Chapter Nineteen

Ashton

The rehearsal dinner was scheduled for eight and, as usual, my mom lingered in her bathroom, putting on the full face of makeup that she should have started applying an hour ago. A wave of embarrassment washed over me due to her inability to be punctual. Good thing Betsey Jansen had never worked outside the home. She would have been canned her first day on the job.

I’d just zipped my dress when I heard the front door bell ring. Deliveries had been arriving at the house all day long since the wedding reception was being held in my parent’s backyard. Flower deliveries; cases of beer, wine, and hard liquor; food from the multitude of caterers; and presents for the bride and groom from people who couldn’t attend in person. So I was surprised to hear Griffin’s excited voice greeting someone in the foyer.

I caught a few snippets of the conversation and my heart hammered against my breastbone.

“Good to see you, man.”

A muffled sexy voice and then, “…it’s been a long time.”

“Come on in,” Griffin said. “Would you like a drink?”

Why had Quinn come straight to the house? He wasn’t part of the wedding party so had no reason to be here for the rehearsal. I hurriedly slipped on my strappy silver heels and double-checked my makeup. Why did I always worry about how I looked when I knew Quinn would see me? Jeez, how pathetic. I wondered if he was delivering the document Albertson wanted me to sign. Slicking on a layer of lip gloss, I took another look in the mirror.

I tugged on my dress, making sure it clung to my every curve. The bride had requested that all the women wear pink tonight since she loved the color, her favorite. So my selection was a pale pink number that the salesgirl called a bandage dress. It was made mostly of body hugging spandex with a crisscross pattern all the way around the dress with a cut-out around shoulders. The whole dress screamed sexy.

A smile tugged at my lips. Devine guidance must have led me toward this purchase.

I grabbed my purse and headed toward the stairs. I stopped at the landing where I could hear their conversation, but my brother and Quinn couldn’t see me. I paused behind a column and watched.

“I just wanted to drop this paperwork off to your sister,” Quinn said as he peered around Griffin’s shoulder. “She doesn’t happen to be close, does she? Will you make sure she gets it?”

“Sure man.” Griffin took the envelope from Quinn and then paused. “Listen, I don’t know what to say … other than I’m sorry, dude. What I did…wasn’t right. I was young, stupid and drunk. I’ve never forgiven myself. Now, I feel like an even bigger asshole because I should have hunted you down to apologize in person. And I didn’t do the mature thing.”

I held my breath trying to understand what I just heard. I watched as Quinn stuck out his hand. “I accept your apology. The past is the past. Tomorrow, you head down the aisle toward your future.”

Griffin shook his hand. “I wish I could take it all back. I have no explanation except I was young and it was a stupid mistake. I’ve always been a hothead when it comes to Ashton. Hell, I’m just a hothead in general.”

“We can move on,” Quinn acknowledged. “Ashton and I are good so you and I are good too.”

“I hope you’ll come to the wedding,” Griffin said, blushing red from his spiky hair and down his neck. “I would love for you to meet Sara. She’s the antithesis of Caroline.”

Quinn laughed. “Another blast from the past. I admit it, Griffin. I never liked her much. I’ll be there tomorrow to meet your intended. I’m sure she’s wonderful and I wish you both nothing but happiness.”

I couldn’t take it any longer. I cleared my throat as I made my way down the stairs. Quinn’s eyes widened as I walked down the last couple of stairs.

“You look amazing,” Quinn said and his eyes swept me up and down. Griffin looked back and forth between us

Please, God. Don’t let him do something ignorant again. Like punch Quinn in the middle of our foyer with minions of hired help buzzing around.

“Thank you.”

“Sis, I’ll see you at the restaurant. I have to go pick up Sara and her parents.” Griffin turned his attention to Quinn. “See you tomorrow, man. I’m sure glad you stopped by in person. Can’t wait to see Nanna too.”

We waited until my brother left. Quinn took his hands and ran them down my shoulders.

“Wow,” he whistled. “Just wow. You are so beautiful.”

