research showed most people considered several different brands and tried on multiple styles before buying even one pair of jeans.
The elevator arrived with a ding, its doors swishing open. Stepping inside, he pushed the button to take him down to thethird level. While most companies reserved prime parking spaces for executives, Riley O’Brien & Co.’s coveted spaces were awarded monthly by lottery. The process served as a constant reminder that all employees were valued equally.
Arriving at the designated floor, he made his way to his Audi Q7 and clicked the remote to unlock the doors. He’d bought the luxury SUV on a whim one rainy Saturday afternoon a few months ago.
Since he hadn’t been seeing anyone romantically, and his brother, Cal, had been out of town, he’d been bored out of his mind. He had been watching ESPN when an Audi commercial had come on, and he had decided to visit the local dealership.
When Cal had seen his new toy, he’d pointed out that most people went for a run or to the movies when they were bored. His brother had concluded Quinn needed a hobby, or even better, a honey, and then he’d begged to drive it.
Teagan, meanwhile, had said he had too much time on his hands and too much money in his bank account, something he didn’t bother to dispute. “You should try volunteering,” she’d suggested snidely before demanding that he take her for a spin.
Opening the door, he tossed his bag in the passenger seat and jumped in. The smell of expensive leather enveloped him, and he clicked his seat belt in place.
After connecting his iPhone to the car radio, he turned it on. He’d been edgy and agitated all day, and loud, angry music always helped him decompress.
As he drove home, he tapped his fingers against the steering wheel to the thumping beat of Godsmack’s “I Stand Alone.” The music was suddenly silenced as the car’s console lit up to let him know he had a call. He pressed a button to connect it, and Teagan was immediately there with him, in voice if not in body.
“Quinn, where are you?” Her voice came through the speakers loud and clear, much to his displeasure.
“I’m heading home.”
“You avoided me all afternoon,” she accused.
“You think so?” he replied, knowing his answer would irritate her.
“I know so, you jerk.”
He grinned. Annoying his little sister was so much fun, and he did it as often as he could.
“And here’s more proof you don’t know everything,” he mocked. “I had meetings all afternoon, and it was just a happy coincidence I was able to avoid you at the same time.”
Teagan’s rude snort echoed throughout the car. “I wanted to talk to you about your meeting with Amelia.”
Quinn sobered. He’d been trying
not
to think about that meeting all day.
“What about it?” he asked cautiously.
Her questions flew at him with the rapid staccato of a machine gun. “How did it go? Did you like her? What did you talk about? Were you satisfied?”
Thinking about Amelia made his gut tighten with renewed arousal. No, he definitely hadn’t been satisfied.
“It was fine.”
Teagan sighed loudly. “You’re just as bad as Amelia. She barely said two words to me about the meeting.”
Quinn’s curiosity was piqued. “What did she say?”
“She said you were nice.”
Nice?
Now he felt like ramming his head into a brick wall.
“What did you think of her?”
That was a good question. What
did
he think of Amelia? She hadn’t been anything like he’d expected, and he found her interesting, smart, and sexy.
In the short time they’d spent together, she had shown interest in his family’s history and an appreciation for the company’s traditions. She had a sense of humor, and she was a hard negotiator, not giving up on her desire to work from Nashville despite the pressure he’d put on her.
He had definitely been impressed with her design skills. He had underestimated her talent by assuming she had achieved her success solely
Elizabeth Ann Scarborough