Under the Boardwalk

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Quinn stood in his office watching the rows of television monitors. His anger was contained and he merely rocked on his heels and waited for Damon. By the time his boss strode into the room, it was close to midnight.

“The tables are hopping and the bar’s packed.” Damon slipped his hands into his slacks, obviously pleased with himself. “All in all, it’s a damn fine night.”

The man’s arrogance knew no bounds and was getting on Quinn’s frigging nerves. “I guess that depends on your perspective. I don’t appreciate being tailed to my own goddamn house.” Though he’d told Ari he was just being cautious, he’d lied. He just hadn’t wanted her to panic.

“A smart man trusts no one, Quinn.”

He clenched his jaw tight. “And what did you find on this fishing expedition of yours?”

“That you’re having a good time on the job, not that I blame you. It’s smart to keep Ariana close by. This way she can’t be asking questions around here. I’m impressed with you,” Damon said, nodding.

“Then call off the tail or I’m out of here.” And though he had no intention of walking away, Quinn’s boiling frustration was evident in his threat.

Damon waved a hand, dismissing him. “Go downstairs, have a drink and relax. You’re too damn uptight.”

“I wonder why.” Quinn let out a harsh laugh and, ignoring Damon, headed out the door. To keep himself sane, he needed fresh air.

And he needed to see Ari.

Not five minutes later, he’d settled himself on a barstool where Connor was busy mixing drinks and sending pathetic mooning looks Maria’s way. Not that he was one to talk, he silently acknowledged, watching Ari’s hips sway as she maneuvered among tables.

“I’m not sure how we came to this,” Connor said, leaning on the bar during a lull between patrons. “Hung up on two babes.”

“We always liked women,” Quinn said, laughing.

“Yeah, but they never presented such big challenges before.”

“Is that what you see in Maria?” Quinn asked his friend. “Is it just the challenge?”

Connor wiped down the bar with a damp rag. “Hell, if that’s all it was, do you think I’d be taking her and her kid to Great Adventure?”

“She has a kid?” Quinn let out a slow whistle. “That must have been some first date.”

“Instead of having hot sex, we shared hamburgers, fries, and milk shakes, then watched Joey play with his friends at the school playground.” Connor stared at Maria for a while, long enough for her to turn and acknowledge his searing gaze. “And I’m still not going anywhere, which shocks the hell out of me.”

“Scares you, too, I’ll bet.”

Connor barely acknowledged the comment with an imperceptible nod. “Be right back.” He turned to pour a round of beers from the tap for one of his waitresses, then returned to hang out with Quinn.

“When’s the trip to the amusement park?” Quinn asked.

“Next weekend.”

After they’d closed down this operation, Quinn thought. Maria would still be around. In all likelihood, Ari would not be.

Connor pulled out a Corona, opened the top, and handed Quinn the bottle.

Quinn shot him a questioning look and Connor shrugged.

“You looked like you could use one. My guess is Ari’s got you tied up in the same knots. Anything you want to admit to?” Connor asked, laughing.

“Hell no.” Which both men understood meant Not here. But there were some things about the situation he could discuss. “She’s not like Zoe.”

“That much I had figured out.”

“She’s more intense. More…”

“Repressed?”

Shutting his eyes, Quinn recalled how easily she had slipped out of her blouse, how close they’d come to making love on his couch with the ocean as a backdrop. He shook his head. “Not the word I’d use, buddy.” He met his friend’s amused gaze. “But she’s so scared of being like her crazy family, she’s lost sight of how to have fun.”

“So remind her,” Connor said as if it were simple.

And maybe it was. He and Ari had spent all their time in an intense situation. What they needed was relaxation and fun. She needed relaxation and fun. She’d spent too much time hiding behind the conservative facade she thought distinguished her from her family, and not enough time giving in to her true nature.

Quinn intended to bring out her “Ari” side. Not only did he want her to have fun but he wanted her to see she could embrace her natural instincts and emotions without fear of turning into a sideshow freak. She’d come to understand how special the real Ari was. The upside to his plan was that they’d be putting on a show for Damon at the same time.

He reached across the bar and slapped Connor on the back. “Every once in a while your intelligence shows through.” He chuckled but knew Connor understood he was damn grateful for the insight. “Now get back to work.”

Quinn slid off his chair and walked to where Ari stood at the other end of the bar, where she was calculating a bill. “Hey there, beautiful,” he whispered in her ear.

A light blush stole across her cheeks. “Stop that, I’m working.” But a pleased smile told him she was happy to see him.

“You know what they say about all work and no play. Which brings me to my proposal.”

