CHAPTER 20
Later that day, Ramona paused outside of Quincy’s office. He was right where his neighbor had said he would be when she’d gone to his town house first. Why was he working on a Saturday? She’d much rather have entertained him in her condo or his town house. Having this conversation in his office was the reason she was out of sorts. It wasn’t because of nerves. Why should she be nervous? She was about to make Quincy’s day—his year. Ramona patted her flowing brown hair into place again and adjusted her formfitting emerald dress.
She stepped into view and knocked on his open door. “Am I interrupting?”
Quincy eyed her with suspicion. He laid his pen and papers on his already cluttered desk. “Are you lost?”
Ramona forced a laugh. It cracked in the middle. “I guess I can’t say I was in the neighborhood.” She leaned a shoulder against the doorjamb with studied nonchalance. “It doesn’t take long to get anywhere in this town, not even the college.”
“It’s a university, Ramona. We offer graduate courses here. You’re an alumna. You should know that.”
“That’s right.” Why did he always have to be so superior? “It was a slip of the tongue.”
The silence grew brittle as Ramona searched for a better conversation topic. Quincy wasn’t offering any help. The least he could do was stand. Chivalry was dead and six feet under the ground.
She stepped farther into his office and looked around. She’d never been here before. She didn’t see much to talk about, though. Just a couple of bookcases crammed with stuffy books, a bulletin board littered with boring memos and the tiniest coffeemaker she’d ever seen.
She pointed at it. “Do you know how many pots I’d have to make with that, just to get through the afternoon?”
That comment earned her a smile that was gone in a blink. “Why are you here?”
Ramona spied his family photos beside a picture of the young Terrible Trio on a shelf above his desk. Inspiration struck. “How’s your family?”
Quincy’s coal black eyes narrowed. It was a good look on him, very virile. He often looked at her that way. “What do you want?”
It took Ramona a few seconds to shift her focus from his expression to his words. When she did, her anger stirred again. “I want to know how your family is doing.”
“Cut the crap, Ramona. We’ve known each other for more than twenty-five years. When have you ever asked about my welfare or my family’s well-being?”
He was a bit sarcastic, a little amused. She’d heard that tone from him before. But it had never seemed as naughty as it did today. What had changed? Her? Was she manufacturing an attraction to him to make her plan easier?
“I’m interested now.” She couldn’t help her defensive voice. Her mind was spinning too fast for a more sincere tone.
“Why?” He waited for her answer. When she didn’t respond, he picked up the papers he’d been reading before she’d arrived. “I’ve got work to do, Ramona. Close the door on your way out.”
He was serious!
Ramona stared at the top of Quincy’s bent bald head. No one had ever dismissed her before. No one. In her entire life. But Quincy had the obnoxious habit of treating her unlike anyone else. He frequently disagreed with her. He challenged her. He chastised her—in front of other people. And now he was dismissing her.
She stood for several moments in uncharacteristic indecision. Their encounter wasn’t supposed to happen this way. Quincy should have been surprised, happy and excited to see her—like other men were. He wasn’t supposed to send her home. She needed to be more direct.
Ramona cleared her throat. “I’ve been meaning to ask if the rumors were true.”
“What rumors?” His tone reeked of manly exasperation. Kind of cute.
“Ean told me that you’d interviewed for a faculty position with the University of Pennsylvania.”
Quincy was silent for so long, she didn’t think he’d heard her.
“He’s right.” Quincy’s response was flat. Why wouldn’t he look at her?
“Well, congratulations.” She tried a trill of laughter. It sounded better than her first attempt. “We should celebrate.”
“‘We’?” That made him look up.
Ramona wanted to trace his arched brow. “Let me take you to dinner.”
“Isn’t that premature? They haven’t offered me a job, only an interview.”
Ramona dragged her hand through her hair, a nervous habit she still couldn’t break. “But you know that they will. So you should celebrate this opportunity.”
More silence. Quincy’s dark gaze was steady and demanding on hers. “Why?”
Ramona’s mouth opened and closed like a suffocating fish. Why was he making this so hard for her? “Because this is a momentous occasion. It’s life changing. You’re leaving Trinity Falls.”
“That’s the real reason you’re here. Because you think I’m leaving town.”
“Of course.” Her cheeks stung with heat. “I’m going to miss you. Everyone will miss you. Really badly. I just want an opportunity to let you know that.”
“Because we’ve meant so much to each other for so long.”
“Yes.” Oh, God, is he buying this?
“Bullshit.”
That answered her question. But he didn’t sound angry. Was he laughing at her? Again? “You don’t believe me?”
Quincy lowered his papers and pen once more. “You’ve known for years how I feel about you, yet you never said a word to me. Do you expect me to believe that my leaving town just happens to coincide with your sudden attraction to my magnetic charisma and movie star good looks?”
He was laughing at her. His cheeks creased with his smile. His eyes danced with humor as he stared up at her from the seat behind his desk.
Ramona’s palms itched with the urge to smack him, but she also was inexplicably turned on. “It’s like you said, Quincy. We’ve known each other for a long time.”
Surprisingly, she was telling the truth. They’d known each other since the first grade. Except for those years he’d spent away at college and graduate school, he’d been a fixture in this town. The town would feel his absence—including her. This all came as a surprise. How was she supposed to react to this?
Quincy leaned forward. “You probably thought your dinner invitation would make my day, if not my entire year.”
Ramona’s eyes stretched wide. Could he read her mind? “Of course not.”
“Really?” Quincy sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. “What would you say if I told you I’d turn down the University of Pennsylvania if they offered me the position?”
“But you won’t.”
“I might. I’m kind of fond of Trinity Falls.”
Ramona spread her arms. “What’s keeping you here? Your parents and sister moved to Florida years ago. This is a wonderful career opportunity for you. It’s more money, a bigger more prestigious university. Why wouldn’t you go?”
“Trinity Falls is my home. I’m happy here.” His smile drained from his eyes. “If you’re unhappy, you should leave. But do it on your own. Stop attaching yourself to men’s coattails.”
Ramona gasped. “How dare you!”
“When you were eighteen, you hitched yourself to Ean’s ride. Now you’re thirty-two. Instead of making your own opportunities, you want to tag along with me. That’s pathetic, Ramona.”
“You’re grossly mistaken.” Ramona’s temper snapped. “I wouldn’t hitch myself to your ride, as you so crudely put it, if you were the last man on earth.” She spun toward the door and strode across Quincy’s office.
“Does this mean you won’t be taking me to dinner?” Quincy’s voice taunted her.
Ramona ground her teeth. Without breaking stride, she gave him the one-finger salute. Quincy’s laughter followed her down the hall.