Page 18 of His Forgotten Colton Fiancee
Her smile fled. Condoms for tonight, but they’d been recklessrecently. She might even be pregnant now. If so, West’s choice about kids would be removed. Well, that was a worry for later.
The early-pregnancy test kit she’d bought still sat in the bathroom. Soon as she returned home, she’d screw up the nerve to take it.
Later, she’d also worry about all the questions West had peppered her with over Demi. She was happy he’d finally opened up abouthis family, and sensed it was a deeply sore subject, but she wanted him to share with her about his childhood. Surely there were good memories, as he’d indicated last night. Quinn couldn’t imagine losing her entire family all at once. West had only told her it was an accident. Probably a car wreck.
Quinn wished she had shared a closer bond with Demi. Maybe her sister would have turned to herfor help instead of running off. Pregnant, alone and probably scared.
Her thoughts drifted back to the cabin at Pine Paradise Tia had given her the key to. It would make a perfect place for her and West to honeymoon before Tia sold the property. Or share a day or two alone, away from the prying eyes of her neighbors. This business of him sneaking in and out of her apartment was taxing.
Shifting the covered dish in her hands, she saw Tia’s office. Tia had a small storefront at the edge of downtown, next to Lulu’s Boutique, a small shop offering imported Italian clothing and accessories. The closed sign hung on the boutique. Lulu usually closed shop at noon and drove home to feed and walk her two dogs.
No such lunch break for Tia. Tia never stopped hustling. Like the Larsontwins, Tia liked money. Once or twice she’d seen the twins in Tia’s office. Not surprising. Tia had a harsh personality, as pushy as the Larson brothers.
Perhaps they talked shop, or looking for bigger and better deals. Yesterday she’d overheard Tia on the phone talking about Pine Paradise. Tia was not a happy person during that convo.
She peered through the front window of Tia’s office.The vertical blinds were drawn almost all the way across. Odd. Tia loved to leave them open, wave to pedestrians. Look important, doing deals, making money.
Making money for her clients.
Quinn shaded her eyes. The office was dark inside, but she could barely make out Tia’s desk. The woman wasn’t there. But a man dressed in a suit stood by the big mahogany desk Tia had bragged cost hera small fortune. The overhead fluorescent lights picked up the shining gleam of his black hair, worn long, down to his collar.
He turned, showing his profile, his expression slightly cruel, cold. A shiver raced down Quinn’s spine. She looked at the unruly cowlick sticking up from his hair. A cigar stump dangled from his mouth.
He didn’t look friendly, or welcoming. More like the type whothreatened. Then he ran out the back door, fleeing as if the hounds of hell were chasing him.
Quinn hesitated. Wasn’t she being judgmental? The lighting inside could have made him look mean. Maybe Tia wasn’t working as hard as she claimed and she had a new love. Perhaps he didn’t want anyone knowing they indulged in a session of afternoon delight.
Tia, you could have picked a better lover.This guy looks like he gets off on playing it rough.Gooseflesh sprang out on her arms.
I’ve seen him before. But where?She frowned. Maybe at Tia’s office?
None of her business. Only delivering the meal was.
And getting paid.
Quinn set down the food carrier to fumble with the doorknob. She opened the door and grimaced as the stench of cigar smoke wafted outside. As she went topick up the casserole, she saw a flash of white as an enormousKA-POWslammed the air. A giant hand punched her with a hammering fist, hurling her through the air back into the street. And then the world went dark and she felt no more.
