Stroke of Luck

His gaze drifted to the couple near the opposite window. They were clearly regulars because as soon as they’d walked into the place, the waitress had nodded and brought them two slices of cheesecake and tea. She’d chatted with them for a few minutes before she’d continued on her way.

Austin smiled as he watched the two people holding hands. The look of love in their eyes was palpable.

That’s what he wanted.

He and Quinn had spent the past two years thinking of nothing but building the business. Nights. Weekends. They’d had no social life at all. Except the occasional casual fling to relieve the tension. Nothing serious.

But now that the ICO had launched and the new cryptocurrency they’d put on the market had skyrocketed, propelling them to heights of wealth they’d never imagined before, it was time to start living. And not just carousing around. He wanted to find a meaningful relationship.

He wanted to fall in love.

And he knew Quinn wanted the same thing.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Taylor,” the waitress said. “And Ms. Smith.”

Austin glanced to the entrance of the restaurant and saw Quinn standing beside a stunning woman wearing a floral sundress in a black-and-coral print, cinched at the waist with a flowing skirt. It set off her incredible figure beautifully. Her long golden hair cascaded over her shoulders in shimmering waves, and her heart-shaped face with those full pink lips was gorgeous.

As the waitress led them to the table, Austin noted Quinn’s closed expression. Also, the woman’s eyes were puffy, and she clung tightly to the handle of her purse with both hands. She also wore a huge diamond ring. He’d bet she’d just broken up with her fiancé.

Austin stood up as they approached the table.

“Austin, this is April,” Quinn said as he pulled out a chair for her to sit down.

She stuck out her hand, and Austin shook it.

“Nice to meet you,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind me joining you for lunch.”

“Of course not. It’s a pleasure, April.”

“Thank you.” She sank down on the chair as Quinn pushed it in for her.

Austin and Quinn both sat down, April across from Austin and kitty-corner to his friend.

The waitress set a third menu on the table for their unexpected guest.

“What would you like to drink?” she asked.

“I’ll just have a water, please,” April said.

“I’ll have a Guinness,” Quinn said.

“Certainly, sir.” The waitress left to retrieve their drinks.

April opened the menu and glanced through it nervously. When the waitress had called her by name, he’d assumed that she was also an elite guest at the hotel, but she was behaving as if she wasn’t sure if she could afford to eat here.

“How do you two know each other?” Austin asked, though he’d already begun to speculate that this might be the woman.

“We went out together in college,” she said.

Austin’s interest flared.

“We dated briefly,” Quinn added. “It wasn’t serious.”

Aha. She was the woman.

Quinn’s heart had been broken by someone back then, and Austin knew he’d never gotten over her, even though Quinn would deny that adamantly. That’s why Quinn diminished the relationship now, because he wanted to believe it was nothing. But he could never fool Austin.

“It’s nice that you two ran into each other in the hotel. What are you doing in Vegas, April?”