Stroke of Luck

“I don’t want the town house anymore,” she said, ignoring his comment about getting married. “All I want is that you give me the equity I’d built up.”

“Of course. And if you come back to me, I’ll give you a generous allowance once we’re married. I know you said you wanted to keep on working, and you can if you want to, but this way you won’t have to ask me for money if you want something. I know how you hate that.”

She drew her hand back, needing to be free of his touch. “How can I trust you to follow through on any of this?”

He pulled out his phone and tapped a few times, then showed her the screen. It was his bank app.

“I’ll transfer the money for your town house to your bank account right now. Then I’ll send an email to the hotel manager to move the bill payment to my credit card. I understand an old friend lent you the money, so your friend should get notification tomorrow morning.”

“So you’re telling me you regret sleeping with that woman? And that it won’t happen again?”

“That’s right. I’ll be totally devoted to you.”

“And why do you think I won’t just take the money and walk away?”

“Because I’m also offering you a big fat signing bonus. The minute you become Mrs. Maurice Dubois, a half a million dollars will be put into your account.”

She kept her expression even, but inside she was reeling. Just like Quinn, Maurice obviously thought she only cared about money.

And why was he willing to throw so much money her way to convince her to come back?

He leaned toward her and gave her the smile that had once charmed her but now turned her blood cold.

“You see, darling, I do care about you,” he said.

Then he pulled something from his pocket, which she immediately recognized as the box for the engagement ring he’d given her. He opened the small black velvet box, displaying the dazzling diamond ring inside.

“Just put this on again, and I’ll start everything in motion.”

* * *

Austin watched in horror as the man who’d been having a drink with April presented her with an engagement ring.

Austin had been sitting in the lounge having a drink while he caught up on his email. He’d noticed April come into the bar with a strange man. She hadn’t seen Austin sitting there, so he left them to it. He assumed this was a friend who’d come to Vegas for the wedding. Austin kept an eye on them, though, in case the guy said anything to upset April. If that happened, he was ready to step in.

Never in a million years did he think the guy would propose.

And never in a million years did he expect that she would allow him to slip the ring on her finger.

As she gazed at her hand, Austin realized two things. She was no longer wearing the wedding ring. And the engagement ring she now wore was the same as the one she’d worn last Saturday when he’d met her.

Goddamn! This guy was her sleazy ex-fiancé, Maurice.

He lifted his phone and snapped a picture of them, then texted it to Quinn.

* * *

Quinn enjoyed the sun warming his skin as he relaxed on the outside deck by the pool. His phone vibrated on the table next to him. He picked it up and opened the text Austin had sent him. He clicked on the image, and a photo of April sitting at a table with Maurice filled the small screen.

His heart pounded, and he jabbed the quick dial.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Quinn demanded as soon as Austin picked up.

“No, I’m looking straight at them.”

Quinn stood up and paced, his blood racing through his veins.

“I’m coming down there right now.”