Page 94 of Second Chance Wedding
Done for the day, Ana grabbed her purse from the office and locked up, taking a moment to appreciate the beauty of the boutique before linking arms with Quinley. “So where are we going?”
Two men stepped away from the walls and moved toward them, and Ana frowned when she realized they were bodyguards. “I thought your security team was just for New York?”
Quinley glared at the men, an angry expression flashing across her features.
“Not anymore,” Quinley muttered. “I’m sorry, Ana. Maybe if we just go upstairs to the restaurant, they won’t be so obnoxious and annoying.”
Quinley wasn’t the type to be rude, but she made her displeasure at being followed clear. Ana glanced at the men and noted they didn’t bat so much as an eyelash at Quinley’s complaint.
They made their way onto the elevator, and Quinley practically growled when the two men stepped inside with them. Ana kept silent, not wanting to stir the pot until she and Quinley could speak freely.
The restaurant was located on the floor below the penthouse suites. It had an expansive view of the Atlantic and Cape Fear River, and an up-and-coming chef Rhys had sourced from Europe along with a local chef rapidly gaining notoriety.
The moment they arrived the hostess recognized Quinley. The woman smiled and greeted them, quickly leading them to a private booth.
“A bottle of wine, please,” Quinley said. “I don’t care what kind.”
The hostess seemed as taken aback by Quinley’s demand as Ana was, but she kept quiet until the woman walked away. “Are you okay?”
“No.”
Ana stared at her best friend and waited for Quinley to elaborate, but she didn’t. “Quinnie,whatis going on? You can’t say that and then—nothing.”
A waiter appeared with the wine and flashed the bottle for Quinley’s approval. She waved her hand and then seemed to get distracted by the gorgeous diamond on her ring finger.
Once they were alone, Ana tried again. “You know you can talk to me. Tell me anything, right?”
Quinley squeezed her eyes tightly shut and took a long, deep pull of the wine. “It’s nothing. I’m just moody and stressed and sick of being shadowed like I don’t have a brain in my head and know to watch out for myself. I mean, we’re women. Welearnto watch out for ourselves from an early age, you know?”
Quinley was obviously upset over the security detail now permanently assigned to her.
“Tell me about your dad,” Quinley said. “Please distract me.”
Ana gave the surface details of her father’s visit and watched as a sweet smile pulled Quinley’s lips out of the frown she’d worn since her arrival at the boutique.
“That’s wonderful, Ana. Maybe it really is a new beginning. It says something that he came to you.”
“I think so, too. I mean, I hope it is. You know how big of a deal that had to be for the judge to be humbled like that. And to humblehimselfby owning up to how much he royally screwed up back then and over the years.”
The waiter returned and took their order. Ana hated that they kept getting interrupted, but it couldn’t be helped. Especially since the restaurant was obviously attempting to take special care of Rhys Lachlan’s future wife.
“Wait, so your dad’s visit had something to do with Ben and Cole? I’m confused.”
This time Ana was the one taking a long sip and something on her face must have clued Quinley in that the weekend had been…complicated.
Ana started over, this time filling in the pieces of Cole’s heavy-handedness and how that had led to her father’s first surprise visit. She expected Quinley to back her angry reaction immediately, but Quinley’s silence left Ana frowning. “What? I have a right to be angry and upset.”
“You do. I mean, we feel how we feel, and it’s not up to others to change it.”
“But? I hear a definite ‘but’ in there. Why?” When Quinley tilted her head and lifted one eyebrow, Ana bristled. “Seriously? You, too?”
“Hey, consider me Switzerland. But I think…you have very strong feelings for Cole, and they scare you, so your take might be a little biased.”
“Ididn’toverreact. He should’ve called me. Told me Ben had snuck out and—andaskedme what to do. Askedmeif I wanted him to take Ben to the restaurant and talk to him about his father. Cole isn’t Ben’s parent; I am.”
Quinley tossed back her wine and poured herself another glass. Ana could tell her friend was getting a buzz from the rosiness in her cheeks.
“You’re totally right. But I think you’re forgetting that Ben isn’t a child anymore. He’s growing up, and the fact is he’s going to come to you less and less. It makes sense that he confided in his boss and…friend. Look, Ana, I know I give you a hard time for caving into Ben’s demands, but this once, I think you need to chill.”
