Free Tiny Dancer [Divine Creek Ranch 13] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Heather Rainier Page B

“There she is! Shit, we hit that dip and soaked her! That’s her umbrella.”
    Ben slammed on the brakes, and Quinten jumped out the door into the downpour. Sure enough, Camilla stood on the roadside soaked and covered in mud, thanks to the truck splashing her. She had her hand to her face, trying to clear the mud and rainwater that must’ve splashed into her eyes. He yanked off his jacket and was about to put it around her when she suddenly jumped back as she fearfully squinted at him.
    “Camilla, it’s me, Quinten. Come on!”
    Lit by the red taillights of the truck, he could see her lip tremble like she was about to cry as Ben turned the hazard lights on and jumped out on the other side. “Sugar, you okay?”
    Her teeth were chattering as Quinten pulled the jacket around her and she tried to reply, “Uh-huh-huh.” Her whole body trembled as he pulled her close and then walked her to the truck. He lifted her into the front seat, and she struggled with the umbrella until he finally took it and closed it for her. Ben turned the heater up after he climbed back in and then proceeded down the road.
    Her chattering teeth made it difficult for her to explain what had happened to her car, but she finally got it out. She wiped at her running mascara and looked at her muddied legs and ruined boots.
    “I can’t go to Grace’s like this.”
    “We live just a ways down the road. You can come to the—”
    “We?”
    Quinten remembered Camilla was still out of the loop concerning their living arrangements. Ben replied for them. “Yeah. Quinten moved in a few weeks ago.”
    “Oh.” She nodded and tried to smile as she gripped the coat to her. “Cool.” More teeth chattering and then she said, “So…you guys live together, huh?” She seemed unsure of what else to say for a minute.
    Ben nodded. “Yup.”
    “How’s that working out?”
    “Pretty good, I guess. We’re hoping it improves, though.”
    Quinten was almost relieved as Ben cautiously tested the waters.
    “Oh, yeah? Having a roommate requires an adjustment. So you’re…”
    Quinten nearly drew blood as he bit the inside of his lip when he realized what she was hinting at. Ben did too as he looked at her before returning his gaze to the windshield. They’d had to slow way down because of the poor visibility. “We’re what?”
    “You know. Partners? I didn’t…realize.” Noticing Quinten’s raised brow, Camilla looked a combination of mortified and disappointed. “I’m sorry. Forget I said anything.”
    Ben chuckled and finally relented. “No, we’re not lovers. We’re just roommates. We’re friends too, outside of work. In our time off, we’ve been renovating the house.”
    “Is it an older house?”
    “Built in the eighties. It needed some updating.”
    “That explains the paint in your hair. Did you do it all yourself?”
    “Some of it. Jack Warner contracted part of it.”
    Through the windshield, Quinten noted when they rolled past the entry to the Divine Creek Ranch.
    “That was my turnoff,” Camilla said as she pointed a finger at the window. “You just missed it.”
    Ben shook his head and glanced over at Quinten. This was the moment. Quinten nodded and tilted the vent so that it pointed directly at her. “You can come out to our place and get cleaned up and then you can call Grace from there and let her know you’re okay. Stay with us and we’ll see about your car in the morning.”
    “I don’t want to put you out like that. I can call a tow truck.”
    Ben shook his head. “Sugar, you’re probably not going to be able to get a tow truck out on a nonemergency call in weather like this. The car is safe where you left it. We can take care of it for you. Right now, you need to get warmed up.”
    Quinten was all kinds of happy that the work on the house had just been completed because now she’d be able to make use of the amenities. Just wait until she gets a look at that tub. Bless you, Grace Warner. Thanks to her, the