Page 8 of Stolen Hearts (WaterColor Romance #7)

Autumn was finding it difficult to focus.

Not only had Quinn fallen right into her arms, but Autumn had spent far too many moments with Quinn looking up at her with those whiskey-colored eyes.

Those eyes were like fucking magnets, drawing Autumn in closer and closer.

Quinn’s eyes were soft and warm, yet bright and full of life.

Autumn could have stayed on that couch looking into Quinn’s eyes for several minutes.

She had certainly wanted to. But that way led to the compromise of Autumn’s practices regarding client relationships.

One shouldn’t mess around with the people signing their checks.

Even if the person had big dark eyes. Autumn had spent a considerable amount of time after the incident busying herself with anything that didn’t involve Quinn.

She’d practically left Quinn behind as she travelled through the aisles of furniture.

Every so often they would bump into each other.

Quinn might find her and ask a question.

But Autumn’s heart was still racing from their encounter earlier.

Who was this woman that had the power to turn her inside out?

They were coming to the end of the warehouse.

So far, Quinn had definitely chosen the lights that she’d almost lost her life for.

Autumn supposed that was fitting. The wicker lights would match what she wanted for the space inside Quinn’s bar perfectly.

Autumn rounded the corner and almost collided with Quinn. She plastered a smile on her face.

“Find anything else that you’re interested in?” Autumn asked genuinely curious.

“So many things. I really like these curved velvet booths. They would look absolutely amazing, and I love the aesthetic. Unfortunately, I feel that they’d lose their luster pretty quickly if they were exposed to sand too much. And sand is pretty much guaranteed at a beachside bar.”

Autumn’s smile tilted to the side; her expression thoughtful as she considered Quinn’s words.

Without thinking she reached out and took Quinn’s hand.

The jolt she felt was almost instantaneous.

Autumn chose to ignore how good Quinn’s hand felt in her own.

She led Quinn around two corners and paused in front of a large selection of booths.

The booths were high-backed and emerald green in color. They were made of vinyl upholstery.

“I know they aren’t velvet. But this should be pretty easy to clean, and the deep green is a striking contrast for the lights you chose. Quinn inspected the booths and smiled.

“These are wonderful. I love the color.”

Autumn practically beamed. She adored giving people exactly what they wanted in a design.

“Do we feel pretty set for the day?” Autumn asked.

“I feel like we got quite a bit accomplished.”

“Then let’s get out of here.”

“How are we getting these things out of here?”

“Leave that to me. We’ll pay up front and then I’ll arrange to have everything delivered.”

“You’re a full-service organization,” Quinn teased.

Quinn met Autumn’s eyes and didn’t look away.

There was something warm and inviting about the deep whiskey-colored eyes staring back at her.

Autumn felt the unmistakable crackle of electricity between them.

There was something electric between them.

Autumn couldn’t help but feel drawn in. Quinn gave a tiny cough, and Autumn realized she’d been staring at the woman without responding.

“I aim to please,” Autumn managed to say, her words sounding faint to her own ears.

If Quinn could sense anything behind Autumn’s words she didn’t let on.

The woman’s customary grin hung from her lips.

There was something about the way Quinn’s lips looked when she smiled that did something to Autumn.

She wondered what it would be like to suck Quinn’s lower lip between her teeth.

That thought was enough to send a shiver through her body. She quickly pushed the thought aside.

Autumn set the order form with Quinn’s information on a tiny desk up front.

“They’re really trusting, aren’t they?”

“I think it’s just me. I know the woman who runs this place,” Autumn explained. Quinn gave a small nod of understanding. Autumn could practically see the wheels turning inside Quinn’s brain.

She pushed open the doors leading to the outside world.

This was exactly what she needed. Autumn needed the world outside where there were other people besides her and Quinn.

In the distance she could see the sun setting.

The sight was beautiful enough that Autumn took a picture with her phone.

She glanced over at Quinn and caught her smiling at her.

“I sometimes take pictures of really nice sunsets,” Autumn chuckled.

“There are worse past-times for sure,” Quinn teased.

Quinn still had a rather far off expression on her face. Autumn sighed; she knew she needed to ask the woman what was on her mind.

“Everything okay? You seem like you’re a million miles away,” Autumn offered.

“I’m great. I was just debating something.”

“Care to share what you’re debating?” Autumn grinned.

“I was going to ask you if you’d like to go grab some dinner with me.”

Autumn opened her mouth to decline the invitation, but Quinn halted her by holding up a hand.

“Not like a date. I thought it might be helpful if the two of us sat down and discussed the direction today’s purchases take the bar in.”

Autumn considered Quinn’s words. The woman wasn’t wrong. Having a meeting of the minds would be helpful. Her mouth turned to one side as she considered, then curved upward into a smile.

“That sounds like a really good plan,” Autumn conceded.

