CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“Stay a Little Longer”

Quinn

Margo’s was gone. As I stared at what was left of my father’s dream, I couldn’t help but think that this was my payback, my karmic revenge for not being upfront and honest with Evan, or for that matter, myself. I should have told him.

Last night after Evan walked out, I rushed home from Margo’s only to discover him gone. After crying myself silly, I sent him a text. I wanted to explain why I didn’t say something, to beg for forgiveness...to bare my soul, but after six tries—all of which sounded silly, I settled for two words; I’m sorry.

To Evan, life was black and white. A lie was a lie and it was as simple as that. To me, it was so much more. Nothing was simple about my decision not to tell him. Was I wrong? Yes. The moment I realized who Amanda was, I should have said something, but it wasn’t that easy. I was falling in love. I was scared. I was...a fool. Whoever said love makes you do stupid things hit the nail on the head. In the end, my fear of losing him made me do just that.

You’re just like her. Of all the things he’d said, this hurt the most. He was wrong. I was nothing like Amanda James.

I heard my name shouted and turned to see Alex-Ann barreling towards me. The minute she reached me, she threw her arms around me, and I burst into tears. I’d cried more in the past two days than in the past ten years.

“Oh no, Quinny, what happened?”

“I don’t know,” I sobbed. “The alarm company called right as I pulled up to the house and said that the fire alarm had been triggered and they had a truck on the way. When I got here, the place was pretty much gone. The fireman said liquor bottles acted as an accelerant. Once it hit the storage room there was nothing they could have done to save it.”

“Shit. We were just here.”

“I know. That’s all I can think about. What if it had been my night off or what if Sam had stayed late.”

“Have you called Evan?”

After the call from the alarm company, I jumped in the car and sped back to Margo’s. Two firetrucks were blocking the parking lot, so I had to park down the street and jog to the bar. When I saw the devastation, I fell apart. It took a nice fireman named Dave to talk me off the ledge. I could tell by the look on his face that he thought I was crazier than a squirrel on crack, but I didn’t care. Other than the house, the bar was the last thing I had of my dad. When he asked if there was someone I could call, I thought of Evan. Evan, who now hated me. Evan, who I still loved more than anything in this world. Evan, who was currently on his way home to break my heart into a million tiny pieces.

Of course, I didn’t say any of this to Alex-Ann. I simply said, “I called him and he says he’s coming home.”

Thinking about Evan brought on a fresh batch of tears. He may be coming home, but we both knew the score. It was over. I’d broken his trust. I’d broken us.

As I cried on Alex-Ann’s shoulder, she rubbed her hands up and down my back, while chanting “I don’t believe this is happening,” over and over again. I couldn’t either. Each time I thought I had a grip on my emotions, something else would set me off. How was I supposed to tell my mother? What was I going to do now? All of Dad’s things, the pictures, the memories, all of it, was just...gone.

Eventually, Gretchen, Sam, and Will found us, and as the night shifted to dawn, we watched the blaze die down to nothing but drifts of smoke.

“I’m so sorry. I know how much this place meant to each and every one of you,” I told them.

Alex-Ann huffed. “This isn’t on you.”

“I’m surprised it lasted as long as it did,” Sam muttered.

A strangled gasp shot from Gretchen’s lips and all eyes swiveled in her direction.

“What?” I asked as I wiped the tears off my face with the bottom of my t-shirt.

“You don’t think Baxter did this, do you?” Her question caught me off guard.

Will nodded his head. “I’d be lying if I said the thought hadn’t crossed my mind.”

“Everyone heard him threaten you, but God, Quinn, this is just...” Gretchen’s words trailed off as a police officer approached us. The same one who had questioned me earlier.

He nodded to the group before turning his gaze on me. “Miss Kinley, it appears you left something out in our earlier discussion. I was talking with Mr. Grange, here, and he tells me that a Baxter Keen caused quite a scene at your bar last night.” My eyes cut to Will. Yes, Baxter had threatened me, but only because he was upset. As far as I was concerned, he had every right to be. Amanda had played him just like she’d played everybody else. Did I think he burned down my bar? No. That was more Amanda’s style, which made me wonder, where was she tonight?

“Baxter was upset,” I explained.

“Did he threaten you?”

“His fiancée had just broken off their engagement and he was upset by this.”

“Yes, but did he threaten you, Miss Kinley?” he repeated more forcefully. I thought about telling him no, but then remembered Evan and how that had turned out.

“He did, but I don’t think he meant anything by it. If anything, you should look into his fiancée.”

