Loving Quinn Novel by North Rose
Chapter 56

(Quinn)

The rest of the week went by faster than I expected. I filled it with meetings at both the C&C Enterprises and Mercy General. At the end of cach day, Annora, Grace,

I would spend a few hours at her house pocking.

This weekend we plan to rent a moving van so that we can move some of the bigon feces of fumiture that Annie claims she can’t live without, Last night, we packed up everything in her home offer. The room Aaron has used as a temporary office in my penthouse will now become Annora’s.

After pulling into the garage, I walk over to David to shake his hand. He bands me anenvelope that was delivered while I was at work. From the writing on the envelope, I can tell it is from Gavin Wyatt. These must be the contracts I had hedrine up for Max and his employees.

“Big event tonight?” David asks.

I look down at my black tuxedo, then nod my head. Since I was running late today, get dressed in my tuned at the office. I had Sherry pick it up from the dry cleaners on her way back from lunch. We had back to back meetings today and by the time I left the office, it would give me just enough time to get home and pray Annor was ready when I arrive.

“A charity auction. The hospital is hosting it and all the proceeds will go to cancer research”

“Better you than me

I laugh as I walk away from him. The first charity event that Mercy General has had since G&C Enterprises has taken over is going to be a big one. This will also be the first charity event that I have gone to since being in California with Annoca as my date.

It took weeks to make all the arrangements, but the venue Gayle picked was perfect for it. One of the hospital’s biggest donors has an estate that borders a large private beach. Mr. Weston and his much younger wife have agreed to have the event at their home.

The event is for charity, and we will auction off dates with some of San Francisco’s most eligible bachelors. The night will start with the auction, then move on to dinner and dancing as the evening progresses. I can already see all the rich socialites of the area clamoring to bid on these bachelors who volunteered their time. All for a date with elite men from San Francisco

The rest of the evening after the auction has concluded will be their date.

Speaking of dates, I can’t wait to see Annora in the dress she picked out for tonight peeked at it this morning when I was getting ready for work yesterday. The black garment bag in our closet was just hanging there on the back of the door The hunter green sequin gown drew my attention quickly. 1

I bought the perfect jewelry for her to wear while I was out yesterday afternoon. I can already see the look on her face when I open the box for her, Emeralds are perfect for her.

When I open the door to the penthouse, I stop in my tracks. It feels like my breath has been knocked out of my lungs as I stare at the vision in the s**y green gown standing in the entrance hall. I can feel my brain short circuit as I just stare at her with my eyes wide and my jaw hanging open.

A throaty laugh makes me shake my head to clear my thoughts. I close the door behind me, then just watch as she gives me a s** smile. The one-shoulder sequin gown leaves her left shoulder bare. I want to kiss the exposed flesh of her shoulder, then all the way up the column of her neck. Her beautiful auburn hair-in pinned up with a few loose curls down the side of her face.

The material is bunched together at her left hip and there is a slit on that side from her hip down. The flash of a long paté leg as she walks to me makes me swallow hard. I am already having problema concentrating on anything other than my need to peel her out of that dres

gorgeous in that dress, but something is missing.”

She frowns at me as sepch into the inside of my tuxedo jacket to pull out the back yelvet jewelry box. Her hazel eyes widen when I pull it out, then open it for her. The emerald teardrop necklace and matching earrings fit her dress perfectly.

“Oh, Quinn. They are beautiful. Thank you.”

I take her hand, then lead her to the hall table. Gently, I lift the necklace out of the velvet bus, then turn to her. “I may have taken a peek at your dress yesterday.” I step behind her, trailing my fingers along the smooth skin of her shoulder as I do. After I place the necklace around her neck, Hean down to press my lips to her

“If we don’t leave now, I won’t be able to resist the temptation to peel you out of the dee

“Black lace is all that stands between this dress and my skin.”

Tam so grateful for your parents taking Grace to Monterey for the weekend.”

She laughs as she puts the emerald earrings on, then grabs her small black chatch pre. I watch ber amazingly juicy a**as she walks to the door. My tuxedo becoming increasingly too tight as she walks away swear to God if I catch any other watching her with hungry eyes tonight, I may commit homicide,

“Is Aaron bringing a date tonight?”

“No. He will be in the auction.

Annie laughs, which causes me to look at her as we get off the elevator. I can see the humer in my best fiel being auctioned off to a rich socialite for a date. He is a heartbreaker and tonight he will be sold to the highest bidder for a date.

Because tonight is a big night for showing off, I walk to the comer of the garage where thrie is a cat covered in a black car cover. I pull it off, then throw it to the ground. Under the tarp is a 1969 Corvette Stingray in Fathom Green. It was my father’s car and I had it rebuil£

“That is a beautiful car”

“It was my father’s. He put it in storage after I was bom. He told me it would be mine one day. Now it is, and he has forgotten that it exists.

“How bad is he?”

“I will take you with me the next time I go. He has been doing better.”

After opening the door for her, Annie slips inside, and I close the door behind her, then walk to the driver’s side. Once inside, I start the corvette then just listen to it for a moment. I shake my head, then pull out of the parking space. I give David a wee as I pull out of the pinge.

By the time we reach the Weston’s home, there are already people milling about at the front and side of the house. Everyone is all docked out in their finest evening wear for tonight’s festivities. The auction starts in an hour, which gives un plenty of time to mingle.

