Free More Than This by Shannyn Schroeder Page A

started and then find something
     fun.
     
    Ryan stood outside Quinn’s loft. He reminded himself they were hanging out as friends.
     She wasn’t ready to accept anything else from him, regardless of how hot their kiss
     was or the continued chemistry they shared. He rang the bell, but she didn’t answer.
     He rang again.
    “Hello?” she questioned hesitantly.
    “Hey, Quinn. It’s Ryan.”
    She didn’t respond, but the buzzer sounded, allowing him entrance. He eyed the elevator
     and chose the stairs.
    Her door was open, and Quinn wasn’t standing in the doorway. It was an improvement
     over his last visit. Country music floated quietly from the kitchen. Quinn stood on
     a step stool wiping down the binding of each book on the shelf before setting it aside.
    This is worse than I thought.
    Without looking at him, Quinn asked, “Why are you here?”
    “Indy called me—”
    “That’s what I figured. You can leave. I’m fine.”
    She scrubbed furiously at the shelf, ponytail on her head bobbing in rhythm. The cotton
     pants hung loosely on her legs but contoured to the shape of her behind. The baggy
     T-shirt did nothing for him. Her feet, however, with red-painted toes were incredibly
     sexy.
    He’d told Indy he’d leave if Quinn told him to. He’d lied. “Why don’t you go shower
     and change, and we’ll get out of here?”
    “I don’t need your pity date.”
    “It’s not pity. And it’s not a date. We’re a couple of friends playing hooky and spending
     the day together.” He leaned against the arm of the couch. As often as he fixed things
     for his family, he could help her too.
    Quinn turned and looked at him suspiciously, but stepped off the stool. Dust rag balled
     in her hand, she crossed her arms. “Thank you for the ride home Friday night and the
     coffee Saturday. It was really nice of you, but I don’t think we can be friends.”
    “Why?”
    “Because you kissed me.”
    “We don’t have to stop being friends because we kissed.” He straightened and stepped
     closer.
    Her eyes met his. “ You kissed me. I don’t know how to do the friends with benefits thing.”
    He barely stopped his laugh. She would bolt if he laughed. “That doesn’t surprise
     me. But I said nothing about benefits. Just friends.” He extended his hand to shake.
    Quinn took his hand tentatively. Hers trembled. For a woman who kept cool and reserved,
     the slight motion hinted at something, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
    Ryan rocked back on his heels. “You can’t cross this off your list if you spend the
     day cleaning.”
    “You sound like Indy.” She blew her bangs up and out of her eyes.
    “It’s a good thing you have me. Go change.”
    She measured him and sank her teeth into her bottom lip. White teeth against pink
     flesh stirred his blood.
    “Where are we going?”
    “It’s a surprise.” He hadn’t yet figured out what fun they could have with their clothes
     on.
    “That doesn’t work for me.”
    “Too bad.” He sat on the couch and propped his right ankle on his left knee.
    “Then I’m not going.” She recrossed her arms.
    “I’ll drag you out of here looking like that, lemon furniture polish scent and all.
     It’s your choice.”
    “You can’t drag me.”
    He leaned forward and cocked an eyebrow. “Wanna bet?”
    “You wouldn’t dare.”
    Her challenge made him want to go all caveman and throw her over his shoulder just
     to prove he could. “I would.” He rose from the couch and she stumbled back.
    “Fine. I’m going upstairs.”
    “I’ll be waiting.”
    She stomped up the stairs and closed a door. Ryan took the time to do what he hadn’t
     done on Saturday—explore Quinn’s loft. The main floor was basically a wide-open space
     with the ceiling at the second floor. Windows lined one wall, bookshelves another.
     She had more books in piles in various places in the room. A desk tucked in the corner
     near the stairs held her laptop.
    He wandered into the