I used to think that there wasn’t room in my life for a relationship but meeting Quinn showed me differently and when she asked me about what I wanted in my life and I couldn’t think of anything, I was floored. Somewhere along the way I had stopped being my own person and just became my brother’s keeper - a title neither one of us wants me to have. Hell, I’m almost thirty and before she pushed me to search for answers, I had no idea what I wanted out of my life and no hope of ever discovering those answers.
“You want to watch a movie?” Quinn asks as we clean up dinner and I nod. I’ll do just about anything to spend more time with her.
“Yeah, that sounds good. Should we put her down first?” I ask, motioning to a very sleepy Brooklyn and Quinn shakes her head.
“Naw, let her cuddle up with us on the couch. Besides, she can pass out anywhere.”
Once we get dinner cleaned up, I unbuckle Brooklyn from her high chair and join Quinn in the living room as she picks out a movie. The opening credits roll and Quinn cuddles into my side as Brooklyn lays her head down on my chest and plops her thumb into her mouth as I hold her steady with my free hand. Within minutes, she’s snoring quietly on me and I nudge Quinn to show her. She doesn’t answer and when I glance down and find her sleeping against my side, a feeling of contentment and peace washes over me. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before and I realize that this right here is exactly what I want out of my life. When I’m ninety years old on my death bed, if all I ever accomplished was loving these two with all my heart, I’ll be able to smile and say I lived a damn good life.
Chapter Thirteen
Quinn
“How are things looking, Ronald?” I ask as I step into the ballroom with a giant cup of coffee in my hand. People are working all around us and I survey what they’ve been able to get done since I left late last night.
“Good. I think we’re about ready.”
I scan the room again, nodding. “Looks really good. Thank you so much for all your hard work.”
“No need to thank me, Quinn. Besides, I heard a little rumor that you were here until three in the morning working on all this.”
I shrug as a traitorous yawn slips out of my mouth. “That’s just part of the job. Now, what do we still have to do?”
“This way, please,” he says, gesturing for me to follow him as he turns to one side of the room and points out some of the bigger decorations that are still in the final stages of being assembled before we turn toward the dining area.
“Chef Thomas has been hard at work all day and the waiters are getting the tables set up now.”
I nod. “What about the art?”
“Once everything else is set up, we’ll bring the auction pieces in and set them up along the outside of the room but we didn’t want to risk bringing them in with some many people still working in here.”
“Good. Have we heard anything from the band?”
“They should be here within the hour,” he assures me and I nod, glancing around the room one more time.
“Okay, Ronald. I’ve got to go get ready but if there are any issues, I’m just upstairs in room two eighteen.”
He nods. “We’ve got things under control down here.”
“I’ll be back before everything starts to check things over one last time. Thank you again for all your hard work.”
“Of course, Quinn. It’s been my pleasure to assist you.”
I flash him a smile before turning toward the elevators as another yawn ambushes me. Once the elevator doors open and I step inside, I pull my phone out and send a text to Lucas.
Me:
The Plantation.
Room 218.
Meet me there in two hours.
Butterflies flap around in my belly after I press send and I bite back a smile. After the most amazing week with Lucas, I’ve decided that tonight is the night. I’m finally going to sleep with him and while I’m nervous, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. Maybe it’s because everything Lucas does makes me feel safe or because he has systematically claimed pieces of my heart since the moment we met. Whatever it is, I know this is the right decision and I’m excited for this next step.
My phone buzzes as I unlock the door to my room and the butterflies only get stronger so I take a deep breath as I dump my bag on the bed and run my hand over the plastic covering my dress before glancing down at my phone.
Lucas:
Can’t wait to see you, baby.
Last night was the first night in the past ten days that Lucas didn’t have dinner over at the house with Brooklyn and me since I was busy setting up for the event and I’m surprised how much I missed seeing him. I didn’t expect that. Then again, I also didn’t expect to meet someone and so quickly allow them to become an integral part of my day or so easily. Everything about this has been unexpected but kind of everything I needed, at the same time and now that I’ve decided to make things official with him, I can’t help but imagine a future for us. I just hope he’s feeling the same.
My phone buzzes again, pulling me out of my thoughts.
Holly:
Be there in twenty.
“Shit,” I hiss, tossing my phone down on the bed. Holly is my hair stylist and I got so caught up thinking about Lucas that I forgot she was meeting me here to do my hair and makeup. Rushing into the bathroom, I quickly strip and turn on the shower before rushing through washing my hair and face. When I step out, I glance up at the clock and whisper another curse as I grab the silk robe off the hook in the bathroom and slip it on. My dress has a keyhole back so I’m not able to wear a bra but I slip a sexy pair of panties on underneath my robe just as someone knocks on the door. “Shit.”
I check my reflection in the mirror, just to make sure I’m decent before running to the door and throwing it open. “Hey.”
“Um… hi, crazy eyes.” Holly laughs, arching a brow as she looks me over. “What the hell are you doing? Running a marathon?”
I nod. “Feels like it. I lost track of time and had to rush to shower before you got here.”
“Ah, the things we do for beauty,” she muses as I stand back and hold the door open for her. As I close the door, she pulls the chair away from the desk in the corner of the room and gets her bags set up on the bed. “So, what are we thinking for your hair today?”
“I’m not sure. I was kind of thinking something half up but maybe you should look at my dress and tell me what you think.”
She nods, pointing to the garment bag on the bed. “Let’s see it.”
Nodding, I cross the room and grab the hanger before hanging it on a hook by the closet and slowly pulling the plastic up to reveal the gorgeous midnight blue hand-beaded tulle trumpet gown I found in a little shop downtown. It feels very vintage with its illusion cap sleeves and neckline over a sweetheart bodice and the keyhole back. Holly gasps and I smile.
“Oh…my…god… that dress is stunning and I’m totally getting a vintage vibe from it. Like a nineteen twenties, Great Gatsby thing.”