The Mighty Quinns: Jack (12 page)

Mia chuckled. “After this morning, I don’t think he’s going to be too happy to see you. Thank God you didn’t go down in your underwear. That would have been embarrassing.”

“And I really should talk to my mom.”

“My sisters are going to be livid,” Mia said.

“And my sisters are going to be hysterical,” Jack countered.

“They’d be better off running away to Vegas. If they have the wedding here, the ‘anyone objects’ part of the ceremony is going to be a disaster.”

He reached out and took her hand, pressing a kiss to the center of her palm. “There is one good thing that can come from this. I really don’t have anything keeping me in Chicago now. I can consider the job in L.A.”

“So you can be closer to your mom?”

Jack shook his head. “No, Mia. So I can be closer to you.”

“Me?”

“I’m thinking we should reconsider our arrangement. I don’t want you to use me just for sex anymore.”

“What should I use you for?”

“I could take you out to dinner occasionally. We could go to ball games or on hikes. I could drive you to the airport when you need to go, or paint your kitchen when you want a change. Heck, we could even go shopping.” He gave a mock shiver.

Mia gave him a coy look, a tiny smile twitching at the corners of her mouth. “So you want to be my...personal assistant?”

“Yeah, that, too,” Jack said with a chuckle. “Personally, I think we should spend every minute we can together. We should make plans and get to know each other better and think about the future and—”

Mia leaned close and kissed him, her lips soft and damp against his. “Slow down,” she said. “Maybe you should see if you really want this job and then we can decide what to do?”

“All right. I can live with that. Job first, then the girl.”

She curled up beside him, resting her head on his chest. “You know, this could be really strange. If our parents are married, then I’m going to be dating my stepbrother.”

“We could always get married first and then our parents would be the ones feeling weird.”

Mia giggled. “Oh, very funny. You’re sounding as crazy as my father.”

“You didn’t know that about me?” Jack asked. “I’m a funny and crazy guy.”

She smoothed her hand over his chest in a lazy motion. “What else don’t I know about you?”

“Where do I start?” Jack cleared his throat. “Well, I think baseball is the greatest game ever. I think there are mysteries of life buried deep in the sport. I’ve never seen a no-hitter, but I came close. And if I could do anything in the world, I’d play shortstop for the 1932 Cubs so I could have seen Ruth call his home run.”

“So you kind of like baseball, huh?” Mia teased.

He nodded. “What do you like, Mia McMahon?”

Mia thought for a long moment. “Strawberry ice cream. The sound of birds singing in the morning. Roasted marshmallows. Christmas Eve. And flannel pajamas on a chilly night.”

“What’s your opinion on pizza with pineapple?”

“It’s sacrilegious,” she said. “Anchovies?”

“Never,” Jack said. “Thick or thin crust?”

“Thin. Always thin.”

Jack frowned, shaking his head slowly. “We’re going to have to work on that one. I’m not sure if we’ll be able to overcome our differences.”

“I guess we’re doomed,” Mia said. “I should let you know that I like Chinese food more than pizza, anyway.”

This time Jack groaned, covering his face with his hands. “Oh, that’s not good at all.”

Mia leaned over him. “But I am really, really good at kissing guys. In fact, I’m considered a bit of a savant in that area. My talents are quite extraordinary.”

Pushing up on his elbows, Jack’s interest was suddenly piqued. It was a silly game they were playing, but it was fun. He wanted to know more. “Well, that might mitigate some of our problems. But I’d have to know exactly what you mean.” His gaze fixed on her lips. At that moment, nothing mattered but the two of them.

He dropped a kiss on her mouth. “See, this is important. We’re learning things here,” Jack said.

“I don’t like liars. Promise me you’ll never lie to me. I can handle the truth. If you find someone else, if you decide we don’t belong together, just say it. Promise me we’ll always be completely honest with each other.”

Jack wasn’t sure he could make that promise. If he knew one thing, he knew that he could never do anything to hurt Mia. And sometimes complete and total honesty could hurt. Still, part of his problem with Melanie had been that they never really told each other how they were feeling. By the time their relationship was over, Jack wasn’t even sure when they’d stopped loving each other.