At the mention of Amanda, everyone started talking at once. The officer listened patiently to what we had to say before telling us he would look into both Baxter and Amanda.

Pending an investigation into the possibility of arson, the police cordoned off what remained of the bar as a crime scene. This meant that I wasn’t allowed to see if anything still remained. This also meant there was nothing more for us to do but go home.

“We’ll rebuild,” I told them. “We’ll make Margo’s bigger and better. Maybe we can even bring in live bands, you know, like Dad always talked about.” No one said a word.

Sam pulled me in for a hug, and I swallowed back a sob. I felt as if my whole world was ending. Evan was gone, and now, so was the bar. “Now’s not the time to make plans, darlin’. Now’s the time to go home and get some shut eye. We’ll have plenty of time to plan later, okay?” All I could manage was a nod.

Alex-Ann sidled up beside me. “Do you want me to come home with you?”

“No. I’m good. Sam’s right. We all need sleep. Love you guys,” I called out as everyone began to peel away and head for their cars.

While walking me to my car, Alex-Ann asked, “Do you know when Evan will be home?”

“He didn’t say.”

“Well, call me when you wake up. I’ll come over and we can watch movies or something.” I told her I would.

On the drive home, I cried for the loss of my father. While feeding the cats, I cried about the loss of Margo’s. In the shower, I cried because I’d hurt Evan, and when I hit the bed, I just plain cried for me.

A warm hand on my back woke me.

“Quinn?” The sound of his voice, the knowledge that he was here...in my house...on my bed, meant everything. Evan reared his head back when I suddenly sprang up and scrambled onto his lap. Hugging him to me, I buried my head in his neck and burst into tears.

“I’m so sorry. I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t want to add to your pain. Then I fell in love with you and I didn’t want you to leave me. I know it was wrong and I don’t blame you for leaving, but please, please forgive me,” I sobbed.

“Hey,” he cooed, which only made me cry harder. “Baby, stop crying.” His hand on my back slid up into my hair and began caressing my scalp. As I pulled myself together, it dawned on me that I was naked. I was naked and sitting in Evan’s lap. Evan’s very happy-to-see-me lap from the feel of it. Wiping my eyes on his shoulder, I loosened my hold around his neck just enough for me to tilt my head back. Green eyes filled with worry gazed down at me.

“I’m sorry I was a dick. I didn’t think, I just reacted. You’re nothing like Mandy. I know that. Our relationship isn’t even in the same stratosphere. The whole Baxter thing caught me by surprise and instead of letting you explain, I ran.” With the lightest of touches, he brushed his lips across mine. “I’m sorry.” He kissed me again, this time adding the slightest swipe of his tongue. “Please forgive me.” Was it wrong to feel so happy and so sad at the same time? Because that’s exactly how I felt. Evan was back, but the bar was still gone.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“I know. I am, too.”

“The bar is gone, Evan. There’s nothing left.”

Pressing a kiss to my forehead, he said, “Come on. Let’s get you dressed and get some coffee in you. Then we’ll talk.”

By the time we made it outside to the rockers, it was past coffee and well into beer time. While drinking our beers, Evan held my hand, and as we watched the sun set, I told him about Margo’s. When I mentioned what Gretchen had said about it being Baxter and that I thought it sounded more like Amanda, Evan told me about last night’s phone call with the lawyer.

“So... what does that mean? It’s over?” I asked, my heart thrumming ninety to nothing in my chest.

His head turned, his gaze shifting from the horizon to me. “No, Country. It means it’s just begun.”

Butterflies took flight in my stomach as he took the beer from my hand and set it next to his on the porch. Then, pulling me from the chair, he led me into the house and up the stairs to my bedroom, where he slowly stripped me of my clothes—one piece at a time. When we were both fully naked, he lay me on the bed, where first, he brought me to orgasm with his fingers. Then he used his tongue. Only when he had me out of my mind with pleasure, did he enter me. Using slow, deliberate strokes, he took me to the top of the world. We came together. We were together. And if I had my way, we would always be together.

The next morning, Evan sat on the porch with me while I called my mother. I had to start and stop a few times, but I finally managed to get it out. I held my breath, waiting for her tears. Surprisingly, they didn’t come.

“I’m sorry, baby girl. I know how much you and your daddy loved that place, but I’ve gotta say, I’m relieved.” I sucked in a shocked breath. “We both know Margo’s isn’t enough. You need to live, Quinn. Now’s your chance to spread your wings. If that means running off with your rock star, then do it. If it means moving to Antarctica and chasing after polar bears, then do it. I just want you to be happy.

“I love you, Mama,” I said through my tears.

“Love you, too, baby...”