Loving Quinn Novel by North Rose

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Quinn was quiet on the car ride home from the courthouse. I think we were both shell- shocked after the events of this morning. Why would Dionne go through all of that if she already knew who Logan’s father was? The only thing I can think of is that she didn’t like the results of the first test and was hoping the second one would have a better outcome.

Something is very wrong with that woman. (2)

He said very little as we packed our party clothes because we decided to get ready at the hotel. When we picked Grace up from my parent’s house, he perked up and acted more like himself. By the time we picked Haylie up, he was in a much better mood.

I want to talk to him about what happened today, but that can wait until later tonight. There is no way that I am going to let the drama that Dionne created ruin our engagement party. Dionne Masters has no place in our festivities.

Or in our lives now that we know for a fact that Quinn is not the father of her child.

Right now, I am getting dressed for the party while Grace and Haylie are playing Monopoly in the sitting room of our hotel suite. Quinn went to pick up a surprise he has for me and Grace. Something that he assures me we will both love.

He is full of surprises tonight.

The first surprise was for Grace and Haylie. He paid for the penthouse suite across the hall from ours for the two of them to spend the night in. He paid Haylie twice her normal rate for the entire duration of the party, as well as overnight. The smile on her face was worth it.

The second surprise was for my parents. They have the third penthouse suite down the hall. So, we are all staying right here in the hotel tonight. I can imagine the look on my father’s face when he learned that Quinn paid for their room.

J glance over toward the door when I hear the electronic beeping of the lock. Quinn steps into the room, then closes the door behind him, I can’t help the way my eyes travel over his body as he walks toward me. The smirk on his face lets me know he likes the way I look at hmm.

Quinn Greyson in a tuxedo is any woman’s fantasy come true. Those broad shoulders. Muscles bulging in all the right places. Hell, what am thinking? No matter what he wears,

“That look on your face is making me want to explore whatever is going through your head, Annie.”

My cheeks heat as I feel his eyes roam over my body, just like I did to him. I glance at my reflection in the mirror as he walks closer to me. My dress is black satin. It fits my body like a glove. My back is exposed with just a criss-cross pattern of thin straps that attach to my shoulder straps.

I am wearing the diamond tear-drop necklace with matching earrings that Quinn gave me before he left to go get his surprise for us. With all this exposed flesh on my back, I wanted to wear my hair down, but Quinn suggested I wear it up.

The way he suggested it sent shivers of desire down my spine. So, for him, I have it piled high on my head with a few loose curls down the side of my neck. From the heated look he is giving me now, I can tell he approves.

Quinn walks up behind me, then he places his hand on my back just inches above the satin of my dress. Our eyes lock in the mirror, causing my breath to hitch. If Grace and Haylie weren’t in the connecting room, I think he would do more than just stare.

“I am going to have an extremely hard time focusing on anything other than getting you alone so I can lick my way up that beautiful body of yours, Annie. You are a goddess.”

“If I hear that enough from you, I think I will believe it.”

He spins me around to face him. In his eyes, I see all the love he feels for me. I could drown in those sea-green depths and be happy with what I have. Quinn and Grace have made my life so much better just by being in it.

Without him, I wouldn’t have her. She is so much like him. I love seeing their connection.

“Dad, are we going to the party now?”

Grace’s voice makes Quinn glance over his shoulder. He lets go of me so he can walk to her. They share a hug, then they both look at me. The two of them together will always make me smile.

“I have something for the two of you. Well, it is for all of us, really. I want to celebrate our family in a big, splashy way.”

“I thought that is what this party is for.” Grace says.

Quinn laughs, then reaches into his suit to pull something out of his pocket. Curiosity has me walking to them to see what he has planned for us. What he pulls out of his pocket makes me frown. It is a plain white envelope.

“There is a villa in the south of France with our name on it. I bought it a few years ago for a place to go when I wanted to just get away. We leave tomorrow for a week long vacation.”

Grace squeals with delight, then rushes from the room. I look at Quinn in shock. Th…e are patients that need me. I can’t just fly off to France like this. I have important responsibilities

here.

“Before you tell me no, I already know that you have no surgeries or appointments for the next week. You have another doctor on your staff that can look out for your patients while you are gone. I think a week away from all the drama recently will do us some good.”

“How the hell do you know my schedule?”

Quinn gives me a sheepish grin, then pulls me flush against his body.

“I may have talked to your secretary about this earlier in the week. Now, before you argue further. Your parents are coming with us. They have never been to the south of France and your mother is excited to go.”

Giving up all my objections, I let him pull me into the sitting room. Ten minutes later, we are in the hotel’s ballroom surrounded by our friends and family. Well, mostly our friends and my family.

It hits me for the first time that there will be no family on Quinn’s side of the aisle at our wedding. Both his parents were only children. With his mother gone and his father in a care facility, there is no one to be there for him on our big day.

That thought breaks my heart.

However, shortly after ti

thought crosses my mind, I see three faces in the crowd that remind me that Quinn has a family. Through his friendship with Aaron, he gained a mother and father in Victoria and Michael Carter.

I can tell by the way she is smiling at him now that she loves him like he was her own flesh and blood. That makes me happy to know that Quinn will have Aaron by his side and his parents to support him on our wedding day. It also comforts me knowing that the three of

them have had his back during the last twelve years.

Longer than that, actually.

“Have you two set a date yet?”

My mother’s voice brings me out of my thoughts. I glance over at her as she steps up beside me. She is smiling as she gestures with her hand to where Quinn and Grace are standing with the Carters.

