Happy Endings (17 page)

Quinn finally looked up from the file, trying to suppress a sigh. “I know Sydney just got back from New York, but I have a lot of work to catch up on, Dad. Larissa has massage clients today, and I figured I’d work late.”

John frowned. “I thought you liked that girl.”

Like was a mild term. Quinn thought about the past two weeks and the time they’d spent together during the afternoons for his therapy. Larissa had a nurturing, loving side that he missed having in his previous marriage.

“I do like her. Missing one family dinner doesn’t mean we’re breaking up.”

John steepled his hands across his mouth, tapping both index fingers against his lips. He stared intently at Quinn.

Quinn tried not to roll his eyes. Classic John McCallister intimidation tactic. It was the look he used to convince Quinn to give up his plans to be an artist and work in the office instead. He refused to be cowed today.

“I’m working on those changes to our energy consumption.” Quinn kept his tone level—showing John any signs of impatience could mean a longer lecture. “This is important, Dad. We stand to save a lot of money, all while running a greener operation here. Project Green wants an answer within two weeks or they’ll take a different job. We won’t be able to get them out here until late next year if that happens. I have a lot of research to do in the meantime.”

“You know I want those changes as much as you do if it makes financial sense,” John replied, “but you have to eat dinner anyway, right?”

Unable to do anything but agree without looking like a petulant child, Quinn nodded.

“Burn the midnight oil later. Come introduce Larissa to the family as your girl. You’d better make sure she knows she’s special if you want to keep her.”

John stood and left the office, not waiting for Quinn’s reply.

His father knew him too well. After a guilt trip like that, Quinn would never hear the end of it from any of them if he didn’t appear at that dinner.

Picking up his new cell phone, he texted Larissa to tell her about their dinner plans.

***

J
anie whimpered when Larissa pressed into a particularly tight muscle.

Immediately easing the pressure, Larissa changed the spot she worked on. “Sorry about that, Janie. You really did a number on your back.”

“Yeah, but I saved that kid’s life, so it was worth it.” Janie’s muscles relaxed again as Larissa went back to work. “That’s the first drowning victim we’ve had all year.”

“Sounds scary.” Larissa worked her way up the sides of Janie’s spine. It would take a few sessions before the lifeguard was back in top shape.

“It definitely gets my adrenaline pumping,” Janie agreed. “But I love my job.”

“And there are perks to working at a resort,” Larissa said. “On the job injuries are soothed away by your own, private massage therapist.”

Janie laughed. “Well, needing to see you in your professional capacity is the only way we can hang out. The McCallisters certainly keep you busy these days.”

It wasn’t common knowledge around the island that Larissa and Quinn were together, or even that she’d been with him when he was injured. She wondered if Janie could keep the secret. Larissa hated not having anyone to talk to, especially since she was increasingly confused about where things headed with Quinn.

“The doctor let Quinn give up the crutches today,” she said instead of blurting out her relationship concerns. “I won’t have to spend so much time working on him now.”

“Interesting.” Janie turned her head sideways and made eye contact with Larissa. “Are you going to keep screwing him though?”

A startled laugh forced its way from Larissa’s mouth. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, please.” Janie shifted on the table, turning to sit up as she pulled the sheet across her dark chest. “Everyone knows the two of you are humping like dogs in heat. It’s all anyone can talk about.”

Larissa fanned her face, mortified. “Everyone knows?”

Throwing her head back, Janie laughed so hard the table beneath her vibrated. “You thought it was a secret?” She hopped down, moving more easily than she had when she first walked into the studio. She grabbed her clothing, not bothering to step behind the concealment screen. “Brad told everyone. He was jealous at first, because I guess he wanted you. However, now that he’s dating me...” Janie pulled on her shirt and let the sheet fall away, flashing Larissa a wicked smile that hinted at all sorts of things Janie and Brad might be doing to get the younger McCallister over his crush on Larissa.

Refusing to continue feeling embarrassed and ashamed, Larissa stripped the sheet and heating pad off the massage table and set to work cleaning it. “So, you and Brad are humping like dogs in heat too, huh?”

