Page 70 of The Cowboy's Christmas
Savannah watched the dog go, then shifted her gaze to Quinn, allowing it to travel over the hoodie and sweatpants on down to his freezing cold feet.
“Is there an emergency?” he asked when she brought her attention back to his face.
Because if not, then why was her expression appear so tight in the dim glow of his bedside light?
“No emergency. Did things go okay with your brothers?”
“I fed cattle with Les. Helped him around the place. Ty and Shelby and their little boy will be back tomorrow. Austin and Kristen hope to be back in a week. Maybe less.”
“Do they still need help on the ranch with Austin gone?”
“I can work both places.” He ran a hand over the back of his neck, wondering what was going on. He knew Savannah well enough to realize that this conversation had a point.
“No need,” she said stiffly. “Deke talked to someone this morning who agreed to help for a couple weeks.” She brought her hands together. “You’re free.”
Quinn instantly forgot his freezing feet as he realized that he didn’t want to be free.
What the hell? Since when hadn’t he wanted to be free?
A wave of near panic hit him.
He shook his head, started to speak, but Savannah lifted her chin in a way that made the words freeze on his lips as his stomach tightened.
“I really appreciate all you’ve done for us. There’s no way I can repay your kindness.”
Quinn forced himself to wait until she was done speaking before reacting. But what the hell? Repay his kindness?
The truth was edging in on him, and he didn’t like it. Not one bit.
She’s figured out what she needs—and it isn’t you.
“Savannah, what’s going on?”
“I’m asking you to go back to your own life, Quinn.”
“Why?”
She started to speak, then stopped. He cocked his head, his gaze locked on hers as he waited. Savannah pressed her lips together as if trying to hold back the words. She failed.
“Because I can’t afford to fall in love with you.”
There was an edge of desperation to her voice as the words tumbled off her lips, forming a perfect barrier between them. One that he couldn’t argue against.
But still…
He frowned down at her as she once again lifted her chin. Something wasn’t ringing true here.
“I need time,” she said in a voice edged with challenge.
“Time.”
“Yes.”
He didn’t ask what happened after they had their time. He assumed that she thought they’d stop thinking about one another.
As if.
“Quinn.” Her voice wobbled on his name. “I need you to go. Please.”
