Until Next Time (5 page)

“Sorry about the outfit, Piper.” Margo made her way to a closet in the far corner of the foyer, yanked out her purse, and headed to the front door. “I’ve got a special dinner party tonight.”

Piper’s face regained some of its lost color. She nodded numbly, her eyes still swinging between him and Margo.

Margo made a quiet exit, leaving Piper and Quinn alone in the vast space. A slight wind from a high overhead vent blew air across Quinn’s face, making the petals on the flowers on the tables by the wall swish.

Piper rolled her shoulders, offering Quinn a tentative smile. “Again, I’m sorry about what you overhead. Totally unprofessional on my part.”

“I said it was okay. I won’t tell a soul.” Quinn’s heart swelled as an idea took root. He could help this man. He
would
help this man. “Might I offer you a suggestion?”

Her brow furrowed. “Suggestion?”

“Yes. Mr. Ryan is a veteran?” he asked although he already knew the answer.

Piper frowned. “I’m afraid I can’t divulge more than I already have.”

Quinn withheld a chuckle. Of course she couldn’t. “Well, I’m going to assume he is, otherwise there wouldn’t be any talk of National Cemeteries. My family’s in the military as well. Shortly after the Vietnam War, my grandfather started a foundation…Warriors with a Cause. Perhaps you’ve heard of it?”

“Yes, I think I have.” She twisted her hands together, still looking flushed. Quinn itched to bring the flowers from around his back, to see a smile light her face. “They help wounded veterans with extra necessities after being injured, right?”

“Basically, yes. Veterans Affairs covers the cost of medical care and supplies upon returning home, but sometimes families find the transition difficult. My grandfather created the foundation many years ago to help cover more basic, mostly unconsidered needs like wheelchairs ramps in homes, rides to and from treatment, places for family to stay if they’re far from home, that sort of thing. Then there’s the mental health aspect, which unfortunately is lacking. The foundation is a collective effort between living veterans and donations from those who’ve passed. Our goal is to help fill in the gaps when the VA benefits don’t go as far as they need to.”

Quinn felt tremendous sympathy for Mr. Ryan and other elderly vets like him. It was expensive to get old. Quinn’s grief counseling at the local VA hospital had taught him a great deal about the cost of being both hurt and growing old. Life was a precious gift, but growing old was a struggle for most. No less so for veterans.

Shaking himself out of the past, he continued, “When my grandmother fell ill and my grandfather discovered the National Cemetery dilemma, he saw a need to broaden the scope of the foundation, to helping cover the costs of a loved one’s death.”

Those big cinnamon eyes went wide. “That’s amazing.”

“Grandpa’s pretty proud.” As was Quinn. He gave Piper a bright smile. “Anyway, I’m sure the foundation would be pleased to make the Ryans the first to benefit from this new initiative. I can give you more information if you like.”

Her hand rubbed across her slicked-back hair, fiddling with tendrils that escaped her bun. She still looked uneasy for some reason. “I’ll mention it to him and let you know. Thank you.”

She eyed the arm snaked around his back. “Is everything okay with you—I mean your family? Was everything okay during the service?”

He didn’t move toward her, though now he wanted to. “No, no. The service was beautiful. Your minister did a wonderful job. Grandpa sends his sincere thanks.”

More color swam to her cheeks. She crossed over to the table by the wall to his left. “Good. We always like to hear we’ve done a good job.” Her fingers slid over the tips of the white roses settled in a crystal vase. She grabbed it up and held it out. “These came after the ceremony. They’re for your grandpa. Would you see that he gets them?”

Quinn took the vase in his free hand, enjoying the brush of her fingers against his. His other hand remained behind his back. “Sure.”

Her long lashes fluttered as her magnetic stare met his. Her head cocked, her bottom lip quivered slightly. And yet…she said nothing. She combed over his face, her gaze lingering on his lips. That made him want to smile. But he didn’t. After several silent moments, her attention snapped back to his.

“Uh, did you need anything else?”

“Yes.” He inhaled sharply, enjoying Piper’s spicy scent mingled with the softness of the roses. “During our conversation this afternoon before my grandmother’s funeral, I realized that I’d like to get know you better.” The arm behind his back swung forward, displaying a full bouquet of spring daisies, lilies, and baby’s breath. “Would you care to join me for dinner?”

