Page 50 of Scotch & Shortbread

“Nooo,” Quinn breathed.

“Aye. Her story got more elaborate, no’ only did she claim she was pregnant, but also that I had sexually assaulted her.” After all these years, the words were like battery acid in his mouth. It still singed his soul that she made up something so vile about him, and worse, at the time, people believed it.

Quinn sat staring at him, and in an instant, a flicker of fear nearly choked him, did she question whether or not it was true? But then he saw the vehemence in her big brown eyes as she bit out wildly, “I’d like to kick that bitch in the shins!”

Alex snorted a laugh. “I’d huv paid money to witness that.”Christ, it meant the world to him that this little lass sitting across from him would defend him so fiercely.

30

Hell and Hope

Quinnsmiledlightlypleasedshe’d made him chuckle. This Kate woman sounded like a psychopath. How could the nasty woman accuse him of rape? Even when she thought Alex was a jerk cop, she’d witnessed the way he dealt with the situation when those guys had catcalled her. It was obvious to her even then that Alex was a protector, not a predator. The man had saved her more than once. There was no way he’d harm a woman. She knew that to her core.

“I was told if I left quietly she wouldnae press charges and the matter would be closed,” he said. “Part of me was relieved to get the hell out of there while I could, but it was a painfully bitter pill to swallow. I loved my job, and I was damn good at it. No’ to mention it was infuriating to be accused of such bullshit and to be so bloody helpless to fight against it.”

“And that’s why you came here,” Quinn stated as the puzzle pieces started to come together.

“Naw,” he said, and Quinn eyed him, wondering how much more there could be.

“I warned ye it was a long story.”

“I’ve got nowhere else to be.” She smiled softly, leaning back in the chair and pulling up a tartan throw blanket around her. “So what happened after you were fired?” she asked, still astounded by everything he’d gone through.

“I fell into a depression. Drank too much. Avoided people. It was a dark time in my life.” Firelight glinted off his stormy blue eyes.

Listening to Alex’s story, Quinn was beginning to understand why he seemed to keep a wall up. A small glimmer of hope caught in her chest when she realized that he’d let his guard down with her tonight. He was letting her in. She still wondered about how much the woman in the photo played into his reluctance for anything physical with her, but everything he was telling her about Kate made her understand why he kept himself so guarded. Everyone had their stories—their history that made them who they were—and Alex was no different.

“What was the changing point?” she asked softly.

Clearing his throat, he looked down into his scotch glass as he mindlessly swirled its contents.

“One night, I awoke to someone trying to beat the shite out of me with a heavy chain.”

“What?” Quinn was aghast. The very thought made her blood curdle.

“Kate hired someone to murder me, but she wanted to make sure I suffered first,” Alex bit the words out.

“Oh my God, Alex.” Quinn felt her eyes sting with tears. She couldn’t stand to think of anyone wanting to hurt him never mind kill him. It was insane. Without any thought, she got off her chair, scooted onto his lap, and wrapped her arms around him. The need to be close to him nearly overwhelmed her. She needed to feel him and know he was very much alive and well. It horrified her to think what he’d been through.

“I’m so, so glad you are okay. I can’t even fathom what that must have been like,” she said as a tear escaped down her cheek.

“Och, lass, ’tis okay,” he said, gently wiping her tear with his thumb as his other arm wrapped around her.

The feel of her warm embrace took hold of his senses, and a lump formed in his throat. An emotion he didn't know he possessed hit him square in the chest as he realized that this feisty, quirky, sexy, strong woman genuinely cared about him.

Alex had no idea how much he needed a good solid hug until that moment. Aside from the crackle of the fire, the world seemed to fall away around them as they found solace in each other’s embrace. Alex would have expected, based on his recent history with Quinn, that his cock would spring to life with her lush behind nestled in his lap. Even though those thoughts skirted at the edge of his mind, he found that just holding her and her holding him brought a sense of relief, like the burden he’d carried for so long was finally lifted. For the first time in a long time, Alex felt a rightness that he couldn’t explain.

Quinn finally pulled back from their embrace and looked at Alex with concern etched in her wet caring eyes. “What happened?” Afraid to know, but needing to at the same time.

Tucked up comfortably on his lap, Alex absently stroked Quinn’s back through the hoody she wore. “Well, ye know all too well what happens when someone wakes me from my sleep.”

“I sure do.” She snickered, recalling the first night in Alex’s bed and how quickly she was whipped under his strong body with her wrists tightly pinned above her and his gun dug under her jaw. Her eyes went wide as fear rippled through her. Alex seemed to realize what she was thinking, and he quickly answered her silent question.

“I didnae kill him, lass. Dinnae fash.”

“I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had,” she said seriously.

“He was a fool and didnae get very far. I knew even then that Kate was behind the attack.”

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