“You know it,” Janie agreed. “Are you going to that dinner tonight at his folks’ house? I’d feel better if you were there, but Brad said Quinn’s back in the office now, so probably won’t show up.”

There was a family dinner? It seemed odd that Janie had an invite and Larissa knew nothing about it. “Quinn never mentioned dinner.”

“I don’t want to say anything bad about your new relationship, but if Quinn doesn’t take you to family dinners, I’d question his priorities.” Janie slipped into her flip-flops and then shook out her curly black hair. “People around here talk, and Quinn McCallister isn’t the best boyfriend material. Good for a roll in the hay, where I hear he’s attentive to a woman’s needs, but not in it for the long haul because he’s too self-centered and worried about the resort to ever put a woman first.”

Larissa’s stomach turned. She wished she could tell Janie that she was wrong about Quinn, but even his parents had hinted about his lack of commitment and unwillingness to put love first. And lately, she’d seen firsthand how the business was more important to him than she was. He didn’t even have her spend the nights—no matter how late it got—since he had work in the morning.

Janie’s other comments bothered her even more than Quinn’s long hours, however. How many women had he actually slept with? Was she just the latest in a long line of conquests since his divorce?

While she tried to think up a suitable response, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, frowning. “Speak of the devil. It’s a message from Quinn.”

She tapped to open it.

Dad sprung a family dinner on me that’s happening tonight. Feel like going?

Relief flooded through her. She wasn’t a booty call or a new conquest. He
was
making an effort. It was just that he hadn’t heard about the dinner yet.

She smiled at Janie. “I’ll see you at dinner.”

***

Q
uinn stepped out onto the porch, sitting in a wicker chair next to his sister. “What do you think, Sydney?”

She took a sip of a martini, shrugging. “The ocean’s as beautiful as always.”

“You know that’s not what I’m asking.”

Sydney sighed. “What I think is that you’ll screw this up, just like you do everything else in your personal life.” She tipped her head to the side. “But Brad and Janie have a real chance.”

Quinn rubbed a hand across his face, watching as the last piece of sun sank into the ocean. “I think I love her.”

Sydney snorted. “You don’t know what love is.”

Knowing Sydney never said anything just to talk, Quinn gave consideration to her statement. He did know what love was. He loved his family. He loved Shadow. Once upon a time, he’d loved painting. Now, he loved finding ways to save the resort money and make it better.

“This is different,” he said softly. “She’s different. Sometimes when she walks into a room and smiles, I feel like an electrical jolt has zapped into my body and more of her company is the only thing that will keep me going. I get so involved in work, and then I’ll look up and see the picture of her I have on my computer screen and smile.”

“So, you’re infatuated. Didn’t you feel the same with Camille?”

“Never.”

She turned her head quickly, staring at him wide-eyed. “Never?”

“Mom and Dad wanted grandkids. Camille said she loved me.” Quinn leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “I had just made a decision to give up on my dreams because no one else wanted Dad’s job. I didn’t really care about anything for a while. Least of all who I slept with or married. Mom and Dad liked Camille. I figured if she made the family happy, I’d learn to be happy too.”

“Oh, Quinn.” Sydney’s hand rested against his arm. “You’re a damn idiot.”

“I know.”

She chuckled. “Well, for the record, I like Larissa a lot. She’s perfect for you. So sweet.”

“And spicy.”

“Gross.” Sydney shoved him, making his chair tip dangerously. “I
don’t
need details.”

Quinn grinned as he got the chair under control. It was always fun to shock his pragmatic sister. “It was just an observation.”

“Well, here’s
my
observation—if you want to keep her, you need to figure out how to make her the most important thing in your life.” Sydney stood, downing the last of her drink. “Dad told me you refused to bring her to dinner tonight at first. Working long hours in your office is not the key to making a woman fall in love.”

***

“D
inner was delicious,” Larissa said while helping Susan McCallister load the dishwasher. It still surprised her that Quinn’s parents weren’t inside a mansion with a full staff to do their cooking and cleaning. John and Susan reminded her a lot of her own parents, actually.

Susan handed over the stack of plates she’d rinsed off. “Do you like to cook?”

