He nodded. “No worries.” Then back to the guy from the lumber yard.
Still no real connection. Which meant Quinn’s plan felt considerably more appealing. He jogged back through all the wood there, to the SUV, then slid his phone out of his pocket and tucked it into the cup holder in the back seat.
Jake brought me my phone once.
Then Quinn headed back, his stomach in far too many knots. But some alone time felt like what they needed.At least I hope so.
Quinn paced back and forth. He couldn’t settle, he couldn’t eat, and he didn’t want to drink anything in case he got too shitfaced. Of course he had no guarantee that Jake would even show, but every time that thought reared its head, he batted it back. Not helpful at all. But maybe true. That niggling doubt was the entire reason he couldn’t settle down. The night was dragging on with no sign—
Knock knock knock.
Quinn tripped over his own feet and barely caught himself from face-planting into the edge of the sofa as he jerked around it and headed for the door. He didn’t even check through the peephole or latch the chain so he could peek through the gap, just flung it open, only realizing how desperate it might look as the door was swinging in, revealing a big blonde with a phone outstretched.
“You know, they make those little tracker things you can stick onto stuff.”
“Yeah. I have four in a box in my nightstand. Should probably use them.” He took his phone back and checked for any missed calls or messages—none, thankfully—then slipped it into his pocket and stepped back. “Ride home again? Least I can do, since I seem to have given you partial custody over my phone.”
“No, it’s fine. I shouldn’t cancel again. Rideshare drivers have to make their money.”
“Please?” Quinn’s voice tightened and he barely got the word out as he lunged out to grab onto Jake’s wrist. “I wanted to talk. Without cameras. I don’t actually lose my phone this often.”
Jake stood a moment, looking him up and down again, running his fingers back through his hair. Then he reached downand grabbed his own phone out, tapping the screen. “We can talk. But no pressure.” He nodded and then slipped his phone away. “Ride’s canceled.”
Quinn stepped away from the door. “Come in? Probably more comfortable than my car.” Sweat trailed down Quinn’s back and he clamped down on the door knob as he backed away, using it to support himself.Time to find out how bad I messed things up.
Jake came in and sat down on the edge of the sofa. “So, what’s up?”
Quinn took a spot at the coffee table, sitting down on it so he could look Jake head on instead of trying to look at each other from opposite ends of the couch. That felt too casual…and maybe Quinn just couldn’t quite settle into a proper seat while all this energy and conflict bubbled away inside of him. “The other day, I was dealing with a lot. Internally. And you didn’t deserve to have me bite your head off over it.” He wrung his hands in his lap, but forced himself to keep eye contact with Jake, even as heat cascaded up his back and neck and face. “Being in the house just makes me think about my grandpa. I guess I wasn’t totally prepared for all the changes that come with redoing a house. His house.”
“Well, it’s a lot to handle.”
“It is. But it’s the right thing. It makes sense. Iaskedyou all to come and help me out with the house.” Quinn shook his head, rolling his eyes at himself. “Not help me. Do the work for me because I couldn’t go into the house, and even if I could, I couldn’t possibly do even half as much as you all have. Definitely not this fast.”
Jake reached out, rubbing his shoulder,touchinghim for the first time the entire day. Nothing crazy, but the thick layer of ice squeezing Quinn’s stomach melted at that touch. Even if he shouldn’t care about Jake, shouldn’t let himself get attached…nopart of him was listening to all those rational arguments. It felt good to know he hadn’t totally burned this bridge.
Quinn took Jake’s other hand and leaned forward, looking into his eyes. Magnetic. Deep, with a gravitational pull. He parted his lips and locked his mouth to Jake’s, and by god those lips felt just as appealing and soft and warm as he could have imagined. Maybe more. Maybe a lot more.
Chapter twelve
Jake
Jake’s stomach flopped asfire burned through, sparking from his lips, across his cheeks, down his throat, until it finally filled him to the brim.
He jerked back and looked Quinn dead on, trying not to focus too much on the all-too-inviting flush in his cheeks. Right there, where he could reach out and touch Quinn’s face, feel the heat rising up through his skin.
Quinn leaned back. “I’m so sorry. That’s not why I invited you in.”
“It’s okay.” Jake shifted back a little bit, letting the couch support more of his back, since every bone in his body was melting into a puddle of lust-filled goo. “I’m not mad. I’m…surprised.”Definitely not mad. Holy shit.He could still feel Quinn on his lips and it took everything in him not to lean backin, slip his tongue into Quinn’s mouth, drag his fingers up and down that slim back.
“I…fuck.” Quinn jumped to his feet and started pacing, staring at the floor, at his feet, apparently anywhere other than at Jake. “I’ve been trying to squash out this crush, and instead I kissed you. What the hell is wrong with me?”
A crush.Jake did his best not to smile, but he still let a grin slip out. Not like Quinn was paying attention to him. “I’m not offended. I mean, I might be a little now, since you think having a crush on me means there’s something wrong with you.”
Quinn froze and whipped his head around. “No, no. I’m not…it’s me. Not you. You’re too…”
He bent his head down and smacked his temples, over and over. Jake frowned, got up, and walked to him to grab his wrists. “Hey. Why are you hitting yourself?”
Quinn looked up at him, eyes wide and dark. “This isn’t what I should be doing. What we should be doing. You’re here for, what, three weeks?”
