her well. “That’s perfect. This is going to be fun.”
“I want you to design it just like your apartment in the city.”
“You mean the one Kristina’s now living in?” Oh, hey, it didn’t even hurt to say it. Not when she was standing on thousands of acres of prime ranching land in Wyoming.
“Yeah, that one. That place is fucking awesome. I don’t know where you found half that shit.”
“That’s the fun part, the exploring.”
He grinned. “There it is.”
“There what is?”
“My Quinn. The one who stole my heart six years ago.”
The smile fell off her face. “What?” She had to have misheard him. She was just disoriented from all the wild twists and turns her life had recently taken. First, her husband, the man she thought she’d grow old with, gets another woman pregnant. Then, she’s living with an unhygienic roommate.
And now I’m standing in Calamity with Matteo Candella who just bought a multi-million-dollar ranch.
To kickstart my career.
“You don’t…” She let out an uncomfortable laugh. “You didn’t hire me because you have…feelings for me?”
“I’m hiring you because I need someone with your skill set, and I trust you. Does it help that I’m halfway in love with you and want you as the mother of my children?” He flashed her that big, dimpled grin that melted panties and caused people to doubletake so hard they got whiplash. “But buying this ranch…” He took in the expansive, well-appointed room. “Is just good business.”
Quinn was stunned. This man—this gorgeous, elite athlete—was turning out to be the craziest swerve of all. “Okay, I’m blown away right now, so forgive what comes out of my mouth, but just so we’re clear…” She blew out a breath. “I’m going to take this job because it’s literally my dream come true. Not only do I get to come back to Calamity, but I get to launch my business in a way that’s beyond my wildest dreams.”
She gentled her tone because the last thing she ever wanted to do was hurt or mislead him. “But you have to know that Bradley did much more than dump me.” How did she explain what she hadn’t yet come to terms with? “I’m not the woman you met six years ago. Not by a longshot. That woman trusted with an open heart. This one, the one standing here right now, is broken. I’m damaged in a way I’m not sure there’s any coming back from.” She came close enough to look into those dark, soulful eyes, to breathe in his clean, masculine scent, and her heart twisted with regret. She knew what she was giving up—and it killed her to do it. “You’re the most amazing man I’ve ever known, and you deserve a woman with an open heart.” She touched his arm. “And that’s just not me.”
You bet your ass Matteo had lied about buying a ranch.
His timing that day in the city had been unbelievable, driving up at the exact moment Quinn had slammed into her ex and discovered the pregnant mistress.
Her expression, the devastation, would be forever imprinted on his brain.
He’d almost driven onto the sidewalk to get to her, to save her.
But she’d handled it on her own, hadn’t she? I’m not fucking someone else’s husband, and I’m living life on my own terms, so I call that a win.
The woman’s a fucking badass.
And the lie had been worth it to see Quinn’s blue eyes light up with hope. Also, he’d corrected it the very next day. The moment his wheels had touched down on the tarmac in Calamity, he’d driven straight to a realtor.
And now, five weeks later, at thirty-three thousand feet above Indiana, he had the woman of his dreams passed out beside him in First Class, her legs pulled up, her head smashed into his ribcage. It gave him a profound sense of rightness.
She’s mine.
He’d fallen for her the moment his agent had introduced his wife. Because Quinn Ellison was unlike anyone he’d ever met. She had no airs, didn’t try to be anything other than who she was—a small town girl who loved and supported her husband, liked to go exploring in the city, and had a passion for design.
Her natural blonde hair spilled all over his shirt, his jeans, and he fucking loved it. Wanted to run his fingers through it. She never styled it, so it always just fell loose and slightly wavy down her back. He’d grown obsessed with it over the years, wondering if it felt as soft as