Just Desserts (21 page)

Sadie laughed so hard the gold scarf dropped off her shoulder. The guy who sat beside her lifted it up and back onto her arm and leaned into Sadie’s neck. Then he touched Sadie’s hair, brushed it aside, and spoke into her ear.

Not one, but three little words, popped into Quinn’s brain.
What the fuck?
 

Chapter Twenty-Three

In the booth, Sadie was shivering so badly, she couldn’t move. Her damp dress stuck to her body. Matted in clumps, her wet hair seemed to soak directly into her bones and bypass her only line of defense, the velvet scarf. She huddled between Eric and Rob to snag any of their body heat, but there wasn’t enough to douse her chills.

When Eric had stepped into the building foyer, he nearly scared her to death. Sadie almost decked him with the umbrella. Her neighbor from across the hall had come back to the apartment to get his forgotten cigarettes. He and his roommate, Rob, were already staked out at the Wrigley Club to see the Foo.

He let Sadie into the building, but she still couldn’t get into her apartment. She had left the keys in her bike satchel, back at the museum.

Eric offered up his apartment, to stay until Ellen came home. But when he opened the door, the stench of cigarettes made her eyes water.

So when he invited her to the Wrigley Club, Sadie said yes. She felt like a pathetic drowned rat, but she had to get somewhere warm. Even at the risk of running into creepy Mike from the taxi.

Maybe, if the Foo played the song,
The Pretender
, she could dance hard enough to heat up and burn off her misery. She needed to forget about Quinn.

Sitting between Rob and Eric in the booth, and after several glasses of red wine, Sadie had yet to warm up. She was tired. The picture of Quinn and his gorgeous date kept flashing in her mind. She pulled out her phone and texted Ellen. She needed to know what time she’d be able to get home and crawl into bed.

“What’s happening at the bar?” Eric said.

Sadie looked up from the phone. The wall-to-wall people in the Wrigley Club had dispersed. She caught sight of the bully from the cab. Mike was in the midst of several women near the waitress station. Even from her distance, Sadie could tell he was pissing off people. “That guy’s a prick. I hope they kick him out.”

She looked down at her phone again to make sure her text had gone through, and if by some miracle, Ellen had responded. Her scarf dropped off.

“Got it.” Eric placed the wet velvet back onto her shoulder. He whispered in her ear, “You are so hot.”

Sadie cackled loudly. She was exhausted and chilled to the bone. The last thing she needed was to fend off Eric’s awkward advances. Besides, the way she looked, she knew she was far from hot. “Eric, I think you need to take off your beer goggles.”

“I’m serious. You and me? We would rock,” he said with a slight slur.

“The only thing that should rock is the Foo. I wonder when they’re going to show up.” Sadie pushed Eric’s bottle of Goose Island toward him. “Drink up. I promise. You won’t be making a
walk of shame
from across the hall.”

“Does that mean yes?” Eric pouted his lip and put his hand on her knee.

Sadie gingerly removed his hand from her leg and set it down on his lap. She sighed. “I like you, but it will be a cold day in hell before that happens, neighbor. Let me out. I have to go pee.”

Eric elbowed the guy next to him and they both slid out of the booth.

Sadie unpeeled her legs from the leather seat and scooted out. She pulled down the hem of her dress. There were so many goose bumps on thighs, her skin felt like sandpaper. Sadie glanced at the bar to locate Mike. He was going head to head with the bouncer.

“I’ll keep your seat warm for you,” Eric said, showing off a boyish grin.

Sadie shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Down boy.”

“Hello Sadie,” Quinn said.

She reeled around.

Quinn, in his tux, stood around the corner from the booth. He crossed his arms over his chest and took a step closer.

“What are you doing here?” Sadie blinked twice.

He closed the gap between them.

“I’ve been trying to find you all night. I need to talk to you.”

Her breath caught in her throat. Unable to speak, she gazed into his eyes and noticed the dark shadows underneath his lower lashes. Sadie glanced around him to see if his date from the gala was in the bar.

Eric howled. “Oh now I get it. You like dudes in tuxes.”

“You’re really starting to piss me off,” Sadie said. She wanted to punch Eric in the worst way.

“Who the hell is that?” Quinn said. His voice sounded raw.

“My neighbors. They dragged me in from the cold and rain. Saved me.”

