Stroke of Luck - Opal Carew Page 0,79
engagement ring?
She could just stroll in and say, “Hey, guess what? I ran into Maurice, and we’re now officially engaged again.”
She sucked in a deep breath, then slid the key card into the slot and opened the door. When she stepped into the entrance, she saw that both Quinn and Austin were sitting in the living room staring her way.
“Oh, hi. It’s really nice outside. Sunny and warm.” She took off her shoes and dropped her purse beside them. “I had a nice walk and then sat in the garden for a while. Then I went to the spa. Did Austin mention about the spa?”
She realized she was babbling, which she did when she was nervous.
She walked into the living room, sensing a tension she hadn’t noticed before because of her own anxiety.
Austin’s expression was guarded, but Quinn’s rippled with displeasure. She sat down in the armchair between the couch where Quinn sat and Austin’s chair.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
Quinn scowled, then picked up his phone and tapped it. “I hear you ran into an old friend.” His voice was tight and hard. He held the phone up facing her, revealing a photo of her and Maurice talking in the bar.
Her back stiffened. “Yes, as a matter of fact. I ran into Maurice while I was leaving the spa.”
“And you went out on a date with him,” Quinn accused.
“It was a drink, not a date. And yes, I accepted his invitation. He wanted to talk about what happened.”
She wanted to say more. Like he had no right to interrogate her like this. She could talk to whomever she wanted. But she didn’t want to inflame the already tense situation.
“So are you going back to him?” Quinn’s midnight eyes were somber.
Shock and anger surged through her at his question. She could feel her cheeks burning with it.
“No, of course not. Do you think I’m an idiot?”
He grasped her hand and jerked it up, glaring at the diamond on her finger. “Then why are you wearing his ring?”
She glared back at his angry face, but said nothing.
“And last night, you murmured his name in your sleep. Then you said you loved him.”
She felt the blood drain from her face. That’s why he’d been upset. She’d babbled out loud. God, she couldn’t tell him that her proclamation of love in her sleep had been to him. Not when he didn’t return those feelings.
“I see you just ditched our wedding ring without a thought.”
“It was for a fake wedding.”
“The wedding was real,” Quinn countered. “You are my wife.”
“But the feelings are fake.”
She turned and stalked off toward the bedroom. Once she reached the door, she turned.
“By the way, tomorrow my debt to you will be paid off in full.”
Then she slammed the door behind her.
* * *
Quinn stared at the door to the bedroom, his heart hammering in his chest.
“I really screwed that up, didn’t I?” he said.
“Yeah, I’d say so.” Austin stood up and poured them both a drink, then handed one to Quinn.
Quinn tossed back a swallow. “Do you think I should go in there?”
Austin settled back in the chair. “I think you should give her some time alone. She’s got a lot to sort out.”
Quinn sighed and raked his hand through his hair. “That dream she had last night … Fuck, it really messed with my head.”
“Look, whatever you heard her mumble in her sleep, I wouldn’t let it get to you. It could mean anything.”
Quinn swirled the liquid around his glass. “She said she’s not going back to him, but she didn’t explain why she’s wearing the ring.”
“I’m sure she has a good reason. Probably related to the fact that it seems he’s paying her back some—or hopefully all—the money she lost because of him. It’ll take some time to get it to her, so maybe she’s playing a bluff until she has the money in hand.”
Quinn’s hand tightened around his glass. “Fuck, do you think this means she’ll walk away from us, too? Since her debt is paid off, she has no reason to continue with the arrangement.”
Austin stared at the bedroom door wistfully as he sipped his drink.
“I don’t know, man,” he said.
From the moment Austin had told him April was talking to Maurice, fear had surged through Quinn. His gut had knotted at the thought of losing her again. He was glad she wasn’t going back to that bastard who had treated her so badly. But it seemed far too likely she would walk out of Quinn’s