Just Desserts (11 page)

After slipping the bikini top back onto the Jeep, he texted Jake to tell him he was on the way to the office suite. Taking the steps two at a time, he jogged up to street level. The mid-day sun blinded him as he was reintroduced to the traffic on Michigan Avenue.

Slinging the leather lap top satchel over his shoulder, he zigzagged between the pedestrians who clogged the sidewalk by stopping on the bridge to look down at the Chicago River. His nostrils filled with the slightly stale smell of fresh Lake Michigan water mixed with rancid river, but a nice change from the country air.

His cell rang. While he waited at the crosswalk, a tour bus—with an open top—came to a stop down the street from him. Quinn heard the guide describe the architectural history of the Wrigley Building to the tourists snapping pictures. Quinn rolled his eyes and answered the phone.

“Where are you?” a woman with a silky voice demanded.

“I’m across the street. What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be home in Glen Ellyn painting the nursery and arranging baby furniture?”

“Forever a bachelor and a typical guy. Don’t you know anything? I’m two weeks away from the delivery date. I can’t be near the smell of fresh paint. And I don’t want to bring this kid into the world too early by lifting baby cradles. I’m here waiting for you, my dearest brother-in-law.”

Quinn crossed the street and pushed through the revolving doors of the iconic Wrigley Building. “Well, Suze. In the glass elevator and on my way up.” He watched the open hallways as he rose to the top floor where the law offices of
Laughton, Wrigley and
Morris
were located. “I’m down the hallway. Don’t make any fast moves. I don’t want to be the one to blame if my niece or nephew arrives early. Jake will never let me live it down.”

He stepped off the elevator that landed directly into the plush penthouse office suite. Suze waddled up to him. “Your brother and I have a bone to pick. Why didn’t you tell us that you weren’t coming back until today? Kate’s been calling me incessantly. What’s up with you?”

“The solar panels on the mansion—and the heat—slowed me down. The past two weeks have put the renovation behind by a month, if not longer.” He kissed his sister-in-law’s cheek. ”What kind of mood is my brother in? Crabby or cynical?”

“Oh, the usual. I came here to remind him that we have a child on the way. He should be ordering cigars, or packs of Juicy Fruit. Getting ready for our joyful arrival. Instead he’s obsessing on the latest acquisition. And worried about the new owners of this building. He doesn’t like their renovation plans.”

“He takes our family business seriously. I should thank him for taking the lead. The Wrigley empire is in good hands.”

“Quit sounding like Darth Vader. Jake is doing the light work—finances. You’re out making sure Wrigley properties don’t crumble away.” She spoke softly, “You could make Jake’s’ life easier…by taking on this building’s renovation.” Suze waggled her brows. “You are the best man to handle the job. It is your family’s legacy.”

Quinn laughed. “Now who’s sounding like Lord Vader? I have enough on my plate.”

“Besides the solar panels, were there any other problems at your great grandparents’ lake house?”

“Coming along swell. Will have to go back in a week or two when they arrive. My main man is trusty but I want to get it done without any more damn interference.” He swung his brother’s door open. The office, surrounded in windows, gave a panoramic view of Lake Michigan.

“Finally. Where the hell have you been? Slogging through pastures of cow shit in Wisconsin?” Jake swung his feet off his desk and loped over to him.

“Doing a favor for grandma. That lake house of hers is a pain in the ass. Did find a great diner to pick up and add to my collection, though.”

His brother came up to him and gave him a big hug. “Glad to see you.”

“He looks good doesn’t he?” Suze said as she inspected him head to toe. “You got some sun. Nice. You’re looking pink. Tanned, too. It was a good thing for you to spend your summer in Lake Geneva.”

Jake looked at him closer. “I’ll be damned. You aren’t pink.” He motioned for Suze to stand beside him. “Look at him.”

Quinn felt like a micro-specimen under the scrutiny of his brother and sister-in-law. “Cut it out. What are you two talking about?”

“Did you find time to fool around?” Suze said. “You look like you got lucky while fixing the family mansion. Is your latest conquest a fresh-faced country girl?”

Quinn liked his brother, for the most part. But he and Suze constantly butted their heads into his love life. It wearied him and bugged the crap out of him. He wanted to go home, shower, and get back to Sadie. He didn’t want to answer his brother or sister-in-law’s questions.

