Two Wrongs Make a Right (29 page)

He watched her stare out the window, and the late afternoon sun highlighted wisps of hair that had escaped from her ponytail. She’d put it up without combing it. He knew that from the countless times he’d seen her do it. Gather it with both hands, hold it with one, while she raked through the stands with the other to smooth it. The way she twisted and turned her head with the procedure did things to him. Crazy things.

God, he wanted her back in his bed. In his arms. But she didn’t feel the same way, because earlier when he made a move to touch her, she pulled away. Tonight, he’d have an excuse to hold her. There’d be dancing at the party.

As he made the final turn down the road to his cabin, he looked over at her. “I haven’t mentioned what a great job you did decorating the house.” She didn’t face him, just continued to gaze outside. He wondered what was on her mind. She’d hardly talked all the way home.

“Thanks. I decided I may never have a house this beautiful again, so I splurged. Besides, our daughter will spend time here during the holidays, so I want it to be special for her. Until you remarry, I’ll be happy to help with it each season.”

Dak’s chest tightened. “We don’t need to worry about that right now. I mean, there’s no deadline for a divorce.”

Now she turned to face him. “I understand. It’s still ten weeks before the baby comes, but by next Christmas, you’ll be a year into working for Media Corp. and your track record will speak for itself. You won’t need a wife anymore.”

He wanted to argue the point, but it seemed she had it all planned out, so what was the use? He stopped in the drive and killed the engine.
Next Christmas
. He’d have a baby girl. That made him smile. Now all he had to do was figure out a way to convince her mother to stay, too.

Once inside the cabin, he went to his room and Quinn to hers. He hated that. More today than yesterday. He wondered if this was how it would be from now on—living as strangers when they were alone, but as the perfect couple in public. Well, he had to take the blame for that. He’d made her play by his rules, and she’d agreed. The baby didn’t come until February. Quinn had no job. No house. She’d couldn’t leave. She had nowhere else to go. As mean as that was, it made him happy.

While she finished getting ready, he waited on the back deck breathing in the frosty air. He loved the country. No traffic sounds. No hustle and bustle. Life slowed, and he needed it to survive, but it occurred to him, she might get lonely.

Quinn swung the door open, and stood in the space. She wore a basic black dress and the same string of pearls from the night at the bar. Almost seven months pregnant and even more beautiful than when he’d first laid eyes on her.

“You ready to go?” She bent to scratch Homer behind his ears, and he sighed with satisfaction, then rolled to his back for her to give the same treatment to his belly. She giggled. “You know, it’d be nice if you could return the favor, lazy bones.” He paid no attention, just kept all fours in the air. She pushed off the chair arm to straighten.

She smoothed her dress over her stomach. “That’s getting harder to do.”

“You look nice.” He’d started to say beautiful, but changed his mind at the last second. He needed to take it slow or else his effort might come across as shallow. He didn’t want her to think the compliment was gratitude for earlier.

“Thanks, so do you.”

On the way to the party, Dak asked questions hoping to get her engaged in conversation. With him working late and staying in town a few nights a week, they didn’t have time to talk much. “So what did you do today while you waited for me?”

“Nothing much. I ate across the street at Hildie’s café. They have a good grilled cheese. She mixes in bacon bits with several different cheeses. So delicious. Have you ever had it?”

“No, but I will next time I go.”

“Then I went to visit Lucy and Ethel. Since Raynie lives in back of her shop, I took a nap there. The calming music and incense put me right to sleep.”

“I’m glad. I felt a little guilty about you missing your rest because of me.”

“That’s funny because I feel guilty for napping every day. I’ve never done that before.”

“When the baby gets here your nap days will be over, so get it while you can.”

Dak pulled into the lot and they got out and made their way to the banquet room. Helen greeted them at the door. “Okay, let’s get you two fixed up with name tags.” She looked through a small file box and retrieved their badges and handed them over. “Y’all have fun, and Dak, don’t forget to save me a dance. We need to keep the rumor going you have a thing for your secretary.” She winked at Quinn.

Dak took his wife’s hand and led her to a table. “You want some punch or a soda?”

“Not now, but thanks.”

“I’ll be right back.”