If Piper was shocked now—or even happy—she didn’t show it. Her gaze never left Quinn’s, not even to eye the bountiful flowers in his grip.

The same slow and somber smile he’d seen Piper give his entire family at the funeral earlier that day was now focused on him.

“That’s sweet,” she replied. With a gentle grip, she took him by the elbow and led him the few short steps back to the door. “Thank you for the invitation, Quinn. I really do appreciate it.”

He swallowed as she opened the door. She gave him a gentle push, that eerie smile still stretched across her features. He backed onto the porch.

Her hand dropped to the bouquet in his hands. “They’re beautiful,” she commented, stroking each perfect bloom. “I’ve seen plenty of flowers in my line of work.” She stepped back, her attention riveted back on his face. His lips.

“Too many flowers.” Her teasing tone conflicted with her tight smile. “It was very nice of you to ask, Quinn, but I’m afraid I can’t. It wouldn’t be appropriate, I’m afraid.” She didn’t quite
look
at him while she was looking at him. It was the strangest feeling. “Is there anything else I can do for you, Quinn?”

He was too stunned to speak.

“All right, then. Please call if you need anything else concerning the services. Have a good night,” she said with a quiet nod. She shut the door. It clicked ominously, and Quinn was left standing alone on the front porch of the funeral home with nothing but the whipping wind and hurt pride to keep him company.

Chapter Four

Piper blew her cheeks full of air, stretching them out to chipmunk capacity. She gazed out the window, watching Quinn pause at his car, look back at the house, and then finally get in and drive away. Frustrated, she banged her head on the closed door a few times. The air in her mouth rushed out, making a funny sound across her lips. What had she done?

One more good, hard bang against the door and Piper pushed away from it, dragging herself to her apartment right upstairs from her funeral home.

She’d had no choice but to tell Quinn no, right?

Right.

There was a definite attraction between her and Quinn. She could see that. Feel it. She allowed her shoes to slip off as she jogged up the stairs to her apartment. Well, house. The place she slept at night.

As soon as she was behind the closed doors of her inner sanctum, she shed her suddenly constricting clothes, opting for more practical yoga pants and a loose-fitting tee. She liked coming home from a day of work to the atmosphere that was so vastly different than the funeral home downstairs. Instead of dark panel, wallpapered walls, and muted floral couches, Piper’s home was full of color. Each room had a different shade.

She made her way to the dark red kitchen contrasted by white cabinets and steel appliances. It was small—the whole place was small—but it worked. When her parents had been alive, they’d all lived in the house next-door to the funeral home. But after her parents died, she couldn’t stand to live under that same roof with those same memories. Piper couldn’t bear to part with the old home, either. It was a rental now. A lovely family of five called it home. And Piper called the attic home. Well, it had been an attic. A gigantic one. Big enough for all the necessities. A living room, a tiny kitchen—because who had time to cook?—a bedroom and a bath. Simple and perfect.

Piper pushed around the labeled containers of food in her freezer, looking for something that looked decent to eat. She settled on pasta. As the microwave did its job, Piper thought of the thin spaghetti noodles, then
Lady and the Tramp
, and then the image of Quinn’s lips skidded her thoughts to a halt.

The microwave dinged, causing Piper to jump.

God, where had her mind gone? She’d turned him down. The train has left the building…no lingering allowed.

She jerked the pasta out of the machine. The scent of the sauce and noodles brought those kissable lips to her mind again. She dumped the dinner in the trash and plopped down on the sofa, grumbling.

It wasn’t as if she’d never dated. She had. Several times, in fact. Just because she didn’t believe in love didn’t mean she couldn’t have a relationship. She was, after all, a woman with needs. Sex was healthy. It was needed. Piper preferred the no-strings-attached approach. Her relationships tended to end when the man got too serious.

Which is why she had turned Quinn down. He wasn’t the no-strings-attached type. Judging by his family, he loved—and hard. They all did. That was something Piper did not have the time or energy to deal with. Not that she would want to if she had the time or the energy. Love was a fairytale. One that didn’t always have a happy ending. Piper wanted nothing to do with that.

