Stroke of Luck

She turned and stalked off toward the bedroom. Once she reached the door, she turned.

“By the way, tomorrow my debt to you will be paid off in full.”

Then she slammed the door behind her.

* * *

Quinn stared at the door to the bedroom, his heart hammering in his chest.

“I really screwed that up, didn’t I?” he said.

“Yeah, I’d say so.” Austin stood up and poured them both a drink, then handed one to Quinn.

Quinn tossed back a swallow. “Do you think I should go in there?”

Austin settled back in the chair. “I think you should give her some time alone. She’s got a lot to sort out.”

Quinn sighed and raked his hand through his hair. “That dream she had last night … Fuck, it really messed with my head.”

“Look, whatever you heard her mumble in her sleep, I wouldn’t let it get to you. It could mean anything.”

Quinn swirled the liquid around his glass. “She said she’s not going back to him, but she didn’t explain why she’s wearing the ring.”

“I’m sure she has a good reason. Probably related to the fact that it seems he’s paying her back some—or hopefully all—the money she lost because of him. It’ll take some time to get it to her, so maybe she’s playing a bluff until she has the money in hand.”

Quinn’s hand tightened around his glass. “Fuck, do you think this means she’ll walk away from us, too? Since her debt is paid off, she has no reason to continue with the arrangement.”

Austin stared at the bedroom door wistfully as he sipped his drink.

“I don’t know, man,” he said.

From the moment Austin had told him April was talking to Maurice, fear had surged through Quinn. His gut had knotted at the thought of losing her again. He was glad she wasn’t going back to that bastard who had treated her so badly. But it seemed far too likely she would walk out of Quinn’s life again, just as suddenly as she’d stumbled back into it.

Unless he did something about it.

23

Once April was inside the room, she crumpled on the couch. She should be happy. Maurice would be reimbursing her every cent she’d lost because of his abhorrent treatment of her. That meant she could pay back Quinn. And she was getting enough money from her town house to get started somewhere new.

But seeing Maurice had forced her to relive the pain of losing the dream of happily-ever-after all over again.

She couldn’t believe she’d been so thoroughly fooled by him. But when she thought about it, she realized he was like the magician from last night’s show. Keeping her attention focused on things like flashy gifts and talk of love while making things disappear. Like her self-esteem. Her independence. Her happiness.

With Maurice, she’d thought she was in love because she’d wanted the security his love and wealth would give her. But in fact, she would never be secure with Maurice because he could rip it all away from her so easily. In fact, anyone she came to depend on could do the same.

Her sense of security had to come from within herself. She had to believe she could keep herself secure and happy. Even when she’d been with Maurice, she’d held down her own job and paid her own bills, but everything she’d built had toppled because of Maurice.

She straightened her shoulders. But she’d learned from that. She wouldn’t let herself be in that position again.

Getting the money to pay back the hotel debt from Maurice meant she no longer owed Quinn, except for the clothes she’d bought, and she’d pay for those from the equity she was getting back from her town house. She’d use the rest of that money to get set up in an apartment somewhere and get back on her feet.

Her heart ached as she thought about living in that apartment alone. Without Quinn. Or Austin.

She’d never doubted that she loved Quinn. She’d never stopped loving him. And now she’d been falling in love with Austin, too.

She sighed and stared at the door wistfully. When Quinn had demanded answers from her, jealousy coloring every word, she’d become annoyed and rebellious, but she realized that he’d acted that way because he cared about her. He was worried that she’d go back to Maurice. And given her current situation and her past actions, she couldn’t really blame him for that.

If she hadn’t had Quinn and Austin’s help during ths desperate time, it would be all too easy to jump at a lifeline. To convince herself that Maurice was telling the truth and really did regret what he’d done. Because fear could do that to a person. She’d seen other women return to worse situations out of fear of the alternative.