Page 19 of Second Chance Wedding
Ana turned and leaned her hips against the desk. Her hands gripped the edge, palms aching from her hold.
Quinley crossed her arms over her chest, looking like a well-dressed interrogator. To distract herself, Ana noted the fact Quinley wore Coastal Couture from ear to toe. Her friend could afford more expensive designer labels, but she’d never been one to flash her good fortune. And always one to support her friends.
Gemstone earrings dangled and sparkled in the light filtering through the tiny office window, the pointy silver tips not quite brushing Quinley’s Tiffany-blue blouse. That was paired with stylish skinny jeans ending above pointy kitten heels that elongated Quinley’s already long legs and a thin chain-link belt that synched her narrow waist to perfection. Quinley’s discarded jacket had come from last year’s Coastal Couture’s collection—something else that earned Ana’s approval.
The overall image looked chic, elegant and sophisticated without being stuffy or matronly. Quinley looked perfect for a weekend out and about working and playing as she and Rhys were known to do. “You’re rocking that look, you know.”
“Don’t try to distract me with compliments. What is going on? What did Mr. Surly do now?”
Ana sighed deeply and eyed the toe of her bootie. She’d dressed for a day spent in the boutique greeting customers and hoped her outfit also lent her a polished look very different from the girl Cole had known. “You’re right,” she said wryly. “Benji wanted to leave last night, so…he liberated a limo from its owner.”
“Liberated?”
“Stole. And…then wrecked it.”
“Oh my— Was hehurt?”
“No. No, he’s fine. No one was hurt. Just the vehicle.” Her collar bone twinged in pain, and she pressed a hand to the ache.
“Okay. Good. I won’t feel so bad when I kill him then.”
“Quin—”
“Don’t you dare defend him, Ana. Hestolea limo?”
A laugh rumbled out of her chest, the sound slightly hysterical even to her own ears. “It gets worse.”
“Worse? Did he go to jail? Court? Isthatwhere you’ve been?”
Needing more substance beneath her, Ana stood on jelly-like legs long enough to twist and plop into the now-vacant office chair. “No,” she said, explaining how she’d begged the owner not to call the police.
“And this was outside the hotel? I can’t believe Lachlan hasn’t said anything.”
“I didn’t see any of the security guards out there,” Ana told her. “Just some kitchen staff. Anyway, I had to go meet with the owners this morning. They want Benji to work off the repair cost.”
Quinley stood gaping at her, her lip-glossed lips hanging open as she dissected the words and processed her shock. “They probably heard one of his snarky comments and want to torture him themselves.”
“I think you might be right,” Ana said, remembering the Blackwell brothers’ responses to her son when he’d yanked away from her and admitted he’d lied about basketball.
“So you’re not on the hook for the repair cost? I mean, I agree with them that Ben is the one to blame, buthowdid you manage to get the guy to not call the cops? Do you have some kind of magic charm? Do you know the cost of the repair?”
Ana gave Quinley the price range for repairs and watched as Quin’s anger increased even more. Her arms lifted, hands flapping, heels clacking as she paced.
“That littlejerk. I can’tbelievehe was so stupid,” she grumbled while prowling the tiny office space.
“Is it bad that I didn’t argue about not having to pay them?”
“You kept your son out of jail. You’ve done enough, Ana.”
“What happens if they get sick of Ben’s behavior and decide payment would be easier?”
“Then you come to me. You don’t need a bank. If you can’t pay it, you come to me.”
“Quinley, I can’t ask that of you.”
“You’re not asking. I’m offering.” Quinley stopped pacing long enough to shoot Ana a quelling stare. “And I mean it. You hear me?”
Ana inhaled and battled tension-fueled tears. She’d barely slept because her mind spun with Benji’s stunt and seeing Cole again. Exhaustion plus kindness brought on the waterworks. “Thank you.”
