The Bookstore on the Beach - Brenda Novak Page 0,67

kids, definitely well behaved.”

“Do you think Autumn will go out with you again?”

Quinn looked around to make sure Fiona wasn’t close enough to hear, but she wasn’t even in the kitchen. “Maybe, maybe not. It’s a complicated situation.”

“Because of her missing husband.”

Quinn recalled holding Autumn in his arms while they were in the ocean this morning and how she allowed him to remove her bikini top. Just remembering sent a jolt of testosterone through him. But he hadn’t mentioned that he’d met her earlier, and didn’t plan to. “Yes. You can imagine how hard it must be for her. She doesn’t even know if he’s dead or alive.”

“That would be rough, but she must be lonely by now.”

Quinn guessed she was—lonely and confused. “I haven’t wanted to consider this, but do you think it’s creepy of me to move in on another man’s family?”

“Not at all. Her husband’s been gone a long time, hasn’t he? If he isn’t coming back, there’s no point in waiting for him.”

Problem was...after what’d happened this morning in the ocean, Quinn wasn’t sure he’d be able to stop himself from trying to win Autumn over even if Nick hadn’t been gone quite so long. “Yeah. That’s what I keep telling myself.”

“No doubt she can still use the love of a good man, a good life partner. This could be the best thing for both of you.”

Quinn gave his father’s arm a squeeze. “Thanks for telling me what I want to hear, Dad. You’re always looking out for me,” he said with a laugh.

“You deserve to be happy, too,” he called out as Quinn went back to his workstation. “Lord knows you deserve a much better woman than the one you got the first time.”

“Amen,” Fiona said, hearing just the tail end of the conversation as she walked into the kitchen. “What’d I miss?”

15

“Hey, Mom, guess what?”

Autumn looked up from her laptop, startled when her son, a sack in one hand and his backpack slung over his shoulder, charged into the store. She was manning the register since Laurie had taken the day off to go with Chris to visit their son, who worked as an accountant in Norfolk and was happily married with three kids. Her mother was in the back going over the budget for the coffee shop, something Mary tinkered with constantly—added proof that she was worried about spending the money. “What is it?” she asked Caden.

“Taylor and I just ate at The Daily Catch, and the owner’s son wouldn’t let us pay for any of it! Not only that, he sent this to you.”

As soon as Caden set the sack on the counter and she saw the familiar logo, she knew what it was—another piece of delicious carrot cake. “What were you doing at The Daily Catch?”

“I was craving some clam chowder, so I told Taylor I’d take her to lunch before I had to work on the website. But as soon as we sat down and ordered, this guy came out of the kitchen with a tray full of food. A crab sandwich. Chopped salad. Soups. Some cheesy artichoke dip. It was awesome! He even brought us free sodas.”

Autumn couldn’t help cringing inside. “He didn’t think I sent you in there expecting a free meal, did he?”

“No. He’s just really grateful for what you’re doing for his mother.”

“He said that?”

“He did. Taylor told him we couldn’t accept his offer, that you wouldn’t like it, and he said he wanted to do it, that he was grateful for all the work you’re putting in on the fundraiser. Isn’t that cool?”

“Very nice,” she agreed and peeked inside the sack. Sure enough, it was another piece of carrot cake. How was she going to refuse a guy who kept feeding her the best dessert in the world, especially when she wanted him even without the enticement?

She had to admit that she was weakening. What she’d done this morning proved that. What kind of a fair-weather wife was she? Since she’d gone into the ocean with Quinn this morning, she’d thought of little besides his mouth on her breast. She had so much to do on the fundraiser. And yet, just while she’d been sitting there, exchanging emails with her various committee members, she’d caught herself several times staring off into space. “So...you liked him?” she asked, hoping to sound far less invested than she really felt.

“Quinn Vanderbilt? Yeah.” He poked the sack with his index finger. “That’s cake. He brought Taylor and me each