Stroke of Luck

“It’s okay. I arrived early.” She’d been so anxious she couldn’t help herself.

Bev set her briefcase on the table and opened it as Quinn sat down. She pulled out a folder.

“Mr. Taylor, did you discuss the terms with Ms. Smith yet?”

r /> “You mean Mrs. Taylor?” A hint of a grin curled his lips. Or was that her imagination. “No, I haven’t.”

“April, let me tell you first that this contract is unenforceable. That said, Mr. Taylor can refuse to go forward with the annulment, and in that case, you’d have to start divorce proceedings if you wish to end the marriage.”

“I appreciate that you want to protect your client,” Quinn said, “but before we get into the details of all of that, why don’t you just explain the terms to April and we’ll go from there.”

“Very well.”

Bev opened the folder, and April could see the sheet on top was a scan of a smaller piece of paper with some quickly scrawled words in Quinn’s bold printing. At the bottom, she could see her signature.

“Basically, this document says you agree that if you end the marriage to Austin Wright—”

“You mean Quinn Taylor,” April corrected.

“No, she’s right,” Quinn said. “This agreement is triggered if you annul your marriage to Austin, which you did.”

Bev glanced from Quinn to April.

April pursed her lips in confusion. “Okay. Go on.”

“If you end the marriage with Austin Wright—which, as Mr. Taylor pointed out, you have done—then you agree to stay married to Mr. Taylor.”

“What?” April frowned. “But that makes no sense.”

“We were pretty drunk,” Quinn said. “The point is, I didn’t insist you sign a prenup to protect myself from losing money. I had you sign it to protect myself from losing you.”

* * *

Quinn’s gut clenched. He couldn’t read her expression, but the stunned, leaning-to-somber expression on her face wasn’t a good sign.

“I had you sign that contract because I love you so desperately,” he continued. “In that uninhibited state, the most important thing in the world to me was keeping you as my wife.”

April glanced at her lawyer.

“Sweetheart, in case you’re worried, I’m not going to force anything on you. I’ll waive the prenup, and I’ll sign the annulment papers if that’s what you want. I just wanted this chance to prove to you that I do trust you.”

April’s teeth nipped at her lower lip. “I’d like a minute to talk to my lawyer,” she said.

“Of course.” Quinn’s heart sank.

He stood up and walked to the window, giving them plenty of distance while April leaned forward and spoke to her lawyer in a low voice. A moment later, the other woman put the folder back in her briefcase and stood up.

“It was nice meeting you, Mr. Taylor. I’ll be in touch.” With that, she walked to the door and left.

He turned back to April, his heart pounding, as she stood up and walked toward him, her eyes filled with determination.

“There’s one thing I have to say to you, Mr. Taylor,” April said.

His chest constricted. Clearly, he hadn’t convinced her, and now she was going to tell him to stay out of her life.

“What’s that?” he asked.

She stood in front of him now, her gaze locked on his face. She rested her hand on his cheek, and her beautiful blue eyes softened.