Page 13 of Between Love and Honor

“I wanted you to know I regret I couldn’t be the girl you wanted me to be,” she continued softly. “I thought maybe we could talk for a few minutes. You know, start over and try to make things right between us.”

Come again? Was this one of those twelve-step programs where a person had to ask forgiveness of everyone they wronged? Adam’s father had recently done the same, right before he passed away. Ben’s heart suddenly constricted.

Was Quinn dying? Was he to lose her again so quickly after just finding her? He mentally shook himself.

She’s just playing you again. Don’t buy it.

“You’re under the false impression there’s anything to talk about. That was high school, Quinn. We’re not the same people.”

“You named your boat Seas the Day!”

“I wouldn’t read anything into that,” he replied trying to appear nonchalant. “I’m not creative. I’m a numbers guy, remember? It’s just a boat. And that’s just a name. Doesn’t mean a thing.”

She jerked her shoulders back as though he’d slapped her. Still, Ben didn’t take any joy in landing a verbal blow.

“I don’t believe you,” she challenged. “Now who’s running away?”

He studied her for a long moment. Since when had Quinn Darby developed a backbone? In high school, she used to sway with whatever wind the rich kids blew. Yet here she was spinning some yarn that had them rehashing history.

She was up to something. And given her relationship with Alexi Ronoff, Ben’s interest was piqued. What the hell? He could spend some time hearing her out for the good of the case. But only under his terms.

“All right. I’ll be back this evening. I’m having dinner here at seven. If you want to make peace, it will have to be then.”

Her shoulders relaxed. “I can make that work. I’m staying at the B and B in town. No need to come get me. I’ll meet you back here.”

“Well then, isn’t that just like old times,” he said as he tossed the line at her feet.

* * *

QUINN STOOD ON the dock and watched Ben deftly navigate the large sailboat out of the slip and into the bay as if it were second nature. He’d always been confident, but even more so on the water. Probably because he’d learned to sail practically after he’d learned to walk.

It’s just a boat.

He was lying. The boy she once knew and loved had dreamt of that sailboat since kindergarten. And as for the name having no significance, she was calling BS on that, as well.

Except this wasn’t the boy she once knew. She only had to replay their last exchange as evidence. Grown up Ben Segar was harder. And not just physically. He’d always exuded sureness, but this was something else. All the more reason to keep Alexi away from him. Ben was just brash enough to play the white knight. But a self-proclaimed computer geek would be no match for the ruthless Russian.

She sighed heavily. If only she’d been able to grab the stupid micro card and leave without confronting him. It was one thing to go through life carrying around the guilt that he hated her. But having to face the loathing head-on was an entirely different heartache altogether. Even worse, he didn’t sound as though he had any intention of forgiving her. Not that she blamed him. Tonight, she’d find a way aboard his sailboat, seize the list, and slip away before her heart was in tatters.

As she made her way back to the B and B to wait for him to return, her phone rang deep in her handbag.

She glanced at the caller ID and groaned. “Alexi. How are you?”

“The more important question would be where are you, my princess?”

The back of Quinn’s neck began to tingle. The location settings on her phone were deactivated, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t track her signal while she spoke to him.

“Did we have plans for today?”

“No,” he drawled. “But you left so quickly last night. I was worried about you.”

She bristled at the lie. Alexi never worried about anyone other than himself.

“You seemed upset to have your visit to the White House cut short,” she hedged. “I thought it best to head to my hotel room and let you brood in peace.”

His laugh rang a bit hollow. “You still haven’t answered my question.”

“I’m on the Eastern Shore photographing some old homes for another client.” It was a plausible alibi and one he couldn’t discredit. “That dress I wore last night didn’t pay for itself, you know.”

---