Read Harlequin Special Edition October 2015, Box Set 1 of 2 for Free Online Page B

That night, I needed to find a way to give myself permission to do something I wanted to do but had never done before. That night, I needed to think of it as just that one time and never again. But since then...”
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œOh, Quinn. I wish I hadn’t said what I said. Because I’ve been thinking about you a lot. And it’s really good to see you again.”
    Those fine eyes were gleaming. “Yeah?”
    And she was eagerly nodding, her head bouncing up and down like a bobblehead doll’s.
    â€œSo, then...” He started walking backward toward the doors.
    She resisted the urge to reach out and stop him—and also the one that demanded she follow him. Instead, she held her ground and asked hopefully, “So, then, what?”
    He stopped at the doors. “How ’bout Friday night? You and me. Dinner.”
    â€œDinner...” How could one simple word hold so much promise?
    â€œYeah.” He was definitely smiling now. “You know, like people do.”
    â€œI would like that.” She knew she wore a giant, silly grin. And somehow she had gone on tiptoe. Her body felt lighter than air.
    â€œPick you up at seven?”
    She settled back onto her heels and nodded. “Seven is great.”
    A trim, fortyish woman in workout clothes approached the doors. Quinn opened one and ushered her in. Then, with a final nod in Chloe’s direction, he went in, too.
    That lighter-than-air feeling? It stayed with her. Her feet barely touched the ground the whole way back to the showroom.
    Strange how everything could change for the better in the course of one afternoon.
    All at once, the world, so cruel to her in recent years, was a good and hopeful place again. Suddenly everything looked brighter.
    Yeah, okay. It was just a date. But it was a date with a man who thrilled her—and made her feel safe and protected and cherished and capable, all at the same time.
    * * *
    That night, Chloe made chocolate chip cookies. Once they’d cooled, she packed them up into two bright decorator tins. She took them to the showroom the next morning. One she offered at the coffee table.
    The other she carried with her when she went to meet with Manny at Quinn’s house after lunch.
    â€œCookies!” Annabelle nodded her approval. “I
like
cookies.” She sent Manny a regretful glance. “Manny’s cookies are not very good.”
    Manny told Chloe, “Never was a baker—or that much of a cook, when you come right down to it. I enjoy cooking, though. Too bad nobody appreciates my efforts.” He wiggled his bushy eyebrows at Annabelle. “And what do you say when someone brings you really good cookies?”
    â€œThank you, Chloe.”
    â€œYou’re welcome.”
    She turned those sweet brown eyes on Manny again. “Can I have one now?”
    â€œThat could be arranged.” Manny led them to the kitchen, which had appliances that had been state-of-the-art back in the late eighties, a fruit-patterned wallpaper border up near the ceiling and acres of white ceramic tile. Annabelle made short work of two cookies and a glass of milk, after which she wanted to take Chloe up to her room.
    Chloe looked to Manny. The old guy shrugged. “Don’t keep her up there all day,” he said to the little girl.
    â€œManny, I want
all
the princesses, but it won’t take
that
long.” She reached right up and grabbed Chloe’s hand, at which point Chloe’s heart pretty much melted. “Okay, Chloe. Let’s go.”
    After half an hour with Quinn’s daughter, Chloe knew exactly which princesses Annabelle wanted represented in her new room, as well as her favorite colors. They went back downstairs, and Chloe spent a couple of hours with Manny, going through the house, bottom to top, talking hard and soft surfaces, color choices, style preferences and the benefits of knocking out a wall or two. Chloe jotted notes and took