Enchant the Night - Amanda Ashley Page 0,33
not sure we’d be compatible over the long haul, you know?”
“Oh, sure. Sometimes our hearts don’t listen to our heads.”
Callie nodded.
“How long have you been seeing him?”
“Not long. And yet, in some ways, I feel like I’ve known him my whole life.”
“It sounds to me like you’re falling in love with him.”
“I am. I can’t help it. He’s gorgeous and sexy and . . . and he needs me.”
“Being needed can be a turn-on sometimes.”
“I guess. You won’t believe what he gave me the other day.”
“What?”
“A new Jaguar.”
Vivian blinked at her, mouth agape. “He. Gave. You. A Jaguar?”
Callie nodded. “Wait until you see it.”
“Is it here?”
“No. I haven’t had time to get it insured, so I left it in the garage. But it’s blue and beautiful.”
“Girl, you’ve hit the jackpot this time. Sexy and generous. I’m dark green with envy. So, tell me, when do I get to meet this fabulous man?”
“How about right now?” Callie said, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Quill striding toward them. Oh, Lord, had he come looking for her because he knew she was talking about him again?
“What?” Vivian followed Callie’s gaze. “Oh, my, he is a handsome one, isn’t he?!”
Quill stopped beside their table, looking utterly gorgeous in a pair of black jeans and a dark blue shirt. “Callie, aren’t you going to introduce me?”
After swallowing several times, she said, “Vivian, this is Quill.”
“Delighted to meet you, Vivian,” he said.
Vivian smiled at him, obviously smitten.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked.
“Please do,” Viv said.
Quill pulled a chair from the unoccupied table beside them and sat down. “I hope I haven’t interrupted anything important.”
“No, nothing,” Callie said. “We were just chatting.”
“Girl talk?” His dark gaze bored into hers, a silent warning.
“Just the usual,” Callie said.
He lifted one brow. “Indeed?” He glanced at Vivian, then back at Callie, the unspoken warning plain.
Callie was relieved when their orders arrived.
“Would you like a menu, sir?” the waitress asked.
“No need. I’d like a steak sandwich, rare, no onions.”
“And to drink?”
“Nothing, thank you.”
The waitress lingered a moment. Then, with a flirty smile and hips swaying, she went to turn in his order.
* * *
Callie followed Quill out of the coffee shop shortly after Vivian excused herself and left the café.
Callie unlocked the VW and slid behind the wheel. She waited until Quill climbed in beside her before asking, “Why did you follow me?”
“You know why.”
“I wasn’t going to say anything about you.” She looked left and right before pulling out of the parking lot into the street. “I just needed someone to talk to.”
“About what?”
She flushed under his knowing gaze. “Okay. About you. But I wasn’t going to tell her what you are.”
“No?”
“No. Do you think I want you messing around with her mind again? You might cause permanent brain damage.”
“So, what kind of advice were you looking for?”
“On the wisdom of falling in love with someone who lives a completely different lifestyle than mine!” She blurted the words and immediately wished she could recall them.
Stunned by her revelation, Quill stared at her. “You’re falling in love? With me?”
Callie’s knuckles went white as she gripped the VW’s steering wheel. Why had she said that? And what was she going to say now?
“Callie?” His voice low and whiskey-smooth, was tinged with hope.
“I said it, didn’t I?” she snapped.
“But did you mean it?”
In a much softer voice, she repeated, “I said it, didn’t I?”
Reaching across her lap, Quill grabbed the wheel and steered the car onto a side road heavily screened by trees and brush. Shutting off the ignition, he put his arm around her shoulders and drew her closer as he leaned in toward her.
Callie’s heart skipped a beat as his mouth covered hers in a long, searing kiss. Her eyelids fluttered down as he kissed her again and yet again, each kiss deeper and more intimate than the last. She wished she had a bigger car, one from the fifties with a bench seat and no gear shift in the middle so she could climb onto his lap and wrap her arms around him.
Her pulse was racing when his head snapped up. Before she could ask what was wrong, her door flew open and a pair of strong hands dragged her out of the VW. She tried to fight the man off, kicking and scratching for all she was worth, but he held her easily, her back to his front, one meaty arm wrapped around her waist, seemingly impervious to her struggles. Helpless, she could only watch