“I guess I owe you an apology too,” I said, my eyes searching his.

“I’m in a forgiving mood tonight,” Quinn answered.

I kissed him on the cheek. “I’m happy to hear that. I should’ve given you the benefit of the doubt. But … my only brother. Good grief, I don’t even know what to say. What to think.”

He wrapped his arms around me and I held on tight. “I would rather stay here with you tonight than attend this annoying rehearsal dinner. But since I’m in the wedding party …”

“I’ll make you a deal,” he promised. “You go to the dinner and we’ll do something special when you return.”

That made me smile. “Okay.” I had a feeling the next three hours would resemble a turtle’s march to the sea.

***

I left the rehearsal dinner early, feigning a headache, and headed back to my parent’s house. Eager to strip out of my dress and throw on some sweat pants, I sighed as I pulled in to the driveway. The sexy bandage dress had been constrictive and itchy since I’d put it on, and since Quinn wasn’t there to appreciate it, it really served zero useful purpose. I was surprised to see an unfamiliar car parked askew in the grass.

“Who in the hell…” I peered at the Florida plates and realized it was Quinn as he slipped out of the car. He’d been waiting for me and I wondered for how long because I was home early.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, slipping out of my car, keys jangling from my finger.

“I thought we had a date after your dinner,” he said. Damn, he looked fine. I drank in the sight of him in his jeans and tight t-shirt. “I chose not to wait until you called me.”

“Oh, is this what it is? A date?” I teased him. “I’m not sure I even know what that is where you’re concerned.”

“I deserved that.” He wrapped his arms around my waist. “I was hoping we could hang out and chill. Whatever you want to call that.”

“Whatcha got in your hands?” I asked him, eyeing a manila folder.

“Oh, we never got final signatures on the deal.” Quinn handed me a file. “Albertson said he wants me to email the docs first thing in the morning.”

I took the file from him. “Come inside and we’ll chat.”

I needed to tell Quinn about the deal I made with Albertson. After Griffin’s confession and apology, I’d tolerate no more lies between us. Relationships were built on trust and friendship and not mistruths and evasion. I hadn’t even told Henri yet about the job offer that I’d verbally accepted. The decision had been weighing on my mind but I felt that I needed to let Quinn know before I gave my firm thirty-day’s notice.

“I know you have a lot going on with the wedding and all,” Quinn said following me inside. “But is there something else that we need to talk about? You seem distracted. Or is it just my massive hotness?”

“You are a definite and welcome distraction, but that’s not it.” I paused inside the foyer and put my purse and the manila folder on the hallway table. “Would you like something to drink?”

“Sure.”

We walked into the kitchen and I rummaged through the refrigerator for some appropriate beverages. While I didn’t want to get lit up before the big day tomorrow, I desired something alcoholic to take the edge off. Moving plates of food around, I spotted a six-pack of Blue Moon. I felt Quinn pressing up against my body. The shear spandex of my pink dress a paltry barrier to the heat.

“You sure have a lot of food in there.”

“It’s all the wedding stuff. Where there is a wedding or a funeral there is always massive amounts of food,” I said. “You should know that by now. It’s a southern thing.” I handed him a beer.

“Do I get the orange slice too?” Quinn asked.

I raised an eyebrow. “Do you need an orange slice?”

“It does make a nice accouterment.” I wasn’t sure which I liked better, his sexy voice spitting sass or the smirk tugging the corners of his lush lips.

“McBee’s Bar is down the road if you want accouterments,” I countered, handing him the can. “But I can pop the top for you as a reasonable accommodation.”

Quinn laughed before popping the top himself and taking a long swig. He raised his beer. “This will do. When we’re alone, I’ll take a different reasonable accommodation.”

“Excellent choice.” I opened my own beer and walked through the French doors that led to the backyard. We settled in on the porch swing. The evening was as perfect as it gets. Warm with a slight breeze, no clouds in the sky, and plenty of stars to gaze at.