He cooled down fast, rather than let them know about Sadie. He wanted to keep her under wraps. Once he told them about her, he wouldn’t get out of the office until he answered their questions. They could keep him trapped in the Wrigley building until midnight.

“Don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. The sunshine in Lake Geneva was brutal. Can we go over the latest trust numbers? I want to make sure I can follow through with buying the diner in Lake Geneva. And get back to my other deal, acquiring BBRD Antiquities. The shop needs a once over before I move mother’s unwanted antiques from Lake Geneva into storage.”

“Kate’s flying in on Saturday before the museum gala.”

“Why?” Quinn went over to the wet bar and poured a tumbler full of mineral water.

“I am due in two weeks, so my best friend is leaving her new English hubby to be with me.” Suze gave Jake a steely glare. “God knows my husband will be of no use in labor and delivery. I’ll be happy if he doesn’t pass out in the waiting room. Kate has to be at the hospital with me. Your one-time business manager and previous owner of BBRD is tougher than the two of you boys.”

Quinn punched Jake in the shoulder. “He’s sort of a hard-ass. So what if he’s afraid of the sight of blood.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Jake said, rubbing his shoulder. “Kate wants to come back to sign the sale of BBRD over to you in person. Since she sold you her shop, she wants to make sure it gets passed on to you.”

Quinn laughed. “Right. She’s having a hard time letting it go, isn’t she?”

“Yeah, but Derek won’t let his new wife go back on a deal. BBRD belongs to you in every way but on paper. So when she comes this weekend, we’ll make a ceremony of it. The four of us. Dinner at Charlie Trotters?”

Quinn guzzled down his water. “I’ll let you know. I have to confirm my schedule when I get home.”

Suze gave Jake a sideways glance. “Check your schedule? I was right. There is a woman. Who is she this time? Is she a one weekender or a two weekender?”

Quinn dropped the crystal glass down on the silver platter. It crashed against the decanter. “Let’s go over the Wrigley donation to the Field Museum. I have to get going.”

Color crept up his sister-in-law’s cheeks. “I’m sorry, Quinn. You usually share your latest babe story.”

“There isn’t any story to tell.” Quinn said.

Chapter Thirteen

Sadie retrieved her storage boxes out of the closet and reconstructed her bedroom. She carefully placed every picture and tchotchke on her walls and dresser. She dragged out her framed prints of Frank Lloyd Wright designs and hung them to cover the bare subterranean wall. She unpeeled the tissue from the crystal frame with her most precious picture. The photo was taken at Ms. Katie’s. She’d been celebrating with her mom and dad after she’d received her undergrad at the University of Chicago. Sadie placed it on her vanity table.

As if the picture sent out a silent message, her cell phone rang. It was her dad. Sadie answered it and put him on speaker. “I’m here.”

“Where’s here, lovey? Your place?” he asked.

“Of course. Home sweet Chicago. Miss me already?” She shuffled around her bed to arrange her books on the nightstand that doubled as a bookshelf. She made a mental note to take a road trip to IKEA.

Her dad’s gruff chuckle filled her room. “I made notes on the designs for the diner renovation. I want you to look at them before I send them off to Quinn.”

“Take some photos Pop and e-mail them to me. I’m settling in and will have time this weekend to look over Ms. Katie’s expansion.”

“Will you have time to show them to Quinn?” he asked.

“I think. We’re going to dinner tonight. I’ll check with him. I’m pretty certain he’ll make time for you.”

“I need you to make sure he’s doesn’t go hog wild and make changes to the diner that would make your mother roll her eyes while she’s playing a harp.”

“I’m sure Quinn is careful to keep his clients’ wishes at the forefront of his projects,” she said. “Rehab construction work seems to be his priority.”

“Yeah. Just be sure he makes you a priority while in the city.”

“I’ll try.” She laughed. “I’ve got a lot of work ahead on my thesis.” She stepped into the closet and shuffled the hangers back and forth to find something to wear for dinner.

Her father’s voice boomed across the small room. “Sadie, are you there? Damn it. I hate these new phones. Give me a cord anytime.”

She shouted toward the smart phone. “I’m running late. I’ve got to get dressed for dinner. Quinn’s going to be here any minute.”

“Okay honey. Take care. And tell Quinn I can find him easily if he doesn’t treat you like a queen. Where are you going to dinner?”

“Club Lucky.”

“Say hello to Georgie. Won’t you?”

