Page 65 of Frequency of Attraction

Vadim blinked at the interruption and pivoted them in a half-turn to see for himself. Rosie did indeed stand at the edge of the dance floor, looking almost as stunning as Quinn in a complicated gown that looked like stained glass. He cut his eyes to Tate, who had stopped dead with Janai in his arms.

Quinn had stopped breathing. He shook her gently. “Don’t pass out. I’m sure you’ll want to see this.”

She exhaled as they watched Tate and Rosie make their way back to each other. Once he felt they’d spied enough, Vadim nudged Quinn’s thigh with his knees. A few tears had tracked down her glowing cheeks. She let go of his hand to wipe them away.

“Apology accepted,” she said, tipping her chin up.

Vadim frowned. His words had held more than an apology.

“And to answer your question, I paid for Mila’s schooling.”

“You went to Boston.”

“Yes. I think I’ll be doing more of that. I don’t really need to be here in California. And if Tate and Rosie work out…well, things are going to change. I think it’s time for me to move on.”

His heart snagged on her words. Quinn was leaving.

31

Quinn’s heart overflowed with joy from the sight of her cousin and Rosie pressed together on the dance floor. She would need to help them make space for their own lives. Leaving for Boston would be no sacrifice on that front.

Vadim had no right to sound unhappy about her newly hatched plan. He had no right to stand so close to her, either. He’d been nothing but hurtful over the past two weeks. Why muddle matters now?

And why did he still take her breath away in that tux and with vulnerability in his gaze? The two of them were nothing, as he’d made clear time and again.

“I have nothing keeping me here,” she explained. “I can work anywhere.”

His brows drew together. “You have family here. Pia told me tonight that she wants to spend more time with you. And did you not hear what I said earlier?”

“I heard shame and confusion mixed with a few pretty words,” she replied, ignoring the clench in her stomach. It occurred to her then that their unmoving forms on the dance floor were probably getting attention. She took a step away from him.

“Quinn.”

That time, his voice didn’t reverberate through her nether regions. That time, his voice tore at her heart. Luckily, Rosie crashed into her arms at that moment.

“Quinn, you look gorgeous. Green is your color.” Rosie’s cheeks glowed pink as her brown eyes shimmered with tears. Emotions seemed ready to spill over in liquid form.

“No one looks more gorgeous than you. That dress is runway worthy. You and Tate are okay?”

Rosie nodded, her red-gold hair glinting in the light. “So good. I think he’ll actually forgive me for walking away from us.”

“What convinced you to come back?” Quinn was curious what broke through to her after months of silence.

She smiled radiantly. “My sister. And hope.”

“I’m so glad,” she told Rosie. “He deserves happiness. You both do.”

“He’s taking me to his cabin outside Seattle. I wanted to say goodbye before we left.”

Wasting no time. Why should they, when they’d wasted months apart already?

“Enjoy. I want a full report of this cabin in the woods none of us have ever seen. I hope the place has curtains, at least.”

Rosie flitted away with a grin, heading straight to Tate’s waiting arms. He waved, happiness radiating from his face. Quinn had to cover her heart from the cuteness.

That lingering felicity helped drown out Vadim’s dark looks and echoing words. For the rest of the evening, she danced with Pia and Janai and let herself enjoy the party she helped plan. She tried to ignore the statements that kept trying to sneak in.You are perfect. You are what goodness looks like. No one deserves you.

For his part, Vadim talked with the people at their table with relative ease. He didn’t drink. He didn’t dance. He did slide his gaze over her curves like a paintbrush on canvas, but she tried to ignore that, too.

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