“I will promise you that. I will always tell you the truth, Mia.”

“All right,” she said. “And I’ll tell you the truth, too.”

“I think that’s a good place to start.”

Jack pulled her into his embrace and hugged her. “Why don’t we take a shower and then find some lunch. We can go see our parents tomorrow morning before we head out to L.A. Today should be just for us.”

Mia got up on her knees beside him, pushing her tangled hair out of her eyes. “If we go out, you can’t wear that T-shirt. It looks like it’s been used to wash the kitchen floor. I’m just being honest. I think maybe you should take it off right now. And those pants are horrible. They barely fit you. They need to go, too. Just being honest.”

At first Jack didn’t know what she was talking about, then he saw the teasing glint in her eyes. “Well, as long as we’re going there, that T-shirt of yours is obnoxiously ugly.”

As they discarded the offending garments, Jack realized that he didn’t care if they ever left her apartment. He’d be perfectly happy to live in her bed for the rest of his life. He was seriously hooked on this woman and there wasn’t a thing he wanted to do about it.

* * *

A
FTER
A
MORNING
SPENT
in Mia’s bed, she and Jack spent the afternoon walking around the city, exploring all of Mia’s favorite spots. She was continually amazed at how easy things were with Jack. He was so even-tempered that they rarely had any disagreements. And those they did have were minor and easily resolved with a joke or a kiss.

Mia had been involved with other men in the past, but she’d never felt this kind of connection. When she was with Jack, she was a better version of herself—she was optimistic, calm and centered. She knew exactly who she was and what she wanted and she wasn’t afraid to ask for it.

As they walked up the hill toward her flat, Jack chatted about their trip to Los Angeles. They’d leave tomorrow afternoon, since his meeting was scheduled for the next day. Mia had thought about how her life would change if he moved to the West Coast, but she was also careful not to get too invested until he was actually offered the job.

Though they wouldn’t live in the same city, they would be much closer geographically. Long-distance relationships were almost impossible to keep going, but in this case, the distance would be a short one. It would give her enough time and space to make the adjustments needed, but wouldn’t require too many hours apart.

“I like this city,” Jack said. “Except for the earthquakes. I’ve never been in an earthquake.”

“There was one this morning,” she said. “Just a small one. Right before we got in the shower. The earth actually moved. Didn’t you feel it?”

“Yeah? I’m not talking about those kind of earthquakes. I’m talking about the ones where all the buildings fall down on top of me.”

“Yeah, those are kind of scary. But I always think it’s a trade-off for living in the most beautiful city in the world. There’s no place that’s perfect. Chicago is cold and windy in the winter.”

As they approached Mia’s flat, she noticed someone sitting on the front steps. She grabbed Jack’s arm. “Is that your mom?” she asked.

Jack stopped short and squinted against the late-afternoon sun. “Yeah, I think it is.”

He jogged down the sidewalk ahead of Mia and she watched as Elyse Quinn stood up and gave her son a hug. Mia joined them a few moments later and noticed that Elyse’s eyes were red, as if she’d been crying. Two overnight bags sat on the sidewalk in front of her, the same two that Mia had helped unload from the trunk of her father’s car that first day.

“Is everything all right?” Mia asked. “Did something happen?”

“Mia, maybe you could give us a minute,” Jack said.

Elyse shook her head. “No. No, I’d like to talk to Mia. Jack, why don’t you grab your bag and take it up to Mia’s flat while I have a word with her.”

Mia glanced over at Jack and he shrugged his shoulders, then did as he was asked. He grabbed his bag from the sidewalk and disappeared up the stairs.

“What are you doing here?” Mia asked. “Did my dad bring you?”

“Your father and I had a huge fight. I took a cab here.”

Mia gasped. “A fight? About what? You barely know each other. How could you possibly find something to fight about?”

“Well, when you have children, that’s not such a hard thing.” She pointed to the front step. “Do you mind if we sit? This whole thing has me a bit worn out.”

“No,” Mia said. “Of course not.”

