Chapter Four

Quinn

I watched her peel away in her luxury rental, a tiny tumbleweed of feminine fury. All directed at me and nothing less than what I deserved. So much for going slow and earning her forgiveness. Then, those incredible full lips had been so close to mine and my body had simply taken over. Faced with what I wanted again after so long had caused all rational thought to flee my horny brain. My legs felt like ten thousand pounds and I could do nothing but watch her taillights fade in the distance.

I couldn’t believe she’d kissed me back, which allowed the tiniest sliver of hope to take residence in my body, never to be eradicated. I could do this. I could get Ashton back and not lose the best thing that ever happened to me. Twice. I licked my lips and smiled – she still tasted the same as she did ten years ago, like coconuts and mangos. How was that possible? I could only imagine it was her ChapStick or a favorite lip gloss. Whatever it was, I savored the taste. Wanted more. So much more. And I wouldn’t stop myself from wanting it.

I’d resisted the urge to throw her over my shoulder caveman style and drag her back to my office, pull up her skirt, and prove to her how much I deserved a second opportunity to claim her as mine. Unfortunately, I had work to do if we were going to save this deal. If I didn’t save the deal, there would be no more Ashton. And I was a determined man. There would be more Ashton.

I trudged back inside and found Mr. Albertson in his office, eagerly awaiting my return.

“Ashton is going to show me the drawings for the new hotel. I’m going to meet with her again tomorrow and get a copy for you,” I told him.

“How about tonight?” he asked, eager to close this deal down. Like any successful businessman, Mr. Albertson’s impatience indicated his ability to get what he wanted.

I chuckled as I plopped down in a guest chair across from his desk to begin the arduous task of smoothing his ruffled feathers. I had already worked for him long enough to know that when it came time to negotiate, he wanted to be in the thick of it with his finger on the pulse of the deal. Some required one-on-one attention, though, and that’s why I’d politely asked him to let me handle this one for the hotel. He’d agreed, but only if he got to meet Ashton and scope her out. Size up the competition. Determine if we needed the big guns. I assumed that he’d already heard Ashton was a pretty tough cookie to deal with, but now I wondered if Mr. Albertson was catching on to my own, separate agenda with Ashton.

That would suck.

“I’ve tried inviting Ashton to dinner to discuss the plans, but she declined. I turned on the charm but she said something about a prior commitment. If Henri sent her here, he’s probably got more than one iron in the fire.”

“That’s unfortunate,” Mr. Albertson said. “Ashton Jansen. Smart. Gorgeous. Tenacious. What’s your personal history with her? I could have cut the tension in the room with a table knife.”

I smiled and nodded in agreement. Now, what to reveal to appease him without giving too much away?

“Were you two in love with each other?” Albertson asked, a twinkle in his eyes and the wheels in his business-obsessed head already whirling with how he could use any of my admissions to his advantage. Or, tuck them away for future reference.

The question pushed me back on my heels. Telling him about some high school version of puppy love seemed trite and inadequate for the raging emotion that lingered between me and Ashton. The same electricity that Albertson had obviously felt shooting through his conference room like sparks from a downed power line.

“We’ve known each other since childhood. Her brother Griffin was my best friend. Our mothers are still close.”

There. That was the truth. Just with some very important details omitted.

“That didn’t really answer my question, Quinn,” he said. “It’s not like you to be so evasive. That means, the relationship met a fateful end. Did you break that young woman’s heart? Cheat on her? Take someone else to the prom? I need to know how much of an ax she has to grind with you. Hell hath no fury and all that.”

I chuckled to avoid a grimace because his innocent questions hit too close to home. “I guess I had feelings for her at one time.” I hissed in a breath and let that sink in for a minute. It was the first time I’d admitted it out loud. “I guess I still do.”

“What happened to your friendship with Griffin?” Was this guy some kind of psychic?

Albertson had been my boss for a long time, so I should have seen this coming. He knew a lot about my background; more than just college grades and my LSAT score. He’d met my family and along the way we had shared some intimate details. Just not about Ashton. I held that shit storm pretty close to the vest. Who wanted to admit that they’d literally screwed over the love of their life and then left them in an empty bed? But Albertson was like a grandfather to me and I had come to respect him and his opinion.

“Griffin and I had a falling out our senior year.”

“Did this have anything to do with your arrest?” he asked.

No, it had everything to do with her.

There was another loaded question. Of course, he knew about my troubled background – it was a matter of public record. I’d explained everything to him when I’d thrown myself on his mercy. Admitting no one was perfect, Albertson had been more than willing to give the new hotshot lawyer with the fancy degree a chance, even in spite of his jaded history. In order to apply for the Florida Bar I’d had to pass a background check. Even though the matter was a juvenile one, it still marred my almost perfect record.

