Page 41 of Modern Romance Collection December 2024 Books 1-4

Sol was curled into Sadie and her arm was around him. They’d fallen asleep.

He could still hear her gut-wrenching sobs and feel the racking shudders through her slim body as he’d held her in his arms. No one could manufacture that kind of raw emotion.

Quin felt grim. He now knew—had known in that moment when he’d almost kissed her—that in spite of all the revelations and the tangle of emotions in his gut—each one screaming at him to not let her get too close—that the thought of not touching her ever again was simply not an option.

He’d been ready to make love to her back in that bathroom, and probably would have if they hadn’t been interrupted. Their attraction was undeniable. Unavoidable. Clearly the hope that it would fade after the truth had come out had been futile. A fantasy.

So it would have to be allowed to run its course—because only then would Quin finally be able to put Sadie to one side so they could all get on with their lives. Together but apart. He had his son. He didn’t need anything more.

Sadie looked at the clothes that had already been hung up by some invisible person in the hotel suite’s dressing room. They’d arrived a couple of hours before, and were now in one of San Francisco’s most exclusive hotels, with views that stretched all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge from the terrace that wrapped around this penthouse suite.

Sadie had a bedroom to herself, as did Quin and Lena. Sol was in a room that connected with Lena’s. There was a kitchen and a dining room. A media room and a gym. And a lap pool outside, heated. The sheer scale of the opulence was breathtaking.

She spied something familiar hanging up and reached for it, pulling out the gold evening dress. Had Sara packed this under instruction from Quin? For the event he had mentioned? Just the thought of wearing it made her feel self-conscious. But then she imagined Quin looking at her the way he had in the boutique—

There was a light knock on her door and she whirled around to see the object of her thoughts standing in the doorway. He was wearing a suit, no tie.

‘Sorry to disturb you.’

She shook her head. ‘You’re not disturbing me.’

Things had felt stilted and formal between them since she’d been woken by Quin on the plane some hours ago. She’d still felt very mussed-up and a little fuzzy after her crying jag. He, on the other hand, had looked pristine. He’d obviously showered and changed into this suit.

She asked, ‘Are you going out?’

They’d had a light lunch when they’d arrived, and Lena had gone out to do some shopping. Sol was in the living room, reading comics.

Quin nodded. ‘I have a meeting at my office.’

‘Do you need me to look after Sol?’

‘If you don’t mind... Lena should be back soon, in any case, and she’s going to take Sol with her later this afternoon to her daughter’s place. They’ll stay there overnight. Lena has a grandson around Sol’s age, and they’ve met before and like each other.’

Sadie felt simultaneously thrilled at the thought of being allowed to stay with Sol on her own, and also a little bereft at the thought of him leaving for the night.

‘Oh, okay... Well, you don’t need to worry about me. I can amuse myself. You must have meetings and things planned.’

Silly to feel somehow excluded, but for Sadie it touched on that very old wound of never feeling she’d belonged to anyone or anywhere. The man in front of her was the only one who had ever made her feel a sense ofhomeandbelongingand she had no right to ask that of him again.

He said, ‘That event I mentioned...it’s actually this evening.’

Sadie’s hand tightened on the dress—she hadn’t even realised she was still holding it. She let go.

‘This evening?’ Her heartrate sped up a couple of notches.

He nodded. ‘Is that okay?’

‘I...guess.’

Trepidation filled her belly. Why had she agreed to this?

She gestured to the dress. ‘Sara packed this. I’m not sure it’ll be appropriate, but it’s the only evening gown here.’

Sadie stopped talking, afraid Quin might think she was fishing for more new clothes or something.

But Quin just said, ‘The gold dress will be perfect. Lena will help you get ready before she leaves with Sol. I’ll see you later. Feel free to explore and do whatever you like when Lena comes back...use the pool, or head into the city.’

Quin had left before Sadie could formulate a response. She went out through the French doors to the terrace and looked out over the city. For so long she’d seen cities as malevolent places, full of dangers, but now she would have to get used to letting all that go. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

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