LOGINNancy's enthusiasm visibly faded. "I think I'm done for now. I'll wait until he's back before deciding."The attendant didn't push it. "Of course. Take your time looking around, and if anything catches your eye, just let me know."Nancy quietly said, "Sure."She had barely gotten the word out when Quentin's voice carried over from across the room, warm and unmistakable. "You look gorgeous, sweetie. That dress is perfect on you. It makes your waist look incredible."Nancy turned toward the sound without thinking and saw Talia standing before the mirror in a pure white gown. She wasn't wearing any makeup, but the natural flush across her cheeks gave her face a soft, luminous glow that made her features look almost sculpted.Talia stared at her own reflection, her cheeks growing warmer. The dress flattered her figure in ways she hadn't expected, and Quentin's compliment wasn't helping. On top of all that, her mind kept drifting back to what had happened between them earlier.Quentin
Christian stood frozen in place, his thoughts churning.It took him a long moment before he managed to pull himself together. His fingers curled into tight fists, his heart hammering against his ribs.When he looked back toward Talia and Quentin, they had already picked out a gown for her. It was a soft, airy piece in white with pale undertones.Quentin pointed to it and told the attendant, "Could you have her try this one on?"The attendant nodded with an eager smile. "You have wonderful taste, sir. Your wife is going to look stunning in this. It just arrived, actually. Brand new to our collection."Quentin chuckled. "My wife looks stunning in everything."The attendant lifted the gown from the rack while answering him. "She's a lucky woman, sir. One can tell how much you adore her."Quentin smiled warmly. "That's what wives are for, right? To be spoiled."The attendant pulled the fitting room curtain aside and handed the gown to Talia. "If you need any help at all, just call
Quentin picked Maeve up and carried her over to the pile of gifts by the window."Look, I brought you strawberries." He pointed to a basket among the boxes.Maeve spotted them but wasn't impressed. "You cheated! You promised you'd take me to pick them. These are store-bought. That doesn't count."Quentin laughed and ruffled her hair. "I didn't cheat, and I never will. These are just for you to snack on this morning. "I have to take your aunt shopping for clothes first, and then this afternoon, we'll all go strawberry picking together."That did the trick. Maeve's face lit up. "Then I'll wait at home for you and Aunt Talia this afternoon."Quentin held out his pinky. "Let's make it official."Maeve hooked her tiny finger around his and chanted, "Pinky promise, pinky promise, whoever breaks it has to eat a bug."They sealed it with a thumb press.Quentin meant what he said. When he made a promise, he would follow through.The three of them ate breakfast together, and the momen
Quentin's hands moved on their own, settling on Talia's waist, his fingers itching to undo her clothes. But he stopped himself.This was still the Stewart residence. Kissing Talia here was nerve-wracking enough. Anything further was out of the question.He stilled his hands and just held her.Talia's head was swimming from the kiss, and before she knew it, her own hand was sliding toward the opening of his shirt. She missed the way his body felt, missed the contours and the strength of him.The moment her fingers slipped beneath the fabric, Quentin caught her wrist. He pulled her close, his breathing ragged against her ear. "Talia, not here. Let's go somewhere else."She deflated against him like all the air had been let out of her, boneless and flushed. The heat of her face seeped through the thin layer of his shirt and burned against his chest, and it took everything he had not to give in.He'd barely slept the night before. He'd spent half the night talking himself out of clim
Talia stretched, got out of bed, and headed to the bathroom. She washed up quickly and went downstairs. She was starving and wanted to find something to eat.But when she reached the kitchen doorway, she saw a familiar figure standing with his back to her.She couldn't help wondering if that first night with Quentin had imprinted itself on her brain so deeply that she was seeing him everywhere now. Thinking about him constantly was one thing, but mistaking other people for him?She rubbed her eyes. When she opened them, she still saw Quentin.He turned around before she could make sense of it, and the look on his face was so warm and full of affection that it wrapped around her like something physical.The words slipped out before she had time to think. "What are you doing here?"His hands were wet. He dried them on a towel before reaching over to give her cheek a gentle pinch. "Didn't we agree last night? We're going shopping for clothes today."She glanced at the large clock o
Quentin had a way of getting under Talia's skin without even trying. But when she replayed what he'd just said, a question slipped out before she could stop it. "So you're saying you've 'gotten' other women before?"The moment the words left her mouth, she realized how jealous she sounded. But it was too late to take it back.Quentin's eyes hadn't left her face for a single second. His expression turned serious as he said, "Talia, I'm only going to say this once. I have never had feelings for any woman other than you. I have never been with any woman other than you."That was true before, and it'll be true for the rest of my life. You're the only woman I've ever loved, and the only woman I've ever slept with."Every single word was deliberate and measured, spoken with a sincerity that left no room for doubt.Talia looked at him on the screen and smiled softly. "Quentin, thank you for loving me."The tenderness in her eyes made something in his chest come undone.After a few quie
Talia watched her phone screen go dark in the basin and looked at Quentin. "You..."He had the decency to look apologetic. "Sorry, I didn't mean to. I'll get you a new one."He said it with a straight face, but Talia knew perfectly well that he had done it deliberately. She held his gaze somewhat
Yvonne didn't respond to Christian's question. Instead, she asked, "What about Nancy? Isn't she going?"Remembering how he'd called Nancy at noon only to find her with Julian made Christian inexplicably angry. He stroked Yvonne's hair. "Nancy has things to take care of. She can't come with you."Y
Talia looked away. "I'm not worried about you.""You are," Quentin said, his voice certain. "Your eyes give you away."Talia scoffed. "I just don't want you getting dragged into something on my account."Quentin didn't seem to hear her. He glanced down at his pajama top, the fabric soaked through
After Talia and Willow arrived at the police station, they explained the reason for their visit. The police officers told them to wait.About ten minutes later, one of the female officers led them out of the station. They got into a police car and headed to the detention center.Felix had already







