Stroke of Luck - Opal Carew Page 0,46

thing in the world to me. I would have given anything to keep you in my life.”

“I know,” she whispered.

And she’d already said she wouldn’t ask him to.

“Fuck, it was my fault.” He held her tighter, never wanting to let her go.

Several long moments passed while he clung to her. Finally, Austin cleared his throat and rested his hand on Quinn’s shoulder.

“Let’s get back to the hotel,” Austin said.

Quinn drew back, but then slid her to his side and kept his arm around her as they walked.

Why hadn’t he been able to see what was happening back then? He had lost so much. She had lost so much.

He had to question everything. He’d labeled her a gold digger because … well, fuck, it had been easier to believe that than anything else. His whole world had tumbled off-kilter when she’d left him, and that was the only explanation that had made any sense to him.

Maurice might be a total asshole, but he’d lavished April with attention back then, and that had been exactly what she’d needed. He could see how she would convince herself she was in love with the guy.

Fuck, Quinn now realized it had been his fault she’d wound up with Maurice. That meant everything that happened after was his fault, too. Like the predicament she was in now.

Hell, she wasn’t in his debt. He was in hers.

Sure, he’d paid off the bill the asshole had left her with, but she’d lost so much more than that. This arrangement they had … it wasn’t fair to expect her to honor that.

But how could he give it up? He thought he’d die if he didn’t satisfy his primal need to be with her.

She leaned her head against his shoulder with a sigh, warming his heart.

The hotel was two blocks away. He felt his pulse accelerate as they walked, knowing they were getting closer to that moment. When he finally had her in his bed, he’d show her how much she meant to him.

A couple ahead of them turned and entered a neon-lit wedding chapel. Before they reached the door, another couple burst into the night, laughing, the woman clinging to a small bouquet of flowers wrapped with lace and ribbon.

April slowed to a stop as she watched the couple hurry away, holding hands and laughing. Quinn gazed at her wistful eyes.

“What’s wrong, April?” Austin asked.

But then understanding flared in Austin’s eyes as he saw where she was looking. At the same time Quinn figured it out.

She chewed her lip. “Nothing. It’s just … today was supposed to be my wedding day.”

Fuck, he knew she’d lost a lot, but all he’d thought about were material things. And the loss of a guy she was better off without.

But there was so much more. She’d lost the promise of a future with a man who loved her. Someone who would be there for her and support her when she needed it.

“That’s true.” Quinn squeezed her hand. “And you know what? You deserve to have that special day.” He led her toward the chapel.

13

“What are you talking about?”

Confusion swirled through April as Quinn clung tightly to her hand and hurried her toward the neon sign.

“You and I,” Quinn said. “We’re getting married.”

She stopped dead in her tracks, pulling Quinn to a stop.

“You can’t be serious. You’ve been very clear that’s not what you want.”

“I am serious. And don’t worry. We can have it annulled later. I just want you to be a bride today. I don’t want you to lose that, too.”

“Hey, that’s a great idea,” Austin said. “I want to marry her, too. Then her wedding day will be twice as good.”

Quinn chuckled. He leaned in and whispered, “I haven’t seen Austin drunk very often, but when he is, he makes terrible decisions, and he’s very exuberant about them. Clearly, tonight is no different.”

“And your decision isn’t bad?” she asked.

He grasped her shoulders and stared at her intently. “No, baby. Marrying you could never be a bad idea.”

She gazed into his decisive blue eyes. The warmth and caring there left her speechless.

Oh, God, she knew she should protest as he tugged her into the building, but her head was so foggy, and deep down, she didn’t want to stop this.

What happened next became hazy, but she remembered saying, “I do,” and Quinn slipping a ring on her finger. Then she was walking outside again, and it was Austin holding her hand. They went a block or so, and there was another building