“So what’s on your mind?” he asked. “Did something happen since you came home that I should know.”

“No, before I even left. Albertson wants to hire me,” I blurted out.

“My boss?” Quinn turned to look at me. “He offered you a job?”

“I accepted already.”

“Wow,” Quinn said and pushed off with his feet to set the swing in motion again. The gentle sway calmed my frayed nerves. “When did this happen?”

“The day we closed on the deal.”

He raised his eyebrows. “That’s what’s in the package I delivered to you? Your new employment contract?”

“I haven’t looked but you could be right,” I admitted.

Staring into his beer bottle Quinn asked, “Why did you wait to tell me?”

“Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I was going to go through with it and sign on the dotted line,” I said as I placed a hand on his knee. “So much was still up in the air. About Griffin. About us. I still haven’t told my boss.”

“Are you sure that’s all?” he asked, staring at my hand touching him.

“I wanted to see how things turned out for us,” I admitted. “I think we can both agree that failed office romances are uncomfortable for everyone involved.”

“What would you be doing for Albertson?”

My heart started pounding. Damn the fragile male ego. I’d known in advance the conversation would veer in this direction.

“Your job is safe if that’s what you’re worried about.” I bumped his shoulder with mine.

“I guess so, unless you got your law degree overnight. You have been pretty busy lately. Did you succumb to the midnight infomercial where you can purchase a degree for a couple hundred bucks?” Quinn bumped me back. “Seriously, what role will you have with the company?”

“Albertson asked that I take over sales and development,” I explained. “He wants to retire soon.”

“It was my understanding that Cassie would take over,” Quinn countered.

“He said she is just there to get a husband and a paycheck.”

Quinn laughed. “Yeah, that sounds about right.” He paused for a moment. “So, you’re going to take the job?”

“I think so,” I said. “He offered me a sweet deal.”

“How sweet?”

He knew I couldn’t divulge the particulars. He was a lawyer for the love of God. “Enough to make me say yes.”

Quinn whistled. “Albertson must really like you. I’m not sure I like it. I’m used to being the heir apparent at my firm.”

“What’s there not to like?” I lifted up my hands. “I can be a golden child, too, you know, Andrews.”

“I guess I can’t blame him. I kinda like you too.”

“Kinda?” I pursed my lips into a fake pout and batted my eyelashes in his direction.

“You’re growing on me.”

I nuzzled up against him. “Well, I kinda like you too.”

Quinn put his arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer. I bent my head toward him and pressed my lips against his for a moment.

“Ashton,” Quinn touched my cheek gently. “You have no idea how much you mean to me. I have something to confess to you. No more lies between us. Ever.”

I sat up straighter. “What?”

“It wasn’t by accident that you were given the task of coming to Destin to broker that deal with Albertson. It was a year of wheeling and dealing in the making before you were involved.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, heart pounding. Had he manipulated Henri into sending me to Destin?

“Like I’ve told you, I’ve kept tabs on your career. When I heard through the grapevine that your boss was looking for new development in the Destin area, I had Albertson call him and offer the hotel. Albertson had been toying around with selling that building for years. The final feather in his cap. It was a long shot, but he agreed to do it. We called Henri and gave him first right of refusal to buy the hotel. It was a lot of hard work to orchestrate, but in the end it was worth it. Because I got to see you and throw my pathetic self on your infinite mercy.”

I sucked in a breath. “This is a lot to take in. Hmm …” For once I was totally speechless. After a moment I said, “Why? Why would you go through all this trouble?”

Quinn drained the rest of his beer and set it down. “I told you I messed up back then. We were basically kids. I kinda freaked out because I’d just had sex with my best friend’s younger sister. A virgin. Plus I wasn’t sure what to do with all these crazy feelings that I was having about you. Then Griffin put me through the ringer with the drug charges …”

I put a comforting hand on his knee. “I’m sorry about that.”

