“We did a switch halfway, Mr. Harper,” Luke said. This made Quinn start giggling again.
“Well, it’s good to see you laughing, sweetheart.”
She sobered. “You and Mom okay, Dad?”
“I need to talk to you and the others,” Luke said to Joe as Quinn and her dad talked.
“About?”
“The Harpers. Seems like they’re being targeted, and the accidents are not really accidents. It’s not for sure yet, but Chief Blake looked concerned.”
“Okay. Well, tell us what you need.” Joe clapped a hand on his shoulder. “And just so you know, I like her. She’s a good one and suits you.”
“Cut it out.”
Joe raised both hands, then walked away whistling.
He turned back to find Quinn alone again.
“You want to come to the The Chocolate Place with me?”
“I was just going to head home, Luke. Been a busy day, and it’s not over yet. Hard to believe it’s still only late afternoon, considering.”
“And then some,” Luke said. “Please have a hot chocolate with me, Quinn.”
Her bruised eyes made her look vulnerable. He wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her.
“Okay, and just so you know, I appreciate you stepping in with Sam, but I could have handled him.”
“Know it. But the gentleman in me needed to.” That, plus the rage that someone had dared to talk to her that way had burned inside him. He’d thought distance was the way to go with Quinn, after leaving her house. He’d only managed an hour.
They wandered away from the crowds and up the street.
“Do you have a Christmas sweater, Quinn?”
“Leave her alone, Mrs. L.”
“Everyone needs a Christmas sweater.”
The woman wore pumpkin-colored leather pants and jacket. It was really something. Her eyelashes had green gems attached to them.
“Nice work on the leg trip, Mrs. L,” Quinn said.
“And that’s why you need a sweater.”
“Payback?” Quinn asked. “I’ll come in tomorrow and get one, okay?”
“Okay. I just saw your brother, Luke.”
“Which one?”
“The baby, because that’s not you anymore.”
“Yeah. Which way did he go?”
She pointed across the street.
“I can’t get him to talk, Quinn,” Luke said when they started walking again. “I’m trying, but he won’t open up.”