All Roads Lead to Swatragh - Chapter 50

Sunday evening ended uneventful for the most part. Grace made a casserole for herself, Tommy, and Quinn with some mash and carrots on the side. The lads ate heartily, and Grace could tell they appreciated the meal. Tommy could not compliment Grace enough, and Quinn seemed to be getting a little annoyed at all the attention that Tommy was paying Grace. After dinner Tommy asked about pubs in the area and Grace suggested Rafters in town. Tommy headed off even thought Quinn tried to protest.

Grace spent a bit of the evening chatting with Quinn to keep him company. She was hoping to get to know him a bit better, and keep an eye on him at the same time.

“Grace, I hate to bring this up, but I don't know how to say this other than to be straightforward blunt. My brother is a great lad, but when it comes to women he is easily distracted from one to another. I don't want you to get hurt,” Quinn explained.

“Quinn, I appreciate your honesty, but I'm a big girl and I can handle myself around the lads,” Grace smiled, but inside she could see how Tommy was just like Braden, charming and insincere. She had been very flattered by his attention. “So that behavior doesn't run in the family?”

Quinn was surprised by Grace's question, “Me? No way. I'm not looking for a long term relationship. At least I don't think so. Haven't found anyone who would have me yet.”

“Why Quinn, you would be a great catch for any woman. As long as you were not quite so demanding,” Grace was the one being blunt here.

“Demanding? Look who's talking here,” Quinn responded back.

They both looked at each other and laughed. There was a connection made between them that each of them suddenly realized. They had broken that outer shell they held for emotional protection and could see each other as a man and woman now. Grace blushed.

“I need to take these cups back to the kitchen. I'll be right back. Is there something you would like?” Grace quickly rose to excuse herself.

“Actually, I'm feeling a little bristly and would like to shave, but I'm not sure I can handle it here in bed. Can you help me?” Quinn felt very awkward asking for help. “My shaving kit is in the room upstairs.”

“I'll get it on the way back,” Grace replied as she was standing at the door. She needed to get her composure back. What was going on here? Tommy was flattering as he could be, and she knew he was trouble with him, and Quinn, just as nice as you could want, but still a mystery to her.

Grace was surprised to see that Quinn didn't have an electric shaver, but a razor. She gathered his shaving cream, razor, and aftershave, stopped in the kitchen to get a hot bowl of water and a clean wet towel. At least these were the things she thought he would need.

“If I were seated in a barber chair, I'd feel just at home,” Quinn smiled as she entered carrying everything with the towel over her arm.

“Well, I'm not a barber and not about to be shaving you,” Grace quipped back. “Let's get you situated so I can at least hold the mirror and you can shave.”

Grace grabbed a mirror from her bathroom, and Quinn soaked his face with the hot water and towel to soften his beard. Grace was balancing the hot water and mirror while Quinn was attempting to shave.

“Grace, I need to see my whole face, not just my chin,” Quinn teased.

“Quinn, I've only got so many hands here. You're lucky to even have the help,” Grace replied teasing.

The banter went on back and forth as Quinn finished up his shave. Grace handed him the moist towel to wipe the last of the shaving cream off his face. He handed it back to Grace as she was putting everything down.

“You missed a spot,” Grace told Quinn as she reached over to wipe the last of the shaving cream from Quinn's neck.

There, in that moment, when Grace went to wipe the shaving cream, Quinn reached for the towel at the same time and ended up holding Grace's hand guiding it to the spot. Grace was leaning over to reach the spot and was almost nose to nose with Quinn. Suddenly Grace felt her heart pounding and the need to pull away. Quinn was trying to push away this impulse he had, but was fighting it in that second.

Grace pulled away first, and Quinn released her hand. Neither of them knew what to say. Neither wanted to discuss this, or deal with it. Grace busied herself with cleaning up the shaving equipment, and Quinn busied himself with trying to move to a more comfortable position in the bed. It was silent for a few minutes.

They both started to speak at the same moment, “Quinn”, “Grace,” and stopped and began to laugh. They knew that something was started that they would have to deal with, but now was not the time.