“Looks like you’re having a great time. I don’t want to be a killjoy.”

She bit her lower lip to stop it from trembling. “Killjoy? What does that mean?” Sadie suddenly sneezed. “Where’s your girlfriend?”

“Come here.” He clasped her elbow, pulled her behind the stage and out the emergency exit door. In the alley, he pressed her back up against the building.

The cushion of thick ivy leaves on the brick was wet and cool. Sadie shivered. She gripped the ends of her scarf and tightened it around her chest to ward off the chill. Her heart was pounding. From inside, she heard on the loudspeaker system, someone announce something about the Foo Fighters. Her teeth chattered. “Can you—you talk? I don’t want to miss the concert.”

“I thought you were my girlfriend. Up until a few hours ago, at least. But apparently—” He took off his tux jacket and put it around her shoulders.

“Thanks.” She inhaled his citrusy aftershave lingering on the collar. Had she not been so cold, she would have declined the jacket. The warmth, his scent and proximity made her loss so unbearable. “Apparently you remembered that the beautiful woman in the silver dress was your girlfriend. I get it.”

“Her name is Kate Stephens. And she’s happily married. I bought her business.” He scratched the stubble on his jawline. “I didn’t expect you to be out with the boys.”

In her mind’s eye the magazine photo appeared. “Her business…BBRD.”

He nodded.

“I didn’t expect you to be at the Field Museum.”

Quinn looked above and seemed more interested in the club’s roof than in her. He suddenly fixed his attention on her. “You bolted out. I didn’t have a chance to explain.”

“I don’t have to justify those guys.” She paused and noticed him flex his hand. “They live across the hall. I locked myself out of my apartment.”

The piercing sound of microphone squeal came from inside the club.

“Her name is Kate. And she’s not your girlfriend. And the other woman? The one attached to the mayor? Is she one of your business partners?”

“Stop it.” Quinn paced in front of her and shook his head. “Jesus, Sadie. I can’t change my previous—the women that I’ve dated. Yes, I’ve been involved with, in varying degrees, several women. I can’t erase the past.”

“I know. Your life is overwhelmingly fortunate. Crazy and full of adventure,” she sniped.

He stood inches away and locked her in a steely gaze. “You’re being sarcastic. Don’t.”

“Fine. Here’s the truth, sans sarcasm. You are from the most prominent family in Chicago and practically own the city.” Her throat dried. She swallowed several times. “Your world. It’s different from mine. I get to serve you and your friends. I’m a waitress. You didn’t invite me. Clearly you’re embarrassed and don’t want to be seen with me.” She sniffed and stretched out the hem of her dress. “Ha. Good thing I won’t have to worry about any black tie affairs since my one and only little black dress is ruined.”

Quinn wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her against his chest. “That’s bullshit.”

She stepped away to break free of his hold.

He tightened his arms around her and nestled her closer to his chest. “Listen. At the game, last night, I made you miserable. I didn’t want to take you to this pretentious gala with me, and then have to leave you alone again. I wanted, actually planned, to pick you up after the opening and come here for the concert.”

She closed her eyes and burrowed against him. She stayed silent, listening to him and his heartbeat.

He dropped his chin onto her head. “Sadie, you saying that you don’t belong in my world is a load of crap. And us, we’re a good fit. My family and Chicago, I can’t change. So would you please cut me some slack?”

“We are pretty good together.”

“And speaking of fitting into
worlds.
Do you know how difficult it was to get your father to talk to me about the diner? And I know if I don’t make things right between us—Paul along with Lindy and Eddie—” He brushed his fingers across her cheek. “—Hell, the entire town of Lake Geneva. They’ll be hunting me down with pitchforks.”

She sighed. “You wouldn’t have a fighting chance.”

“Not going to be an issue. I’m not leaving you. You’re kind of stuck with me.”

She laughed. “Just what a Wrigley would say.”

He hugged her. “Jesus, you’re hot.”

“Thank you. You look pretty sexy in your tux.” She slipped her fingers along the edge of his cummerbund.

“Sadie. You’re burning up. Do you feel all right?”

“Yeah. You’re holding me tight. All’s good with the world.” A gush of emotion swelled in her chest. Her eyes started to well up with tears.

A car came around the corner. The bright glare from its headlights spotlighted them.

