skin, but I guess we can’t do anything about that.”
I sigh. “No, you can’t un-orgasm me.”
He’s silent a moment. “I don’t want to hear another word about you lacking confidence. You’re funny. You’re kind. Talented. Beautiful. I’m lucky as hell you even came home with me.” He unlocks the door with a groan. “And I’m sorry about this.”
Turns out, he was not exaggerating about his sisters. When we walk out into the living room, they regard me the way I Iook at crab legs when they’re in season. Thanks to the television lighting, I only saw the barest outline of them in the crowd this morning. They are both tall, brunette, nearly identical, but one of them has a sleeve of tattoos and the other is dressed on the conservative side, giving me a glimpse into their personalities.
“Quinn, allow me to introduce Melissa and Steph.” He gestures to his sisters as he says their names, letting me know the one with tattoos is Steph. “We share parents, I’m told.”
“Hello,” I say, holding out my hand. “I’m Quinn—”
“Oh, we know who you are,” Steph interrupts, circling behind me slowly. “We Googled you on the way home.”
My eyebrows go up. “That must have been very boring.”
“You’re the opposite of boring,” Desmond growls, throwing an arm around my shoulder and tucking me into his side, kissing my temple hard. “Enough of that.”
For some reason, the gesture sends Melissa’s jaw dropping to the floor. “Uh-oh, sis. You seeing this?”
“I’m seeing it.”
Melissa laughs. “This is going to be fun.”
“You read my mind,” Steph says, turning to her brother. “Des, can you make us some coffee?”
He snorts. “You know where I keep everything.”
Steph sucks her teeth at him. “You don’t want Quinn to think you’re a bad host, do you?”
A groove forms between his brows. “No, I don’t want that…” Reluctantly, he drops his arms from around my shoulders. “If you upset her, I’ll tell Mom what your crazy asses really got up to on prom night.”
He leaves the room in a sea of hisses, glancing back at me three times before disappearing into the kitchen.
“All right, we don’t have much time.” Melissa claps her hands. “Quinn, are you and my brother together together? Give us the scoop.”
Steph hustles me over to the couch, pulling me down to the cushions. Before I know it, I’m the meat in a sister sandwich. “Yeah, give up the goods,” Steph squeals. “He hasn’t dated anyone seriously in…”
“Never,” Melissa finishes. “He’s never dated anyone seriously.”
“Oh, I just met him this morning,” I say, waving a hand. “There’s nothing…I mean, it’s way too soon to, um…”
They stare at me expectantly, not saying a word.
It’s a tactic.
I know it is.
They’re staying silent so I’ll feel obligated to continue, thus revealing more information. My mother employs this method on me all the time and I really should know better. But I don’t have close girlfriends, only colleagues, thanks to my mother’s impossibly high standards for the people I associate with. And it’s really nice being part of this little girl chat, even if it’s only a temporary thing. I find myself wanting to confide in them, whether it’s wise or not…and they still haven’t said a word, the silence trick prickling under my skin and urging me to fill the conversation void. Darn it, they have me. “It’s only meant to be one lesson,” I blurt.
They sit up straighter. “A lesson?”
“Yes. Your brother is merely being kind. I told him I have a confidence problem a-and that I know nothing about men and sex. He’s helping me understand.”
Melissa and Steph stare at one another in disbelief. “He’s helping you understand?” Steph squeaks.
I nod. “Yes.”
“And you…” Melissa grabs my arm. “You think he’s doing this to be kind?”
“Yes, isn’t that nice?” I say, smiling brightly.
Silence descends on the room.
Both sisters burst into laughter.
My nose wrinkles. “What?”
Steph picks up an imaginary phone and presses it to her ear. “Hold my calls. Reschedule my appointments. Something has come up.”
Desmond chooses that moment to walk back into the room, a thunderous frown on his face, three mugs of coffee in his hands. “What’s going on? What did they say to you?”
“Um…”
“Des. Bro.” Melissa stands and takes the coffee mugs from her brother, setting them down on the coffee table one by one. “We’re here to help. We know all about the lesson you promised Quinn.”
He makes a choked sound. “You do?”
I mouth the word sorry at him.
“Yes. Our Quinn here wants to be more confident when it