Page 35 of Chasing Temptation
Chapter Ten
The smile that lights up Quinn’s face when she fights her way into the flat, laden down with bags after her shopping trip with the girls, is everything.
She walked out of the house this morning leaving me with a raging hard on after she got herself all dressed up for her day out. Her excitement was infectious and her joy now is exactly the same. Anyone else would think she has nothing to worry about, but I see her concern when she thinks I’m not looking. I recognise the extra makeup she’s using to cover the dark circles under her eyes.
“I’m assuming you’ve had a good day.”
“It’s been incredible. My feet hurt!”
“Sit down and I’ll get you a coffee.”
“Wine?” she asks with a laugh.
“Sure thing. Wine coming right up.”
Hearing that my suspicions were correct about her never having had a girly day out before confirmed what I was thinking about ensuring she gets to do it all now. She might have given me her London bucket list the night I took her out, but I think in reality there’s a lot more that needs to go on it.
Taking her glass over, I fall down onto the sofa next to her and allow her to show me everything she bought.
By the time she’s been through all the bags, there’s a towering pile of clothes, shoes, and handbags, not to mention lingerie that I’m dying to see her in, on the coffee table in front of us.
“Whoa, how much did you spend?”
“I’ve no idea. Do you have any idea how good it is to say that?”
Having lived quite a bit of my life with absolutely nothing to my name, I agree, knowing exactly how she must be feeling.
The solicitor Eddie set her up with to deal with her divorce proceedings came over yesterday seeing as they’d only been speaking on the phone the last couple of weeks and explained the process, and if everything goes as he’s planning then she shouldn’t need to worry about money for a very long time. Which brings us to the elephant in the room.
Her job.
As if she can read my mind, she rests back on the sofa, takes a sip of her wine and turns to me.
“I don’t think I want to go back to work.” She says the words in a rush like she’s not sure what my response is going to be. “I mean, I want to work, but I don’t think I want to go back to my old job.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Of course. We’ve got a place to live, I’ve got a job that pays pretty well, and you’ve got some money. Why would it be an issue?”
“I just—” Her face pales.
Taking her free hand in mine, I stare into her eyes to ensure she hears every word I say. “I’m not him, Quinn. My priority is you and your happiness. I don’t care if I have to work double to allow you to do whatever it is you want. I’ll do anything it takes to make you happy.”
Tears fill her eyes and I catch the first one that falls with my thumb. She nods but doesn’t say anything for a minute or two.
“What about you? You’re going back to school, right?”
“I’d like to, but like I said, it’s not my priority right now. Anyway, Eddie might not even have me back.”
“I’m sure he will. Let’s invite him round for dinner and we’ll sweet talk him into letting you back. Probably best to do that before I resign. I’ll help you catch up on what you’ve missed while I look for a new job.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I still want to work with kids, but I’m not totally sure.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
