“It smells good in here,” I say with a smile and Quinn grins.
“Are you a shoe girl?”
“Of course, I’m female.” I laugh and fiddle with my grandmother’s ruby necklace. “I’ve always wanted a pair of these, and this is an excellent excuse to get them.”
Roger returns, and I slide my feet into the heels, delighted that they fit perfectly. I walk around the couches, to make sure they don’t slip off my heels, but they don’t.
They feel like heaven.
“I’ll take them,” I inform the happy Roger and reach for my clutch. When I pull out my credit card, Roger shakes his head.
“No, miss, these have already been taken care of.”
My gaze whips to Quinn, who just shrugs, his eyes wide and innocent.
He’s so not innocent.
“I don’t know,” he says and shakes his head. I’m not going to argue here, that would be rude. So I keep my new shoes on, ask Roger to toss the old ones, and soon we’re walking back toward Armani, only a few minutes late for our reservation.
“You didn’t have to buy me shoes,” I say as I slip my hand in his.
“I don’t do much in life that I don’t want to do, Sienna.” He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses my knuckles. “Your legs are fucking amazing in these heels. But if it truly bothers you, consider it payment for the painting.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Despite the shoe debacle, dinner was delicious and intimate, and we arrive at the show with plenty of time to see Quinn’s family before it starts.
“Hello, dear, I’m Quinn’s mother, Maggie.”
“Hello, Mrs. Cavanaugh.”
“Please, call me Maggie,” she says with a friendly smile. “Everyone does. You’re simply lovely this evening.”
“Oh, thank you very much.”
Quinn introduces me to Carter, and his daughter, Gabby. Finn joins us, smiling widely.
“London will join us just after she’s finished saying hello to everyone backstage,” he says. “She’s so damn excited.”
“As she should be,” Maggie replies and pats her son on the shoulder. “We’re all very proud of her.”
“I really like your shoes,” Gabby says to me with a smile. She’s a beautiful girl, with dark hair and blue eyes. She’s in a pretty red dress and black shoes.
“Thank you.”
“I asked Daddy for some for Christmas, but he said no.”
“You’re too young for designer shoes,” Carter says and sighs. “Ask me again when you’re thirty.”
“Daddy.” She rolls her eyes and then laughs. “He still likes to think I’m a baby.”
“You’ll always be my baby,” Carter says as we all find our seats. We have a whole box to ourselves, with an excellent view of the stage.
“Gabby, how would you like to go with me to Hawaii again this summer?” Maggie asks her granddaughter, who immediately grins and claps her hands.
“Yessss!”
“Maggie, you don’t have to—” Carter begins, but Maggie shakes her head.
“She’s my only granddaughter, thanks to these bozos taking their sweet time, and I want to spend some time alone with her.”
“Awesome,” Gabby says. “I want to snorkel again.”
“Mom, do you think it’s a good idea to travel right now?” Quinn asks her, and she turns to him, pinning him in a glare.
“Quinn, I’m a grown woman, who can travel whenever she pleases.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Quinn says, but I can tell that the subject isn’t over.
“Hi, everyone.” London joins us, her face flushed with excitement. She’s beautiful in a white dress with diamonds sparkling at her ears and her neck.
I can’t wait to hear how the proposal goes.
“London, I’d like for you to meet Sienna,” Quinn says, and London immediately pulls me in for a hug.
“Welcome,” she says with a smile. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
“Same here. Congratulations on tonight, and all your recent success.”
“Thank you,” she replies with a big smile. “It’s a big night.”
“We’re just thrilled for you, London,” Carter says, and the lights blink on and off, signaling that it’s time for the show to start.
Everyone sits, the whole auditorium a buzz of excitement for the show. It’s been critically acclaimed already.
It’s heavy. Important. About addiction and love. Family. Hurts and healing.
I find myself wiping tears from my cheeks, and Quinn passes me a handkerchief. A real one.
I had no idea that men still carried these.
But I accept it and dab carefully at my eyes, trying to salvage my makeup. He takes my hand in his and links our fingers together, holding on tightly.
God, I love the way it feels when he touches me. He’s warm and strong. Solid.
Safe.
Is that weird? I’ve known the man for such a short time, and yet, I feel completely at ease with him.
Quinn leans in, presses his lips to my ear, and whispers, “You’re so damn beautiful. I can’t wait to get you home.”
And just like that, I forget about how little I know him, how we’re working a case together and that we’re sitting among all his family.