Page 102 of The One for Forever

When I wake up, I’m bandaged and stiff and sore. Groggy from pain meds. Then I look over and see Quinn asleep on the small guest couch. Instantly, I feel that much better.

Her eyes flutter open, and she sits up. “You’re awake.”

“We have to stop meeting like this,” I croak.

“That’s a terrible line.”

“I’ve got dad jokes too.”

“I know,” she says. “I’ve heard them. I’ve known you a long time, and I’ve loved you almost as long.” Tears fill her eyes. She gets up to sit beside me, gently kissing my forehead.

“I love you too, gorgeous,” I say. “Tell me what I missed.”

I’ve already been conscious several times since I had surgery yesterday. The bullet clipped my lung and broke some ribs. I lost a lot of blood. It could’ve been much worse. At the party, Quinn called 911, but so did a number of guests who’d heard the gunshot. The paramedics didn’t take long to arrive. I’ll be out of commission for a while, but the doctors expect a full recovery.

Quinn’s been here every moment.

“Lana gave me an update while you were napping,” she says. “Our office is working on filing charges against Amber for attempted murder and everything else they can think of. Lana said the double jeopardy on Thompson’s murder is airtight. But she’ll get prison time. And now that everyone knows Amber really did it, we’ve got a good shot at convicting Pete Diamond as an accessory to murder. For perjury too.”

“What about Kendall? She concealed evidence.”

“Lana’s not as interested in pursuing that one. Kendall didn’t know anything about the murder firsthand. It’s not worth our office’s time. But if Kendall thought she was done in Hollywood before, that was nothing compared to now. Public sentiment has done a one-eighty against Amber, and Kendall’s tangled up in all that bad publicity. You’d think Amber was devil incarnate. She’s lost two million followers since last night. Her sponsors are fleeing. Her formerly devoted fans are cursing her name. Oh, and Christian is challenging her right to inherit Thompson’s money.”

“And you’re the heroine of the story, aren’t you?”

“Ha! I was for about five minutes while the world watched that livestream.”

Quinn’s plan worked brilliantly. Up until the point that Amber pulled that gun from the box on Thompson’s desk. Police Chief Holt stopped by my hospital room earlier, and he reported the results of their investigation so far. The gun is registered to Pete, and Amber has admitted that Pete left it there at the house after they began sleeping together. I assume Amber decided to hold on to it in case the chauffeur got too difficult to handle.

I’m angry at myself for not anticipating Amber’s violent reaction to being exposed. But after she used a sculpture to hit her husband over the head, she hadn’t seemed like the gun type. I had also believed Amber wouldn’t act so rashly with that manywitnesses around. After all, she’d planned the previous murder so carefully.

Those oversights on my part were nearly fatal.

I think that Amber, in that moment, simply didn’t care about the consequences. She wanted to punish Quinn even if it meant losing everything she’d worked so hard to preserve. Thank God I put myself in the way. I would take a hundred more bullets if it means protecting Quinn.

The irony is that if Amber had kept her temper, she most likely wouldn’t be in jail right now. She could’ve walked having gotten away with Thompson’s murder.

“Now that everyone knows you jumped in front of a bullet to save me,” Quinn says, “you’re getting all the glory. It’sRex Eastonthis andFoxythat.”

I grin at her. “Please tell me you didn’t share that nickname with the media.”

“But it’s so apt.” Quinn captures my lips with hers. I stroke my tongue into her mouth. I’d love to grab her and give her the wild make-out session she deserves, but I’m not up to that yet. I need a few days to rest up.

When I’m back in action, though? Quinn had better be ready. Because while I was lying on the floor in Thompson Hayworth’s office, my life flashed before my eyes. At first, it was my past. The time I shared with Lydia and Cliff. My military service and my career with Bennett Security since my retirement. And over and over again, memories of Quinn. The girl next door. My son’s best friend. The intelligent young woman I considered family.

The talented, tenacious prosecutor I’m head over heels in love with. The second and equally great love of my life.

But I didn’t just see my past during those moments. I saw our future. Everything we could be. I don’t intend to waste a second that I get to spend with her.

“Can’t wait to get you home,” I growl. “And in our bed.”

“Like you’re going to be in any shape to take charge. For once, I get to take care ofyou. And fulfillallyour needs,” she adds with a sexy purr.

There’s a knock, and my son’s voice comes from the hallway. “We’re about to come in. T-minus thirty seconds. All kissing needs to cease and desist.”

Snickering, Quinn gives me one last peck. “Our family’s here,” she murmurs. “Brace yourself for a whole lot of fussing.”

Our family. I love the sound of that.

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