“I shouldn’t, but thank you.” Even if she wanted to.
Amanda sighed. “I probably shouldn’t either. I promised my sondinner when he got home from work.”
Quinn cringed inwardly. “You shouldn’t have let me keep you.”
She lifted a shoulder. “Maybe I liked being kept.”
The comment wasn’t suggestive, at least not really. That didn’tstop Quinn’s body from responding like it was. She cleared her throat and hopedher face didn’t give away her thoughts. Amanda took her glass, leaving nothingto clear or help bring inside. Still, she hesitated. “Thank you for today. Ihad a really nice time.”
“I did, too.”
Before her brain could convince her it was a bad idea, she leanedin and brushed her mouth over Amanda’s. She had a fraction of a second ofthinking how perfect Amanda felt before her doubts came roaring to life. Shepulled back. “I’m sorry. I meant to—I mean, I was trying to—”
Amanda didn’t seem bothered. Maybe a little surprised, but in agood way. “Did you not mean to or not want to?”
If Amanda was interested in the difference, it couldn’t be allbad. “Didn’t mean to.”
“So, you wanted to?”
Quinn blew out a breath. “I think I’ve wanted to since the day wefirst met to talk about the bakery.”
Amanda nodded slowly. “I see.”
“But we’re working together and the last thing I want is to blurprofessional lines or make you uncomfortable or—”
Amanda didn’t let her finish. She pressed her lips to Quinn’s inthe most perfect way. She didn’t linger, but there was nothing accidental aboutit. “Do you want to go out with me?”
Quinn swallowed. “I do.”
“And kiss me again?”
“I do. Very much.”
Amanda tipped her head slightly. “Then you should ask me. Ipromise I’ll say yes.”
This playful back and forth of Amanda taking the lead but notturned her on in ways she couldn’t quite put into words. She cleared herthroat. “Amanda?”
“Yes?”
“Would you have dinner with me tomorrow night?”
Amanda’s head moved back and forth. “No.”
She felt her shoulders drop.
“But only because I have plans with my kids. Any other day thisweek would be perfect.”
“You had me worried there for a second.”
Amanda’s brow lifted. “Seriously?”
She shrugged. “You could change your mind.”
“Quinn?”
She so loved the way Amanda said her name. “Yes?”
“I won’t change my mind.”
Quinn nodded. “I’ll remember that.”
“Good.”
Wanting to quit while she was ahead, she reluctantly wishedAmanda a good night. Amanda seemed sorry to see her leave. It gave her analmost giddy feeling as she drove home. Plus she had a date, one she made witha woman she wanted to go out with. More than her attraction to Amanda, it madeher feel like she was back in the driver’s seat of her life.
She pulled into her usual parking spot but sat in her car for along minute. It was a good feeling, this being in charge. It struck her,though. She’d not even realized how far away from it she’d let herself get.
Chapter Twelve
Erin topped off her wine glass, then handed Amanda thebottle. “So, how’s operation Mel Be Gone? Is she still sniffing around yourfeet like a puppy?”
Amanda let out a snort of laughter, then coughed to cover it up.“I think the stern talk worked. She hasn’t texted me in over a week.”
Julia took the bottle after Amanda. “Good. I’m still sorry youhad to do that, though.”
Jack raised a shoulder. “I don’t know. I’d have taken immensesatisfaction in telling her off.”
“Hear, hear.” Erin clinked her glass to his.
Julia shook her head. “It’s satisfying in principle, but itreally sucks in the moment.”
She offered Julia a sympathetic smile. She’d had a completely differentsort of run-in with her ex a few months prior, but the theme of having to puther foot down was the same. And she was a fellow conflict avoider, so there wasthat, too. “Thank you.”
Erin sighed. “Fair, fair. Plus you had to give up the benefits.And knowing you, it’s going to take some cosmic shift before you get laidagain.”
“Ouch.” Jack leaned over and smacked her arm. “Low blow.”
“I’m saying she’s stubborn. She’s a total catch. That hasn’tchanged.”
He lifted both hands. “I rescind. That’s totally true.”
Amanda made a point at glaring at both of them. “I’ll have youknow I have a date this week. And we’ve already kissed.”
She had the satisfaction of watching her friends gasp, slap thetable, and otherwise flip out. She couldn’t make out what each person said,exactly, but the sentiments were clear. She tucked her tongue in her cheek andwaited for the commotion to die down. This was more fun than confessing thewhole Mel thing.
“Well?” Jack said, when everyone else had quieted.
“It’s Quinn, my architect.”
“I knew it.” Erin’s voice was full of vindication.
“Wait, wait, wait. What did I miss?” Jack asked.
“She hired a hot architect for the bakery and they’ve beendancing around each other for weeks,” Erin said matter-of-factly. “Who finallymade the move? Her or you?”
She closed her eyes for a second, reliving the kiss on the frontporch. “She did, but then backed off. So I told her not to.”
Jack made a face. “Not to make a move or not to back off?”
“Not to back off. She was worried because we’re workingtogether.”
A chorus of “oh” surrounded her.
“And maybe that should have given me pause, or maybe it wouldhave a couple of months ago, but I figured what the hell. I’m too cautious mostof the time.” If any good came of the Mel fiasco, it was that.
“Hallelujah.” Erin threw both hands in the air.
Amanda smiled ruefully. She’d never been a wild child, but shehad let herself grow downright timid through the years, at least when it cameto relationships. “I think Mel helped me realize how much I’d been neglectingthat part of myself.”
“Are you going to slut it up?” Julia asked.
She laughed. That was how Julia described her approach to datingafter her divorce. Before falling head over heels for Taylor. “Let’s not getcarried away.”
“Can we go back for a second?” Jack raised his hand. “Why don’t Iknow anything about Quinn?”
“Because you’ve been eyeballs deep in daddy mode,” Erin said.
Julia reached over and squeezed his arm.
