Page 7 of Stolen Hearts (WaterColor Romance #7)

Quinn had been on top of the world since her first shift at Mallie’s.

She lay on the couch, which was currently her bed.

Madison sat on the chair adjacent to her, scrolling on her phone.

Quinn wanted to talk about her day. She knew she should find a mature way to bring up her day in conversation, instead she threw a pillow at Madison’s head.

Madison looked up from her scrolling and arched an eyebrow at her.

“Can I help you?” Madison asked, her tone measured.

“I want to talk about my day,” Quinn whined. Madison sighed and rolled her eyes.

“Okay. Then talk.”

“I want you to ask me about it,” Quinn insisted with a mock pout.

Madison threw the pillow back at Quinn with a growl.

“Fine. Quinn, how was your day?” Madison asked through at least partially gritted teeth. Quinn couldn’t hold back her laughter. Flustering Madison was beyond enjoyable.

“It was really good. And guess who came into Mallie’s today while I was working?”

Madison’s mouth quirked into a casual grin.

“Who?” Madison asked, clearly playing her part in the conversation.

“Autumn,” Quinn announced.

Quinn could tell from Madison’s expression that she was surprised by this announcement.

“Really?”

“Yes. Apparently, Mel, my manager, is friends with Autumn and her friends. So, I met a whole gaggle of lesbians today.”

“Look at you go.”

“It’s good that I’m getting word out about the bar before it even opens.”

“That’s right, friend. Build the hype.”

Quinn sighed loudly.

“Okay, what else?” Madison asked.

Quinn glanced over somewhat startled by the question.

“What do you mean?”

“You just sighed out loud. Clearly there’s more to conversate about.” Madison pinned her with a pointed look.

“I had a conversation with Autumn before she left. And I’m not sure where to put it.” The admission made Quinn feel like she was back in high school, though she knew that Madison wasn’t going to judge her.

“Oh, did you? Obviously, I want to hear all about it.”

Something about Maddison’s eagerness made Quinn chuckle.

“She told me that her friends were rooting for her and I to date.”

“Hold on. What do you want to bet her friends noticed the same thing between the two of you that I noticed?”

“Let’s not get carried away,” Quinn laughed.

“Fine. What did you say when she told you that?”

“I told her that she was definitely my type,” Quinn declared with a smile.

She watched as Madison’s mouth literally fell open before continuing.

“Then I told her that my last relationship was rough, and I’m not really interested in dating.”

Madison reacted to the news like it was a devastation. She fell face first onto the couch with a groan.

“I cannot believe you did that,” Madison whined.

“Why not? It is the truth.”

“Quinn!” Madison growled.

“What is it? That is the truth.”

“You met someone who is beautiful and smart and totally your type, yet you blew her off.”

“I didn’t blow her off. I gave her a reasonable explanation for why I’m not dating.”

“Aren’t you the least bit interested in Autumn?”

“Of course, I am. But that doesn’t magically make it the right timing.”

“I guess you have a good point. I just want you to be happy.”

“Sometimes happiness takes time,” Quinn offered her friend a smile.

Her phone buzzed and Quinn swiped the screen to see a message from Autumn. She wondered if Autumn had a sixth sense that let her know she was the topic of conversation.

Autumn: I’m designing your space and started thinking about furniture. There’s a place in town I’d love to show you. They sell loungy boho-type furniture. Would you be able to meet up with me? This would really help inform the rest of the design.

Quinn: Sure. When do you want to get together?

Autumn: Actually, could you do it right now? I happen to be free.

Quinn: Sure. Just shoot me the address.

“Is everything okay?” Madison’s voice broke through Quinn’s trance.

“Yeah. Autumn texted. She wants to go to some furniture place with me.”

Madison smashed her hands together excitedly.

“Hey, no. Stop that. This is literally for business.”

“If you say so.”

“I do say so.”

“Just let it be whatever it evolves into,” Madison suggested.

“You really think it’s that simple. That I moved to this new place and that I’m just casually going to meet the love of my life?”

“Why not?”

“This isn’t the Hallmark Channel. No one is meeting their soulmate. I’m going with her to look at chairs.”

“You are no fun.”

Quinn rose from the couch and grabbed some clothes from her suitcase. She sauntered past Madison and into the bathroom.

“Sorry my life isn’t more interesting. You should get back on the dating apps. You’re clearly very interested in love.”

Madison groaned as Quinn closed the bathroom door behind her.

A short time later Quinn pulled into the parking lot of what seemed to be an old warehouse.