She turned and he captured her against the bar. Her heart beat more quickly in her chest and her breathing grew more rapid. “You’re excited,” he said softly.

“Yeah, well, I think we’ve established that you do that to me.” Her eyes flashed bright and eager.

He grinned. “Well, what would you say to upping the excitement quotient? Let’s plan a night of hot gambling.” He leaned closer so he could whisper in her ear. “And even hotter sex.”

Her body trembled against his. “You’re bad,” she said, nestling her cheek against his in an intimate gesture that did so much more than just turn him on physically. He had an emotional tie to this woman that had the potential to hurt him in the end.

But he couldn’t walk away without giving it his all. Without giving her his all, including showing her how to have fun, let go, and not be afraid of being more like her outgoing family.

It was a gift he wanted to give her, just as more time was a gift he needed to give himself. “I’m officially giving you tomorrow night off. We’re having dinner on the rooftop restaurant and we’re going gambling at the tables. I’ll send a car for you at eight. Dress is elegant.”

“Now, how can I argue with that?” she asked, the pleasure obvious in her voice.

“That’s the point. You can’t.” He’d deliberately phrased things as a done deal.

“Excuse me,” Connor said, clearing his throat as he cut in. “I hate to interrupt, but there are tables that need your attention.”

Quinn shot his friend an annoyed glare, but to Ari, Connor was her immediate boss and she jumped to attention.

“I’m going,” she said as she ducked under Quinn’s arm.

Which was fine with Quinn, since tomorrow night she was all his.

• • •

Ari had no dressy clothes to wear for the night Quinn had planned. Her conservative suits would send him running in the other direction, and she didn’t want to wear her sister’s hand-me-downs. Instead she’d gone to the hotel boutique and purchased the sexiest dress and shoes she could find. But all the while, she wished she’d had her sister to rely on for advice on what outfit to choose, how to act, and any other questions she had. It had been so long since she had felt any close emotional bond with Zoe, and, with her twin in hiding somewhere and Ari staying alone at Quinn’s house, she missed her sister more than ever.

She walked through Quinn’s house, his dog Dozer trailing everywhere she went. Though he was a mixed breed, outwardly he was all chow. His golden fur resembled a lion’s mane but he acted more like a baby in need of attention. Considering she was feeling fairly lonely herself, Ari was grateful for his company.

Kneeling down, she ran her fingers through his fur and he stretched, rolling over. “You’re so affectionate. Quinn’s lucky to have you,” Ari murmured.

She accommodated his shameless request for a belly rub, laughing. “And I’m lucky Aunt Dee took the monkey to her house, or else you might not have been a happy dog. I wouldn’t want to deal with some sort of perverse sibling rivalry,” she muttered.

Besides, when Zoe returned, she’d have her own sibling strife to deal with, and theirs would make the monkey and the dog’s potential problems seem like an absurd cartoon. She stood and, with excitement swirling in her stomach, headed into the bedroom to get ready for the night ahead.

An hour later, a black limousine that looked absurdly out of place in the small neighborhood pulled up to Quinn’s beach house. Adrenaline fueled her walk to the car, more so when the driver opened the door and she found Quinn waiting inside.

• • •

Quinn held Ari’s hand and helped her into the back of the limo. A long black coat protected her from the cold and blocked him from seeing the outfit she’d chosen. Her bare ankles and strappy high-heeled shoes told him she was wearing a dress, while her sexy, musky new scent revealed she’d indulged in a sensual change he enjoyed.

She’d pulled her hair up, leaving soft strands to fall around her fully made-up face and caress her cheeks. He shook his head, letting out an appreciative whistle. “You look fantastic.”

“Thank you.” A pleased smile turned up her lips. “You look pretty hot yourself,” she said, treating him to a sultry, you-ain’t-seen-nothing-yet look.

She’d obviously taken his request to loosen up and have fun to heart. She settled in on the seat beside him as the car got under way. “I didn’t expect you to come pick me up.”

He grinned. “Life’s full of surprises. I told you I’d make sure you had a good time. I’m a man of my word.”

“I know that.”

And those words obviously meant a lot to her, since she then snuggled closer to him.

“I’ve never been in a limo before and the ride wouldn’t be nearly as much fun if you hadn’t surprised me.”

“Didn’t you go to your prom?” Even in foster care, he remembered working at a gas station and saving money to pool with some guys at school and take a girl whose name he couldn’t remember to the prom in a limousine.

“I was so happy I had a date, I didn’t want to subject him to my father’s question of the moment,” she said, a glazed look in her eyes as she remembered. “I met him on the street corner and we drove with some friends.” She tilted her head upwards, her gaze locking with his. “So this is a first for me. Thank you.” She brushed a quick kiss over his lips before sitting back in the seat.

