Always My Girl (The Shaughnessy Brothers) (6 page)

Anna squeezed her arm reassuringly. “Of course she would. He’s an easy man to love. You’re very lucky.”

And then her smile was back. “I am, aren’t I?”

It was Anna’s turn to nod. “And you’re going to make a beautiful bride.”

Zoe leaned over and hugged her. “And you’re going to make a beautiful maid of honor. Thank you for being here for me.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

They slowly moved apart and got comfortable again. “So,” Zoe began, “last night was interesting, don’t you think?”

“You mean the whole Ian and Martha thing? Yeah, it was kind of funny watching everyone’s reaction.”

“Um, no, clueless one,” Zoe teased. “I’m talking about Quinn.”

“Oh no,” Anna mumbled under her breath.

“Come on. You know what I’m talking about. He was trying so hard to stay away from you and make it seem like he was interested in my friends, but he didn’t take his eyes off you all night. Hugh had to keep Bobby from going over and punching him!”

“Not again…”

“We were starting to take bets on how long it would take before Bobby snapped, but Hugh put a stop to it. He said it wasn’t the time or place for a fight.”

“Thank God someone was thinking clearly. I know my brother can be a bit of a hothead where Quinn is concerned.”

“Again, clueless.” Zoe sighed. “Anna, your brother isn’t a hothead simply where Quinn is concerned. He’s a hothead where Quinn and
you
are concerned. He doesn’t like the way Quinn treats you.”

This wasn’t new information. Anna just didn’t like to think about it. “Well, it really doesn’t matter. I’m just glad someone had the good sense to keep things from getting out of hand.”

“I know it was a good thing, but still, it’s going to happen eventually. You know that, right?”

Unfortunately, she did. No matter how much she tried to pretend it wouldn’t, Anna knew her brother too well. He’d always been protective of her—particularly where guys were concerned—but his feelings toward Quinn were completely different. There was rage there, and it really was only a matter of time before he let loose.

With a nod, Anna sighed. “As long as it’s not today, I’ll be happy.”

“You and me both, girl. You and me both.”

“You know this is a happy occasion, right?”

Anna’s reaction was a simple look of annoyance.

Quinn and Anna were dancing together along with the rest of the family at the reception, and Quinn noticed the teary look on Anna’s face. “Look around,” he said cheerfully. “Nothing but smiles and happy people. What gives?”

“It was all just so beautiful, and I know Zoe was feeling a bit overwhelmed earlier—missing her mom and all—but watching her now, you’d never know it. She’s positively glowing.”

“So then why do you look like…?”

“Like what?” she asked defensively.

He shrugged. “I don’t know—like you’re ready to cry.” And then he silently prayed she wasn’t going to.

“People cry at weddings all the time.”

“Um…yeah. And they also cry at funerals.”

Anna rolled her eyes. “Oh, shut up,” she sniffed.

This was another new layer—Anna acting all…feminine. She used to laugh and make fun of the kind of girls who cried at movies or just in general. She was tough. She was edgy. The woman in his arms was softer, and it was freaking him out. It was suddenly too much. He had to say something or the dialogue in his head was going to make him crazy.

“You’re acting weird lately. What’s going on?”

Her gaze immediately snapped to his. “Weird? What are you talking about?”

Great. Why couldn’t she just agree with him and read his mind like she normally did? “I don’t know…the job, the wardrobe, and now you’re all crying and acting like, all girlish.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, Einstein, I am a girl.”

Yeah, he’d noticed. “I get it, Anna, but all these changes, it isn’t you. So again, what’s going on?”

She sighed, and he knew the sound well. Her posture relaxed slightly as she looked away. “It was just time for a change. I didn’t want to work at the pub for the rest of my life, and believe it or not, this is how most women dress and look. I can’t sell houses wearing jeans and sneakers, you know,” she said.

“Okay, okay, no need to get all snippy. It’s just…you’re making a lot of changes and I’m not used to it.”

“Yeah, well…
get
used to it,” she said, but there was little strength behind it.

“Hey,” he said softly and waited until she looked at him. “If this is what you want to do with your life, then I’m right there with you. I’ll get used to the changes and whatnot. And I’ll support whatever it is you want to take on next. You’ve always been there for me. It’s what friends do, right?”

Maybe he was testing her. Maybe he wanted to see if she would react in some way to his reminding her of their status as friends.

Anna smiled. “Yes. It’s what friends do.”

And dammit, he couldn’t read anything in her reaction. It was all just…Anna.

“I’m serious, Anna. I mean, I don’t understand why you feel the need to make all these changes. There wasn’t anything wrong with you. But if quitting the pub and selling real estate makes you happy, then…I’m happy.”