“Dad, don’t think I can walk into the Club without the owner giving me a hug. He’s sweet but he also strikes me as a dirty old man. Good thing he’s your old buddy. I should be slapping him silly for the way he looks at me. And those caterpillar brows of his need a good waxing.”

Her dad laughed.

She found her little black dress in the closet. The knit sleeveless turtleneck dress hugged her figure terrifically. And it ended just above her thighs. Her only dress had seen its day, the black faded, but she felt so right in it nothing could go wrong while wearing it. And she’d finally be dressed differently for Quinn. Although he seemed to enjoy her mini skirt.

“Good night, Sadie,” her dad said breaking into her wayward thoughts.

“Talk to you tomorrow. Love you.” She clicked her phone off.

Sadie went to take a ten second shower in the cold water. After, she slathered Palmer’s cocoa butter up and down her legs. Her mild case of sun poisoning was healing nicely. Her legs looked freckled.

She slipped the dress on over her head and combed through her hair. She liked how she looked in the bathroom mirror. She wanted to be seductive and maybe a little mysterious for Quinn. Not sure if she’d manage either, with her minimal expertise in relationships. But Quinn was so darn comfortable. There wasn’t much she could get nervous over.

When the buzzer rang, she rushed to put on the pair of silver chandelier earrings she’d found at a vintage shop on Damen. She pressed the intercom. “Who is it?”

“A man starving for some good Italian.”

“I’m Irish.”

“I’m not even going to go there. Can I come in?”

Sadie buzzed open the outer door for Quinn. She opened her door to meet him in the hallway. When he strode toward her, she bit the inside of her cheek to make certain her jaw didn’t drop open.

To say Quinn had cleaned up was an understatement. As he came down the hall, she could see the sharp creases of his navy trousers. The gabardine fabric looked so rich, she wondered if he’d handpicked it from a mill and presented it to a seamstress.

“Hello,” he said as he reached her standing in the doorway. “Settled into your place?”

“As snug as a bug in a rug,” she tittered out nervously.

He brushed his knuckle gently across her cheek. “Are you all right? You look pale. Do you want to stay in and order take out? If you’re not feeling up to going out I know of a great little Thai food place we can order from. Or Chinese? Whatever you feel up for.”

She shook off her shock. So Quinn wasn’t in jeans and a tee. He was the same man. Just as handsome. Only a little more
GQ
. He dressed up to take
her
to dinner. She brushed her hand down his arm and felt his muscled forearm flex under the cool white dress shirt. “You look gorgeous.”

“Aren’t I supposed to be saying that to you?” He leaned down and kissed her earlobe. “You’re the true beauty.”

She laughed. “Let’s go eat. We have to get to Club Lucky before George drinks too many Manhattans. Otherwise we won’t get the only window seat.”

“Already done. I called him up. He’s holding that table for us.”

“You know George Vitucci? The restaurant’s owner?” Sadie grabbed her clutch purse from the entryway table, locked the door, and slammed it shut.

“Yes,” Quinn said. As they walked out, he held the door open for her. “He’s an old friend of my family’s. Let me guess. Georgie and Paul must be friends.”

“Yep. Two peas in a pod. Before I forget, Pop is sending his renovation ideas for the diner. Remind me to show them to you over dinner.” She looked down the street for the Jeep. “Did you have to park on Damen?”

“No. Right, here.” He swung open the passenger door to a silver Porsche Boxster parked in front of her building.

Sadie took a deep breath. “Oh, where’s the Jeep?”

“I’m having my mechanic check it over. It’s a beautiful night. Thought we could take a ride after dinner.”

“Great. That sounds great.” Sadie slipped into the low bucket seat of the sports car. She stretched her legs out and perused the high tech dashboard. The sleek car surprised her. Or was she a little surprised that Quinn had such expensive taste? The job in Lake Geneva must have paid well. She adjusted the hem of her Old Navy T-shirt dress clinging around her legs. “Cozy.”

“It’s easy to maneuver into tight parking spots.” He clutched the gearshift and drove into the street, stealthily moving along into the Friday night traffic on Armitage. “After dinner want to go over to the Wrigley Club? I heard a rumor that 606 might be playing.”

She eased into the Porsche’s soft leather seat and relaxed. “Really? How did you gather that information? So few people know about Dave Grohl’s alter ego band for the Foo Fighters.”