But brief contact wasn’t enough. Quinn was already hot with wanting her. Desire fueled him as he leaned over and finished what she’d started. She immediately parted her lips and he found her mouth warm and moist. Her tongue locked with his. She was so giving, so ready for him, he almost told the driver to turn around and head back to his house.

Making love to a woman there would be his first, but he reminded himself that tonight was about Ari and giving her the freedom to let go and explore her inner self. And so he sat back against the seat, breathing heavily, giving the intense need a chance to subside.

He glanced over while she reapplied her red lipstick. He started to wipe his lips with the back of his hand, laughing when he saw the swipes of dark color on his skin.

“Let me.” With a tissue, she cleaned the remnants of lipstick off Quinn’s mouth with shaking hands.

If she continued to touch him, with her scent so powerful and her cleavage too close to his lips, his restraint would vanish along with his good intentions. Thank God the car pulled up to the front of the hotel and reality intruded in the form of glittering neon lights and an attendant who opened the car door.

After that, the evening went just as he’d planned. Dinner was an intimate meal with a rooftop view of the ocean and a close-up view of his date. She’d chosen a strapless dress in a deep blue with a plunging neckline that had him drooling.

She glowed with confidence. It was obvious she knew how her sex appeal affected him, and she teased him mercilessly. But more than once, she paused in thought, as if shocked by her open actions. Feeding him a shrimp from her shrimp cocktail, her eyes opened wide as if to ask, Who is this uninhibited woman? All he’d had to do to bring her back was to continue the playful moment-nip her fingertip with his teeth, soothe with his tongue-and she was back in what he thought of as her Ari mood and persona. Seeing how happy she was with him, he wondered how she’d lived so long hiding behind the suits and uptight facade.

She flirted and teased, her fingers walking up his thigh beneath the table as she whispered in his ear. They danced to a slow song the band played and he held her tight, unwilling to let her overthink and pull away because Ariana would act more appropriately in public. They shared coffee and a fruit tart for dessert, and not even Damon, sitting a table away viewing them with undisguised interest, seemed to dim her enjoyment or enthusiasm.

Quinn found equal pleasure in just watching her, and though he could have stayed in their private booth forever, he had more planned for her this evening. “Ready to hit the tables?”

She nodded.

Quinn placed his napkin down and rose to his feet.

“I’m not much of a gambler,” she admitted. “But I guess I could learn.”

The hesitancy was back, something Quinn wouldn’t allow. “Maybe Professor Costas isn’t a gambler, but the sexy lady in front of me certainly is.” He winked and extended his hand.

Without hesitation, she placed her palm in his and followed him to the elevators that took them back down to the casino. He exchanged money for chips, refusing to accept any cash she offered. “The night’s on me, remember?”

“I suppose you’ll expect payback later on?” she asked in a deliberately sultry, teasing voice.

“I’m certain I won’t say no.” He laughed but the sound was strained, his body was so overheated and hard. “So what will it be? Craps, baccarat, blackjack…”

“Slots?” she whispered, obviously embarrassed by her moderate choice.

If she expected him to tease her, she was in for disappointment. He merely turned back to the change windows and collected rolls of quarters instead.

He opened them into a bucket and handed her the large tub. “Let’s go pick a slot machine.”

He pulled two stools up to her chosen machine, then settled in to watch her in action. Popping one quarter at a time, Ari won some and she lost some, and gained confidence as time wore on. She yelled, cheered, and groaned, and an hour later, she was still almost even. She was a determined gambler, the adrenaline from hoping for that next big hit keeping her parked at the machine, refusing to move.

“Ready to switch to the tables?” Quinn asked. No matter how much he enjoyed watching her, he was ready for a different kind of action.

She bit down on her lower lip as the question took on enormous proportions. Finally she shook her head. “Nope. Can’t do it. Can you imagine if I walk away and somebody else sits down and this thing spits out millions?”

He shot her an amused gaze. “I’d hate to see how competitive you’d be if you actually rolled the dice at the craps tables.”

She shuddered at the thought. “Oh no. I can see those cigar-smoking men eating me alive.”

“Honey, they’d love you.” Hell, he was afraid he already did.

Love her. Stunned by the impact of the thought, he reeled back, leaning against the heavy metal machine. Loving Ari wasn’t part of the equation. Not if he wanted to walk out of this assignment whole.

“Quinn?”

It wasn’t the concern in Ari’s voice but the reminder that he was still on assignment that jolted him back to reality. Quinn latched onto the idea of work. Hell, it was as convenient an excuse as any to not deal with his emotions, and he pushed thoughts of his feelings for Ari aside, to be dissected later when he was alone.

