One Little Thing Read Online Free PDF Page A

slurring her words or anything, but looks could be deceiving. He couldn’t believe Howie had given her the drink without warning her first. “It’s called Firefly Tea because it lights you up. Howie makes his with Everclear.”
    â€œGood Lord, no wonder I’m wobbly.”
    Quinn stood. “Come on. I’ll walk you home.”
    â€œI’m fine, really.”
    â€œIt’s on my way, and I’m ready to go anyway.” That wasn’t entirely true, but he wasn’t going to let Sophie walk home alone half-drunk. Magnolia Beach was a pretty safe place in general, but he couldn’t vouch for the tourists she might encounter—or even just the possibility she might fall and hurt herself if she was more than just “wobbly.”
    â€œLet Quinn walk with you,” Heidi said. “Just to be safe.”
    She hesitated. “Only if you’re sure it won’t be a problem.”
    â€œI wouldn’t have offered if it were.”
    Ten o’clock was pretty late to be out by Magnolia Beach standards, and most of the crowd on Front Street was gone. Vendors were packing up, tables were being loaded onto the backs of trucks, and Mr. Donovan was conscientiously sweeping the sidewalk in front of his store. He waved and said goodnight as they passed.
    Sophie looked uncomfortable and Quinn was feeling a bit like an unwelcome puppy following her home, especially since she’d been so animated and talkative just a few minutes earlier. “Did you have a good time?” he finally asked.
    â€œI did. That Friday night thing seems to have been a really good idea.”
    â€œIt’s good for the local businesses and gives the tourists that taste of small-town Southern goodness they see on TV, so it’s a success all around.”
    â€œAnd there seemed to be plenty of locals about too, so that’s good.”
    â€œYep.”
This conversation is rapidly heading toward lame.
    â€œNow I guess I should apologize.”
    The sudden change in topic threw him. “For what?”
    She stopped and looked at him. “You know for what. I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable. With the . . .” Her lips twitched. “‘Meditating.’” She seemed both amused and embarrassed at the same time, but he had to give her props for being upfront about it.
    â€œHey, ‘meditate’ how you want, when you want. It doesn’t bother me.” While true, he stopped short of telling her how much he liked it.
    She lifted an eyebrow at him. “That doesn’t mean it’s not rude.”
    â€œIf I’m not offended, is it actually rude?”
    She thought for a moment. “That’s a good question. Like the ‘sounds of trees falling in the woods when no one isaround’ philosophical-type questions. It’s not something I can decide when I’ve been drinking Everclear.”
    â€œLet’s get you home, then. You can riddle it out later.”
    She started walking again. “Either way, I’ll quit. You can enjoy your mornings creeper-free from now on. The offer for coffee still stands, though.”
    â€œLike I said, it doesn’t bother me.”
    â€œStill, it’s easier to objectify a stranger. Now that I know it’s you . . .” She shrugged.
    He was disappointed to hear that. It probably meant there was something seriously wrong with him, something that needed therapy to sort out his newly discovered inner exhibitionist, but that didn’t change the feeling. “If that’s what you want . . .”
    Sophie stopped again and looked up at him, her eyebrows pulled together like she was puzzling something out. Then her face cleared, eyes widening and jaw dropping slightly. “You
liked
it.” She smacked him on the arm. “You were
enjoying
it.”
    He couldn’t help the grin. “So were you,” he reminded her.
    â€œTrue,” she admitted.