When Quinn woke up, ribbons of salmon-colored sky were already unfurling above the tree tops, just visible through the net curtains at the window. The sound of passing cars could be heard from outside, and somewhere nearby, a door slammed. The water was running in the bathroom, and Gabe emerged a few minutes later with a towel wrapped around his waist and smelling of aftershave.
“Good morning,” Quinn said, striving for normalcy. “Where did you go last night?”
“Out,” was Gabe’s curt reply. He prepared his clothes for the day and began to toss everything else into his traveling case in preparation for departure. Normally, Gabe would fold his shirts and separate clean clothes from the items he’d already worn, but this morning, he just threw everything in randomly, clearly still angry.
“Gabe, I was really upset last night,” Quinn said, hoping to draw him into conversation and clear the air. This wasn’t the first time Gabe had been angry with her, but normally, his anger melted away once they talked things out, and he’d had a chance to explain his point of view. But Gabe wasn’t taking the bait.
“That makes two of us,” he spat out and turned his back on her.
“Why are you so angry?” Quinn cried. He was replying to her, but just barely, and the rigid set of his shoulders and the muscle working in his jaw were obvious indications that he was furious. Gabe turned to face her and threw her a look of utter incredulity.
“Why am I angry?” he asked, his voice dangerously low. “Well, let’s see. Could it be because you lied to me? You said that you would be in a crowded room surrounded by other people at all times. You promised me you’d be safe. Clearly, that wasn’t the case. You knowingly went to the room of a man who’s raped before, a man who could have overpowered you with one hand tied behind his back,” Gabe retorted, his eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched in anger as he ran his fingers through his damp hair in agitation.
“You pushed him off? You pushed him off because he allowed you to. He could have done anything he wanted to you, and no jury would convict him. You gave your consent simply by going to his room with him. No woman goes to a man’s hotel room without realizing that she’s been invited there for sex.”
“Do you honestly think that I went there to have sex with him?” Quinn cried, outraged.
“No, I don’t. That would be rather twisted, given that he might be your father. I think that you knowingly put yourself in danger to collect a few worthless DNA samples, and by doing that, you put me and Emma in danger as well, because if he hurt you, I would have killed him with my bare hands, and Emma would lose her one remaining parent, since I’d be spending the rest of my life in prison.”
Quinn just stared, open-mouthed. She’d never seen Gabe this angry or heard him speak this way.
“Gabe, you’re overreacting,” she replied, which was exactly the wrong thing to say to him. Gabe’s eyes glinted with fury, and he advanced on her, making her back away from him toward the bed.
“Am I? I’ve always believed myself to be a rational, civilized human being, but I realized something last night when I smelled that bastard on you. I’m no different from any other man who’s been driven to extreme measures in a moment of passion and acted on instinct rather than sense. For the first time in my life, I wanted to do someone harm, and I would have, had he given me reason to. I would have killed him without a second thought if he raped you, and would have lost everything I hold dear in the process. I would have lost Emma and you,” he whispered.
“Gabe, I’m sorry. I really am. I wasn’t thinking,” Quinn pleaded. She went to him and tried to wrap her arms around his neck, but Gabe stepped back, leaving her standing there like a fool.
“No, you weren’t. Now, get dressed and pack your things. We are picking up Emma in an hour.”
“Well, at least we’ll be home by dinnertime,” Quinn said, her voice flat. When she left for the cocktail party last night she couldn’t have imagined the fallout she’d have to deal with this morning. Perhaps Gabe was right. She’d been stupid, reckless, and inconsiderate. She never gave Gabe a second thought when she went up to Chatham’s room, focusing only on herself and her need to know the truth.
“We are not going home,” Gabe replied.
“Where are we going?”
“We are going to Berwick. My parents are desperate to meet Emma, and I think we need a few days alone to sort things out and prepare my flat for Emma. Now, are you just going to stand there?” he asked, giving her a hard look.
Quinn turned away from Gabe, so he wouldn’t see the tears that sprang to her eyes. Gabe’s anger was worse than the fear she felt last night when Chatham pinned her against the wall, making her feel helpless and vulnerable. Gabe’s anger cut deep because the thought of losing his love left Quinn feeling utterly gutted and lost. She never felt this kind of pain when Luke left her. It had been hurtful and shocking, but not visceral. Quinn turned back and threw herself at Gabe, nearly knocking him off his feet. She wrapped her arms around him, sobbing into his chest.
“I’m sorry. I’ll never do anything so stupid again,” Quinn cried. “I didn’t realize. I never considered the consequences.”
Her lips found Gabe’s, and she pressed them to his, willing him to kiss her back as she held on to him for dear life. She felt his body tense against hers and thought that he’d push her away, but instead, he lifted her to her feet and carried her to the bed. Gabe tossed his towel to the floor and was on top of her in seconds, his mouth devouring hers and his knee pushing her legs apart. There was no foreplay, just the raw, all-consuming collision of two people who were overcome with emotion and need for each other. It didn’t last long, and they were both panting by the time it was over, but they had made their peace and forgiven each other. Gabe rested his forehead against hers, his breathing ragged.
“It scares me how much I love you,” he whispered. “I’m lost.”
And I am found, Quinn thought as she allowed the last of her protective barriers to crumble.