“I got distracted. Let me prove to you that you can handle the tables.” He tugged on her elbow, urging her to make the move, and to help him shift his attention, too.

She glanced down. Four quarters remained in the machine’s tray. “Just let me have one more try here first.”

She inserted all four pieces into the machine at once-the first such daring move she’d made all night-then pulled the handle. Without glancing back, she rose and started to walk away from the machine, obviously certain she’d tossed away a dollar.

The bells, lights, and whistles caught Quinn off guard and he turned. Her machine was glowing with flashing lights and a loud siren as accompaniment.

He blinked, stunned. “You won!”

“Who won?” she asked.

She pivoted toward him and he grabbed her around the waist, spinning her around in midair. “You did!”

She let out a shriek. “How much did I win?” she asked, oblivious to the fact that she was starting to draw a crowd.

“I’d say about five thousand dollars. You’re a lucky lady.”

Damon’s voice killed Quinn’s pleasure and he turned to face the other man. “It’s nothing in comparison to the night’s take,” Quinn said, wanting the boss to leave.

“Actually it means nothing without the right person to share it with.” Ari came up beside him and placed her hand around his waist, squeezing tight. “Quinn’s been showing me a good time,” she explained to Damon, gazing up at Quinn with adoring eyes.

But tension radiated from her in waves and he sensed the fact that she was acting. For his benefit, she was following directions and being cozy and nice around Damon even if she wanted to throttle the man.

“He’s a loyal employee,” Damon said. “I hope you enjoy your winnings.”

“I wish my sister was here to share them,” she added pointedly.

Quinn winced. “I was thinking of taking this celebration up to my room,” Quinn said to Ari, opting for a subject change before she could get any deeper into conversation with the man who’d ordered her sister killed.

“I’ll have a bottle of our finest champagne sent right up,” Damon said. “On the house.”

“You really are as kind as my mother said.” Ari fluttered her lashes for effect. “Thank you. But I was thinking of going home after this.” She squeezed Quinn’s waist.

“Sounds like a good plan.” He wasn’t about to argue with her, even if he didn’t know what she had in mind.

Damon nodded. “Then I’ll make sure a chilled bottle is ready to go with you… as well as your winnings. You can pick everything up at the window.”

Around them, security guards gathered to escort her to the cashier’s window.

Damon turned to Quinn. “Remember we’re meeting before I leave to go over the weekend plans?”

Quinn nodded and Damon took off without looking back.

Quinn let out a slow exhale. Every day was another day closer to getting this nightmare over with and being able to go home.

Only one unanswered question remained, Quinn thought, pulling Ari close. What the hell would remain of his life once the end came?

“Why don’t you want to go upstairs?” he asked, forcing himself to push reality aside in favor of Ari, his ultimate fantasy.

“You gave me a special night and I don’t just mean winning,” she said, gesturing to the slot machine behind them. Genuine appreciation glowed in her cheeks and sparkled in her eyes. “I want to do the same thing for you, and I want to do it away from here.”

She leaned so close her cheek nestled perfectly against his. He inhaled, taking in her perfume and her heat. “I can understand you wanting to get away from reminders of Damon.”

“It’s not for me.” Her hands stole around his waist and she pulled him close. “It’s for you. I want you to have a night away from this place and its tensions. I want you to have a night where you can completely be yourself.” She hugged him tight, her cheek still resting against his.

And with that innocent gesture, his heart slammed hard against his chest. She understood him in a way no one ever had. She knew, even without his explanation, that the man he was here wasn’t always the man he could be away from the job. Appreciation for her insight and gratitude for her caring overwhelmed him, and a desire that far outweighed the need for sex grew inside him.

“What do you say?” she asked softly, as if afraid she’d stepped over the line.

He separated them long enough to gaze into her eyes and stroke her cheek. “I say we go home.”

Nobody had ever told Ari that buying a sexy garment was one heck of a lot different than waltzing out of the bathroom wearing one. Especially when the guy she wanted to impress waited on the other side. And he was probably naked. Magnificently so, and not the least bit insecure about showing off his… assets. Which meant she shouldn’t be either.

Ariana might worry about what Quinn would think, but Ari wouldn’t. Not anymore than Quinn would be disappointed. Squaring her shoulders, she pushed aside any insecurities and reminded herself he cared for Ari. A lot.

With that thought in mind, she marched out of the bathroom and into Quinn’s bedroom. He waited in bed, but to her surprise, he’d turned off the overhead lights, leaving one small lamp on, more for mood than vision, while music played softly in the background.