When he returned to the table, Megan sat next to Quinn. “Hey, Dak. I hear your wife cemented your job in place today.”

He looked at Quinn and smiled, then back at Megan. He’d been pissed at her since discovering she’d known all along about the baby, but it was time to let that go. “Yeah, she saved my ass.”

“Oh, talk is all over the office. From what I hear, she should expect requests from other employees to help with their interviews.”

Dak slipped his arm around her. “Well, they can’t have her.” When he said it, Quinn snapped her head toward him, eyes wide. He didn’t give her time to say anything. “You want to dance?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I’ll look like a cow out there.”

“Don’t be silly. Come on. Megan, excuse us.” He took Quinn’s hand and tugged her up out of the chair, then put his palm to the small of her back and guided her to the dance floor. He pulled her as close as he could and swayed to the music. Damn, she felt perfect in his arms, and smelled good enough to eat.

As the song ended, someone tapped on Dak’s shoulder. He turned to see Justin.

“May I have the next dance?”

Dak gritted his teeth. He looked at Quinn and raised his brows.

“Sure. I’ll dance with him.”

Dak walked back to his table, then glared at the couple. They were laughing and talking, and a pang of jealousy ripped through him. He wanted to snatch her out of his arms and tell him to keep his damn hands off her. Why couldn’t she be that happy when Dak held her? Envy tore at his heart. He knew the answer. Despite everything, she still wanted Justin.

Two days before Christmas, Quinn eased out of bed, and walked down the hall to the guest bath to dress and put on her makeup. After she’d saved Dak’s job, he’d been nicer that day, and she’d seen a change in him. He’d initiated conversation. Shown an interest in her. Made some almost loving remarks, but then after the office party, he went back to Bitter Dak. He spent at least one night at week at the condo, and Quinn figured that was to be with his girlfriend.

There was no need to confront him, because if he asked her to move out, she had no place to go, and since they’d fallen into a distant relationship again, the living arrangements weren’t all that bad. She accepted any act of kindness or affection he tossed her way was pretend or for the benefit of others.

His alarm wouldn’t go off for another hour, and she didn’t want to disturb him, because on the nights he was home, he stayed up late working on some big deal.

Quinn stretched the sweater over her belly. No matter what she wore, it looked like she had a basketball under her shirt, but there wasn’t a bounce in her step. The expectant mother waddle replaced it. She toddled into the kitchen.

The cheery room was beautiful in the early morning light. She’d miss this place. How the sunshine streamed through the windows and bounced off granite countertops. The unobstructed view of the trees and lake beyond. Homer lying peacefully on the back deck unaffected by the forced relationship of the couple inside.

Regardless of their situation, she and Sim had become friends and tonight her family would come for supper. Before starting on the meal, Quinn made Dak’s lunch, taking time to cut his two ham and cheese sandwiches into holly leaves. Then she used a melon baller on the tomatoes so they’d look like red berries and added a dessert.

Outside, the shadow of a white egret landing on the pond caused light to flicker across the room. Quinn turned her attention to watch him walk in the water, his legs like stilts. It made her happy that the baby would be a part of all this. Dak would build her a playhouse and teach her to fish. They’d go for walks in the woods, and she’d love it here. If he married again and had more children, she wanted their daughter to be close to them. As an only child, she’d always wished for a sibling. Quinn shook the daydream away. She went to the coffee maker and filled the pot, then started it to brew. Down the hall, she could hear Dak moving around, so she braced for his daily cold shoulder.

Wearing navy pants and a plaid shirt, he appeared in the doorway. His hair, still damp from his shower, highlighted the natural curl he was blessed with. God, she loved how he looked. Shoes in one hand, jacket and tie thrown over his forearm, he set his loafers on the floor. “Morning.”

“I put some strawberry cake in your lunch.”

“Thanks.”

“Coffee’s ready. You want me to fix you something for breakfast?”

“Just a coffee to go.”

Gee, five whole words. He was downright chatty. She scrambled to get it. “Don’t forget Sim, Ben, and the kids are coming tonight, so try not to work late.”

“Okay.”

Once he left, Quinn got busy straightening the house. After that, she put corn chowder in the slow cooker and baked a pecan pie. Then she wrapped some Christmas gifts and placed them under the tree. Following a short nap, she showered, and dressed for the evening. At four o’clock, her guests arrived.

