting with him as they read the morning papers, sitting beside him in the press box at a Cubs or Blackhawks
He studied her for a long moment and Mia was afraid he’d see the truth in her eyes. So she grabbed her dress and pulled it over her head. “I’m going to change and I’ll meet you out front in fifteen minutes.”
She dropped a quick kiss on his lips and then ran out of the gazebo and down the path toward the pool. By the time she reached the house, she was breathless. Mia leaned back against the door and closed her eyes. She’d thought sex with Jack would be the answer to all her problems.
In reality, it just created more.
* * *
“Y OU HAVE TO TASTE ONE of these,” Mia said. “They are so wonderful, you’ll cry.”
It was the opening day for the farmer’s market, located in the quaint town of Napa in the middle of California’s wine country. The drive out through the countryside had been lovely, the sky clear, the temperature rising as noon approached. Jack had sat back and enjoyed the ride while Mia drove, giving him tourist commentary on everything they passed.
Though she might be able to put aside what had happened in the gazebo, Jack couldn’t stop thinking about it. Images of her naked body kept intruding on his thoughts and though he tried to concentrate on the moment at hand, he couldn’t keep from wondering whether they’d be together again.
When they’d arrived in the pretty village of Napa, Mia had parked the car and they’d set off in search of breakfast—or lunch. The atmosphere had been festive, as if the reappearance of the market was the official start of summer, even though it was only the first week in May.
Mia looked like summer, wearing a breezy cotton dress that fell to her slender calves. She’d twisted a scarf through her flaxen hair and her pretty toes peeked out from a pair of sandals. But all Jack could think about was whether she was wearing underwear.
He’d had more than one moment of regret that they hadn’t stayed in the gazebo and taken advantage of an entire day alone. But the more he got to know Mia, the more he cared about her. And was it really fair to take advantage of their sexual attraction, knowing that he was going back to Chicago in just twenty-four hours?
She held the pastry out in front of him. “What is it?” he asked.
“Just taste first,” she said.
He looked at the small roll and bit into it, then smiled. The flaky pastry was filled with sausage. “Oh, now that’s good. We need to buy more of those. I could eat them all day.”
“English sausage rolls,” she said. “But we have to pace ourselves. If you like to eat, this place can be dangerous.”
They bought three more rolls, then continued their walk through the stalls and tents, stopping at each vendor to look at the products offered. Even though they expected to run into Ben and Elyse, they hadn’t really made any attempt to find them. Actually, Jack was glad to have time alone to learn a little bit more about the woman who’d occupied his fantasies for almost an entire day.
“Chicago is a town made for foodies,” he said.
“I know. I’ve been there. I could spend a week eating through the pizza.”
“Do you get to Chicago very often?” Jack asked.
“Once or twice a year,” she said with a shrug. “I have a client who owns a couple of restaurants, one here and one in Chicago. I do all the graphic design for them.”
“What’s the name of the restaurant?”
“Caravello’s,” she said.
“That’s about seven or eight blocks from my place,” he said. “The next time you come, I’ll have to take you out and show you the town.”
For some reason, the thought of seeing her on his turf made him feel as if there might be something more between them, something to look forward to. Even now, he could picture her, walking along the streets of his neighborhood, stopping by his favorite coffee shop, chatting with him as they read the morning papers, sitting beside him in the press box at a Cubs or Blackhawks
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