And yet, Quinn had looked so adorable standing in her foyer. Those beautiful eyes had stayed riveted on her, making her want to wrap him in a hug. To feel the warmth she knew he had. She yanked out the bun in her hair, allowing her curls to spill across her face, hiding her blush from…herself.

This was so stupid. She should have said yes. That would have been the polite thing to do. He’d just buried his grandmother, for chocolate’s sake. And she’d turned him down flat. Without explanation. If she’d done the smart thing, then she could have gotten to know him and he could have learned how Piper dealt with men in her life. Maybe they could’ve had a decent short-term relationship, like the rest of hers. She could handle that.

But what she’d told him about the flowers had been true. She’d seen far too many over the years. And if she was going to give anyone any time of day, flowers weren’t the answer. She’d never dated a man who’d given her flowers. That was so generic, even for people who didn’t work in the funeral industry. Flowers wilted, turned brown, and died. What woman wanted to witness that? Then again, that’s how most relationships ended, so Piper suddenly thought it was fitting.

But in the beginning, people deserved more than flowers. Women deserved something a little more special. Like the time she’d dated Dave from the flower shop. He’d known better than to give her flowers. Instead, he’d arranged for her hearse to be washed weekly for three months straight. How thoughtful was that?

Piper pushed her hair out of her cooling face and curled herself into a ball on the couch. That’s what she wanted. Too feel different again. Like she wasn’t another girl who accepted the normal things. She was far from normal. She didn’t commit, didn’t love, so Piper enjoyed the ride while she had it.

If Quinn could understand that, she’d have no problem saying yes the next time. Her eyes fluttered closed. Hopefully there would be a next time.

The shrill of the phone broke through her almost-sleep.

“Downing and Sons Funeral Home, this is Piper. How can I help you?” And like that, Piper was done thinking about herself, concerned more with the tears of the client who’d recently lost a loved one on the other end of her line.

<<<<>>>>>

Quinn strode through the door of his father’s home, instantly meeting the curious gaze of his grandpa. “Hey, Grandpa,” he said, handing him the vase Piper had given them. “Piper sent these for you.”

His gray brow rose. “Sent them?”

Quinn shuffled his feet. “Well, I went to see her, and she gave them to me to give to you.”

The brows drew together. “Went to see her? Why?”

“I, uh, wanted to ask her something.”

His wrinkled face split into a wide grin. “Did you, now? And what did
Miss
Downing have to say?”

Quinn didn’t miss the playful tone. Or the enunciation of
miss
. “She apparently has no inclination for dating me.”

“What?” He dropped the vase on the table by the door unceremoniously. “I don’t believe that. How’d you manage to flub up asking for a date, son? She’s perfect…and single from what that nice secretary told me.”

Quinn stifled a groan. She was perfect. More perfect than he’d seen in a while. And yet, so guarded. He’d have liked the opportunity to peel away some of the concrete layers covering her real self.

They walked together into the family living room. Thank God his brothers hadn’t arrived yet to hear this conversation. They would give Quinn their ridiculous macho advice and make fun of him for not being able to get the deal done. Quinn could wait. He was a patient man. And he figured that Piper would need a little more wooing. With more than flowers.

“Apparently she doesn’t like flowers.” Quinn folded himself into the hundred-year-old plaid couch. It wasn’t that old; it only felt like it.

Grandpa settled himself into the trusty red recliner, leaning back as far as he could go. “When a girl spends her days comforting people, burying the dead, and seeing more flowers than most people see in their lifetime, she expects something different.”

“I know.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “I should’ve thought of that sooner.”

He leaned forward and patted Quinn on the knee. “Not to worry. You’ll figure it out. There isn’t a seamless recipe out there to help you catch her. Love is a game, after all. A beautiful, complicated game.”

Love?
Quinn didn’t mind the word. He’d been in love once. He’d do it again. But he thought his grandpa was getting a little ahead of himself. “Let’s try to get past the starting gate, Grandpa. How’s that?”

“Sounds good.”

Quinn eyed his grandpa. “How you holding up?”

A knowing smile tilted the corners of his lips. “I’m okay. I miss her, you know.”