Charming , Quinn said under her breath. She hoped that Autumn wasn’t part of the mafia or something.

This felt an awful lot like the soap opera, General Hospital, her grandmother had watched growing up.

From the only other car in the parking lot Autumn waved to her enthusiastically.

Quinn’s heartbeat hard in her chest. She begged her heart to settle down.

Afterall, she was only there to look at furniture.

Autumn met Quinn at her car before she had fully gotten out.

Quinn scowled at the wrappers from fast food in her floorboards.

Sexy, she commended herself in a mocking inner dialogue. Then again, why should it matter?

“I’m so glad you could make it on short notice.” Autumn held her arms out and gave Quinn a polite hug.

“I’m glad you texted. I’ve always loved visiting abandoned warehouses,” Quinn teased.

“Don’t you let the outside of this place fool you. It’s an amazing resource when it comes to buying cheap but unique furniture.”

“Color me curious,” Quinn drawled with a smile.

Autumn led the way inside the warehouse. Quinn’s eyes scanned the space. The warehouse was stacked wall to wall with furniture.

“I hope you don’t find this insulting. But are you sure this place is legal?” Quinn laughed.

“Yes, I actually know the owner. I get first pick when she gets new pieces in.”

Quinn took note of Autumn’s words. She wondered if maybe this place belonged to an ex-girlfriend that Autumn was on friendly terms with. Not that she cared to hear about any of Autumn’s former girlfriends.

“Let’s get started.” Autumn rubbed her hands together. She was obviously excited to be here, and Quinn couldn’t help but find her enthusiasm adorable.

Quinn followed Autumn past rows and rows of furniture. There were almost too many styles to be able to take everything in fully.

“I think the type of furniture I’m envisioning for your space is right over here.”

Autumn made a sudden right turn down an aisle.

Quinn’s eyes took everything in settling on some boho wicker hanging lights on the third shelf.

“Do you like those? I think they’d go well with what I have in mind,” Autumn announced.

“Actually, yeah, those are nice.”

“Grab that ladder and see if you can pull them down,” Autumn demanded.

Quinn shot her grimace, but Autumn simply threw her hands up.

“Sorry. I don’t do ladders or heights.”

Quinn chuckled at the admission but dutifully went to grab the ladder at the end of the aisle. The space was a tight squeeze with the ladder barely fitting in front of a couch lying in the aisle.

“I’ll spot you,” Autumn announced. She managed to fit between the ladder and the couch as Quinn climbed.

The wicker lights were all packaged together.

Quinn found herself in a fight trying to pull the lights down.

Fortunately, she wasn’t up terribly high, Autumn wasn’t the only one who wasn’t a fan of heights.

With one more yank, Quinn and the lights fell backwards.

To her credit, Autumn did manage to catch Quinn.

Though they did fall back onto the couch.

“Good catch,” Quinn said. She smiled up into Autumn’s eyes. There was a definite note of concern in those gorgeous blue eyes.

“Are you hurt?” Autumn demanded. The concern in her voice was almost tangible.

“Just my pride. Thanks for the save.” Quinn could stay there looking into Autumn’s blue eyes for several minutes more, but that would probably be weird.

“At least you rescued the lights,” Autumn laughed.

It was a deep throaty laugh. The kind of laugh that let Quinn know it was genuine.

Quinn had to focus on something, anything except how good it felt to be in Autumn’s lap, staring into her eyes, hearing her laugh.

Quinn leaned up on an arm, careful not to put any weight on Autumn.

Autumn put a hand on Quinn’s back, supporting her as she sat up.

A bolt of electricity buzzed through her at Autumn’s touch.

Quinn moved over to the spot beside Autumn on the couch.

“You sure you’re, okay?” Autumn asked again.

“That was scary. But yeah, I’m okay,” Quinn reassured. Autumn nodded her head.

“You want to check out your find?” Autumn asked with a smile. Quinn tugged on the package of lights.

Autumn pulled out a pocketknife and cut the thick plastic.

For some reason Quinn couldn’t identify it was sexy as hell for Autumn to have that knife at the ready.

More and more things about Autumn were being labeled as sexy as far as Quinn was concerned.

She eyed the woman as she snapped the knife closed again and ripped open the plastic.

Her heart stuttered; all she could do was remind herself that Autumn was off limits.

She doesn’t date clients, and you need to heal.

Quinn’s heart balked at her reminder, but Quinn tried to force the words to be real in her mind.