Elyse sat next to Mia on the second step, then took a moment to gather her thoughts. “I know your father shocked you last night with his proposal. And I probably shocked you with my acceptance. It was all very romantic at the time. But, it turns out we were just a little bit hasty about our plans.”

“What happened?” Mia asked.

“We just weren’t on the same page when it came to our children. And I guess, for both of us, that’s a deal breaker.”

Mia studied Elyse’s expression but Jack’s mother didn’t betray a hint of anger or regret. Instead, she seemed almost resigned. “You argued over us? Me and Jack?”

“Your father felt Jack was taking advantage of you. And I know my son. He doesn’t take relationships with women lightly. He doesn’t trust easily, but if you can break down that wall around his heart, I know he can love so deeply that you’d never regret choosing him.”

Mia drew in a deep breath and then let it out slowly. “My father worries about me. We’ve been through a lot together and I think he’s concerned that I might not be able to weather another storm. He’s just being protective. I’m sure he didn’t mean to get angry with you. Or to disparage Jack in any way.”

Elyse nodded slowly. “I understand his feelings about Jack. I happen to disagree. I think you’re young and you should take chances, Mia. Trust your heart to find the way.”

Emotion surged up inside of her and Mia felt tears threaten. “My mother always used to tell me that. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. She had all sorts of little sayings.”

“I’m certain she was a very smart woman. She raised a smart daughter.”

“I’m not that easy to get along with,” Mia admitted. “I don’t trust quickly. Sometimes, I keep people at a distance. But with Jack, I feel like the old Mia is gone. Maybe there’s a new Mia inside of me.”

“Well, I’m glad we got a chance to talk. I need to get to the airport and catch my flight back to Chicago, but I’m hoping that I’ll see you there sometime in the future.”

“I hope so, too.” Mia slowly realized that.

Elyse spotted a cab coming up the street and she got up and hurried to the curb to wave it down. When it stopped, she turned back to Mia. “I had a wonderful time this weekend. And even though it didn’t work out, I don’t have any regrets. Because if it brought you and Jack together, then the trip served its purpose.”

Mia stood and grabbed Elyse’s bag, then carried it to the waiting cabbie. While the driver put it in the trunk, Mia gave Elyse a fierce hug. “He’s not such a bad guy,” she said softly.

“I’m glad you realize that,” Elyse said.

Mia stepped back. “I meant my father.”

“I know you did. Tell Jack to call me later tonight. I should be home before midnight if all goes well.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to talk to him?” Mia said. “He’s probably upstairs pacing in my apartment.”

“And have him start with all the I-told-you-so’s? No, I think we’ll leave those for later.”

Elyse got into the cab and waved to Mia as they drove off down the hill toward the Esplanade. She smiled to herself as she thought about what Jack’s mother had said. What a wonderful stepmother she would have made. There was no doubt she would have made a perfect wife for Mia’s father.

“Oh, Daddy, how did you manage to mess this up?”

Mia turned for the front steps and climbed them, but before she got to the door, Jack burst out. “Where did she go? How could you let her leave?”

Mia held out her hand to calm him. “She went to the airport. She was hoping to catch a flight out.”

He glanced up and down the street, then cursed softly. “Didn’t she want to talk to me?”

“I think she was a little embarrassed by what happened,” Mia explained.

“What did happen?”

Mia stepped up to Jack and slipped her arms around his waist. “They had a fight. About us. My father must have said some things about you that your mother found unacceptable and they broke up.”

A frown creased Jack’s brow. “Our being together broke them up?” A slow smile filled his expression. “Isn’t that what we wanted all along? As long as we’re together, they’ll be apart?”

“I think so,” Mia replied.

“That was easy.”

She pushed away from him and sat down on the front steps, wrapping her arms around her legs. “I think they might have actually been able to make each other happy. I’m sad that it didn’t work out for them.”

“Come on, Mia, you’ve been against it from the start.”

“And now I’m not. And what about you? If your mother is still living in Chicago, why would you move to L.A.?”

He thought about her question for a long moment. “That’s simple. Because you’re here.”

“You still want to move out here?”

