Midnight Lies: The Wildefire Series (46 page)

“Nothing.” She turned and looked out the window again.

Quinn blew out a sigh. Maybe she would talk once he got her home. “Are you ready to
go?”

“Go where?”

“To our house.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Shouldn’t we—”

She broke off and swallowed a shriek when he stood and gently scooped her into his
arms. “What are you doing?”

“I’m taking you home.”

“You can’t just come in and take me like this.”

Loving the sparks he saw spitting from her eyes, he grinned and kept walking. “Oh
yeah? Who’s going to stop me?”

Not waiting for a reply, Quinn strode from the room and then down the stairway. A
smiling Savannah stood at the front door.

“Savvy, don’t you dare open that door for him. He can’t just come in here and—”

Laughing, Savannah opened the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Sammie.”

“Traitor.”

“Hey, what are sisters for?”

Feeling more confident by the minute, Quinn went down the steps and stopped at his
car. He leaned forward and, with less finesse than he would have liked, opened the
car door. Mindful of her still-healing injuries, he carefully placed Sam in the passenger
seat and buckled her seat belt. Then, before she could unfasten the seat belt and
open the door, he ran around the front of the car and jumped into the driver’s side.

Thankfully she didn’t seem inclined to want out, but neither did she look all that
happy to be going with him. He hoped that would soon change.

It was dusk. As long as he didn’t run into any unforeseen delays, the timing should
be perfect. Then he would let his hard work speak for itself.

As they drove through town, she maintained her silence. Was she contemplating how
to get away from him for good? After the hell she’d been through because of him, could
he blame her?

At last Quinn pulled in front of their house. It was now pitch-dark. The stage was
set … now for the main event. The instant he had the thought, it happened.

Sam gasped and grabbed his arm. “Oh my gosh, Quinn. It’s beautiful.”

He took in his handiwork. Thousands of Christmas lights outlined the entire house.
Even to his jaded eyes, it looked like a Christmas card.

“I remember you told me how you would love to see it decorated for Christmas. Is it
what you expected?”

Her voice filled with a hushed awe, she said, “Even more so.”

“Wait … there’s more.”

He jumped out of the car and went around to open her door. Before she could step out,
he picked her up again.

“I can walk.”

“I know. I just don’t want to let you go yet.”

“Oh, Quinn, I—” Burying her face against his neck, she burst into tears.

Of all the responses he expected from her, this wasn’t one of them.

“Sam? What’s wrong?”

Unable to articulate what she couldn’t even explain to herself, Samantha kept her
face hidden and just shook her head. What a blubbering fool she was. He had done something
so incredibly sweet and unexpected. And instead of thanking him, she’d fallen apart.

She felt a kiss to the top of her head and then he whispered, “It’s going to be okay,
sweetheart. I promise.”

Refusing to keep her face buried like a wimp, she turned her gaze back to the house.
It was even more beautiful
than before. Every line of the house was lit up like in a picture book. It was so
beautiful, it looked almost unreal … like a fairy-tale house.

“That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

“Let’s go inside and see the rest.”

She knew she should protest again and tell him she could walk, but she didn’t want
to. All she wanted to do was hang on to his neck and never let him go.

Quinn took long strides toward the house, and the closer they got, the more she was
in awe of his handiwork. “Did you do all of this yourself?”

“No. Your brother-in-law and Brody helped, too.”

He shifted her slightly as they approached the steps. “I can walk from here.”

“Not on your life. Do you know how long I’ve been dying to carry you into the house,
just like this?”

She looked up at him then … really looked. There was tenderness, affection, and something
more in his eyes. And then she realized it was true, everything
was
going to be okay.

Caressing his jaw, she whispered, “Let’s go inside.”

The rare smile curved his mouth and then he ran up the steps as if she weighed nothing
at all. He opened the door, stepped into the foyer, and then stopped. Fragrances she
only associated with Christmas surrounded her as she took in all that he had done.
Garlands laced with holly berries were draped along the railing of the staircase,
and everywhere she looked, there was evidence of the Christmas season. Framed pictures
of Santa hung on the walls. Mistletoe hung from every entryway. A rug with Santa’s
jolly face covered half the foyer.

