His breath hissed through his teeth
. ‘You see?’ His hands curled into the lapels of her coat, half lifting her from her feet. ‘You see? Is that all you’re going to say?’
She shook her head. ‘No. I… I…’
Where to begin? she thought. Quinn was white-lipped with anger, and she knew she was guilty. It wasn’t the best time to tell him anything, much less try and make him understand why she’d taken his money and given it to her father, but time was a luxury she no longer had.
‘Well?’ His voice was cold. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve run out of explanations, Paige. You never have before.’
‘Quinn, please. I didn’t want you to find out this way. I… I know you’re angry…’
He laughed. ‘Angry? Is that what you think I am?’
‘Furious, then. But… but you don’t know the whole story.’
His hold on her tightened. ‘Don’t waste your breath. I’m tired of your lies.’
‘I’ve never lied to you,’ she said quickly. ‘I…’
‘You’ve never done anything else.’
‘That’s not true. If you’d just listen…’
‘What’s the point in listening? I wouldn’t believe you if you told me water was wet.’
‘I was desperate. That’s why I took the money. I…’
‘Yes, I’ll bet you were!’ His voice grew bitter. ‘You knew you wouldn’t be able to get a penny out of me.’
Paige shook her head. ‘No. I was sure if I explained things, you’d give me the money. But…’
‘Come off it, Paige. I wasn’t born yesterday.’ His face darkened as he bent towards her. ‘And why don’t I hear you making up any sweet little stories about your visitor? Can’t you think of a way to pretend your fair-haired gentleman caller was Saint Nicholas, come to pay an early visit?’
Her chin lifted. ‘I’m not going to lie, Quinn. You know he was here. But he caught me by surprise. I had no idea…’
‘You had no idea!’ His voice mocked her cruelly as he drew her towards him. ‘How long was he in my house?’
‘Not long. I…’
‘How long?’ he demanded.
‘I… I’m not sure. Twenty minutes. Half an hour…’ Tears glistened in the corners of her eyes. ‘I couldn’t help it, Quinn. I…’
‘Jesus, what kind of woman are you?’ he roared as he flung her from him. ‘Is that the only excuse you can offer? You couldn’t stop yourself from… from deceiving me in my own home?’
‘I know how it looks,’ she whispered. ‘But he begged me. I…’
She shrank back against the wall as he rushed towards her, his hand upraised and trembling with barely controlled rage. They stood facing each other for what seemed an eternity, until finally Quinn lowered his hand and turned away.
‘Get out.’
No, she thought, no… ‘Quinn,’ she whispered, ‘please listen to me.’
He spun towards her again and caught her by the wrist. ‘Don’t push me,’ he said through his teeth. ‘These past few hours, sitting in the dark, I’ve thought of a dozen different methods of vengeance. Listen to me, Paige. Leave while you still can.’
Tears began to spill down her cheeks. ‘I beg you, just give me a chance to explain.’
She winced as the pressure of his fingers increased. ‘You almost got away clean. Ten thousand dollars, the Jaguar—if you hadn’t been so damned greedy…’