Page 36 of Love Marks

Chapter 18

Wesley

Over the next few weeks, my relationship with Quinn improves little by little. She leaves a menu for me every week and I fill it out and leave it for her. We don’t interact that much but occasionally she leaves me little notes with my food, usually with jokes written on them.

This wine is as dry as your sense of humor.

Careful with the hot sauce. On a scale from one to Channing Tatum, this is Magic Mike material.

A burger from the beyond. Haunting not included.

I hate to admit that I’ve saved all of them in my office desk drawer. Sometimes when I’m on a particularly boring conference call, I’ll peak down at them and chuckle to myself.

My mother is absolutely obsessed with her. She comes over all the time now — not to spend time with me, of course, but to chat with Quinn. They’ve become fast friends and apparently Quinn’s even been showing her some recipes. I don’t have the heart to tell my mother that Quinn is the reason why dad’s story went public. Part of me wonders if Quinn will let her guilt get the best of her and confess to my mother herself. I’d prefer it that way.

I’ve mostly gotten over it. Stubborn as I am, even I can’t hold a grudge forever. It’s been months since our night at The Phoenix and since she’s started working for me, she’s been nothing short of a perfect employee. I keep waiting for her to slip up somehow, but she remains diligent and hardworking and much too charming for her own good. There’s no reason I should let her get under my skin so much, yet she still does. I’ve started going to the gym every day just to burn off some of the buzz I get from being around her.

I made the mistake of talking to Ben about Quinn last weekend. We were running through Central Park early on a Saturday morning when he mentioned her name. My mom spent their last phone call talking his ear off about her new friend.

“Oh yeah, she’s my employee, actually,” I say without thinking.

“Is she one of the architects on the new project or something?” He asks.

“Not quite.” I’m being purposefully evasive, realizing he might pry further. “She’s my, ah…maid. And cook, kind of.”

He stops running and puts his hands on his knees, heaving in a few breaths of air.

“Your maid?” He asks, picking up his pace again. I follow after him, sprinting.

“I live in a hotel. There are housekeepers. And well…she’s actually the girl from The Phoenix.”

“What girl?”

“You know, the one who leaked the story about dad.”

He skids to a stop, putting his hand on my chest to stop me.

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah. Weird coincidence. She got a job at the hotel, so I had her reassigned to the penthouse.”

“Why the hell would you do that?” He demands.

“Keep your enemies close.” I shrug and start running again. He trails after me.

“I smell bullshit, brother.”

I don’t take the bait. I’ve already revealed too much about my bizarre relationship with Miss Taylor.

“Does she know who you are?” He asks.

“Of course. We’re at each other’s throats.” I consider my words. “Well, not as much as we used to. She hates my guts though. The feeling is mutual.”

“Yeah, right,” he snorts. “Like you’re not already half in love with her.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s written all over your face. You’re into her,” he taunts, smirking.

---