How many times in her life had she been forced to do that? Pick herself up from heartache and carry on? How many times had her parents berated her or made her feel unloved?
The reality of why she was able to morph so quickly from heartbroken to strong sliced through him.
Quinn wasn’t used to this, having never allowed his emotions to rule his life, but Shelley was guided by passion like others were guided by their GPS systems.
“I’d love your help packing, but I have to say goodbye to my family, too.”
“I can wait here if you’d rather do that alone.”
He drew her in close, memorizing the feel of her against him. These memories of holding her in his arms were all that would keep him going for quite some time.
“No way, sweetheart. I want you with me until the second I have to board the plane.”
Chapter Twenty-six
“ARE YOU SURE you’re okay with me leaving my bags at your cottage?” Quinn asked as Shelley helped him pack the last of his clothes in his suite.
God, she’d miss him while he was gone. Every time he left the island, she’d miss his passion, and the way he looked at her with pure, unconditional love.
“I’m way more than okay with it,” she said in a deliberately light voice. “I’m thrilled that you’ve just given me permission to rifle through your clothes and find the comfiest shirt that smells like you to sleep in.”
He lifted her by the waist and set her on the dresser, parting her knees with his, and then slid her close. Shelley closed her eyes and breathed him in, borrowing his strength to call her own.
“I like thinking about you sleeping in my shirt.”
“I’d rather sleep in your arms”—she smiled up at him—“but this’ll have to do for a little while.”
Their lips brushed as a knock sounded at the door. Quinn touched his forehead to hers.
“The universe really doesn’t want us to get naked today, does it?”
“It’s probably better that way,” she said with another smile she could barely force. “It would be even harder to let you go if you’d just loved me silly.”
“Quinn?” Trent called through the door.
Quinn gave Shelley another deeply passionate and emotional kiss before she hopped off the dresser. He pulled open the door, and Trent barreled in.
“I got your text. You’re taking off?” Trent didn’t look surprised to see her. “Hi, Shelley. It’s nice to see you again.”
“Hi.” She wanted to tell him it was nice to see him again, too, but her throat was too tight right now to say more than hello.
“I’ll cover you here while you’re gone,” Trent said to Quinn, his expression understanding. “But when you come back, you should probably set up meetings with your staff at the resort to establish your authority and to figure out what Grandfather didn’t get done.”
“I already planned on having my secretary set up a virtual conference early next week so I can establish my position while I’m in Annapolis.”
“Good to know you’re always one step ahead of me.” Trent glanced at Shelley and then stepped closer to Quinn and lowered his voice.
Shelley tried not to eavesdrop, but it was such a small room that even if she hadn’t been tempted she would have overheard.
“I was young and stupid,” Trent said to Quinn. “What’s your excuse?”
What is that supposed to mean? Shelley wondered as Quinn made a strangled noise in his throat.
Shelley’s phone vibrated with a text. She moved to the side, allowing the men to say their goodbyes while she read the message from Sierra.
Quinn said he’s leaving. Want to have lunch tomorrow? I have some ideas for your café, and I’d love to spend more time with you.
She looked at the text for a long moment, feeling that it underscored just how caring the Rockwell family was to innately understand just how much she’d miss Quinn after he left.
After his brother left, Quinn picked up his bag, looking grim. “We’ve got to get going or I’ll miss my flight. Especially since I need to have a word with Chandler before I go.”
He shouldered his bags and they headed for the elevators.
“I’m proud of you, Quinn,” Shelley said as they stepped inside.
“Proud?”
“I know it isn’t easy to leave your family, or us. But even if I’m sad to be apart, it’s an impressive quality that you don’t shirk your responsibilities.”
The elevator doors opened on his grandfather’s floor, and they stepped into the hall as the doors to the second elevator, beside them, opened and Didi pushed Chandler’s wheelchair into the hallway.
Quinn and Shelley both pulled their shoulders back and stood up straighter. He wasn’t even Shelley’s grandfather and she felt the need to straighten up in Chandler’s presence.
Didi smiled and placed a hand on Chandler’s shoulder. Shelley liked the way she did that. It made her believe the softening she’d seen in Chandler’s face must have been real for Didi to act so protective of him.