Page 19

QUINN

P atience was brushing the snow off the little potted tree next to her front door when Quinn pulled into the open parking spot in front of her townhouse.

Her ass just asking to be grabbed as she bent over.

It took all his willpower to stay in the truck and just lower his window to call to her.

His cock stirred against the zipper of his pants at the memory of how her soft cheeks felt in his hands.

“Patience, are you ready to go?”

She jumped at the sound of his voice. The woman had no situational awareness. She should have heard his truck pull up and thought to check. Seeing him, she waved and grabbed the backpack she’d leaned against her front door. Hopefully, she’d remembered to lock it.

As she walked toward him, he noticed she was wearing her sneakers again. Didn’t she own any boots? She was just asking to fall on the slick concrete. It was like his thoughts triggered a subliminal response, and as he climbed out of his truck, he watched her slip on the icy cement.

Quinn caught her before she hit the ground. If not for his quick reflexes and years of training, she’d have landed hard on the sidewalk. Anger made him tighten his grip on her waist as she steadied herself against him.

“That was close. Thank you.” Patience smiled up at him.

His anger fled, leaving behind a need he’d never known he could feel. Shaking his head, he released her after making sure she was steady.

“Why aren’t you wearing boots? You’re going to break your neck in those things.” His voice was rougher than he’d intended, and she winced. “Sorry. Not my business.” Quinn needed to remember that. Patience was neither his responsibility nor his girlfriend.

Following her to the passenger side door, he helped her into his truck. So much for listening to himself. She was grabbing for the seatbelt as he closed the door. At least he’d stopped himself from buckling her in. What the fuck was wrong with him? It was like he couldn’t keep his hands off her.

Quinn growled as he climbed into the driver’s seat and slammed his door.

Where was all this emotion coming from? For years, he’d held it in check.

Since he’d beat the terrorist in Marikistan to death, he hadn’t been able to put the genie back in the bottle.

If he wasn’t careful, Tony would have him in therapy—the last thing he needed or wanted.

“I’m sorry.”

“What?” He turned to look at Patience. Her gaze focused on his, not with fear, but with something he couldn’t figure out.

“It’s obvious you’re annoyed with me. So, I’m sorry. You should have let me take the Uber. Then you wouldn’t have had to be around me today.”

He shook his head. She was way too observant, although all the growling probably gave it away too. “It’s not you, it really is me. I’m not upset. Just frustrated with myself.”

Out of the corner of his vision, he saw her reach for his thigh, but before she touched him, she pulled it back. “I’m a good listener. I promise I won’t share it either.”

Quinn put the truck in reverse and backed out of the parking spot. Maybe he should tell her. It would scare her off, or would if she had any sense. He was a dangerous man, trained by his father and the Navy to be that way.

Deciding against it, he finally answered her. “I’m meeting Doc at the Ready Room to play some pool.”

“Gotcha. Right, I didn’t even think about it. But you have your teammates to talk to. You probably can’t even share what’s bothering you with me. You’d have to kill me, right?” She grinned at her joke.

“You’re right, I might.”

Her startled glance made him chuckle. The first one in days, and it surprised the hell out of him. Less than two minutes ago, he’d almost ripped the door off the truck and now he’s laughing. What the fuck?

“I’d rather not die yet. You can keep your thoughts to yourself.”

A smile pulled at his lips, but he held it back. No sense in giving her any ideas. He was already having a hard time not touching her. If she thought she had a chance with him, she’d push hard. Maybe hard enough for him to give in, and that would be a disaster.

“No problem. I think I can restrain myself.” This time, he couldn’t hold back the smile. It was too easy playing with her, even though he knew he shouldn’t. It was asking for trouble.

“Will everyone be there tonight?”

Finally, something neutral to talk about. “I doubt it. Doc and I are on the only single ones. The rest of the guys will be home with their wives after being away.”

Patience hummed her acknowledgement, not saying anything else. He ventured a glance over, and she was staring straight ahead. Her forehead wrinkled in thought.

He contemplated asking what she was thinking about, but she started talking before he could decide whether to go down that road.

“Just you and Doc? What’s his real name? Or is that another thing you’d have to kill me over?”

“Yup. Most likely.” Quinn smirked. “His name is Fergus. We started calling him Doc when he joined our team as a medic years ago.”

“He seems like the joker of your group, and he’s always teasing the servers.”

“That’s Doc. But it’s just how he is. He doesn’t mean anything by it.”

“We know. Although, he always leaves me alone. Is that because of you?”

Her question surprised him. Doc hadn’t been hitting on Patience. Interesting, but from the way he’d been taunting him lately, it shouldn’t have. “No, I haven’t said a word to him.”

He caught her nod and hoped that was the end of the questions. Finally, the parking lot was just ahead, and he hit the blinker to turn off for the Ready Room. The trip was faster since the roads were clear. Sunday afternoon lack of traffic helped, too.

Quinn pulled up in front of the bar and put the truck in park to help Patience.

“Don’t worry, big guy, I got this.” She unlocked her seatbelt and opened the door like she needed to escape. “I’ll see you inside. Should I get anything ready for you?”

“I see Doc’s truck. He might have ordered already since he knew what time I was bringing you in. I’ll let you know if we need anything.”

“Thank you, Quinn. I appreciate the ride and the scintillating conversation.” Before he could stop her or respond, she winked and jumped onto the cleared sidewalk. He half expected her to take a header, but she just pushed the door shut, waved, and disappeared inside the Ready Room.

Dammit. That girl had somehow gotten under his skin. He wasn’t sure how, but he had to put a stop to it for her own good. She’d end up hurt if he didn’t.

With a sigh, he found the closest parking spot and headed inside to find Doc.

Patience was right about one thing. He needed to talk to someone.

Fergus might come across as the life of the party.

He fooled most people with his humorous antics.

But Quinn knew better than anyone, since he was the king of buried feelings, that Doc was hiding something behind all the joking.

After waving hi to Pam, who was in her usual spot behind the polished bar, he made his way to the pool area. He needed a beer, to have a heart-to-heart with Doc, and to avoid Patience if possible.

Spotting Doc at the pool table in the back, he made his way over. His stomach churned as he worried about the reaction to what he was about to share. If anyone knew him, it was his team, and if they couldn’t accept his past, then he knew better than to try with Patience.