Quinn shrugged. “I’ve grown up and I just felt compelled to go back and clean up the mess I left. I’ve learned how to handle conflicts and manage a relationship. I promise you that I won’t screw things up again. When I say you mean the world to me, that you’re the most important thing in my life, I’m being honest. I want to take care of you. I want to hold you in my arms and comfort you.”

Quinn slid up his sleeves to reveal a threaded blue and yellow bracelet. My eyes squinted in puzzlement. I ran my finger over the soft fabric. It was a friendship bracelet, one that I had given him when I was thirteen. Quinn had spent the night at our house with Griffin and I gave it to him while we were watching Jurassic Park.

Tears welled up in my eyes. “I - I can’t believe you still have that. Why did you keep it all these years?”

“Ashton, you’ve always been a part of my life. Even though we’ve been apart for ten years there wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t think of you. Regret you. When I got the gift of a second chance, I knew I needed you to be a permanent part of it,” he whispered softly. “You are the one woman who has been in my heart for over fifteen years. I’m not going to let you get away from me again.”

“I can’t believe this.” It was the only thing I could think to say.

Quinn had jumped through a hoop of fire in order to see me again. Make amends. He still wore the bracelet I’d made him in middle school when all I could think of was his thick hair and dimpled smile. He drove all the way to Atlanta to make sure that I knew how much he cared for me. He even extended the olive branch to my undeserving brother when he didn’t have to.

“I can’t believe you still have this,” I said again, fingering the string in a tender caress.

Quinn shrugged. “I’ve always worn it. This bracelet was the only piece of you I had, and I didn’t want to let it out of my sight. Now I just want to know what it will take to have you in my life permanently. It’s been my lucky charm.”

I didn’t have a reason to stall on accepting the job and moving to Destin. I loved him. I always had and I couldn’t let fear hold me back for another minute. I scooted into his lap.

“I guess you should know that I’ve been crushing on you longer than ten years.” I kissed him again. There was nothing left to discuss. “Shall we go somewhere more comfortable? Like my bedroom?”

Quinn picked me up as I wrapped my legs around his waist. “I don’t think I’ll be able to make it upstairs.”

I pointed to a large lounger that overlooked our in-ground pool. “No one will be home for a while. Let’s go over there. I’ve always fantasized about making love under a blanket of stars. Make my dream come true, Andrews. Seal the deal.”

I unzipped my dress and shrugged out of it while Quinn yanked off his own clothes. We discarded everything into one big pile in the grass before climbing onto the lounger.

I patted the cushion. “Come here. I don’t like waiting.”

He leaned up and gave me a steamy kiss as I climbed on top of him. I was already wet for him and had been since we’d slid into the swing. Quinn had that effect on me. He had a level of hotness that shouldn’t be legal.

Not wanting to delay another second, I lowered myself onto him, breathless as his cock filled me. “You feel so good,” I said.

His fingers dug into my hips. I moved against him, setting the rhythm for us. I could get used to this being on top thing.

Faster.

Harder.

As I hurtled toward release, I slowed down the pace. A pressure built up and the stars in the sky were nothing to the stars behind my eyes. It felt fantastic.

“You’re so amazing,” Quinn gasped. “So hot. So tight for me.”

Quinn reached between our bodies and pressed against my clit. I pulled my fingers through his hair and screamed Quinn’s name as I came, waves of pleasure flooding my convulsing body. Quinn climaxed with me, his cock pulsing with his release as we collapsed in a sweaty heap.

“Does this mean you’re moving to Destin?” he asked, voice low and sexy.

“If that’s where you’re going to be,” I whispered, pressing my lips to his in a soft kiss.

I wanted to take the job and move to the beach. Start a new life, a new beginning. My brow knitted together in thought.

“What?” he asked.

“Let’s get a place together,” I suggested. “Someplace that can be all ours.”

“I’d like to do that,” he whispered into my ear and bussed a kiss to my temple. “As long as I’m with you, I’ll go anywhere.”

“Do you really mean that?”

“Of course I do.” Quinn kissed me on the lips to seal our agreement.