Page 13 of Quinn

Quinn’s chuckle was warm in the musty air. “They’ll need to be restored if you’re going to actually use them.”

“I’m not sure I know where to begin, but,” she smiled up at him, “every home should have a piece of history, don’t you think?”

His gaze leveled with hers and he stared at her for so long with such intensity, she wondered what the man was thinking. Finally, his lips parted and he muttered, “Things of beauty need to be cherished.”

His voice came out low and deep, and sounded smooth as melted butter. What she didn’t know was whether he was referring to the kitchen or something else. Without moving, his gaze remained fixed on her and she had an overwhelming urge to stand in his personal space and see what he would do. Except the sound of his brothers calling up the stairs broke the moment.

Quinn cleared his throat. “We should head down. The salvaged hardwood floors for the dining room are due to be delivered any minute. That’s probably what those two yahoos are hollering about.”

Nodding, Eloise took a step in retreat and then followed him out the door. As they descended the stairs, she cast one last look up at the apartment. Life was looking really good—in so many ways. Oh how she hoped Danny was going to love this place as much as she already did. Then again, maybe it would be nicer to have a little house with a view of the sunset, and maybe even better, a tall dark and handsome cowboy—or carpenter—to go with it.

“I’ll see your five and raise you five.” Eileen Callahan Farraday tossed a few chips into the pot. Having Eloise in the house to help with breakfast and clean up had helped her get to town early enough to join in on the Tuckers Bluff Ladies Afternoon Social Club’s biweekly card game at the café.

Ruth Ann raised one brow at her long-time friend. “I think you’re bluffing. See your five.”

An echo of “I’m in” moved around the table.

Dorothy, Declan Farraday’s grandmother-in-law, folded her cards and tapped them lightly on the table. “What I want to know is what’s this new chef like?”

“I told you,” Eileen tossed two cards onto the table. “Nice.”

“Nice,” Sally May said with a sigh. “We want more than that.”

Eileen shrugged. “She’s a good cook.”

“Or course she’s a good cook,” Dorothy hissed. “She’s a chef.”

Unable to hold back her amusement at teasing her old friends, Eileen cracked a smile and set her cards face down on the table. “All right.”

All of her friends leaned in closer over the table in the corner of the café as if Eileen were about to reveal national secrets. “She’s petite, has blonde hair cropped just above her shoulders, pretty blue eyes, and smiles like there’s no tomorrow.”

Ruth Ann bobbed her head. “So she’s nice,” the woman teased back.

“Told ya!” Eileen winked and burst into laughter before clearing her throat to continue. “She’s also a damn good cook. I mean, all I’ve tasted is her breakfast, but that casserole she made was to die for. I’ve never seen all my men shovel food so fast in my life.”

“Well, that’s a relief.” Dorothy picked up her cards. “I was afraid the council was going to hire some fancy French chef with a heavy accent, a flair for the dramatic, and haute cuisine like snails and raw beef on the menu.”

“It’s not raw,” Ruth Ann rolled her eyes, “it’startar.”

“Whatever.” Dorothy stared at her cards a moment before returning her attention to Eileen. “Any chance she’ll take to one of your boys?”

It always made Eileen smile how in her and her friend’s eyes, her grown nephews were still boys. “I’m thinking so.”

“Your eyes are sparkling.” Ruth Ann studied her. “Which one is tripping over himself? Quinn or Ryan?”

“Not sure yet.”

“Oh?” Dorothy tipped her head. “Is she drooling over one of the boys?”

Eileen shook her head.

“Then what is it?” Sally May huffed.

Leaning forward more, Eileen looked around their table then still smiling, let her gaze dart from friend to friend. “Gray is glued to her side!”

All her friends leaned back in their seats, clapped their hands and giggled like schoolgirls. Dorothy was the one to squeal, “Looks like another Farraday wedding on the horizon.”

Following Eloise to the front of the building, Quinn paused at the sound of the delivery crew arguing over who should put the hardwood planks where. Shaking his head at them, he continued up the porch steps, their voices faded into the background noise as his mind lingered on the apartment tour.

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