Harlequin Special Edition October 2015, Box Set 1 of 2 by Christine Rimmer Page B

gave Chloe a jaunty wave and disappeared behind a potted plant.
    â€œWhat’s up?” Quinn asked.
    Chloe brushed a hand over the crisp white cuff of Quinn’s shirt. “Don’t look now, but we’ve been spotted by Monique Hightower. Did you know she works here?” They’d gone to school with Monique. The woman never met a secret she wouldn’t share with the whole town.
    â€œUh-oh.” He pretended to look worried. “Like I said the other night, it’s Justice Creek. You go out with me, everyone in town is bound to know.”
    Now she brushed the back of his hand, which was warm and tan and dusted lightly with brown hair. It felt so good to touch him. She had to watch herself or she’d be all over the poor guy. “I hope you don’t mind that the gossip mill will be churning.”
    â€œMe?” He gave a low chuckle. “I think I can deal with it.”
    â€œSuch a brave man...”
    They shared one of those looks. Long. Intimate. Wonderful. Finally, he said, “Read your menu, Chloe.”
    She closed the blue folder. “I did.”
    â€œYou know what you want?”
    â€œOh, yes, I do.” She said it slowly, with a lazy smile.
    He warned low, “Keep looking at me like that and we won’t make it through the appetizer.”
    But they did. They had it all. Appetizers, a nice bottle of cabernet, salad, hammer steaks with cheesy potatoes and a decadent chocolate dessert. And they took their sweet time about it.
    Monique dropped by their table around nine, just after they’d been served their coffee and dessert. “Chloe. Quinn. What a surprise.”
    Quinn asked, “So, how’s life treating you, Monique?”
    â€œI’m getting by.” Monique tossed her topknot of curly blond hair and stuck her hands in the pockets of her black service apron. “When did you two start spending time together?”
    Chloe sipped her coffee. “This is our first date. I’m having a fabulous time.”
    Quinn said, “Chloe always had a thing for me, since way back in high school.”
    Monique blinked three times in rapid succession. “Really?”
    Chloe stifled a silly giggle and said with great seriousness. “I finally got up the nerve to tell him.”
And to show him, as a matter of fact
. “And then he asked me out. The rest could be history. I mean, if I play my cards right.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “But, Monique...”
    Monique leaned a little closer. “What?”
    â€œDon’t say a word to anyone.”
    â€œOh. Never. I would never tell a soul...” Translation: she couldn’t wait to tell the world. Monique asked about Prime Sports, and Quinn gave her a card good for a free visit and one class of her choice. And then she turned to Chloe again, her dark eyes sharply gleaming. “I was so surprised when you moved back to town. I mean, we all knew you were headed for great things. No one ever would have guessed you’d end up running back home to Justice Creek. I’m just so
sorry
that things didn’t work out for you.”
    Six months ago, Chloe would have been shamed and infuriated by Monique’s barbed words and pretended concern. Or at the very least, embarrassed. At the moment, though, all she felt was amused. “Thanks, Monique. You’re all heart.”
    Monique sighed heavily. Across the room, the manager who’d greeted them when they arrived had his eye on her. “Well, good to see you two. Gotta go.” She scuttled off.
    Chloe took a bite of her delicious dessert. “Everything we told her will be all over town. Twenty-four hours—thirty-six, max.”
    Quinn leaned closer and spoke low. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said that you had a thing for me in high school.”
    She met his eyes directly and she couldn’t keep from grinning. “Are you kidding? I loved it. Not to mention it was the truth. If