Page 40 of The Unforgiven
Quinn exhaled loudly in irritation. Damn Monica Fielding. Why was that woman always interfering in her business? And how did she know where Quinn was staying? Gabe would never have told her.
“She’s friends with Gabe’s PA,” Luke said as if Quinn had asked the question out loud.
“Why are you here, Luke?” she asked, wary of his motives.
“Ashley and I split up.”
“My condolences,” Quinn replied sarcastically. Luke had hurt her, and she wasn’t about to let him off the hook. She’d loved him for eight years, had trusted him, and had been loyal to him, and he’d betrayed her without a second thought.
“Quinn, walking out on you was the biggest mistake of my life. I grew too comfortable and too settled. I began to take you for granted. I suppose I stopped noticing you.”
“But you noticed Ashley?” Quinn knew she sounded bitter, but it hurt to think she’d become invisible.
“I was dazzled by her. She seemed so confident, so uninhibited, so spontaneous. She didn’t have any of that British reserve. She spoke her mind and did as she pleased, which was refreshing. But once I really got to know her, I realized her lack of inhibition was nothing more than an expression of selfishness. She said and did what she felt like because she didn’t give a damn about the consequences or anyone else’s feelings.”
“She’s thrown you over, hasn’t she?” Quinn asked, giving Luke a smug grin. Now his unexpected appearance made sense. Free-spirited, uninhibited Ashley had grown tired of him. Perhaps it was his British reserve that had begun to grate on her American nerves.
“Quinn, I know I don’t deserve a second chance, but I still love you. I didn’t understand how much until I realized I’d lost you for good.”
Quinn stopped walking and turned to face him. He was the same old Luke. His hair was tousled by the breeze and his blue eyes crinkled at the corners as he gazed at her with his best puppy-dog expression and a winning smile, but there was a wariness about him now, and telltale signs of middle age. Even golden boys grew old, their charm tarnished by years of playing the field and living a life of excess. Luke had never wanted the responsibility of a family. He’d kept putting things off and making promises that he clearly had no intention of keeping, and Quinn realized she was glad, and grateful. Luke had spared her years of heartache by walking out, and with him gone, she had been able to finally see something that had been there all along, something solid and true, and more romantic than anything she’d ever experienced with Luke.
“Are you serious?” she asked. “Do you really think that coming here and telling me you’re disappointed and full of regret will win me back? I’ve moved on, Luke, and I am happy. Gabe and I are getting married next month, but I’m sure you already know that.”
“Yes, I heard,” Luke replied, pulling a face. “Look, you didn’t deserve to be treated unkindly, and I’m very sorry for breaking things off the way I did, but I didn’t think you’d fall into Gabe’s arms as soon as I was gone. Are you really that desperate?”
Quinn gaped at him. He’d never been spiteful, but this new side of him she was seeing was a revelation. She’d always tap-danced around Luke’s feelings because he avoided confrontations like the plague, but now she meant to tell him the truth without mincing words. Standing in the middle of a cemetery reminded Quinn just how brief life was, and how important it was to be true to yourself and your dreams. All too soon, everything she stood for would be reduced to dust, and she’d be damned if she wasted another minute being unhappy or disappointed.
“No, Luke. I was desperate to stay with you for as long as I did. I was foolish, and blind, and way too trusting. Don’t think for one moment that I don’t know about your extracurricular activities. Ashley wasn’t the first, and she won’t be the last. But do you know what I realized once you were gone?” she asked, pausing to let him consider her question. “I realized that all the years I’d spend with you were a prelude to something better. You should have never been anything more than a summer fling, because a shag is about the only thing you’ve got to offer.”
“Oh, is that a fact?” Luke sputtered, clearly cut to the quick by the insult.
“And do you know why our relationship was doomed?” Quinn continued. “Because whenever I needed a shoulder to cry on, or wanted sound advice, I never turned to you because I knew you were useless. It was always Gabe. You were always up for sex, but you were emotionally unavailable and will probably be for the rest of your days.”
“And now you will marry Saint Gabe and raise his spawn because he’s so good at giving advice?” Luke snarled.
The gloves were off, and Quinn was glad. It was time they said what they meant and put their relationship to rest once and for all.
“And now I will marry Gabe and raiseourdaughter because I love him and want to spend the rest of my life with him. Now, please leave. There’s nothing more to be said.”
“There’s plenty more to be said,” Luke retorted, his anger heightening his color.
“Quinn, are you all right?” Seth’s expression was as dark as a gathering thunderstorm as he strode down the avenue toward them. Quinn wasn’t sure how much he’d heard, probably just the last bit, but he looked furious.
“Stay out of it, mate,” Luke growled. “It’s none of your business.”
“It’s very much my business,” Seth replied, his voice dangerously low. “If you don’t turn around and walk away from my daughter right now, I will knock you into the middle of next week, buddy. Am I making myself clear?”
“Your daughter?” Luke echoed, staring at Seth with new interest.
“Yes, my daughter. Now, get lost.”
“This conversation is not over,” Luke warned Quinn.
“This conversation is very much over,” she replied and slid her arm through Seth’s. “Ready to go?”
“I sure am.” Seth gave her a brilliant smile and Quinn returned it. It was nice to have a tough dad. “They said at Reception that you asked for directions to the cemetery,” he said as they walked toward the market. “Was there anything in particular you wished to see?”
“I just wanted to see the Besson family vault and the tomb of Charles Besson,” Quinn replied. Seth didn’t know anything about Corinne, and she wasn’t about to bring her up.
