All four men were quiet as the truck sped down the highway. Quinn was behind the wheel calm and in control.

The adrenaline slowly started to wear off, and she started to shake then nausea began.

"Dana!" Quinn shouted at her.

Her head jerked, and the faint feeling left her, but she had to fight hard against nausea.

The ride the hospital usually took forty-five minutes. Quinn did it in twenty-five, and when they arrived Caleb and Rainer gently helped her out of the truck while Bryce strode in ahead of them so that by the time they reached the door there was a wheelchair waiting. She looked over her shoulder for Quinn, but he was driving the truck away.  The brothers had coordinated everything without a word being spoken.

The next few hours were more exhausting than the fight with Marcus had been.  She was examined and questioned.  It turned out she had two broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder plus some scrapes and bruises where she had hit the ground. It was well after midnight when she was loaded back into the truck with Bryce and Quinn to travel back to the ranch.  Lizzy had driven over to pick up Rainer and Caleb earlier, so Dana had the back of the truck to herself. She had denied pain medicine but agreed to take over the counter painkillers and they were doing very little for her.

She could feel Quinn's eyes on her, but she couldn't look at him.  It was bad enough that he had read about what had happened to her, but now he had witnessed it, and she was ashamed. She watched the moonlit scenery as it flew past the highway.

He would never want her now. 

When they arrived back at the ranch, Cassie and Lizzy were waiting on the porch and raced down the steps to greet her.

"Everyone was silent as Quinn helped her out of the back of the truck.  He had his arm under her good arm, supporting her as she slowly lowered herself to her ground. It was not a graceful descent, and her skirt rode all the way up her legs.

Ever the gentleman Quinn averted his eyes as she smoothed it back down.

"We stayed up in case Dana needed help getting to bed," Lizzy supplied as they all followed her and Quinn up the porch steps.

"Thank you both." Dana turned to them, giving them both an awkward one armed hug.  "I can manage."

Quinn helped her up the stairs, and she leaned on him a little more heavily than she needed too.  She would pretend for a second that he was hers to lean on for real. When they got to her door, he opened it and helped her into the room.

"Are you sure you can manage?" His voice sounded strained.

"Yes, thank you." Hers sounded automated.

"At least let me help you with your shoes.  It might be hard to bend to undo those strappy things."

Dana looked down at her feet. He was probably right "Alright, thank you."

Quinn kneeled down, taking one of her feet in his large brown hands.  She was looking down at his broad shoulders and thick blond hair.  Dana wanted to run her fingers through it.  What would it be like to be able to touch him, feel him whenever she wanted too?

He finished removing her shoes and rose.

She wanted that sense of friendship they had had before she had begged him to kiss her, maybe if she apologized?

"Quinn, I want to apologize." Dana kept her eyes focused on her hands in her lap. She tried to take a deep breath but winced at the pain. "The other night, I was wrong to put you in the position I did.  I," she paused trying to gather her thoughts, and Quinn was silent, waiting for her to continue. Dana started to turn red with mortification. "I have never really been kissed or wanted to be kissed before, and I wanted you to kiss me." The last part was barely a whisper. She cleared her throat. "Marcus would-"

"I don't want to hear about Marcus."

Dana's head snapped up at Quinn's hoarse voice. He was flushed, and she watched his face carefully. She could see anger and frustration as clear as day. It was just as clear as it had been on Marcus's face, but the difference was she wasn't afraid of Quinn.

But why was he so angry?  Was it because she wanted to kiss him? She gathered her courage and opened her mouth to ask, but he cut her off before she even spoke.

"Stop, I have something to say, but I need a moment to find the words."

Dana sat very still, waiting. Quinn's jaw muscle was jumping as he clenched his jaw. Finally, he decided what he was going to say, and his eyes drilled into hers. "When this is over, when your divorce is final..." He stopped running a hand through his hair. "If you still feel the same way, I would be honored to take you up on your offer."

Dana's heart leaped. "A kiss?" she whispered

Quinn gave a gentle smile. "It has not been easy saying no to you, Dana. I have wanted to kiss you just as much as you have wanted to be kissed. If I am honest, I want a lot more than just a kiss, but you have to be clean of any scandal, and if asked, you have to be able to answer all questions honestly, especially that you have been faithful to your husband."

She had not thought of it that way. Just as soon as she had that thought, she had another.  Did he want to do more than kiss her? She felt her cheeks grow hot at the idea. It would be all her dreams come true.

"Although, I was sure that Bryce would be the natural one for you to develop a crush on."

"Crush?"

Quinn nodded.  "It is natural. You weren't able to have the normal experiences that a-,"

"I have had crushes before, Quinn," Dana said drily, she had been a teenager. She was not ready to tell him that what she felt was so much more than a crush. She smiled remembering that he had said he wanted more than a kiss, and she suddenly felt empowered.  A man like Quinn wanted her.

Slowly, she rose and walked towards him. She got as close as she could.  Their bodies were all but touching, and she was bending her head back to look up into his eyes hoping he would see the sincerity there. With her shoes off, she barely reached his chin.

She felt their breath mingle in the hint of a kiss, and Dana placed her hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat. "I have no desire to kiss Bryce. I do desire to kiss you and touch you." She looked at her hand, feeling his heart accelerate at her words.

She didn't see Quinn's hands ball into fists, and she had no idea how long they just stood there staring at each other, their bodies talking for them, but the moment was instructed by a sudden knock at the door.

"Everything alright?" Bryce's voice asked from the other side.

Quinn gave a quiet groan, allowing himself to touch her cheek before he moved away to open the door while Dana lowered herself onto the bed.

"Yes big brother, we're managing."

Dana wasn't sure if he was talking about their managing not to kiss or managing to get her ready for bed. She felt a little shiver go up her spine at the thought of Quinn really helping to put her to bed.

"Can I talk to you for a minute, Dana?"

Quinn moved to leave.

"Please stay?" Dana asked.

Quinn shook his head, "No, I do not need to be a part of this."

"He's right, Dana." Bryce agreed "Are you still leaving on Saturday?" Bryce asked Quinn.

Dana's eyes moved from Bryce to Quinn.  He was leaving, why?

"Yes." Quinn had no expression as he met Dana's gaze.

Bryce nodded in approval.

"Quinn?" Dana asked, wanting answers to so many questions.

"Just know that I meant what I said, Dana." He gave her a lopsided smile then closed the door behind him as he left.

Dana was in shock. She hadn't thought of Quinn leaving. What would it be like not to see him every day?

"We'll be going back to New York on Monday Dana, so it doesn't matter whether Quinn is here or not.  He has to take care of some estate business in England."

"England?"

"Yes, Kent. We have a home there."

Dana's mind was overwhelmed.

"I can see you're done for this evening; we will try to talk some tomorrow." Bryce gave her an odd look before he left her alone.

Quinn was leaving; she felt her chest tighten at the thought.  She might not ever see him again. He had told her had meant what he said, but if he was in England and she was in New York, he would forget.

She didn't even bother to change her clothes as she climbed under the covers and started to cry at the unfairness of it.