Was it his imagination, or did she just blush? Or maybe it was wishful thinking.

The music ended, then they were getting corralled for pictures and the moment was gone. And Quinn was left possibly more confused than he already was.

They posed for pictures and everyone ate and danced and celebrated. When the time came for Quinn to give his best man toast, he found, for the first time, he was possibly at a loss for words. He had a basic outline written down for what he wanted to say, but when it was his turn to stand, suddenly none of it seemed right.

“I didn’t meet Zoe under the best of circumstances,” he began. “She and Aidan weren’t speaking. I had to get Darcy home from a job site, and then I needed to get back to work. It was one of those times when there was just way too much going on.” There were smiles and nods all around the room. “Anyway, I was kind of proud of myself that I threw the poor girl back into Aidan’s path. You see…my brother can be a bit difficult, and he was off pouting, so I threw Zoe right into the lion’s den with him.” Quinn chuckled. “So I guess you can say they owe their reconciliation and now their marriage to me!”

Everyone laughed and Quinn looked at his brother with a big grin before winking at Zoe. When everyone quieted down, he continued. “When he brought her home for one of our traditional Friday night pizza nights, it was amazing how she instantly fit in. Considering we never really invite anyone to join us for that kind of thing, it was really cool how it just seemed as if Zoe was meant to be there.” He paused. “And she was. I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason, and knowing what I know now about Zoe, there isn’t a doubt in my mind that our mom chose her specifically for Aidan and sent her our way.”

There was the familiar pang in his heart at thinking of his mom. When he looked over at his brother and his brother’s bride, he couldn’t help but feel a little bit envious. Maybe someday he’d have what they did. But not right now. He wasn’t looking for the whole love, marriage, and all that went with it. There were still so many things Quinn wanted to accomplish with his life and his business, and he didn’t want a serious relationship getting in his way.

It was why he had to stop thinking about what Riley had said last night. Anna was his friend and that was the way it should be. Quinn knew he needed Anna to keep his life on an even keel. It wasn’t worth losing their friendship—no matter how attractive he suddenly found her or what his family thought about her feelings for him.

The room was fairly silent, and that’s when he realized he needed to finish his toast.

Zoe was resting her head on Aidan’s shoulder, tears glistening in her eyes. “I wish the two of you a lifetime of happiness.” He raised his glass and everyone joined in. Quinn took a long drink of his champagne before setting it back down.

Music started up again and after several songs, he found himself paired back up with Anna. Funny how it kept happening.

“What happened to you up there?” she asked.

“When?”

“During your toast. You sort of zoned out for a minute.”

Crap.
He wondered if anyone else had noticed. It would be easy to pretend he didn’t know what she was talking about, but knowing Anna, she would call bullshit on it. Might as well be honest. Or…almost honest.

“I was thinking about the sudden change in my family.”

“What? You mean with Aidan and Hugh both married? And having more women as part of your family?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I mean, I get it with Aidan. He’s the homebody type. If ever there was a guy who was the poster child for marriage and kids and the white picket fence, it’s him. But Hugh? That one still stumps me.”

“Why?”

“He travels all over the world. He was a major player. He had all kinds of beautiful women at his beck and call. The fact that he chose to settle down with just one? It just boggles my mind.”

She stiffened in his arms. “Jeez…what in the world, Quinn?”

“What? What did I say?”

“You’re a pig, you realize that, right?”

“Me? Why am I a pig?”

“Did it ever occur to you that not everyone wants to just sleep around? That maybe the thought of random hookups isn’t appealing?”

“No, actually, it didn’t.” He smirked.

She made a sound of disgust and almost pulled out of his embrace.

“Anna,” he said with just a hint of a whine as he pulled her back in close, “you know me. I never saw the appeal of marriage and kids and mortgages and all that crap. Especially when there are so many options out there.”

For a minute, all she could do was stare at him. “So you subscribe to the theory of plenty of fish in the sea, life is like a smorgasbord, blah, blah, blah. Is that what you’re saying?”

He nodded. “Sure am. How can you possibly know you’ve picked the right person to settle down with when there are so many to choose from? I just don’t think Hugh should have given up so quickly.”

“He didn’t give up, you moron! He fell in love! People do it all the time, you know!” She was clearly pissed off and was pulling away again. Quinn knew he needed to calm her down before she started talking any louder and drew attention to them.

He tugged her in close. “Okay, okay, calm down. No need to get all huffy.”

“Huffy!” she cried. “What is wrong with you? You can’t possibly stand here and tell me you don’t see how Hugh and Aubrey are completely in love. You just can’t!”

“Sure…for now. What’s gonna happen when Hugh goes back to traveling and Aubrey’s left behind and some hot chick hits on him, huh? You don’t think he’s going to wonder about all he’s missing?”

