Seeking Escape

11. Good for Each Other

*** Quinn's POV ***

That reaction. She was fucking shaking and I instantly wanted to do whatever I could to calm her. I didn't know how she'd react but I wanted her to know that I had her back. And it worked. It took her a minute, but she slowly started to reset and calm.

What the hell has she been through, I wondered as we sat. I unwittingly reached across the table and took her clammy, sticky hand in mine. She looked at our hands for a second before she pulled away.

"I'm sorry." I apologized, figuring I overstepped her boundaries.

"It's not you. I need to go wash my hands. I'll be back." She slipped out of the booth rapidly and I wondered if she wasn't making a break for it. But then I noticed that she left her stuff and my fears were assuaged.

I sat back, stretching out my long legs and breaking into my scone. I hated eating before a shoot and was now starving, but I wasn't about to pass up an opportunity with Joyce. I was brushing crumbs off my shirt when a pair of feet appeared. I looked up and saw the annoying barista who recognized me.

She struck what I'm assuming she thought was a sexy pose. I was unimpressed. She twirled her blonde hair and eyed me. "Need some company while your friend is gone?"

"No, thank you." I said politely.

She leaned over the end of the table, squeezing her tits together. She giggled.  "You know you're my favorite."

"Uh thanks." I retorted blandly.

"I've been told that I have a porn star's dream body." She fed me a variation on a common line I hear all the time.

"Well I'm not a producer so..." I responded dismissively.

"If you like what you see I'll let you take it for a test-drive." She offered, wiggling her tits.

I sighed heavily and narrowed my eyes. Time to be an asshole. But I was preempted. "He's a film star, not a prostitute. Now, if you'd like I can tell your manager that you're out here soliciting customers."

The barista retreated immediately and I grinned at Joyce. She seemed to have regained some of her confidence. She sat and I immediately grabbed for her hand again. She didn't pull away again, which I took as a positive sign.

"You're hired." I joked.

She laughed.  "Huh?"

"As my security detail." I said.

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. Her cheeks and jawline flushed and I wanted desperately to see where that blush spread under her clothes.

"You're doing it again." She gripped me back from my dirty thoughts.

"Doing what?" I asked innocently.

"Inspecting me." She replied, averting her eyes.

I squeezed her hand prompting her to look at me with her pretty green eyes. "I'm curious about you, Joyce. I see these flashes of this bold, confident woman, but I also know you have something in your past. I want to know it all."

Her eyes widened and for a second she seemed like she might bolt. I held her fingers tightly and tried to exude comforting calmness. She hesitated, but then sighed softly.