“I may have gone a little overboard.” He swallowed hard and she heard the uncertainty
in his voice as he continued, “I’ve never decorated for Christmas before. Growing
up, all we had was a wreath on the door and a tree decorated by some designer. It
this too much?”

Samantha swallowed a huge lump in her throat. Quinn must have bought out an entire
Christmas store. And he’d done it all for her. He’d asked if it was too much. It was.
But it was also absolutely perfect.

She looked closer and noticed something else. Christmas decorations weren’t the only
things he had done. The walls had been painted a light bird’s-egg blue—just like the
suggestion she’d given him weeks ago—and the molding at the ceiling and doors was
a stark, marsh-mallow white. And plantation blinds covered the windows … just as she
had suggested. Everywhere she looked was evidence that not only had he listened to
her every word, he had implemented all of them.

“Quinn … I don’t know what to say. It’s beyond beautiful … it’s absolutely perfect.”

As if he’d been anxiously awaiting her verdict, he now released a long, slow breath.
“The workmen have been working like crazy to get everything done.”

She peeked up at him. “Everything?”

He grinned. “Let me show you one more thing and then you can explore to your heart’s
content.”

Still holding her, he carried her across the foyer and down the hallway to the back
of the house, to the family room and its gigantic fireplace. This was the room she
had told him would be the perfect place for a family to gather Christmas morning and
open presents.

After pushing the door open, he stood still and let her absorb the room. A giant tree,
at least twelve feet tall, stood in the corner. Decorated with old-fashioned ornaments
and a thousand twinkle lights, it looked like a Hallmark Christmas card. And in here,
just like the foyer, he’d covered the room with a variety of decorations.

“I haven’t had time to go shopping yet, so it’s still kind of bare beneath the tree.”

His features blurred as tears glazed her eyes. “Thank you, Quinn. It’s everything
I’ve ever wanted.”

He stared down at her for several seconds. She wanted him to kiss her in this perfect
room, at this perfect moment. Instead he just continued to gaze down at her, a frown
furrowing his brow.

“What’s wrong?”

“Sorry. Guess my lack of sleep is catching up with me.” He dropped her feet to the
floor. “Why don’t you explore while I start a fire?”

When his arms dropped away from her, she instantly felt cold and alone again, much
the way she had felt since she woke up in the hospital. Shaking off the ridiculous
sensation of sadness, she began her tour as he had suggested.

Quinn felt like an idiot. Sam’s feelings of melancholy were normal. Instead of giving
her what she needed, he had stupidly behaved like the lovesick hero in a sappy movie.

Wishing he was agile enough to reach up and kick his own ass, he set his mind on getting
a fire going and providing Sam with the comfortable, safe environment she needed.
When he heard her walking around upstairs, he headed for the kitchen, where he hurriedly
filled two cups with milk and cocoa mix and stuck them in the microwave.

The microwave dinged that their hot chocolate was ready. He topped the steaming drinks
off with a swirl of whipped cream and set them on a tray with a plateful of cookies
he’d purchased at Ava’s Bakery.

He carried the tray to the family room and set it on the table. Knowing she’d find
her way back to him, he settled onto the sofa and waited.

Barely a minute later, she appeared at the door. Face
glowing, eyes gleaming. God, how he loved her. “Come sit by the fire and have some
hot chocolate.”

“The entire house looks wonderful, Quinn. I can’t believe all the things you’ve accomplished.”

He handed her a mug. “You might say I was motivated.”

“I’ll say.” She took a sip. “This is really good and just what I needed.”

He returned his mug to the tray and draped his arm over her shoulder to pull her closer.
Dropping a kiss to the top of her head, he settled back and waited. They hadn’t talked
about what had happened. Things needed to be said and aired out. He’d prompt her if
he had to, but for now, he wanted her to feel comfortable and safe.