Jack plopped down beside her. “Yeah. If you still want me.”

Mia groaned, then wrapped her arms around his neck. “When have I ever not wanted you, Jack Quinn?”

7

T
HE
BED
IN
THEIR
Beverly Hills hotel room was massive with a mattress that seemed to go on forever and linens that were so soft on the skin, Jack couldn’t wait to get naked.

He and Mia had arrived two hours before and had decided to lie down for a quick nap before they set out to find a place for dinner. But as always, they got distracted by carnal pleasures and eating was soon forgotten.

Jack stared down at Mia’s body, her long limbs stretched out in front of him. She writhed beneath his touch, searching for that perfect caress that would bring on her orgasm. But Jack was in a teasing mood tonight and he planned to take his time in pleasuring her.

Nothing had prepared him for the intensity of his need for Mia. They were both completely caught in a riptide of desire and it sometimes threatened to swallow them both. Sex with her was a revelation, an experience that defined the two of them as a couple. What they couldn’t express in words, they expressed in desire, leaving them both to realize that what they shared was deep and powerful.

Jack ran his hands over her naked body as she caressed him, her flesh warm and soft against his palms. Already, it was taking more willpower than he had to maintain control. He wanted to bury himself inside her, to feel her warmth surround him, but tonight was about anticipation.

Every moment they shared was a chance for him to get to know her better, to find out what secret desires she still kept hidden. Though they were almost strangers, there was an undeniable connection between them, as if they’d known each other for weeks and months instead of just days.

Jack drew Mia beneath him, then slowly began a careful exploration of her body with his lips. She arched as he moved down from her breast to her belly and then to a spot just above her hip. Everything about her aroused him, from the scent of her skin to the tiny beauty mark he discovered on her thigh.

Was there anything about her that he didn’t find fascinating? Jack tried to remember the last time he’d wanted a woman as much as he wanted Mia, but the effort to even recall his past lovers didn’t seem worth the time. This woman was...everything.

Jack slid off the bed and gently kissed the insides of her thighs. He moved higher and when he found the damp spot between her legs, he flicked his tongue along the crease. Her body jerked in response, but he couldn’t stop there. Gently, he began to tease her, waiting for each response and then using it to his advantage.

Her fingers clutched at his hair, pulling him forward and then pushing him away when the sensations became too much for her to bear. Jack sensed when she’d reached her limit but didn’t want to stop. How far could he take her? He wanted her to surrender and yet he wanted to experience that delicious capitulation along with her.

He stretched out on the bed and nuzzled her neck, gently keeping her on the edge with his fingers. Mia stared at him through passion-glazed eyes. “Why is this always so good?” she whispered.

Jack growled softly. “I guess we’re just the right fit.”

She nodded, her lower lip caught between her teeth. “It just keeps getting better.”

“We’ve had lots of time to practice.”

She wrapped her arm around his head and pulled him close. “I’m a very dedicated student.” Her breath caught in her throat and she moaned softly.

Her body writhed beneath his touch and she reached out to wrap her fingers around his shaft. The moment she touched him, Jack realized that sleeping in separate beds the night before had only increased his craving for release. Every nerve in his body felt like it was on fire. He reached over and grabbed the box of condoms that he’d tossed onto the bed.

Mia took the packages from him and tore open one. As she sheathed him, Jack realized how close he was to the end of it all. Suddenly, he wanted to delay, to stop this headlong race toward satisfaction. How long would they have together? Would he be flying back home soon? He sighed softly as he settled between her legs.

He waited to enter her, marshalling his self-control and focusing on something other than her naked body.

“What’s wrong?” Mia asked.

“I’m not sure I can wait,” he said.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and laughed. “Why?”

Jack nuzzled his face into her neck. “I’m usually really good at this,” he said. “Really. I can give you references. But you do something to me that makes it difficult to maintain control.”

“Tell me what it is,” she whispered. “I’ll try to fix it.”

He probed gently at her entrance, then slipped inside of her. The breath left his body. He moved slowly, burying himself inch by inch. He was good at this, Jack reminded himself. That was one thing he was sure of. When he was buried completely, he waited, knowing that it would take every ounce of his control to hold back and wait for her.

