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Chapter Nineteen
QUINN LAY AWAKE in Shelley’s bed as dawn sneaked in through the curtains. Her cheek rested against his chest, each breath whispering across his skin.
Quinn couldn’t remember the last time he’d wanted to spend the entire night with a woman. And yet here he was with Shelley, hoping never to wake up alone again—even though he knew that it was inevitable since he was going to be heading back to Maryland soon.
He had been working through logistics for the past hour, thoughts of returning to the island to see Shelley in clear focus. He figured he could probably make it happen at least once every few weeks, sneak a day in here or there between meetings. The thought of returning to his empty house in Annapolis made him feel as lonely as he had in his resort suite the night he’d screwed up and Shelley had enjoyed the bonfire by herself.
His gaze moved around the room. In the span of a few short days, she’d made the cottage feel warm and homey. She’d moved the candles from the mantel and bookshelves to the windows. She’d even moved the chair that had been in the corner of the room that first night he’d met her to beneath the window, and a paperback novel sat on the cushion with a throw blanket covering one wooden arm. He wondered what Shelley’s house looked like, but could easily guess at all the simple touches that would make her house feel like home.
Shelley stirred beside him and pressed her lips to his chest. “How can you look so deep in thought this early in the morning?”
He shifted her beneath him, and she smiled up through sleepy eyes. “Because of you, Shell. You’ve jumbled my business-oriented brain and turned it into something else altogether.”
She rocked her hips against his arousal. “Mm. Something naughty, perhaps?”
“Always,” he said. And the truth was that it would be so easy—and so damn good—just to lose himself in making love with her again. But he didn’t feel right about keeping anything from her. Not when she needed to know. “Shell, Chandler accepted our terms yesterday. We’re taking over the resort. So the good news is that I’ll be here pretty often.”
“Of course I’m thrilled that you’ll be here more, but I’m sure it’s going to be really difficult to run your business and be tied to the resort at the same time.” Her eyes widened as she said, “Wait… Didn’t you say you were going to leave as soon as you hashed out the resort stuff? But you’re still here.”
He looked at her for a long moment, trying to figure out how such an easygoing person could make him feel so intensely. “I do have to head back to Annapolis, but I wanted more time with you, so I’m staying until we sign the papers.”
“Quinn,” she whispered. “I don’t want to come between you and the work you need to get done. You’ll resent me.”
“No, I’ll never resent you. But I do need to leave soon because there are things going on with the merger and one of our key employees that require my attention.” He stroked her soft skin as he told her, “I really didn’t want to disappoint you last night and cancel our date, and now I want to help you get settled in the cottage.”
“But I know how much you have to—”
He pressed his lips to hers, silencing her in the most delicious way.
“Let me worry about work. I don’t want you to worry, too.” He paused for a moment and looked into her beautiful eyes. “How would you feel about having a long-distance relationship with me?”
“Quinn Rockwell,” she said, her lips curving up at the corners, “are you asking me to go steady?”
“I know you said you didn’t want to talk about details last night, but I want to be with you when I’m here.”
“And know I’m not with anyone else when you’re not?” She kissed his chin.
“You make me sound possessive.” He caressed the curve of her bare hip. “Which I am. Especially when it comes to you, Shell. I don’t want anyone else to see you like this. To feel you like this. To kiss you like this.” Her mouth was warm and sweet beneath his.
“I want to be with you, too, Quinn. Only you, long distance or not.”
The passion in her kiss sent a shudder of desire to his core. His hands continued to play over her waist and hips as their mouths came together. He nipped at her lower lip, her jaw, her neck, then kissed his way to her breast, grazing her sensitive skin with his teeth.
“Mm. I like your possessive side,” she teased as she reached between them to touch him, too.
With a tormented groan, he drew back long enough to grab a condom from the bedside table.