Quinn's Woman by Susan Mallery

with their salads. After he left, Quinn continued.

    “You know the Haynes brothers, right?”

    “I know Travis and Kyle the best. A lot of my work is coordinated through the sheriffs office. Jordan lives here in town, but he’s a fire chief, so we don’t have as much contact. I’ve met Craig a few times, and Hannah’s great.”

    “They’re all in law enforcement,” Quinn pointed out. “Except Jordan, and he’s close enough.”

    She picked up her fork and smiled. “They wouldn’t agree with you. Everyone gives Jordan a hard time about being a firefighter.”

    “My brother’s a sheriff. Kevin is a U.S. Marshal, Nash works for the FBI and I...” His voice trailed off and he shrugged. “It’s strange.”

    “Not necessarily. A lot of time brothers go into the same line of work. Besides, if you’re going to join a ready-made family, this is a good one.”

    “They’re big on wives and kids.”

    “Actually I think just one wife apiece, but plenty of kids.” She took a bite of her salad. “Are you
    married?”

    She thought he might tease her or make a joke, but instead he shook his
    head. “Not my style.”

    “Work?”

    “That’s part of it.” What were the other parts? “So what does D.J. stand for?” he asked.

    “Nothing interesting.”

    “I don’t believe that.” He ate some of his salad. When he’d chewed and swallowed he said, “Debbi Jo.”

    She shook her head. “Darling Jenny?” She took another sip of her wine. “Dashing Joyce?” “I’m ignoring you.” “Darlene Joy?”

    She broke off a piece of bread and bit into it. “It can’t be that bad,” he said. “Give me a hint.” D.J. knew it was that bad. “I don’t hint.” He sighed theatrically. “I’ll have to ask around town.”

    “Ask away. No one knows the truth.” “Really?”

    She shrugged. “I keep my secrets.” “What other secrets do you have?” “If I tell you they won’t be secrets.” “Good point.” He studied her. “You look beautiful tonight.”

    The quick shift in topic left her mentally stumbling. Worse, the compliment actually made her toes curl in her too-high and very uncomfortable pumps. “I, ah, thank you.” “You’re welcome. I appreciate that you got into the spirit of my request for your clothing this evening.”

    “I pay my bills in full.” “Is that what this is?”

    “We have a deal. I honored my end, I expect you to do the same.”

    He raised his glass as if toasting her again, but he didn’t say anything. She watched him drink. There was something about the way he looked at her. He wasn’t just watching, he was learning. Studying. The attention should have made her uncomfortable, and in a way it did. But it also left her very aware of his maleness. She’d done the boy-girl thing when it suited her purpose, but never without a reason. Never just because she wanted to.

    “You’re a hell of a woman, D.J.”

    While the quiet praise didn’t make her toes curl the same way his telling her she was beautiful had, the sincerity in his voice eased through a tiny crack in her usual solid protective wall. She felt herself relaxing in his presence. Accepting him. Liking him.

    The latter should have put her on alert, but she didn’t want to think about safety and staying distant. Not for a few more minutes. It felt good to simply be in the presence of a man whose company she enjoyed.

    “So tell me about growing up in L.A.,” he said.

    Her good mood shattered like a glass dropped on tile. Wariness returned, along with the need to bolt.

    “There’s not much to tell. I lost my parents when I was eleven. There wasn’t any extended family, so I was put into foster care.” She held up a hand before he could say anything. “The people I was with were fine. Genuinely nice. They worried, they gave a whole lot more than the state paid them to give.”

    All true, she thought. In just under seven years she’d been with two different families, and each