“Seeing the two of them side by side always makes me happy, yet sad at the same time.”

“Why sad?” I ask.

“For all the time that he missed with her. He has made up for that lost time in s**es and anyone with eyes can see that he loves her. Have you two thought about having more children?”

Of course, she would zero in on more grandchildren. Out of her five children, I am the only one to give her a grandchild. So far, at least. We were all so excited about Leita and Max when they announced her pregnancy. Recently, that excitement has turned to sorrow and inger.

scan the crowd for Max because talking about babies makes me hope he came tonight. itting at home alone right now will only give him time to dwell on the circumstances that nded his marriage. Thankfully, I find him at the bar with my dad and Kris.

here is a smile on his face as he listens to Kris talk, but that smile doesn’t reach his eyes. I ate knowing that my brother is in pain, but there isn’t anything I can do for him other than e supportive. If I were a vindictive person, I would fly to New York to have a face-to-face lk with my soon to be ex-sister-in-law.

icky for her, I am not that kind of person. Though I am extremely tempted. However, she ould cause more problems for Max if I did. The more time that goes by since her affair ime to light, the more I learr hout her. Leita isn’t the kind hearted woman we all believed

ie was.

urn my attention back to my mother. Should I tell her we have already decided to try for other baby? Knowing her, she is already prepared for it to happen. She wouldn’t ask me if

e wasn’t.

had my IUD removed.”

This is all I say before I step away to greet Shawna, who is standing in the ballroom’s doorway waving at me. She is stunning in a rich hunter green gown. It shows off her slim figure and pale skin to perfection. She left her red curls down. Her hair swirls around her hips as she moves.

Sometimes when we are out together, people think we are sisters. My hair is more auburn, while hers is a darker red. She has been my best friend since the day I met her on h First day at Mercy General.

Shawna will be my maid of honor at my wedding.

As I walk up to her, her gaze shifts over my shoulder. Her smile falters, but she quickly recovers. I stop walking, then glance behind me to see who took that smile from her. No one stands out immediately, but I frown when Max suddenly puts his drink down on the bar, then walks swiftly out of the ballroom through one of the side doors.

No. There is nothing going on between my brother and my best friend. They barely know each other.

I turn back to Shawna, grab her arm gently, then pull her out into the hallway so we can talk in private. Once we are far enough away from music, I stop walking. When I do, she gives me a confused look.

“What was that about?” I ask her.

“I don’t know what you mean. I was just waving at you to get your attention.”

“Shaw, you were happy when I was walking to you, but then you were suddenly not. What happened between you and Max?”

Her green eyes pop wide, then her cheeks turn pink as she blushes. What the hell? How did I miss this? Shawna likes my brother. This is bad.

“Don’t say anything. I know it is bad timing for me to have a crush on Max. I will get over it. It isn’t like we see each other often. He made it perfectly clear that…” (1

“That what? When did you two spend time together?”

Shawna sighs.

“I will tell you about it on Monday at work. Tonight is all about you and Quinn. Let’s get back in there and celebrate the fact that you are finally going to marry the love of your life.”

Knowing that I won’t get answers tonight, 1 let Shawna lead me back into the ballroom. Quinn greets us in the doorway as we walk back, He has a worried expression on his face.

“Is everything ok?” He asks.

“Just some girl talk with my maid of honor.”

He nods his head, then holds his hand out for me. I glance at Shawna before taking his hand. She nods her head, gives me a smile, then walks around us and enters the room. Quinn gives me a questioning look, but I just shrug my shoulders.

We spend the next hour walking around the crowd thanking people for coming and accepting congratulations on our upcoming nuptials. When we circle around to Aaron’s parents, Victoria pulls me into a hug. Michael just smiles at me when she steps back. Thankfully, he isn’t a hugger.

I have had enough hugs for the evening.

“You two make a beautiful couple. Then and now. I am so happy that the two of you found each other again.” Victoria says.

Grace comes running up to us, causing another round of hugging for her. This time Michael hugs her. From the way she keeps shifting on her feet, I can tell she wants to ask a question that she is sure I will say no to.

“Momma, can Haylie and I go to the pool now? Grandma said she would go with us.”

I look around for my mother and when I find her, she just nods at me.

“You stay with Haylie and grandma the entire time. Do not leave the pool area alone and when you two are done, go up to your room.”

Grace bounces on her feet, then gives me a hug before she runs off to join my mother and Haylie. My daughter loves the water, and I am surprised she lasted this long at the party before she asked to go swimming.

“You two also mak

autiful babies. Got any plans for more?” Victoria asks.

Quinn laughs at my expression. Between Victoria and my mother, they would love to see me round with a child tomorrow. It seems the coming wedding bells have induced baby fever. I guess it is a good thing we are already trying for a baby.

“Come on Tori, let’s give these two love birds some time alone. I think it is time I spin you around the dance floor,” Michael says.

He escorts her to the dance floor, leaving Quinn and me alone in a corner. I press myself close to his side, but he isn’t satisfied with that, so he turns me around to face him. His arms go around my waist, so I wrap mine around his neck.

Soon we are swaying with the music in our little corner. Our guests must have seen us in our own little world and decided to leave us be. I press my head to Quinn’s chest as he slowly spins us in a tight circle.

“Now that the drama is done. When do you want to get married?” I ask him.

“Tomorrow?”

You read my mind. However, how does six months from now sound?”

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