Stroke of Luck - Opal Carew Page 0,69
them, too.
“We can leave if you want,” Austin murmured in her ear.
She straightened her back and held her head high. “No. I made you miss one of these games because of them. Not tonight. I’m not going to run every time I see a friend of Maurice’s.”
Austin and Quinn sat down at the table, and April sat in a chair behind them since she wasn’t playing. Sarah glanced her way, and their gazes locked briefly. Instead of the look of scorn April expected to see, Sarah’s expression was subdued.
Sarah and her husband sat farther down the table, so April chose to ignore them. Everyone anted up, and the game began. After about forty minutes, Austin’s stack of chips had doubled. Quinn had lost several rounds but was still ahead.
A waitress took April’s empty glass and asked if she’d like another. April shook her head, and as soon as the current hand was over, she leaned in to Quinn.
“I’m going to the ladies’ room. I’ll be back in a minute.”
He glanced her way and smiled, then took her hand and pressed it to his mouth. The gentle contact paired with the complete and focused attention he gave her left her knees weak.
“Don’t be too long. I’ll miss you,” he said.
Her heart pounded as she stood up. His attitude toward her had changed radically since that first day. Gone was the distrusting, angry man. He was so relaxed around her now. And wonderfully attentive.
She didn’t allow herself to read anything more into it other than he was enjoying their sexy arrangement.
She stood up and made her way to the door. There were washrooms just off the atrium outside the suite. She walked into the sumptuous room with potted plants, large mirrors, and black sinks embedded in granite countertops, then stepped into one of the stalls with solid wood doors. After she was done, she walked to one of the sinks and washed her hands, then opened her purse to retrieve her lipstick.
As she gazed in the mirror to put it on, Sarah entered and stepped behind her.
“New dress? It looks very nice,” Sarah said.
April frowned as she turned to face the other woman, not in the mood for any nasty games.
“What do you want, Sarah?”
“I want to help, actually.”
“Help? I don’t understand.”
Sarah’s disapproval had been wholly evident, and it made no sense she’d suddenly change her mind about April.
But Sarah’s expression was genuine.
“You’ve been through a terrible experience with the wedding, and … well, Maurice contacted me and told me what really happened.”
April’s eyebrow quirked up. “He did?”
“He said that it wasn’t you who’d cheated on him. It was the other way around. That when you walked away, he panicked and his ego got in the way. He knows what he did was wrong and that blaming you was unforgivable.” Sarah stepped forward and took April’s hand. “But, dear, he does want you to forgive him. He wants you to give him a chance to make it up to you. He says you won’t take his calls, so he contacted me and asked if I’d talk to you.”
April shook her head. This was crazy.
“I know he doesn’t deserve it,” Sarah continued, “but he really does love you. And from everything I’ve seen over the past two years, I believe you love him, too. I totally understand why you want to walk away, but I urge you to at least listen to what he has to say.”
* * *
Quinn smiled at the huge stack of chips in front of him. Both he and Austin had done exceptionally well tonight.
He turned to April and took her hand. “You are a great lucky charm.”
Austin settled their winnings as Quinn drew her to her feet and hugged her tightly. Her body stiffened, and he drew back.
“What’s wrong?”
She shook her head. “Nothing.”
“I don’t believe you.” He smiled encouragingly and tipped up her chin. “Does it have anything to do with the fact those friends of your ex’s were here? Because they left over an hour ago, so you can relax and enjoy your husband’s attention.”
Austin stepped beside her and leaned in with a grin. “If we go back to the suite, you can enjoy both your husbands’ attention.”
Quinn loosened his hold on her, and the three of them strolled to the door.
They walked through the atrium and took the elevator down. Soon they were in the hustle and bustle of the main level, with shops and restaurants around them and a steady flow of people, even at