“I—I think you’re doing—just fine,” she replied with tiny gasps.

He moved, drawing back and then plunging a little deeper. Every thrust brought them to a new pinnacle of pleasure. He read her responses, her soft sighs and breathless pleas, the way her body reacted to their joining. And when she finally dissolved into uncontrollable spasms, it was all he could do to hold on for just a few more minutes. He became lost in a maelstrom of incredible sensation.

She was everything he’d hoped she’d be—passionate, uninhibited, responsive. With every kiss and every thrust, he felt as if they’d discovered something beautiful to share. This was new to him. The physical connection was undeniable, but there was something deeper at work. He just couldn’t put words to it.

As the passion grew more intense between them, self-awareness vanished and instinct took over. He focused only on the pleasure that each movement brought.

Grabbing her waist, he pulled her on top of him, anxious to watch her reaction to what they were experiencing. Mia’s hair fell in unruly waves around her flushed face. Jack reached up and smoothed the strands back and she met his gaze. A lazy smile touched her lips and he had all the answers he needed.

When he reached between them and touched her, the contact startled her for a moment. And then she moaned softly and slowed her pace. Slowly, his caress transformed her, bringing Mia closer and closer to the edge. He’d never really paid attention to the pleasure he gave a woman. Usually, he was only interested in what he got out of the act. But now, as he watched Mia surrender to her own need, Jack recognized the emotional connection that could come along with sex.

She was completely vulnerable, trusting him to provide what she sought. And when Mia cried out and spasms shook her body again, he knew this wasn’t just about physical satisfaction. They’d shared something deeper and more intense, something that now bound them together. With one last thrust, he joined her, gripping her hips as his orgasm overwhelmed him.

After it was over, they lay side by side, limbs still entwined, heartbeats growing slower. Jack pressed his forehead to hers, searching for the words to express how he felt. He felt exhilarated but sober, confused yet clear-headed, content yet strangely unsettled.

“Someday, Mia, I’m going to tell you that I love you. And I want you to think back to this moment.”

“Why?”

“Because this was the time I wanted to say it first, but I didn’t have the courage.”

Mia reached up and smoothed her hand over his beard-roughened cheek. “I will,” she murmured. “I’ll remember every little detail.” She snuggled into his body. “What do you think is going to happen tomorrow? Will they offer you a job?”

“I don’t know. I made a couple of appearances on the network last year and they really liked my analysis of the post-season schedule. They even talked about giving me my own show, at some point.”

“Really? I could watch you on television?”

“Yeah, if they still have the same thing in mind for me. I’ll be on every night during the baseball season.”

“Aren’t you going to miss Chicago?” Mia asked.

“I think I need to move on,” Jack said. “I’ve been stuck there a long time.”

“What about your mom?”

Jack turned to face Mia. “I think that she’ll be fine on her own. Maybe she’ll meet someone new. And fall in love again. But it’s her life to live.”

Jack was determined not to let any more opportunities pass him by. He had a chance to build something wonderful with Mia and he planned to devote himself entirely to their future. He now realized just how strong his mother really was. It had been a surprise, but a very pleasant one.

A comfortable silence descended over them and Jack closed his eyes. Suddenly, his stomach growled and he rubbed it. “Ouch. I’m hungry.”

“It’s all that blood pumping through your body,” she said. “Orgasms are good for you. Very healthy. They burn a lot of calories. I read that in some magazine.”

Jack chuckled. “Good to know. Next time I catch a cold, I’ll have to give you a call.”

Jack pulled her leg over his hip, drawing her closer. “I’d be happy to help.”

Her naked body fit so perfectly against his, as if she were made especially for him. Jack brushed the thought aside. He wasn’t ready to make something out of this just yet.

“I have to tell you, I prefer this to dancing,” Jack said. “It’s much nicer without the clothes.”

Mia sighed softly, then shrugged. “I never do things like this. I’m not an impetuous person. I’m like your mother. Every decision I make, I think about for days and days. But, with you...it just seemed like the right thing to do.”

