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Chapter 15: Just Friends
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Happily, Hopefully Chapter 16: Margarita's, Madison, and Mistakes
QUINN'S POVA plate of sopapillas and four margaritas later, the clock neared eleven-thirty before Collin and I finally left the Mexican restaurant, Tio's. We'd talked and laughed like old friends and it did my soul wonders to feel normal again.I'd made the right decision not to date him. We were going to be much happier as friends. I wasn't girlfriend material anyway. At least that's what I figured since men rarely asked me out. It must've been because I wasn't girlfriend material. "Let me take you home," Collin offered. He smelled like barley and salsa."I want to walk. It's not far.""Are you sure? You're three sheets to the wind as it is."I laughed. "You had like ten beers. I'll take my chances walking."He buttoned his coat. "It's freezing. We can share a cab.""No, thanks. I'll see you tomorrow. Thanks for dinner.""Any time. Good night."I stood on the curb until Collin hailed a cab, got in, and rode off. The biting wintry air rustled leaves in the trees but the streets were
Happily, Hopefully Chapter 17: Platonic and Professional
QUINN'S POVI watched him retrieve a pair of black Nikes from the hall closet and slip them on. He tossed on a jacket and somehow managed to look as handsome in sweats as he did in his suits. I found myself aggravated with my attraction to him.My buzz had started to wear off, thanks to the stark cold and Ford's sobering comments. He'd parked his car in the underground parking garage, a steel gray Porsche Panamera. Somehow, I hadn't noticed his luxury car before. Perhaps because 'before' I'd been too busy shivering with cold from my plunge into the river. "This is some ride," I remarked as I climbed into the camel-colored interior."You've been in it before.""I know. But I didn't remember it being this gorgeous.""You're easily impressed."I ran my hand along the door panel. "Your sister's very pretty."He pushed the button to start the ignition. "Yes.""I hate I met her under these circumstances.""Drunk and misinformed?""Misinformed?""You thought I was sleeping with her."I lea
Happily, Hopefully Chapter 18: Pity Party for One
QUINN'S POVI debated not going to work the following morning. My fear of abandonment had resurfaced after my conversation with Ford last night. I feared his emotional unavailability and I ached with the irrational dread that he'd walk out of my life. I barely knew him, but I'd latched on to him like a leech. What's worse, he wasn't interested in me in the slightest.I should've been angry with his arrogant, narcissistic *ss. Instead, I found myself captivated by his face and smell and smile. Maybe I'd confused my physical attraction to him with real feelings. Maybe my unquenchable lust lured me to him.No. It wasn't only his face, but his generosity and dry wit and that mysterious something I couldn't quite figure out. He intrigued me. He puzzled me. He was the lock with no key. But God help me if I didn't want in. I pulled the bed covers over my head and buried deeper.I wondered if my supervisor, Judy, would believe me if I called in sick today. I didn't answer to Ford directly, so
Happily, Hopefully Chapter 19: Foster Families
QUINN'S POVI had two more sets of foster families within the next two years before finally being placed with Mr. and Mrs. Carr. I lived with them for six years until I turned eighteen and left for school. By now, I'd become an embittered, mouthy, depressed teenager who felt worthless and was deemed worthless by those around me. I didn't care about the Carr's and I didn't really even care about myself.I didn't care about anything except school. Somewhere along the way, I figured out getting an education would get me out of my hellish life. I dedicated all of my time to studying. I read everything, I did all the extra credit and I joined all the clubs. I participated in everything academic related I could.Not only did it keep my mind busy, but it kept me out of the house. I would've done anything not to go home ever again. School became the only escape I had.The Carr's had two other foster children, Sara and Justin. Justin and I were the same age and Sara was three years younger tha
Happily, Hopefully Chapter 20: Ghosts
QUINN'S POV"How do you like working at HI so far?" Hayes asked me after the waitress departed with our order.'I like the part where I get to see Ford'. "It's challenging," I answered instead. "I've never worked anywhere where they expected so much from me. I like rising to the challenge and pushing myself. But I also don't want to disappoint anyone. A lot rides on the decisions I make.""But that's the business. I never could wrap my head around the industry. It bores the p*ss out of me. But I find it sexy as hell that you're good with that kind of stuff."I raised an indifferent shoulder. "I'm analytical, probably too much so. I like the risk involved in futures, but it scares me, too. The fear keeps me on top of my game.""Interesting take on it."I took a sip of water. "What do you do for a living? And don't tell me 'this and that'."He chuckled. "I'm in between jobs.""Oh.""I'm not a bum, if that's what you're thinking. I had a couple of businesses, but they didn't work out. I'
Happily, Hopefully Chapter 21: A Fish on a Line
QUINN'S POVThe news of Sara's death had thrown me. I felt off kilter. Half of my emotions were pure guilt for not taking the time to really get to know her. We lived in the same house underneath the same arduous reign of Mr. and Mrs. Carr. I could've been a friend to her.The other half of me thought how that could've been the way my life turned out. I'd almost ended my own life, too. For some reason it made sense for me, but I hated that Sara had ended her life that way.I almost missed my stop reflecting on the mistakes I'd made. By the time I'd arrived home, taken a shower and eaten a light dinner, I was ready for bed. The clock had barely chimed nine, but I felt especially tired. Hearing about Sara saddened me and seeing Justin brought back the years we'd spent together in foster care. I'd rather not revisit that particularly dark period.Seven years wasn't quite far enough removed from that time in my life. It'd left an indelible impression and I still suffered from the effects
Happily, Hopefully Chapter 22: The Sharpest Dive
QUINN'S POVHe pulled away, his brown eyes dark and lust-filled. My stomach churned with nerves, the intent in his eyes clear."Are you going to make love to me?" I asked him."No. I'm going to f*ck you."I felt my cheeks turn scarlet red and Ford squinted at me."You're not a virgin, are you?""No. But I haven't been with anyone since my high school boyfriend."A sly grin crept at the edges of his mouth. "This won't be anything like high school, I assure you.""What about the ridiculous contract you had me sign at work?" I breathed."You signed it." Ford kissed the tip of my nose. "I didn't."I wanted to comment on the hypocrisy of his statement, but he'd pulled on the sash of my robe and it came undone. Standing only in my panties, I suddenly became very shy. I stared down at my feet.Ford tilted my chin up with his index finger."You're beautiful, Quinn. Don't be ashamed of your body."His kind words didn't help to calm me. He slid the robe off my shoulders and it fell in a silken
Happily, Hopefully Chapter 23: The Bracelet, the Heels, and Nothing Else
QUINN'S POVI startled awake before my alarm went off, as if someone had poured cold water on my head. For an instant, it felt like I'd just been dragged out of the river, shivering with ice water and fear.I rolled over onto my back and bent my knees. A dull ache between my legs caused me to glance down at my right thigh. A very definitive, red handprint marked my leg. Ford's handprint. He'd marked me, made me his, even though it seemed painfully clear he didn't want me. But had he made it so clear?I placed my hand over the mark on my thigh pretending his hand held mine -- that, for a moment, he was as besotted with me as I was with him. Memories of his kiss, the feel of his hands on me infiltrated my every thought. Last night only made me want Ford more. Even with his sudden departure and curt comportment, I wanted him just as badly now as I ever did.He knew about my past now and it hadn't altered how he felt about me. In fact, it seemed to endear me even more to him. I never imag
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