“Apparently, there are benefits to having an incredibly handsome man coming into your room late at night,” Dylan explained as he joined her.
“They’re probably the same as falling asleep holding your wife in your arms,” Quinn said, pulling her into his arms as he felt something deep inside him finally relax.
CHAPTER 22
Three Months Later…
“Bradford & Thomas 30thAnniversary Party,” Dylan read before her gaze shifted to the picture of her parents standing alongside the Bradfords thirty years ago and-
Felt her lips twitch when she saw the glare that Marc was sending Laura.
While her parents had fallen in love at first sight, Marc and Laura…
Absolutely hated each other.
Granted, they were only five when they met, but apparently, it had been a memorable occasion ending with Laura trying to shove a handful of mud down Mark’s throat. After that, they’d avoided each other like the plague only to have their best friends fall in love years later, which, of course, ended with them as the maid of honor and the best man, a role that neither one of them wanted. It forced them to spend time together, which somehow led to Marc kidnapping Laura during the reception and dragging her to New Hampshire in a move that no one saw coming.
She took in the collection of photos on the wall, depicting all the important memories they’d shared together, their first houses, baby bumps, family pics, only to release a shaky breath when she caught her reflection in the gilded mirror that the hotel placed by the coatroom. She took in the soft waves of her hair, the makeup highlighting her features before she took in the black sundress that she wore tonight and couldn’t help but smile. She was almost four months pregnant and just starting to show. Pretty soon, they wouldn’t be able to keep this a secret any longer, Dylan thought as she placed her hand over the soft swell of her belly and-
“Are you coming in?” Tristan, her unofficial date for the night, asked as he held his arm to her.
“Yes,” Dylan said, smiling as she took his arm and headed down the tastefully decorated hallway that led to the hotel’s private event rooms.
“How much longer are you two planning on keeping this a secret?” he asked as they followed the signs for the Bradford/Thomas party.
“I’m not sure,” Dylan said, and it was killing her.
She hated this.
She hated pretending that this was just a deal when it was so much more.
She-
“You love him,” Tristan said, sending her a curious look as they reached the small ballroom that had been rented for the night.
“More than anything,” Dylan said with a sad smile, knowing that Quinn would never feel the same way.
There was no doubt in her mind that he wanted her. She could tell by the way that he watched her, the way that he touched her, and the way that he seemed completely at peace atnight when he held her. But she knew that he would never be able to love her and-
This was enough.
More than enough, Dylan told herself as she took the large room filled with their closest friends and family, the white roses placed on the tables covered in black and white tablecloths, the tables overflowing with food lining both sides of the large room, the small dance floor, and-
“Don’t give up on him,” Tristan said, shooting her a wink as he made his way across the crowded room to congratulate his aunt and uncle. Slowly exhaling, Dylan made her way to the table by the back and pulled out the envelopes she’d picked up on the way over and placed them with the others.
As she made her way to the food, she spotted Brooke’s fiancé standing in the corner, sipping a drink as his gaze locked on a passing waitress’s ass. She knew that Brooke was desperate to get her hands on B.T. Construction, but she could honestly say that she never saw this one coming.
Mike Skye was one of the biggest assholes in town, but he also owned one of the large real estate businesses, making her wonder what kind of deal Brooke had made with him because she honestly couldn’t see her sister marrying him unless there was something in it for her. She had to get married in order to get B.T. Construction, but she really didn’t think that Brooke would have a problem finding someone to marry. She was beautiful, successful, and-
Definitely up to something, Dylan thought as she glanced across the room to find her sister watching her with that same calculating gleam in her eye that she had the day that she tried to get Blackwood Manor condemned. She just didn’t know what it was, but something told her that she was about to find out.
“Any regrets?” Brooke asked as she joined her.
“About?” Dylan asked as she grabbed a plate and helped herself to a stuffed mushroom.
“Handing over Blackwood Manor to the asshole,” Brooke said, looking bored as she grabbed a plate and took her time selecting items from the vegetable platter, forcing Dylan to look away before her stomach could react. Her morning sickness had gotten better over the past month, but she still couldn’t handle the sight of scrambled eggs and vegetables, something they’d figured out after an unfortunate incident at a local farmer’s market that ended with her spending two hours in a porta-potty, praying for a quick death.
“None whatsoever. I got to save Blackwood Manor so that Quinn could bring it back to life,” Dylan said as she put a little more space between her and the vegetable platters.