“Even though your father doesn’t approve?”

“My father doesn’t run my life,” she said. “I’ve been preoccupied with family matters for too long. I need to start thinking about myself from now on.”

“Well, maybe that’s what we need to do. Stop thinking about them and start thinking about us.”

“I like that there’s an ‘us’ now,” Mia murmured.

“Yeah, I think there is,” Jack said. “As strange as it is, maybe we were the ones who were supposed to meet.”

“You think?”

The sound of a cell phone broke the silence of the room. Jack rolled over and grabbed his BlackBerry. “Jack Quinn.”

The production assistant on the other end of the line went through his itinerary with him for the following day, then asked if he needed anything.

“Maybe a suggestion for dinner,” Jack said. “Something casual yet romantic?”

Mia laughed softly and then pushed up to press a kiss to his cheek.

The production assistant told him they’d make arrangements for dinner and send a car at seven. After he hung up, Jack sank back into the down pillows and pulled Mia close. “I’m really beginning to like California.”

* * *

T
WO
DAYS
LATER
, Mia kicked off her shoes and walked into the kitchen of her father’s house. She paused as she picked up the teakettle from on top of the stove, then glanced around. Even after she got her condo, she considered the house in Ross to be home. But all that had changed since Jack had come into her life. Wherever they spent time together now felt like home to her.

She’d left Jack in L.A. earlier that morning. He’d had his first round of interviews yesterday and they’d decided to keep him for another day. Rather than spend the day wandering around L.A. by herself, Mia had decided to fly back and see if she could straighten things out with her father.

She filled the teakettle and dropped it onto the stove, then went off in search of her dad. She found him sitting on the terrace, his late-afternoon cocktail in his hand. Mia glanced at her watch. It wasn’t even 2:00 p.m. yet.

She opened the screen door and stepped outside. Her father turned at the sound and Mia was happy to see a smile on his face. “Hi, Daddy.”

“Hello, Mimi.”

She sat down at the table and folded her hands in front of her. “It’s a little early for cocktail hour, isn’t it?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I don’t think it really matters one way or the other, do you?” He stared at her for a long moment, then shook his head. “I’m sorry, Mimi. I really messed things up. I tried to—”

“Daddy, it’s all right. I know why you said what you did. And you were right to be concerned for me. But I’m perfectly fine.”

“Did Jack Quinn go home?”

“No,” Mia said. “He might be staying a little longer. Maybe even relocating.”

“I think I made a terrible mistake there, too,” Ben said. “I said some things I wish I could take back.”

“To Elyse?”

Ben nodded. “Your mother and I were always in such agreement. We never argued. It was like we had one mind. It wasn’t that way with Elyse.”

“Daddy, you can’t disparage her son and expect her to smile and nod. You know how close they are and what they went through. Besides, you don’t even know Jack. He’s a great guy.”

“He seduced my youngest daughter,” Ben said.

“Actually, I seduced him. Or propositioned him.”

“He didn’t have to accept,” Ben said.

“Oh, yes, he did. I wasn’t about to give up. So you really can’t blame everything on him. As for Elyse, she’s pretty wonderful, too. You missed the boat on that one.”

“Dating is hard,” Ben said. “I’m way out of practice and I’m not even sure what the rules are these days.”

“Come on,” Mia said. “Let’s get a cup of tea and I’ll explain everything to you.”

She took her father’s cocktail away and he followed her into the kitchen, then took a seat at the breakfast bar. Over the next hour, they talked about everything, about her father’s relationship with her mother, about his joy at reconnecting with Elyse and about his stubborn refusal to accept Mia’s relationship with Jack.

In the end, Ben didn’t really have any answers, but he knew that he’d made some mistakes. Mia poured herself another cup of tea and leaned over the counter, bracing her arms on the granite.

“So, what are you going to do now, Daddy?”

“I suppose I ought to apologize to Jack the first chance I get. Especially if he’s going to be my son-in-law.”

“I don’t think that’s been decided yet,” Mia said. “Maybe you ought to apologize to him because he’s a nice guy and your daughter likes him?”