“No, I don’t! When did you become so cynical? When you fall in love, you don’t sit around thinking about what you’re missing!”

“Says you.”

“Says anyone who’s ever been in love! You mean to tell me that in all of the relationships you’ve had, you’ve never been in love?” Then she stopped and shook her head. “What am I saying? Of course you haven’t.”

“No, I haven’t, and it’s not a crime.”

She studied him for a long moment before a small smile played across her face. Quinn knew that look and it kind of freaked him out.

“What are you thinking?” he forced himself to ask.

“I think it would be kind of fun to watch all of those things happen to you.”

“All of what?”

The song ended and Anna stepped away from him and started walking back toward her table. Quinn was hot on her heels, and just as she was about to sit down, he placed a hand on her arm and gently spun her around. “All of what? What the hell are you talking about?” he demanded.

“Tell me something…describe your perfect woman.”

He swallowed hard because right now the only woman he could picture was her. Needing a moment, he tried to come off as being bored. “Why?”

“Just humor me. Please.” She crossed her arms over her coral bridesmaid gown.

With a sigh, he mimicked her pose. “Okay, the perfect woman… She’d be tall, skinny but curvy.” He stopped and thought a little more. “Big boobs, the kind of ass that—”

“Okay, stop describing the latest
Playboy
centerfold, perv,” she interrupted. “Personality. Let’s focus on the kind of personality you look for in a woman.”

“I don’t look at personality,” he said, his tone challenging.

“Fine,” she said with a huff. “Here’s the thing, Quinn, sooner or later you’re going to find a woman who is your ideal—in looks and personality. She’ll be someone you’re going to want to stick around for more than a night or two, and when it happens, you’ll have to eat those words.”

“What words?”

“You’re such a douche sometimes,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re going to realize you’re no different from your brothers. They found the perfect woman for them.”

“Not gonna happen, Anna. There is no perfect woman out there—for me or otherwise.”

“So cynical.”

“I’m a realist. There is no such thing as perfect,” he said with a shrug.

“So if you met a woman who…let’s just say…enjoyed racing. It wouldn’t mean anything to you?”

He shook his head. “Not particularly.”

“What if she enjoyed other sports too—particularly baseball. Then what?”

He thought about it for a minute. “Well, it would be cool, sure. But it wouldn’t make her perfect.”

“And she could cook.”

“Lots of women can cook.”

“And she knew how to fix cars.”

“Keep talking…”

“And she was independent—not clingy—and preferred burgers and pizza to steak and lobster.”

“Does she have a nice ass?” he asked, a smirk on his face.

“Naturally.”

“And is she good in bed?”

“Like a goddess,” Anna instantly replied.

Quinn took a moment to process it all. “Okay, you find me
that
woman, and I’ll eat my words about Hugh and Aidan and let you do the ‘I told you so’ dance.”

Anna’s smile grew. “You’re on.”

* * *

For the remainder of the weekend, Anna had to wonder what in the world had gotten into her. Why had she even made that bet with Quinn? She didn’t want him to find the perfect woman; she wanted him to find…
her
!

It wasn’t until she was driving home that the idea came to her—she was already in the process of making herself over. Why not make herself over into the woman she described to Quinn? She almost squealed with joy. It wouldn’t take much. Most of the things she described already fit her to a T. Well, except the car fixing and goddess in bed things, but hey, a girl could learn, right?

For the first time in…forever…Anna honestly felt hope for her and Quinn.

The key to it was not making it too obvious or too easy. No. She needed to become a little less accessible and make him come to her. But how? There were the obvious methods—simply not being available for him like she normally was. That made her laugh. She’d need a backup for the plan. It didn’t seem to matter when he called or what he wanted, she usually went running. She was going to need someone who was in on her plan to make sure she stayed strong and in control.

The obvious choice was Zoe. Although she had just left on her honeymoon, Anna made a mental note to get together with her for lunch as soon as she got back. That would give her time to really formulate her plan of action.

“Operation Get Quinn.” She chuckled to herself as she drove through town, thankful to almost be home. “Oh, it’s going to be perfect!”

Zoe would be the only one who could know what she was doing. To the rest of her friends and family, it would look like she was finally moving on—she’d go on dates that would hopefully make Quinn jealous, and take some classes to make it look as if she was just broadening her horizons. She thought of her brother and their conversation back at the wedding and knew he’d probably be the most excited at her new pastimes.

Then he’d be pissed when he found out she was doing it all to get Quinn.

“Then he won’t find out why I’m doing it,” she quipped with another laugh and felt as if everything was already falling into place.

When she pulled into her driveway and got out of the car, Anna had a little spring in her step that hadn’t been there before.

And it felt pretty damn good.