Page 86

“Honestly, he saved me too.” Tucking my hands under my thighs, I let out a sigh.

Tapping my leg, her lips drew in, a thin smile resting on her face. “Sometimes, family just happens where you least expect it. But no matter what, there are people in your life who will always be family.” Standing up, the woman walked over to Quinn and gave him a hug. Looking over her shoulder at me, she sent one last smile my way, then headed out the door.

“Wait, wait,” I said, trying to push myself out of the chair a lot quicker than I was actually moving. But it was too late, she was gone.

Quinn stepped up beside me, resting both his hands on my shoulders. “Having fun?”

“Who was that woman?” I asked.

“Who?”

“The woman who just left, who was that?”

“That was Debra, Rainee's mom.”

Her words began to sink in, her heartache seeping into my bones. She was right, family didn't have to be built from just flesh and bloodlines. Family went deeper than that. It was people who cared for you, people who would walk to the end of the earth to help you.

She had thanked me for saving Quinn, for saving a boy she thought of like a son.

I didn't deserve the thank you...

Quinn did.

“Wow, that was his mom?”

“Yup.” Looking me over, Quinn's brows dipped. “You alright?”

Standing for a moment in silence, I brushed his cheek with my hand. “Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just a little tired.”

“You want to head home?” Turning me to face him, he stroked my hair. “We can leave whenever you're ready.”

Nodding yes, my lips held a thin smile. “Yeah, I think I'm ready.”

After saying goodbye, Quinn and I hauled what we could fit into the taxi outside. Mia said she would bring the rest later in the week, and I was more than happy to let her.

She had a car, we were still working on getting one.

But Quinn and I didn't see eye to eye on that topic. I wanted a mini-van, he wanted a smaller two door coupe.

So thatminor detailwas still being worked out.

Arriving at our apartment, we took the bags we had grabbed upstairs to our door. Dropping them to the floor, I wrapped my hands around my sides and stretched my back. “I need a hot bath, my back is killing me.”

“Want a massage?” Winking, Quinn dug into his pocket for the key.

“A massage? How the hell are you going to do that? I can't lay on my stomach.”

“I know.” Biting his lip, he flashed me a very naughty grin.

“Oh, I see where you're going with this.” Wagging my finger, I stared at him under hooded lids. “I'd get a frontal massage, and you'd get to have your way with me.”

Holding out his hands, he stepped back. “I never said have my way with you.”

“You didn't have to, it was implied.” A white piece of paper caught my eye as it lifted with the gentle air. Stepping to the door, there was a rose resting on the front mat, wrapped inside a blue bib.

Yanking the note down, I opened it up. “Quinn?”

“Mm, hm,” he said, looking down at the key ring to grab the one he needed.