Bailey's Irish Dream by DEBBY CONRAD Read Free Book Online

want me to get it?” he suggested, wondering if she were frozen in place.
    She brought a hand to her swollen lips and traced a finger along the edge of her bottom lip.  “No, no, I’ll get it,” she insisted, but still didn’t move.
    Quinn reached out and touched her bare arms.  “Are you okay?”
    “Yes, of course.”  She ran a hand through her hair.  “Do I look all right?”
    “You look gorgeous.”  Like you’ve just been kissed senseless.
    The heavy lashes that shadowed her cheeks flew upward, and intense astonishment touched her flushed face.  “Thanks.”  She sucked in a deep breath, smiled, and said, “Let’s go.” 
    Quinn followed her to the door, wondering if he was doing the right thing.  Sure he needed the money, and yes he and Bailey had a deal.  But suddenly the thought of not only trying to dupe her family, but make them disgusted with him had lost its appeal.  Not that the idea had ever sounded appealing in the first place, but a deal was a deal, right? 
    Since it was too late to back out, Quinn braced himself for the meeting.  He needed to make a very bad first impression.  Act like a jerk , he told himself over and over again.  For one hundred thousand dollars, he supposed he could do that without too much effort. 
    A cacophony of laughter and squealing voices filled the house as soon as the door opened.  Hugs and kisses followed.  When things finally quieted down, Bailey turned and gave Quinn a brief smile.  “Mom, Dad, everyone, this is Stanley Davenport.  My fiancé.”
    Doyle Maguire narrowed his eyes at Quinn, his lips twitching downward.  He was a tall, thin man, with dark red hair and bushy brows, and he didn’t look pleased to meet his future son-in-law.  In fact, he looked perturbed. 
    Quinn chose him as his first victim.  Slapping the man on the back as hard as he could without knocking him over, Quinn said, “Hey, old man.  Good to finally meet you.”
    Doyle’s face went grim as he stared at Quinn in silence, his mouth slackening.
    Next Quinn moved to Mimi Maguire, a petite, attractive woman.  Gathering her in his arms, he lifted her from her feet and spun her around.  “Well, aren’t you just the prettiest thing.” 
    “Oh, my!” Mimi shrieked, her hands grabbing at her strawberry-blonde French twist.  Quinn set the woman on her feet, keeping his hands on her arms to steady her.  Her expression was tight with strain.  “Good heavens, I wasn’t expecting anything like that.”
    Bailey turned a vivid shade of scarlet.  “Stanley,” she said, reprimanding him.
    Quinn gathered her to him and smacked his lips against hers.  “Yes, sweet cakes?”       
    Bailey’s lips formed a tight smile as she squirmed out of his reach.  “I--You haven’t met my sister Kaitlyn yet.”
    “Hey, Kaitlyn,” Quinn greeted her.  Kaitlyn was a small blonde who was an exact clone of her mother except for her protruding stomach.  It was so round it reminded him of a basketball. 
    Kaitlyn took a step backward, warding him off with her hands.  “Please don’t pick me up.  After traveling for eight hours, I’m liable to wet my pants.”
    “Kaitlyn,” her mother scolded, rolling her eyes and shaking her head from side to side.
    Quinn chuckled, stepped forward and smacked Kaitlyn on the lips.  He liked her spirit.  “Looks like it could pop out at any time,” he said, boldly patting her stomach.
    “Don’t I wish?” she answered, a slight smile pulling at the corners of her mouth.
    Kaitlyn’s husband, a dark blond man built like a linebacker, didn’t look too pleased with Quinn, but he thrust his hand forward anyway.  “I think I’ll skip the kiss and the slap on the back and just shake your hand.  I’m Mark Lowell, Bailey’s brother-in-law.  Welcome to the family.”
    “Thanks,” Quinn said, turning away to look at the three wide-eyed children standing beside Mark.  “Let’s see, you guys must be Krystal, Pancho and