you wanted. Now you’re prepared to throw away your relationship with Seth to get more of the same.”
This was the man she loved? This hypocritical, selfish jerk?
Her tirade failed to make an impact.
“Don’t throw the divorce in my face, Quinn. You might not realize it, but you weren’t happy either. We were living our lives around each other. I made a move to be happy. You should’ve done the same.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. Bitter anger gave her the strength to keep fighting. “I’m doing it now.”
Her tears used to make Blake weak in the knees. He’d never been able to resist coming to her side. Since he met Kira, though, the man had iron in his legs. He stayed rooted to the spot and watched her show of emotion dispassionately.
He chided her. “You’re being ridiculous. London isn’t the answer.”
Quinn snatched a tissue from the dispenser on his desk since he hadn’t offered one and dabbed her eyes. After several deep breaths, she faced him again. “In two months I’m going to London for a year. Seth doesn’t want to go, and we’re not forcing him.” She hadn’t planned on giving a time limit. Too late now. “My suggestion is you take this time with your son and get to know him. It might be your last chance.”
“You’re overreacting again. I just believe he should live with you. Weekends and holidays are fine. It’s the typical arrangement, isn’t it?”
“Of course. You wouldn’t want your precious reputation to suffer if anyone ever found out you don’t want your own child.”
Blake’s eyes narrowed. “That’s not true.”
She’d won the war but didn’t have the strength for another battle. She wiped her eyes again. “Whatever you say. I wouldn’t take him, anyway. You’re his dad. He needs you.” A glimmer of something that might’ve been love, pity, or regret crossed his face.
She didn’t stick around to find out which.
Quinn hadn’t been very generous to herself.
Two months hardly covered the time she needed to prepare for living abroad. She managed, though, determined to stick to the deadline she’d given Blake. May he never underestimate her again.
First, she’d needed an agent. With only a flimsy outline of her novel in hand and her established career in another genre to lean on, she went about the process of finding the right representative for her new endeavor.
It didn’t take long for Carla Darby to pounce on her proposal. During their initial phone conference she’d surprised and encouraged Quinn with her eagerness and immediate assumption of success.
She’d literally laughed at Quinn’s expressed doubt. “Romance is pie! Anytime you get stuck, throw in a knifing or two to get yourself back on familiar ground. Those weren’t pretty times. People were savage. No one will blink twice at a little violence. Or a lot.”
Quinn signed with Carla that day.
The day before her flight departed for Heathrow, an announcement from Blake arrived in her e-mail inbox. Kira was pregnant.
Quinn couldn’t be happier to be leaving the country.
Chapter 5
London, England
Eight months later
N icholas Braum knocked on the door of Quinn’s Kensington flat at precisely seven o’clock. She answered and smiled brightly at his appraisal of her outfit, which he indicated with the slight widening of his eyes.
The red cocktail dress with its tight bodice and flouncy skirt was the only clean outfit she had left since neglecting laundry last week. The black ballet flats didn’t do it justice, but she’d learned her lesson about high heels many moons ago. They weren’t for her.
“You’re early.” She reached for her clutch and the thick black peacoat hanging from a peg near the door. Fall loomed. Days were crisp, and nights were downright chilly.
Nicholas held up a finger and contradicted her. “Not so, my dear. Seven on the dot.” He tapped his watch for emphasis and offered Quinn his other arm. He guided her down three concrete steps and onto the
This was the man she loved? This hypocritical, selfish jerk?
Her tirade failed to make an impact.
“Don’t throw the divorce in my face, Quinn. You might not realize it, but you weren’t happy either. We were living our lives around each other. I made a move to be happy. You should’ve done the same.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. Bitter anger gave her the strength to keep fighting. “I’m doing it now.”
Her tears used to make Blake weak in the knees. He’d never been able to resist coming to her side. Since he met Kira, though, the man had iron in his legs. He stayed rooted to the spot and watched her show of emotion dispassionately.
He chided her. “You’re being ridiculous. London isn’t the answer.”
Quinn snatched a tissue from the dispenser on his desk since he hadn’t offered one and dabbed her eyes. After several deep breaths, she faced him again. “In two months I’m going to London for a year. Seth doesn’t want to go, and we’re not forcing him.” She hadn’t planned on giving a time limit. Too late now. “My suggestion is you take this time with your son and get to know him. It might be your last chance.”
“You’re overreacting again. I just believe he should live with you. Weekends and holidays are fine. It’s the typical arrangement, isn’t it?”
“Of course. You wouldn’t want your precious reputation to suffer if anyone ever found out you don’t want your own child.”
Blake’s eyes narrowed. “That’s not true.”
She’d won the war but didn’t have the strength for another battle. She wiped her eyes again. “Whatever you say. I wouldn’t take him, anyway. You’re his dad. He needs you.” A glimmer of something that might’ve been love, pity, or regret crossed his face.
She didn’t stick around to find out which.
Quinn hadn’t been very generous to herself.
Two months hardly covered the time she needed to prepare for living abroad. She managed, though, determined to stick to the deadline she’d given Blake. May he never underestimate her again.
First, she’d needed an agent. With only a flimsy outline of her novel in hand and her established career in another genre to lean on, she went about the process of finding the right representative for her new endeavor.
It didn’t take long for Carla Darby to pounce on her proposal. During their initial phone conference she’d surprised and encouraged Quinn with her eagerness and immediate assumption of success.
She’d literally laughed at Quinn’s expressed doubt. “Romance is pie! Anytime you get stuck, throw in a knifing or two to get yourself back on familiar ground. Those weren’t pretty times. People were savage. No one will blink twice at a little violence. Or a lot.”
Quinn signed with Carla that day.
The day before her flight departed for Heathrow, an announcement from Blake arrived in her e-mail inbox. Kira was pregnant.
Quinn couldn’t be happier to be leaving the country.
Chapter 5
London, England
Eight months later
N icholas Braum knocked on the door of Quinn’s Kensington flat at precisely seven o’clock. She answered and smiled brightly at his appraisal of her outfit, which he indicated with the slight widening of his eyes.
The red cocktail dress with its tight bodice and flouncy skirt was the only clean outfit she had left since neglecting laundry last week. The black ballet flats didn’t do it justice, but she’d learned her lesson about high heels many moons ago. They weren’t for her.
“You’re early.” She reached for her clutch and the thick black peacoat hanging from a peg near the door. Fall loomed. Days were crisp, and nights were downright chilly.
Nicholas held up a finger and contradicted her. “Not so, my dear. Seven on the dot.” He tapped his watch for emphasis and offered Quinn his other arm. He guided her down three concrete steps and onto the
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