She sank into his body and nestled her head on his shoulder. Other than the crackling
and popping of the blazing fire and the slight wind whipping up outside, there was
silence. Minutes passed and Quinn told himself not to push her, not to question her
or bring it up. It was her story to share.

Finally she issued a shaky, deep sigh. “I’ve never been so scared in all my life.”

Quinn’s answer was an encouraging tightening of his arm around her shoulders and pressing
another kiss to her head.

“When I woke up, all I could remember was the sight of you lying on the kitchen floor.
I didn’t know if you were unconscious or dead.”

“Takes tougher men than the Daytons to do that.”

“How did you escape them?”

“They took me out in the woods to teach me a lesson. I don’t think they counted on
me being able to fight, especially with my hands tied behind my back. Once again the
army came through for me. I doubt any of them had ever gone up against anyone trained
in hand-to-hand combat.” He paused for a second and then added, “Besides,
I had more incentive to get loose than they could ever have anticipated. I had to
find you.”

“What’s going to happen to Clark and Carl Dayton and the other two guys?”

“That’s up to the DA’s office. As far as I’m concerned, they can rot in jail.”

She was silent for several more seconds and then breathed out another shaky sigh.
“Dalton was a sadistic son of a bitch.”

“Yes, he was.”

“He … he didn’t rape me.”

Quinn closed his eyes. The doctors had assured him of that in the hospital, but the
shaky way she said it confirmed his fears. The bastard might not have raped her but
he’d traumatized her body and her spirit.

“He was going to … I saw it in his eyes. He cut my clothes off and then untied me.
I couldn’t move because my circulation had been cut off too long, but I screamed and
shouted as many insults as I could. I took the chance he had performance problems
unless he had a completely submissive victim.”

“And it worked.” Quinn winced at the sound of his strained, hoarse voice. He was no
cool, calm professional listening to a trauma victim, but a man who would give his
life for this event to never have happened.

“Yes, but unfortunately since he couldn’t perform with an appendage …”

“That was when he stabbed you in the back.”

“Yes. Then he walked away from me. I think he might have realized he would kill me
if he stayed. And he wasn’t ready for me to die yet.”

Quinn knew he was weak but he couldn’t let her go further until he said the words:
“Sam, I am so very sorry. If I hadn’t come to Midnight, none of this would have happened.”

She was silent for several long seconds. Hell, had he
totally messed things up? Would she clam up and be unable to finish?

Finally, as if letting go of something monumental, she breathed out a long, ragged
sigh and her entire body relaxed. “I know this might sound crazy but I’m glad it was
me and not someone else. If you hadn’t come to Midnight, he would have continued and
most likely killed another woman. One who might not have fought back and survived.
As much as I hated the experience, it’s good that it happened to me.”

Oh hell, he was going to lose it. Breathing in her hair, holding her delicate body
close to his, Quinn shut his eyes tight to battle the moisture. He hadn’t cried since
he was a baby, but hearing her words reinforced his belief that Sam was truly one
of the strongest, most beautiful individuals he’d ever met.

“You were so strong and brave. I’m humbled by your courage.”

She shifted her head and grinned up at him. “I am pretty damn awesome, aren’t I?”

He kissed her then, unable to stop himself. When her hands cupped his face, he deepened
the kiss but only slightly. He didn’t intend to turn this into a make-out session.
Reluctantly he pulled away.

“That’s the first time I’ve been able to talk about it. Thank you, Quinn.”

“Thank you for being so strong, Sam.”

Her head on his shoulder, she whispered softly, “Hey, I’m a Wilde. It’s who we are.”

Samantha snuggled deeper into the covers as strong arms held her against a hard, warm
body. She smiled
sleepily. There was nothing like waking up in the arms of the man she loved.

Her eyes popped open wide. Quinn was in bed with her? When had that happened? She’d
gone to bed last night, just as she had for the past couple of weeks, aching for him
but still unable to articulate that need. He had given her time to heal, without any
pressure for anything else.

“Don’t panic, Sam.”

She wanted to laugh. There were a lot of things on her mind right now, but panic was
definitely not one of them.

“Remember when I asked you what you wanted for Christmas?”