“Yes, Griffin was the one involved in that.”

“She doesn’t know?” he asked, referring to Ashton.

I shook my head. “I never told her what happened.”

“Why not?” he asked, softly. Prodding me in a sore spot that still ached with regret. “It might change things between you.”

I had to think about that for a moment. Griffin had betrayed me. Ashton’s heart was already shattered by my leaving her. What good would have come from her knowing the truth about her brother whom she idolized? Pitting him against me?

I gave my head a violent shake. I didn’t want to add fuel to the already raging fire by leveling accusations at Griffin. No matter how well deserved. It would’ve torn our families apart. As much as I hated Griffin for doing what he did, I understood the reasoning behind it. But, I didn’t exactly agree with that logic and reasoning now.

“I realize now that I should’ve told her what happened. But I didn’t want to start off our relationship by wrecking our families’ relationship. I thought it was easier to just let it all go – Ashton, her brother, everything.”

And now, I wanted it all back. Because I realized that only she could fill the aching fissure in my soul.

“In order to mend fences with her, she needs to know the truth about what happened that night. No matter the consequences, you owe her that.”

I nodded. It was true. Ashton needed to hear the whole story. But how was I going to get her to listen? To hear me?

“The land exchange?” Albertson asked, switching gears on me. “You think it’s a fair compromise?”

I was glad to get off the volatile subject of Ashton before I threw up in my mouth. Back to business. “Yes, it’s a good deal. I know you wanted to keep the lot next door but with the gulf-front lot that they are willing to trade, and the extra cash they are giving you, you can build the home you’ve always wanted and then leave it to your grandkids later in trust.”

Albertson threaded his fingers together and seemed to contemplate the offering. “It is more money than we originally asked, but you understand that I’m not worried about the cash, right? I’ve always made my business integrity my number one priority. Anything less in a small tight-knit community such as this one is career suicide.”

I understood. Albertson had made millions of dollars playing the real estate market for over thirty years. No one could say he hadn’t done it fairly.

He leaned back in his leather office chair and continued. “I want you to make sure that Henri doesn’t build a monstrosity with his shopping center. Some eyesore that will upset the locals. I don’t want to be responsible for selling this land to a developer who plans to throw up another strip mall with tacky souvenir shops and tattoo parlors. It has to be classy. To bring something of value to our town.”

“You’ve seen the kind of work Henri has done in Atlanta, Mr. Albertson. It’s all very upscale and sophisticated. I couldn’t imagine him spinning a 360 and throwing something tacky up here.”

“I agree,” he nodded. “But in thirty years of business, one thing I’ve learned is not to blindly trust, but verify. I need to see those plans.”

Albertson was a smart man. He hadn’t risen to the top of the real estate game without hard work and dedication to the job. His intelligence transcended the boardroom, too. He was just as intuitive in life as he was in business. At nearly seventy years old, Albertson kept in shape by running five miles a day on the beach. He lifted weights. He had the body of a forty year old. His skin was a rich bronze and his eyes were still sharp as a tack. Only his thinning grey hair gave his age away.

I was fortunate as hell to mentor with him right after law school. Then, he’d hired me as his in-house attorney to work exclusively on his real estate developments and property management business deals and contracts. Not one legal document went through this firm without my stamp of approval. It felt good to know that Albertson trusted me. I wasn’t about to let him down now. He was the one person I’d yet to disappoint. Unlike my parents. Griffin.

Ashton.

“This deal is very important to me,” I said. “I will make sure you see those plans.”

“Give Miss Jansen another invite to dinner tonight, this time from me,” he suggested. “We’ll dine at the Seven Palms, my treat. Seven sharp. If she’s the kind of businesswoman I think she is, she’ll agree.”

“I’ll pass that along to her.”

“Tell her to bring the plans with her. If everything goes according to plan, I’ll sign on the deal tomorrow.” Albertson pushed back from his desk before standing up. “And one more thing, Quinn.”

I waited by the door for him to continue, holding my breath. Sage advice was coming, but probably not what I wanted to hear.

“I think it should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway,” he warned. “Don’t let any unfinished business with Miss Jansen spoil this deal. Your future’s on the line.”

“I think you know that I would never let a personal matter interfere with business,” I assured. “My level of professionalism is always top of mind.”

Albertson speared me with a knowing look and then went back to reviewing a stack of papers. I’d been momentarily dismissed. “I know, Quinn. See you at dinner tonight.”

I hurried down the corridor toward my office, pulling out my iPhone along the way. I shot off a text to Ashton.

Quinn: Albertson has insisted you have dinner with him tonight to review the plans. This is important and he’s not going to take no for an answer. Seven sharp at Seven Palms. See you there.

If the invite came from the most respected businessman in the area, she couldn’t say no. My gut tightened as I awaited her reply.