Quinn nodded. He’d lost his wife after one year, and that still sliced through him every day. They’d lost the chance of doing so much together; growing old, having children. His grandparents had been married for over seventy. Quinn couldn’t imagine the loss of that magnitude. All those memories. The knowing that someone was always there for you. And now it’s just…gone. It would be painful and lonely. “I miss her, too.”

Grandpa stretched out again on the recliner, rubbing a hand over his heart. “She’s here,” he said quietly. “And I’ll see her again. Soon. That’s what matters, son.”

“I know.” Quinn swallowed hard, not wanting to think about losing two grandparents so closely together. But he knew his family’s outlook on death. After living a full life, it was a blessing. One that offered so much more than life. He felt the same. But like anything, death was still painful. They’d all learned to handle it better than most.

The front door swished open, and loud voices echoed through the rooms.

“Sounds like your brothers have arrived.”

Great.
“In here,” Quinn called out.

KC strolled in first, Sarah in tow. His eyes scanned the room as he took Sarah’s hand into his. She smiled gently up at him.

“Where’s Dad?” KC asked as he planted himself on the chair next to the couch. Sarah slid down onto his lap.

“Out back manning the barbeque,” Grandpa replied. “He refused to let me near the grill. As usual.”

Del popped in, his long strides taking him to the other end the couch in no time. “Old fart. Someday I’m gonna get a kick out of him not being able to move around so much and boss everyone around.”

KC stretched out his leg and kicked him. “Watch your mouth.”

Sarah chuckled and kissed KC’s cheek. He tugged her closer to his chest. “He’s a boy who hasn’t learned his manners yet. No lady to help him out, I suppose.”

Del grunted and rubbed his shin like it actually hurt. “Hey, I’m only saying what you all are thinking.”

At that, Grandpa laughed. “I did raise a stern…
old fart
. Is that what you said?”

Del snorted. “Yeah. Good thing Ma’s got enough love and devotion to deal with it.”

“Perfect pair, those two,” Grandpa said quietly.

Quinn chuckled in agreement. Perfect pair, indeed. His mother was patient, kind, and loving, yet she could douse a raging fire lightning fast. And that’s what his father was. A raging fire. When he wanted to be. He’d toned down a bit over the years. Quinn guessed his age had something to do with it. He still did like his control, though. Even with his boys.

As if on cue, their father’s voice boomed through the halls. “The food is not going to eat itself!”

Their mother found them all seated in the living room. She shooed them up, helping Grandpa to his wobbly feet. “Come now. If the food gets cold, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the boys replied in unison, shuffling in order out the back door.

Sarah held back, her eyes focusing on Quinn. “KC told me about your lady friend.”

Quinn rolled his eyes. “I don’t have a lady friend.”

“The woman from the funeral home? KC mentioned you, uh…liked her the other day. Maybe he was mistaken.” A frown pulled on her brow. “Sorry.”

“No, KC says too much.” Quinn gave her a quick smile. “I do like her. I asked her out even, but she turned me down flat.”

Sarah’s jaw dropped. “Really? That’s surprising. When did you ask her?”

Quinn rubbed his face. “Right after Grandma’s funeral.”

“Not the best time, then,” Sarah commented.

“Why’s that?”

She shrugged. “Quinn, she probably thought you needed a shoulder or something. As a professional, it would only be right of her to turn you down nicely.”

Quinn considered his ill-timed encounter. “You think it would’ve been different on another day?”

“I’ve worked with you, Quinn. I know how you are. You’re one of the nicest people I’ve ever met and have a huge heart. And if you haven’t noticed, none of you are missing anything in the looks department.” She smiled, tossing her long black hair over shoulder as she peeked out the back door. “You’ve got everything going for you. Maybe you need to push a little more.”

“You’re probably right,” Quinn answered, waving toward the party in the back. “I’ll think of something and try harder next time.”

Sarah pattered his shoulder. “That’s what I like to hear. And Quinn?” Her voice went calm, serious. “Remember I’m always here if you want to talk.”

A rock lodged in his gut. He didn’t want to think about his past. He only wanted to date Piper, have some fun and enjoy her company, see if he could get her to laugh. He only needed to find out the secret to Piper. The secret that would make her say yes.