When Quinn opened the door, Hannah and Rachel embraced her. “Hello, girls.” They quickly released her and ran to the backyard to play with Homer. Quinn stepped to the front porch and called to Sim. “Do you need help?”

She waved her off. “No, I got it.” Within a minute she brought in packages, took bread bowls from a sack and stacked them on a tray. She gave Quinn a warm hug. “I’m glad to see you. How are you feeling?”

“Good. Better than good.”

“Still having morning sickness?”

“No, I’m finally past it. Thank goodness.”

“Well, let’s see, it only lasted what? Almost seven months?”

“Yeah.” She tapped on the counter. “Knock on granite, I hope it doesn’t come back. What are the girls getting from Santa?”

“Tablets are their main gift. Then some small stuff. What’s Santa bringing you—and by Santa, I mean Dak.”

“Since he bought the van, we agreed not to exchange gifts. But I got one of his coworkers to pick out a fancy hunting knife for Dak. It’s more of a thank-you gift than Christmas present.”

“For what?”

“When he found me, I’d had my car stolen, lost my job, and received notice I had to be out of my apartment in thirty days. Our relationship may not be normal, but if it wasn’t for him, I don’t know what I would have done.”

Sim placed her hand on Quinn’s shoulder. “You’re his wife, and you’re having his baby. He should provide for you. Take my word, you don’t owe him anything.”

“Well, I may be a liar, but I’m not a freeloader, so I’ve tried to do my part. Anyway, Justin’s supposed to deliver it in time for the Christmas Eve party at Bitsy’s.”

At five, Ben joined the group and set up a board game. By the time Dak got home at six, Rachel performed her victory dance, while the rest of the players hung their heads in defeat.

“Uncle Dak, you want to play another game of Clue after we eat?” Rachel asked.

“I’d rather beat you at dominoes.”

“Okay. I’ll get them.”

Later, Sim and Quinn finished cleaning up the kitchen and listened to the squeals coming from the girls as they added to their scores. Ben and Dak gave each other the eye, clearly letting the sisters get the best of them.

“Your tree is beautiful,” Sim said.

Quinn opened a cabinet and put a pan away. “Thank you. Dak even commented how nice the house looked.” Quinn still had a hard time believing she was living in such a wonderful house, and the thought of another woman taking her place put a damper on her holiday spirit.

Sim swiped a cloth over the countertop. “He’s never had a tree before, or any decorations.”

“Well, he’ll need one from now on, because Santa needs a place to leave the baby’s loot. If he’s still single next year, I told him I’d be happy to come and decorate.”

Sim stopped wiping and narrowed her eyes. “What makes you think you won’t still be together? Has he mentioned a divorce?”

“No. But once the baby comes, and his job is in place, he won’t need me.” She glanced into the living room and Dak had his eyes on her. He held up his empty glass. She took him the Balcones sitting on the end of the counter. “There isn’t a lot left in this. You don’t need another bottle, do you?”

He pursed his lips. “Is that your way of saying I’m drinking too much?”

“That’s not what I meant.” She turned to go, but he caught her arm, pulled her down and kissed her. His green-eyed gaze bore into her causing something hot and primal to slide down her spine, take a sharp turn, and settle between her legs. She swallowed hard. “What was that for?”

“Do I need a reason to kiss my wife?”

“I guess not.” She went back to the kitchen, thinking he must be drunk. The wedding kiss and a dance at the office party was the most physical contact they’d had. Then she remembered how he almost kissed her the day of the interview. But that had been because he was excited about keeping his job. This kiss had to be a result of the whiskey.

While Quinn and Sim finished cleaning the kitchen, Quinn tried not to look in Dak’s direction, but she couldn’t stop herself. The kiss rattled her. More than rattled her. Hell, she had lust legs. She wanted to wrap them around him, pull him so deep inside her, he’d scream her name.

“Are you okay?” Sim asked.

Quinn took a ragged breath, and mentally recited the Star-Spangled Banner to get the erotic thoughts out of her head. “Yeah. I’m okay. Why?”

“You look a little…I’m not sure. Flustered?”