Chapter 8
When they arrived in Denver, Claire called Patrick as soon as they were on their way to the city. “Bet you don’t know where I’m at?” she asked as soon as Patrick picked up the phone.
“Now, let me guess. Kissing the Blarney Stone? Having a Guinness? No, scratch that, you wouldn’t like that. Too strong for a wimpy kid like you. Let me see, maybe you’re about to jump off the Cliffs of Moher?”
She laughed. “Wrong on all accounts.” She placed her hand over the phone. Whispering to Quinn, she said, “He thinks I’m still in Ireland.”
“What did you say?”
“Oh for crying out loud, Patrick, I’m back in the States. As a matter of fact, I’m about to head out to I-70 tomorrow. Wanna give me a road update?”
She heard her brother laughing. “Seriously? You’ve been to Ireland and back in two days? I take it the place wasn’t up to your standards?”
“It’s beautiful there, but I had to leave. I’ll explain it to you when I see you. Tomorrow. I’m spending the night in a hotel tonight. I’ve hardly slept since I last spoke with you. Make sure to tell Stephanie and the girls that I’ll see them tomorrow, okay? And the rest of the gang, too. They’ll all be there right?”
“Yep.”
“Good, because I’m bringing a guest along. Someone special that I want to introduce to my family. Okay, I’m about to lose what’s left of my battery. See you tomorrow.” Claire clicked END, then turned her phone off before it rang again. Knowing her brother, he was probably calling the rest of the gang right about now. Since there were so many, Claire knew it would take at least half an hour for the news to spread throughout the O’Brien family. Once the news was out that she was bringing someone for them to meet, her cell phone would never stop ringing. She explained all this to Quinn. “And that’s why I won’t turn my phone on until we arrive.”
“And you say they’re in Telluride?” Quinn asked as he exited off the interstate.
“Yes. Where are we going?” She assumed they would stop at a motel along the way, share some private time together, maybe she’d jump his bones, but apparently he had other plans. He drove down Sheridan Boulevard and pulled into a McDonald’s. “I have a confession to make. I’m addicted to Big Macs. I treat myself once a week, no more, but it’s been almost two weeks since I’ve had one. Do you mind?”
She busted out laughing. “I learn something new about you by the minute. And for the record, I like a fish sandwich from Mickey D’s myself now and then. Minus the cheese, though. A large fry, extra ketchup, and a large Dr Pepper.”
“Now that we have that out of the way, let’s go inside. I’m starving.”
Claire was tired to the bone but in a good way. She’d slept on the plane, and it’d been a good, deep sleep, but she still longed for a bed, a hot bath, and a steaming mug of Earl Grey tea. But for now, she planned to enjoy every minute of her time alone with Quinn.
Inside, they placed their orders. As soon as the food was ready, they sat by the window overlooking the parking lot. It wasn’t much of a scene outside. It had snowed in Denver two days ago, but now the sun had melted it, and it was nothing more than brown slush. Cars with rust from the salt on the roads were parked haphazardly throughout the lot. Snowdrifts were banked against the curb. A few kids jumped around in the play area, and Christmas tunes could be heard from hidden speakers. A fake tree decorated with empty french fry boxes and the paper boxes they now used in place of the styrofoam ones for the variety of sandwiches they carried hung from the tree. Cookies and the tiny toys that came inside the kids’ meals were strung across the branches. It wasn’t much of a tree, Claire thought, but it was quite appropriate for McDonald’s.
Silent for a change, they were both focused on eating when Claire suddenly had an epiphany. “This is the first time we’ve been out to dinner together.”
Quinn raised his eyebrows in surprise. “I believe you’re right. Now my Big Mac cravings will be even more meaningful. And I’m serious, Claire. This isn’t a joke, or small talk. You’ve become very special to me, and I hope you feel the same about me.”
Claire’s heart did another dance, the rumba, from the way it was beating out of control. “I do, Quinn. It’s just a bit unexpected, that’s all.”
“Why? You never planned to fall in love?”
More rumba dancing in her chest. “I’d always hoped to, I just never met the right person. Trust me, I tried; it just didn’t happen for me.”
“And this means?”
“That it’s happening for me. Hard and fast.” Crap! I didn’t say that, did I?
“And it will be the first time. After that, it’s slow and easy, all the way.”
Good grief, Quinn was verbally seducing her in McDonald’s! She almost choked on her french fries. She felt her face turn red, glad the few customers in the place weren’t mind readers. “If you keep talking to me like that, I will not be responsible for my actions,” Claire stated, then dipped a fry in her pile of ketchup.
“I’ll hold you to that.” He wiped his mouth with a paper napkin, then stuffed it inside his empty Big Mac box. “You told your brother you were staying in a hotel tonight. Did you have a particular place in mind?”
More rumba from the dancers in her chest. “Not really. I usually stay with my family when I’m here, and they’re in the mountains. Except for Colleen and Mark. They live in Washington State, but they’ll be here. They’re the ones who lost a daughter, my niece, Shannon. They’re always sad during the holidays, but it’s to be expected. We all are in our own way, but we try to make each other happy. I really should warn you, though. They’re a great group of people, but my sisters are incredibly nosy, and my five brothers, well, they take protecting their sisters seriously. Mom and Dad, they’re the best. You’ll like them.”
“They raised you, so how could I not?”
“If I didn’t know better, I would think you were trying to butter me up.” Claire ate the last of her french fries. She neatly wrapped her empty boxes together, then added Quinn’s pile to her own. She watched him as she did this. Togetherness.
“Actually, there is something I want you to know. It’s nothing major, but I should have told you.”
Here goes the bomb, she thought. “What’s that?” She wanted to appear calm, as though nothing he might tell her could affect her, but she knew better, and so did he. They’d moved fast and furious, but whatever it was, it was very real for both of them.
“That Beechcraft belongs to me.”
“What?”
“The airplane. It’s mine.”
“That’s it?”
“I’m afraid so,” he said, a smile in his eyes and a grin the size of the moon on his handsome face.
“Somehow, I think I can live with that.”
“How would you feel about flying to Telluride rather than us driving? I don’t want to force you to do something you’re not comfortable doing, but you did say you weren’t afraid.”
“Oh. I don’t have a problem, as long as you’re with me,” Claire said.
“Then let’s fly. We can surprise your family.”
Claire had never been excited about flying in an airplane. Ever. Until now. She was sure it had something to do with the man and not the plane.