“Only a confident man would play the Lion King soundtrack at a time like this.”

“And only a confident woman would model an outfit like that.” He eased himself up against the pillows. The white sheet fell to his waist, revealing his muscled chest and the dark sprinkling of hair that tapered down low on his abdomen, sexy and inviting.

“It’s not as easy as you might think.” She forced a laugh as she crossed the carpeted room. His words registered and she forgot all about feeling self-conscious. “What do you mean, modeling the outfit?”

He patted the mattress and she lowered herself beside him, close enough to see his eyes dilate with a now familiar need. “Do you really think you’re going to have this thing on long enough to consider it any more than a quick modeling opportunity?” He slid one fingertip beneath a single, thin strap. Teasing her, he edged it down her shoulder until it dangled there, evidence of just how easily he could divest her of this expensive but flimsy outfit.

As he maneuvered closer, his thick erection brushed against her thigh and her insides curled in delicious anticipation. “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me how long I’m going to be wearing it?” she asked in an attempt to push him to the edge.

“You’re playing with fire,” he warned her, his voice low and barely controlled.

“I’ll take my chances.” Because she wanted to see him lose control.

His unabashed desire dispelled her worries and allowed her to experiment with the ultimate power her femininity provided. Quinn did that for her. He allowed her to revel in her abilities to affect him and toss any cover or facade out the window. He saw the real woman.

He’d taught her to begin to see Ari again and to embrace her. From his smile and pleased expression, he obviously knew it, but he didn’t know what else she had in store for him.

She let her fingertips trail along his skin, taking a direct path to the sheet hovering so temptingly over his stomach. She watched in fascination as the sheet moved, his response to her teasing touch obvious. “Should I put you out of your misery?” she murmured.

He let out a strained laugh. “Either take me out back and shoot me or have your wicked way with me.” He lifted his arms above his head, sank backward into the pillows, and gave her complete, unfettered access to his body.

Talk about trust, she thought, and sucked in a shallow breath, concentrating on Quinn and nothing else. She pulled the covers off him, revealing his naked body for viewing.

He was a pure hard, erect male, yet when she wrapped her hand around his straining shaft, embracing his length and learning every rigid inch of him, she was mesmerized by the silken softness beneath her fingertips. And when her thumb came in contact with moisture, blocking out emotion and feeling was no longer possible. Not when faced with the very essence of Quinn.

He’d given her so much, she wanted to give back. That decision came easily and she lowered her head, taking him into her mouth. She ran her tongue down his shaft and he let out a groan that reverberated through her. A swell of desire took hold as she worked him, both with her lips and her hands.

His hips bucked, his body trembled, and suddenly he pulled her upward, flipping her onto her back and coming over her in one deft movement.

Her breath left her body in a hard whoosh of air. “Pretty slick move,” she managed to say.

A slight grin tipped up his lips. “I’ve been trained to respond in any situation. And I wanted this to last a lot longer than it would have if you’d continued-” He cut his words off as he sealed his mouth over hers.

He thrust in his tongue hard, mimicking the action with his hips, his erection tempting against her mound. Moisture slickened between her legs and a distinct heaviness pounded there, too, while above her, Quinn’s body rubbed insistently between her thighs and a low groan rumbled from deep in his throat.

She shut her eyes, reveling in the knowledge that she’d sent him over the edge, pushing him to take control. And he did. With one easy yank of his hand, he snapped the flimsy strap of her teddy and pushed it down over her breasts, hips, and thighs until she kicked the garment aside. Cool air rushed over her and her nipples puckered harder. She lay naked beneath him, her skin becoming even more sensitized as awareness and anticipation took hold.

His gaze never leaving hers, he hooked one foot around her ankle and spread her legs wide so she opened before him, vulnerable and ready. Yet there was no one she trusted more than Quinn, with both her body and her mind. And it was her heart, which beat hard in her chest, that she refused to take into the equation.

“You feel it, don’t you?” Quinn asked, taking her off guard.

“Feel what?” She was afraid he’d been able to read her mind. Afraid he would ask her things she wasn’t ready to face just yet.

He brushed her hair off her forehead with a too gentle touch and a lump rose in her throat. Instead of answering, he lowered his head for a soul-searching kiss that culminated with him entering her in a long, deep motion. He filled her in so many ways and she wanted more.

Bending her legs, she took him deeper, as far as he could reach inside her body. And when he moved, he took his time, sliding in and out, starting slow so she felt every hard, solid inch as her body molded and joined with his. Then just as she began to build toward climax, he started to pump inside her faster, accommodating her need and taking her upward on a high, spiraling ride.

One she never wanted to end.