Quinn's Woman by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online

sport.

    “Mistakes happen,” she said. “Go grab some food and coffee.”

    Ronnie stared at her with wide, uncomprehending eyes. “Ma’am?”

    She allowed herself a slight smile. “I’m not cutting off your ears, Private. Go get some breakfast.”

    He beamed at her. “Yes, ma’am. Right away.”

    When he was gone, she looked at Travis who sat across from her, then at his brother Kyle. They were both grinning.

    “Don’t start with me,” she warned.

    “It’s not like you to be a soft touch,” Travis said.

    “I’m not. The kid tried hard and he screwed up. It happens.”

    Kyle leaned toward her. “He thinks you’re hot.”

    D.J. rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right. I’m sure I’m going to star in all his dreams for the next fifteen or twenty minutes.”

    Kyle chuckled.

    D.J. ignored him. She scooped up some eggs. After a few seconds, conversation resumed and she was once again listening rather than participating.

    Quinn sat at the end of the table. She never directly looked at him, but she was aware of him. Of how he and all the other men seated here were physically so similar.

    Craig and Jordan Haynes had arrived and pulled up chairs. Craig was the oldest of the Haynes brothers, Jordan the second youngest. Two fraternal twins, Kevin and Nash Harmon were also a part of their group. D.J. hadn’t quite figured out their relationship to the other men. Apparently, when Earl had been in Dallas getting Quinn’s mother pregnant, he’d also had his way with the twins’ mother. Quinn and Gage had grown up with them as close friends, only recently learning they were in fact half brothers. Everyone at the table but her was part of the Haynes extended family.

    She supposed there were some people who would have felt left out, under the circumstances. Not her. She’d been part of a family once, and now lived her life blissfully free of familial obligations.

    Keeping her head turned toward Travis as he spoke, D.J. casually glanced to her left. Quinn had finished his breakfast. Now he sat listening, nodding occasionally and not saying much. While he’d been two parts annoying, one part charming and very talkative the previous evening and when she’d first arrived this morning, he’d gotten more quiet as the group had expanded. Didn’t he do crowds?

    She was about to turn away when Quinn moved slightly and met her gaze. His dark eyes didn’t give away what he was thinking, nor did the neutral expression on his face. He could have been trying to decide if he wanted more coffee. Yet she felt something crackle between them. A tension. Awareness tightened her skin and made her shiver.

    Unfamiliar and too powerful for comfort, the sensations unnerved her. Distraction came in the form of Ronnie returning with his breakfast.

    By the time she’d introduced him to everyone and had slid her chair over to make more room, she had convinced herself that she’d only imagined the weird reaction to Quinn.

    Travis waited until Ronnie had his mouth full, then grinned at D.J. “So, you didn’t win this year.”

    The kid started to choke.

    D.J. scowled at Travis, then pounded Ronnie on the back. When he’d swallowed, he gulped down half his glass of milk and shrank in his seat.

    “About me not getting back,” he began.

    D.J. cut him off with a stern look. “Let it go, kid,” she told him. “My streak was bound to run out sooner or later.”

    “Too bad she wasn’t able to capture a prisoner all on her own,” Quinn drawled. “No, wait. You did have someone, didn’t you?”

    D.J. ignored him.

    Ronnie’s eyes widened. “You lost a prisoner?”

    Travis chuckled. “Don’t go there, son. D.J.’ll take your head off.”

    Ronnie returned his attention to his breakfast.

    D.J. couldn’t help glancing at Quinn, who had the nerve to smile at her. Just smile. As if he was happy or something.

    Nash Harmon, a six-foot, one-inch testament to Haynes family genes, rose. “I hate to break this up, but I