“Great. There’s a taco truck that’s always parked on the board walk. You want to meet me there?”

“Sounds perfect,” Autumn admitted.

On the way to the taco truck Autumn went over all the reasons she shouldn’t fall for Quinn.

You don’t date clients. It isn’t a good look professionally.

If you’re trying to build a good business reputation, then dating clients is not the way to do that.

The memory of Quinn staring up at her from the couch came crashing through her thoughts.

Against her will, Autumn’s core tightened.

This was ridiculous. Ahead she saw the taco truck and pulled into the parking lot.

Quinn waited for her leaning against her car, her dark hair a mess in the breeze.

Fuck her life. Was there any situation where Quinn wouldn’t be attractive?

Quinn watched Autumn get out of her car and waved her over excitedly.

Autumn couldn’t help but smile and wave back.

There was something about Quinn’s thirst for life that was contagious.

Fortunately, Autumn had brought along her mockups for the bar today.

She was excited to show Quinn what she’d been working on.

“Are those the mockups?” Quinn asked.

“They are.” Autumn’s smile broadened; Quinn’s excitement was contagious.

“Why don’t you grab a seat on one of the benches. I’ll grab us some tacos,” Quinn offered.

“I can’t let you do that,” Autumn began to protest. Quinn held up a hand stopping her.

“It’s just tacos,” Quinn laughed.

“Okay. Fair enough,” Autumn smiled, walking towards the benches overlooking the beach.

She was fairly certain that Quinn was checking her out, but Autumn fought past the urge to turn back around to check.

Autumn found a bench that was free and sat down.

She held her file folder in her lap. She watched the way Quinn maneuvered through the people around her, two tacos in hand.

Quinn reached the bench and sat, she handed one of the tacos to Autumn and smiled.

Autumn set her file of papers beside her and lifted the taco to her mouth.

A sudden gust of wind sent the papers scattering.

Before Autumn could react, Quinn was on her feet, her taco fell to the ground as she quickly gathered up the papers.

She walked back with the papers in hand.

“Sorry, they’re a little crumpled,” Quinn apologized. She sat beside Autumn on the bench and gave a forlorn glance to her taco that was now on the ground. Autumn stifled a chuckle.

“Okay. You look through those mockups. I’m going to go get you another taco,” Autumn announced.

“You don’t have to do that,” Quinn protested. Autumn simply waved her off.

When she returned with a new taco in hand, Quinn was staring intently at the papers in front of her. Autumn sat down on the bench and handed Quinn her taco.

“What do you think?” Autumn asked. She picked up her own taco and took another bite of it.

“I love it. It’s very loungy but classy at the same time. The natural wood features you placed throughout really bring out the beach bar vibe as well.”

A shy smile tugged upwards at Autumn’s lips. Quinn seemed to completely understand her vision.

“That’s right. I’m so glad it’s close to what you were looking for.”

“It’s exactly what I was looking for. What happens next?”

“I get started. You’ll have a classy new bar all set up in no time at all.”

“I can’t believe it. Everything is happening so fast.”

Quinn threw her arms around Autumn, clearly excited.

The gesture was a shock to Autumn’s system.

One that threatened to short circuit her brain.

Quinn’s arms were firm yet gentle in their grip.

Autumn took in the floral fruity scent of Quinn’s shampoo.

When Quinn released her from the hug, Autumn felt a noticeable drop in warmth.

Things were on track. Autumn would be done with this project before she knew it.

She could make it through her desire for Quinn through the length of the project.

Autumn took another bite of her taco and smiled.

It wouldn’t be long now. Autumn would finish the project, then she wouldn’t have to see Quinn much at all.

The thought of not seeing Quinn every week made Autumn surprisingly sad.

She chose to ignore that feeling, pushing it back down into her subconscious.

“Do you think if I wasn’t your client that you’d ever be interested in dating me?” Quinn asked without a hint of self-restraint.

Just like that everything Autumn had tried to hold together, crumbled around her.

“But you are my client,” Autumn sighed.

“Sure. I am your client. I also just got out of a relationship so I’m not on the hunt. But if I was on the hunt, I think I would probably be interested in dating you. I have no problem admitting that,” Quinn chuckled.

Autumn felt as though the ground might swallow her up.

She wondered if being swallowed by the ground might feel less awkward than this moment.

Autumn steeled herself and let out a sigh.

Without looking in a mirror, Autumn knew she was blushing.

Her skin felt warm to the touch. Autumn gathered herself and prepared to answer.

“Yes,” Autumn began smoothly. When Quinn arched her eyebrow Autumn quirked her mouth into a smile. Autumn breathed deeply and continued.

“If you weren’t my client I would want to ask you out on a date. But you are my client, so I can’t do that.”

Quinn nodded her head and seemed to understand. She didn’t ask any other questions. Instead, the two of them stayed in relative silence.