About Last Night (About Last Night #1)(63)

It was a lame explanation. I knew. He knew it. We all knew it.

He stayed silent a long time.

“I’m so sorry you skipped work, Quinn,” I uttered softly, meaning it. I had just cost him two thousand dollars.

I was ready for the berating. I steeled myself for the scolding. Instead, I got a relieved sounding, “She’s okay.” Then louder, “You’re okay.”

I nodded, even though I knew he couldn’t see it. “I’m okay. Really.”

He sounded tired. “God, I was so worried.” My heart broke at the tone of his voice. “Why’d you leave?”

Asshole. I was a giant *. “I didn’t want to wake you.”

My brain yelled out, “Lame!”

His voice regained some of its fire. “I don’t give a f*ck, Mia. If I bring you to mine, you wake me and I’ll take you home. You don’t just leave.” His voice grated, “If something happened to you…”

“But nothing happened!” I cried, exasperated.

He went silent and I knew I shouldn’t have spoken. Then he uttered a calm, “Next time, wake me.”

Next time. I liked that. What I didn’t like was that he sounded too calm. Deathly calm.

Rather than call him on it, I uttered a reassuring, “Oh, God, Quinn. I’m so sorry. I promise, next time I’ll wake you. I never meant to worry you. I thought letting you sleep was a priority, but I can see now that I just messed things up.” My insides clenched and I closed my eyes in regret. “I’m sorry, Quinn. So sorry. I’m an *. A giant *.”

He sniffed a laugh. “No, you’re not. But yeah, you messed up.” I groaned loudly and he muttered, “But you’re safe and that’s all that matters.”

I didn’t speak. I didn’t know what to say apart from sorry.

“Goodnight, Mia.”

A remorseful tone shook my voice. “Goodnight, Quinn.”

I placed the phone on my bedside.

Sleep evaded me for hours into the night.





Chapter TwentyNine



Quinn




I woke to knocking at my door.

Blinking sleepily, I reached down to the side of the bed and slid on my boxers. I glanced out the window. Fuck me. It was still dark. Someone was in for a tongue-lashing.

Getting out of bed and stumbling down the hall, I glowered as I unlocked then threw open the door. “What the fuc—”

My glower vanished the moment I set my eyes on her. I rumbled, “Mia, what are you doing here?”

She looked sexy in her work attire. She wore black linen pants, a white shirt tucked in, with a thin belt and low heels. Her hair was neatly tied back and she wore eyeliner, mascara, and gloss.

I liked office Mia.

She looked embarrassed. “I-um…I—” then she flung herself forward and wrapped her arms around me, squeezing me as she pressed her cheek into my chest. “I’m sorry.”

I stood in shock. Was I dreaming? My arms lifted. I placed one around her shoulders and the other around her lower back. She felt real to me.

Mia pulled back, looking relieved, then she stepped back out into the hall, reaching for something she had placed by the door. She turned holding a paper bag and a holder containing two grande coffees. “I know what I did yesterday was stupid, and I’m sorry for stressing you out.” Her face bunched adorably as she held out the coffees and paper bag. “Peace offering?”

Would you look at all the effort she made?

A smile twitched at my lips. “Okay.” I added quickly, “Only if you let me drive you to work.”

Her guarded expression faded and she smiled softly. “Deal.”

She walked inside carrying breakfast.

It almost worried me at how easy this felt.

Almost.





Chapter Thirty



Mia




This morning was unusual. I’d never seen the sunrise while sharing breakfast with a man before.

It felt epically appropriate though, as though it was the dawn of something more, something new. And while the previous times I had spent with Quinn were highly sensual with a buzz in the air, this morning felt different.

We ate together. We laughed together. We teased and spoke freely with each other. We bonded.

Quinn dressed quickly in sweats, a tee, and a skullcap, slipping on his running shoes and walking me down to the basement. I felt his eyes on me and turned to face him. He gave me a goofy smile. My brows narrowed suspiciously as I asked slowly, “What?”

He shook his head, but wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into the side of his body. Normally, this would cause my body to go rigid, but not today. Not with this man.

I placed my hand on his t-shirt-covered stomach and melted into him, my cheek on his chest, breathing in his fresh scent. He unlocked the car and held the door open for me, closing it after I was seated. I told him where I worked, and luckily, he was familiar with the area. He drove in silence, while I occasionally sang along to the radio, and every time I would, his lips would spread into a smile.

Honestly, I would sing till my voice was hoarse if it meant that smile would show itself to the world. I liked it that much.

As he stopped at a red light, I turned to take in his profile. Matt Quinn was the type of man who demanded attention without meaning to. His face was all harsh angles that only softened with his smile. And when he did smile, the sun shone.