As she started to rise, Quinn held up his hand. “Hold on.”
The waitress had already poured three juice glasses and was heading back toward them. She set them on the table.
“Can I get you anything else?” she asked.
“Actually,” Quinn said, “would you save us a trip and bring us our entrées? One eggs benedict for the lady, a plate with four lobster tails for the table, prime rib for me, and … Austin?”
“Uh, yeah, I’ll go for the prime rib, too.”
“Of course.” She smiled and hurried away.
“But it’s a buffet,” April said. “Don’t you want to see all the goodies?”
Quinn laughed. “We can go up for dessert. Right now, I’d rather spend time with you and talk.”
“Talk?” Her smile faded. “Oh, of course. Quinn, it’s okay. I know we’re getting an annulment. You both did this to give me a wonderful wedding day to remember, and I think that’s really sweet. None of us have to feel awkward about it. I assume you’d like to go right after breakfast.”
“Hold on,” Austin said. “There’s no rush. I’m enjoying this marriage thing.”
She turned to Austin. “You know, to quote Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, ‘I’m a sure thing.’ At least for the next month.” She turned her lips up in an amused smile, even though she felt sick at the thought of walking away from Quinn and Austin at the end of the month. “We have an arrangement, remember? You don’t have to have a wedding ring on my finger.”
“Can we forget about the annulment for now?” Quinn asked. “I had something else—”
“Actually, that’s exactly what I’d like to do,” Austin said. “Forget about the annulment.”
April was stunned. “What do you mean?”
Austin took her hand and squeezed it gently while he gazed into her eyes. The feel of her hand nestled in his and the loving glow in his eyes made her feel wanted. And cared for.
“April, I want to settle down with a good woman, and you and I have a strong attraction to each other. I’m a good judge of people, and I believe that the two of us could make a go of it. Since we’re already married, I’d like to give it a trial run, at least for the next month.”
“What the hell, Austin?” Quinn demanded.
“I’m sorry, buddy. I’ve watched you resist your feelings for her, and I think you’re crazy. The bottom line is, if you want to stay married to her, and she wants the same thing, of course I’ll step aside. But if not, I don’t want to miss my chance at happiness.”
“Well, I’m fucking not going to get it annulled now. If I did, you would be legally married to her.”
“I don’t want the two of you to fight about this,” April said. “It’s not worth hurting your friendship over. Austin, we’ve only known each other for a day. Staying married doesn’t make any sense. I think you’re just caught up in your desire to settle down, and you’ve convinced yourself that I’ll make a good wife for you. But really, I’m just convenient right now.”
“No way. I—”
She raised her hand to stop him. “And, Quinn, you don’t have to worry about me running off with Austin’s wealth. Though I know I won’t be able to convince you of that.”
She frowned as pain tugged at her heart. She’d been so happy only moments ago, blown away by the generosity of spirit both men had shown her, but it had all soured when she remembered that Quinn would never trust her.
She crumpled up her cloth napkin and tossed it on the table.
“You know, suddenly I’m not hungry.” She stood up and strode from the restaurant.
16
Quinn glared at Austin. “What the hell were you doing?”
“I was trying to jar you into realizing that you really want that woman. You’d be an idiot not to, and”—Austin stared at him squarely—“one thing you’re not is an idiot.”
The waitress arrived with a tray and placed the plates around the table.
“Would you like me to take the eggs benedict back until the lady returns?” she asked.