Page 72 of Parker

All of it.

By the time she was done, any semblance of animosity or mistrust between the two women was gone. A very important step, as far as she was concerned.

Parker had made it clear early on how important Sydnee was to him. And after hearing him describe her as the sister he never had—and seeing the way she and Asher were together—Quinn knew their relationship was as platonic as he’d claimed.

Just one more sign that he truly was a trustworthy man. A man with some pretty great friends.

“Pleasetell me Parker didn’t do that to you.” Sydnee’s pretty blue eyes widened with disbelief upon hearing about his well-intended spa-day debacle.

Quinn swallowed her most recent sip and chuckled. “Trust me, I wish I could.” She pointed to her right. “The mani-pedi station was over there, and the facial and makeup areas were over there.” Another point in a different corner of the room. “And that entire space was filled with like six racks of designer clothes and shoes.”

The other woman groaned as her curls hit the cushion behind her. “Lord save us from well-meaning men.”

Beside her Asher took a swig of his bottled water and shrugged. “I don’t know what y’all are complaining about. Sounds to me like the guy was just trying to do something nice.”

“Itwasnice,” Quinn rushed to explain. “But it was also just…a bit overwhelming. Especially for someone who grew up with nothing.”

“I grew up with money, and it would have been too much for me.” Sydnee snorted. “I swear, that man has the biggest heart of anyone I know.” A quick glance in her fiance’s direction. “Present company excluded, of course.”

“Of course.” Asher rolled his dark eyes but followed the move with a smirk and a kiss.

Quinn smiled even as a heaviness fell across her chest, and it took her a minute to realize what she was feeling.

I miss him.

The man had been gone less than two hours, and already she missed him. What was happening to her?

You’re in love, Q. That’s what’s happening.

No, it wasn’t happening.

It already had.

“Come on, you know what I mean.” Sydnee clarified. “Park would give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it. And he’s a freaking genius, obviously. But sometimes he can be so…”

“Clueless?” Quinn arched a brow.

The other woman raised her half-empty glass in a faux-toast and smiled. “Exactly.”

Returning the gesture, Quinn brought the expensive crystal to her lips. The sweet red wine had barely danced across her tongue when it happened.

Bright, blinding light filled the room as the massive windows to Quinn’s left exploded; their sharp, deadly shards carried into the room by a powerful wave of heat and flames.

Quinn—and the chair she’d been sitting in—were thrown several feet into the air. A flash of pain hit followed by an incessant ringing in her ears. From somewhere behind her, she thought she heard Asher screaming Sydnee’s name, and …

Nothing.

13

Parker handed his cell phone,wallet, and keys to the officer manning the visitor intake desk at FCI—the Federal Correctional Institution located in Tazewell County.

Operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the medium-security prison was an all-male inmate facility…and Justin Reynolds’ home for the last six years.

Guilt threatened to deter his plan as he waited, but Parker refused to give in. Yes, he’d lied to Quinn about the charity board emergency. And yes, he’d made a solemn vow to himself never to be dishonest with her again.

But this was about more than protecting his identity on an MMO. This was about Quinn’s safety. When it came to that, all bets were off.

Sorry, sweetheart. I’m doing this for you.

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