Quinn came down the stairs, and I still couldn’t believe we were in the same space at the same time. That hadn’t happened in almost four years. By the time I’d returned home on my first college break, our parents had been divorced and Quinn was long gone. The kiss under the Christmas tree felt more like a dream than reality—other than the wave of embarrassment it sent over me.
“This looks great,” Quinn said, sounding a little surprised.
“I aim to please,” I answered in a flirty tone. It was reflex at this point. To deflect from that, I reached for the salad bowl. “I mean, I was starving, so really all this is just for me. Hope you enjoy your one lettuce leaf.”
“I could probably do with skipping a meal or two.”
I narrowed my eyes, scanning him over. “What the hell for?”
Quinn was carrying more weight than when I’d seen him last, but he’d been too thin back then. He’d hardly eaten, always depressed. I’d been worried about the kid, to be honest. He looked healthy now. I kind of liked the fuller version of his face. It softened his features a touch, and he looked more approachable.
“Never mind,” he mumbled, cheeks flooding with color. He hurried over to the cupboard. “I’ll get us glasses of water. Sorry, I should have grabbed some soda from the groceries too.”
“No worries, I had enough caffeine today to fill Lake Columbine,” I said as I watched him bend to retrieve the filtered water from the refrigerator. I admired his full, round ass, reflecting that a little extra padding wasn’t a bad thing. Not at all.
He straightened, glancing over his shoulder, and I made myself busy setting out the silverware. “Ready to eat?”
He nodded. “It’s been a long day.”
“The longest,” I agreed.
“Years long.”
“Centuries.”
“Eons.”
We laughed at the same time, breaking through some of the nervous tension of being around each other again after so long, and settled in to eat. As hungry as I was, I waited and watched Quinn cut into his steak, put the first piece in his mouth, and close his eyes as he chewed. The look of pleasure on his face was sexy as hell, and I could understand why some people might want to be a chef. It felt good to please someone that way. I tried not to think of other ways I might be able to please him.
“So,” I said, “why are you up here anyway?”
Quinn froze with his fork in midair, and all that tension that had dissipated? It swept right back in between us.
QUINN
I knew this question would come up.
Ken knew some of the truth. I’d had to explain why I needed to stay at the cabin, and he was too smart to believe I’d want to visit for the beautiful scenery. But I hadn’t told him everything. Not even close.
And I wasn’t ready to tell Jonas either.
“Ken said I could stay over winter break,” I said defensively. “Sorry if that puts a damper on your plans to party up here on your own or whatever.”
Jonas sputtered a laugh. “I didn’t come up here to party. Dad was supposed to be arriving tomorrow. Not likely now, with the storm. I wouldn’t have made it here either, but I decided to leave a day early. Needed to get away from campus.”
I felt foolish for making assumptions. No one’s life was perfect, but I’d immediately imagined Jonas was looking forward to a night or two of hot tub sexcapades instead of a safe haven, as I was. Maybe the fact my mind had immediately equated Jonas with sex said more about me than about him.
“Then you had to rescue me,” I said. “I’m sorry I’ve intruded on your vacation.”
Jonas pushed a couple of lettuce leaves around with his fork. He was definitely more of a meat and potatoes kind of guy. Now that I saw him without a winter coat, the breadth of his shoulders and his defined biceps were more apparent. Jonas had treated his body very well in the few years we’d been apart.
“It was my pleasure to rescue you,” Jonas murmured, and I felt a flutter in my stomach. Something about hearing the word pleasure in that quiet, intimate voice made me imagine him saying it in an entirely different context. “But you still haven’t told me why you’re even here.”
“Ken said—”
“I know Dad’s cool with it. He managed to tell me you were up here before our call cut out today, or I wouldn’t have known to look for you. But why, Quinn?” He turned his intense blue eyes on me. “You were going to school in Omaha, right? And your mom was in Belleville, close by, last I heard. So why come all the way to Colorado?”
“Mom moved to South Carolina, so it would be even farther to go there,” I said. “She got married again.”
Jonas searched my expression. “How do you feel about that?”
I dropped my gaze, shrugging one shoulder. “I don’t have to live with them, so…” I trailed off, not really needing to explain, though I felt a little guilty. Jonas knew I hadn’t wanted to be part of his family. He would accept that as my reason for not going to Mom for the holidays. It wasn’t the real reason, but I was relieved I didn’t have to deal with her new husband, Russell, or his bitchy, preteen daughter, Paige.
Little did I know that I’d won the stepsibling lottery with Jonas and Jess. I could have done much, much worse. In fact, I had. But I didn’t spend much time at home, even when I wasn’t avoiding Mom, so it was manageable.
There was a tense silence. I’d no doubt reminded Jonas of what a little shit I used to be. Well done, me.
“Well, you’re always welcome at the Brooks Cabin,” he said. “I hope you enjoy your stay in our fine mountain getaway with beautiful views from all sides, a massive fireplace to keep you cozy even in the harshest of snowstorms, and a steaming hot tub to soak away your aches—or simply enjoy with our sexy cabin boy.” He waggled his brows. “That would be me.”
I laughed. “First-class accommodations.”
“Nothing but the best for Quinn Taylor.”
Ha. If he only knew. Quinn Taylor had not enjoyed the best of anything in years. At this point, I’d take mediocre. But despite his joking around to lighten the situation, I realized how lucky I was to be here.
The cabin really was lovely. A beautiful retreat from all of life’s problems that had piled up around me lately. I couldn’t hide here forever, but for a little while…it was just what I needed.
And maybe it was what Jonas needed too.
“I feel like I should tip,” I said.
“No tips required. Your very presence is its own reward.”
I smirked. “Yeah, I’m a real ray of sunshine.”
Jonas grinned. “That’s what I’ve always liked about you. That cheery nature of yours.”
Nothing could be further from the truth, and we both knew it. But oddly, I did believe he liked me. I didn’t know why; sometimes I didn’t even like me. But right now, I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather be snowed in with.
JONAS
When dinner ended, the awkward tension returned. Quinn stood, gathering plates, carefully avoiding my gaze. “I’ll clean up since you cooked.”