“Well... I’m no good at it,” Larissa admitted. “My mom’s a fabulous cook, but I’m best with a microwave.”

“You and Quinn will starve then.” Susan smiled. “He doesn’t cook either. It’s a good thing you live in paradise. Meals are available for you in Shane’s kitchen, and you never have to worry.”

“That’s certainly a plus. Shane does a great job with the restaurant.” Larissa finished loading in the last of the plates and looked around for something else to do. She wasn’t sure she wanted to have this talk with Quinn’s mother, because it sounded like Susan wanted to find out how serious things were, whether Larissa was planning on being domestic with her son.

The entire McCallister family acted as though it was a done deal—she and Quinn were a couple and Larissa would be around full time. Over the course of the evening, however, Larissa began to wonder how much of Quinn’s desire to date her was because his family expected it.

Brad didn’t have near the pressure applied on him for his relationship with Janie. While everyone was nice to Janie, they didn’t talk about the future.

Quinn’s life was a different story. Several times, someone asked when they could expect to hear wedding bells from Quinn and Larissa. Each time, Quinn had gone quiet and Larissa begged off answering, pointing out that they hadn’t known each other all that long.

It was uncomfortable, to say the least. However, Larissa was sure they thought they were doing a great job welcoming her to the family. Parker had even refrained from being his usual flirty self, a sure sign he now expected her to be Quinn’s for keeps.

Was this what it was like for Quinn when he dated Camille? No wonder he felt forced into marriage. Larissa didn’t want to be his next ex-wife.

She leaned against the counter, taking a deep breath. “I think Quinn has too much pressure placed on him.”

Susan dried out the sink with a clean towel, and although Larissa watched her face closely, the older woman didn’t show signs of anger at Larissa’s outburst.

“Quinn’s a good man,” Susan said after a few seconds, “but he takes too much on himself.”

“What do you mean?”

“We mentioned the fact that someone needed to take over the business when John retires, and none of the kids offered to do it.” Susan placed the towel across the divider in the sink and then looked at Larissa. “We planned to ask one of the cousins or find someone business minded to run things, and Quinn became upset. He said he would take the job. He threw himself into learning everything John knows, and he never looked back. I know he does love his new job, but I worry. He had plans to be an artist, and now he doesn’t paint at all. He needs to find balance in his life.”

Larissa didn’t need her boyfriend’s mother hating her, but she didn’t understand what they were thinking, trying to manage Quinn’s life like they did. “Forcing him into a relationship he might not want is your idea of getting him balanced?”

Susan frowned. “You think my son doesn’t want to be with you?”

“I’m not sure. What I do know is that he never loved Camille. He thought she was what you wanted for him.”

“And you don’t want us forcing him to be with you.”

Larissa nodded.

“That’s fair,” Susan said, surprising Larissa. “Can I ask you a question, though?”

Like she could say no. “Sure.”

“Do you love my son?”

Larissa stared at the floor. Did she? Some days, things were so perfect between them and all she wanted was more time with him. Other days, she was left confused and hurt, wondering if Quinn was using her to make his family happy when he pushed her to the side in favor of work. However, that wasn’t Susan’s question. Susan didn’t want to know what Larissa thought Quinn felt. She wanted to know Larissa’s feelings.

“Quinn and I haven’t known each other very long,” she replied, using her standard answer.

“Doesn’t matter,” Susan said. “John proposed to me one week after we met. We were married a month later. Love doesn’t follow a timeline, dear. You know your own heart. Do you love him?”

Larissa blinked rapidly, suddenly fighting tears. “I
am
in love with him, but I don’t think we’ll work. He’s married to this business, and I want a partner, not a paycheck with an occasional conjugal visit.”

Susan sighed and wrapped Larissa in a tight embrace. “That’s what I was afraid of. Even Camille, who was just after our money and lifestyle and never really loved Quinn, couldn’t handle his obsessions with the business after a while. He’s
too
dedicated.”

Larissa sniffled, feeling like her heart would break. Quinn’s mother agreed with all Larissa’s fears. Quinn didn’t care enough about her to cut back at work. It was obvious her nightly fantasies about him realizing she was more important than anything else and sweeping her in a whirlwind romance would never happen.