His Blackmailed Bride

Her voice drifted away. Why hadn’t it occurred to her that things might be strained between them this morning? It would take time to ease into their new relationship. But they had all the time in the world. Years stretched ahead of them, years filled with love and discovery.

‘I made coffee,’ he said. ‘It’s in the kitchen. I’m sure it’s not as good as Norah’s, but…’

‘It smells wonderful,’ she said quickly, watching him as he walked to his desk and pulled open a drawer. ‘Why don’t you pour yourself a cup and drink it while I make breakfast?’

He slammed the drawer shut and pulled out another. ‘Breakfast?’

Paige nodded. ‘Something special. How about some pancakes and bacon? Or waffles—I’m pretty good at waffles. My father always loved my waff…’

Dear God, what had made her say that? Quinn straightened up and stared at her.

‘Your father,’ he said softly. ‘Yes, how is he? You haven’t mentioned him in quite a while.’

‘He… he’s fine,’ she said quietly. ‘I had a letter from home just the other day. He says things are… are quiet at the office.’

‘Let’s hope he keeps things that way.’

The flatness of his voice turned her blood cold. For the first time, she realised that he was dressed for business. It was Saturday, but instead of his corduroys and turtleneck sweater he was wearing a suit. And his raincoat was draped over the back of a chair. A flight bag stood on the floor.

‘Are you… are you going somewhere?’

He snapped the bag shut. ‘Yes, I am. I’ve business in Edinburgh. Didn’t I mention it?’

‘No, no, you… you didn’t say anything about…’

‘I thought I had,’ he said briskly. He tossed the coat over his arm and started towards the door. ‘Well, no matter. You won’t be alone long; Norah’s due back this evening.’

Paige’s heart tumbled as she hurried after him to the front door. ‘But… but when will you be back, Quinn?’

He stopped at the door. ‘In a few days,’ he said finally.

‘A few days,’ she repeated in a whisper.

He nodded. ‘I’ll be back by the end of the week.’ He looked as if he wanted to say something more, but, after a pause, he turned and put his hand on the doorknob. ‘We can discuss things then.’

‘Discuss things?’ She swallowed hard. She heard herself repeating everything he said, as if she were a mynah bird. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘Us. You, me.’ His voice was expressionless. ‘There’s no sense in going on like this, Paige. I want things settled.’

He opened the door and a gust of rain-chilled wind blew in from the street.

‘I thought… I thought we’d done that last night when you… when we…’

He swung around and faced her. His eyes were as flat as the sea before a storm.

‘We slept together. Don’t try to make more of it than that.’

She felt the blood drain from her face. A horn blared outside, and Quinn turned away.

‘My taxi is here. I’ve got to go, Paige.’ His voice was brusque. ‘We’ll talk when I get back.’

‘Quinn…’

But he was moving away from her, hurrying down the walk to the taxi. She watched a

s he opened the door and climbed inside; she watched until the black Austin merged with the grey, rainy street and disappeared.

She hardly remembered closing the door behind her.