Lightly, he kissed her cheek. With a flick of his knuckle, he brushed off an escaped tear. “Tears of joy?”

She nodded.

They watched as a white limousine pulled into the alley and stopped.

The back door slammed open. Emily rushed out. She glanced at them, and then jogged over to the limo. She opened the car door. “Thanks.”

Out hopped Dave and Taylor. And then the other members of the Foo appeared.

Jogging past her and Quinn, Dave smiled and went into the club. The rest of the guys followed him inside.

“Come on. This is happening. Oh my God,” Emily squealed like a little kid as she ran past and went back into the bar.

Quinn held her hand and they slipped back into the rear entrance of the bar. There was standing room only. They went up to the rooftop where they found one chair. Quinn sat and plopped Sadie in his lap. She wrapped her arms around him and nuzzled between his shoulder and neck. While the band played, the crowd around them danced and head banged. They stayed in each other’s arms, content.

After the Foo finished playing and left the club, Sadie and Quinn helped Emily and her crew clean up. By the time Sadie sat in Quinn’s Porsche, her ears were buzzing and legs felt like rubber.

“Should we go to your place or mine?” he asked.

“Yours.”

“Are you sure?”

Sadie nodded. “Uh huh. I think I fell in love. At the concert. Like my mom and dad.”

“Really? With Dave?” He drove onto Lake Shore Drive. “He’s quite the chick magnet from what I’ve been told.”

“He chews a lot of gum, but he’s got nothing on you. My sexy Wrigley man in a tux.” She waggled her eyebrows.

“I’m no rock star, though.”

“Oh no, you’re not going to get me to say anything like
worlds
and
rocking
.” She reclined in the bucket seat, lay down, and covered up with his tux jacket. Her eyelids were heavy as lead. “I’m feeling pretty happy. Weird. My mom and dad, they met at a U2 concert and fell in love.”

“Not all that weird. And if you won’t say it. I will. You rock my world.”

She laughed. “You’re a dork. And I love you.”

His phone rang. “Jesus. It’s four o’clock in the morning. Who the hell could that be?”

She closed her eyes because it took much energy to keep them open.

He answered the call. “This is Laughton. Uh. No shit. Congratulations Jake. And Suze is okay? How many pounds is he? Nine? That’s good, right?”

“What his name?” Sadie asked tiredly.

“Michael,” Quinn said without taking his eyes off the road. “See you tomorrow. Take care.”

She laid her hand on his knee.

He clasped it and squeezed. “Almost home, my love.”

She drifted off and fell asleep.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Sadie woke up blessedly warm under a pile of down comforters. Last night floated into her mind in bits and pieces. She’d been freezing after walking home in the rain from the Field Museum. Quinn had found her at the club. The Foo Fighters played.

Quinn was sprawled out next to her.

She’d slept at his place.

She set her palm on his stomach and felt the rhythm of his breathing. “Are you awake?”

“I am now. At least one part of me is.” He turned to his side and felt her forehead with the back of his hand. “Better.”

“What’s better?” She sidled closer to him and draped her leg over his hips. “I don’t have any clothes on. Except my undies. How did that happen?”

“Dead asleep when we came home. Snoring, too. I carried you up here. You were burning up. Thought you had a fever, so I stripped you down and put you into bed.” He caressed her shoulder. “How are you feeling?”

“Good.” She turned onto her back. The chandelier hanging above was made of shiny gold silk. Pretty moss-colored tassels dangled off the edge of its entire circular perimeter. “What time is it?”

“Almost two. We’ll know for sure in a bit.” He tossed off the comforter, sat on the edge of the bed and stretched. He made his way to the wall of sash windows and twisted open a wood blind.

Sadie stared at his bare taut ass and muscular shoulders. He looked delicious. When sunlight poured into the room, she squinted and let out sigh. “Why?”

“Feeding time for the elephants at the zoo. You’ll hear them.” He strode across the room, grabbed a pair of jeans off a wall hook and pulled them on. When he opened an antique armoire, there were stacks of neatly folded T-shirts on the shelves. Quinn yanked off one and shook it out and put it on. “I should go to Glen Ellyn. But I can do it tomorrow.”

Sadie sighed. She missed seeing his bare shoulders, abs and butt. “What’s going on there?”