As we walk closer to the side of the house, I spot Rylan and Shawna standing together Annora smiles, gives me a steamy kiss for all to see, then she walks to join her friends. Those three are going to cause all kinds of trouble tonight. The type of trouble that will break the hearts of all the men and women around them.

To my eyes, Annora shines brighter than all the women here tonight. However, I will mit that the two women with her are equally beautiful as she is. Bylan, with her raven left loose to flow down her back, is wearing a striking red gown that clings to all her curves. Showna’s red cuth have been straightened and pinned up around her head. She is wearing a black dress that leaves extraordinarily little to the imagination.

The thure of them will turn heads everywhere they go tonight.

1

I take one last look at Annora with Bylan and Shawna, then I walk to the bar on the outdoor patio, Weston did well when he bought this place. The house is a two- story Tudor Revival style home. The back laws is large, with a staircase that descends to the private beach below.

This is a property

erty I would love to own

As I step up to the bar, Aaron walks over to me with a scowl on his face. He keeps glancing towards where Rylan is standing with Annara. The lack of utter defeat on his face makes me look over my shoulder to see what is going on.

Rylan has stepped away from Annora and Shawna to talk to someone. That someone is tall, well built, and from the side profile I can see, he is attractive. Aaron is going to have to make a choice tonight. Rylan is single and ready to mingle with all the eligible bachelors this evening. He can either accept that or he can make his

From the way he is knocking Back his drinks, I have a feeling that alcohol will decide for him.

“How much have you had to drink tonight, Aaron?”

Hets to look at me. There is sadness in his eyes. “Why did she have to come here tonight dressed like that?”

“Can you handle being here tonight, or do you want to bow out

The glare he sends my way lets me know that this evening will not be plentant for his or anyone else that dares to fit with Rylan tonight.

can handle it. All I need to do is stay out of line of right to her.” He downs the last of his drink, then stamps away.

Torden a glass of bourbon, then scan the crowd. I spot Gayle speaking to the event ordinator. If this night is a success and we exceed expectations on the goal we set, I think we should give Gayle a raise. After all that she dealt with from the previous owners of the hospital, then seeing us through transition, she has proven her

valor.

In sp**ar faces as more and more people arrive. One familiar face I ser surprises me. This isn’t normally Mac’s scene. The prefers seedy nightclubs or little hole in the wall bars, Place wher

ce the music drowns out all hopes of conversation.

move away from the bar so I can keep Anne my line of sight. Mac stops beside me. His eyes are alot as he to scans the crowd. I know that a part of both our minds are looking for hidden threats. Once a solder, abcays a soldier, I can’t help it

“Those three are dangerous.”

Mac points his hand casually to where Annie, Rylan, and Shawna are standing. Relief goes through me seeing Rylan back with the others. Hopefully Aaron is nowhere to be seen.

“That they and will be forever grateful that one of them is mine and has agreed to be my wife”

“No kidding? Congratulations, When is the big day?”

“We have decided to wait until all this**t with Dionne is done. I want that woman out of my life before I take the next steps with Annie.”

“I don’t blame you there at all. It is nice to see you happy again, Quinn. That c**t did

al number on you”

“Oh, there is so much more to her devious nature than I ever wanted to know. Walk with me and I will tell you all I have leanel recently.”

We walk around the yard as I ll him in on everything that has happened in the last few weeks. When I tell him why McAllister hates me, Mac clenches his fists at his sides. When I tell him about Logan, he stops in his tracks to just stære at me,

He blinks a few times as if he is trying to process what I just told him. I can’t blame him, really. That was a lot of information to digest and understand Mac was one of three men that had my back during the explosion that Dionne caused in my life.

Without them, I am not sure I would have made it through those dark days. I am glad I had them as my friends. Because now, I have two amazing reasons to keep living. Annora and Grace are my lights in this otherwise dark world we live in.

When Mac calms down, he just shakes his head, and we continue to walk around the yard.

“Did you bring a date tonight? | ask.

“No, but I estreted a friendl. From the steam coming out of Aaron’s ears, I think it is wise that I don’t call it a date.”

I glance around to replace Aaron. As I suspected, he is at the far end of the yard, but he is storing across the crowd at where Rylan is standing. Even from where I am standing, I can see that his jaw is clenched hard. Any harder and I wouldn’t be surprised if he cracked a tooth,

*1-4 strictly platonic, trust me. She like a sister to me. Besides, even if 1ked her mantically, her heart has belonged to another since we were all in the **it show tube have no desire to die yet.”

is himself. Well, that isn’t true. He is hurting the one he loves by

This causes me to laugh. As volatile as Aaron is right now, the only person he is doing harm to is

“Aaron feels unworthy of her love. He is in a dark place and has been hiding it behind alcohol and women for a long time, it seems. I know how he feels.”

Mar pats me on the back. “We will be there for him like he has been there for us. I call Kimbo. It has been about a year since he has been to the states. It is time the four of us have a nice long chat”

I nod then before I can say anything farther, a few in the crowd catches my allemion What the **k is he doing here? His name was mint definitely not on the invitation lot i gave to Gayle. He is a rich man, and I will gladly watch hamn donate la money for charity.

I just want to know why he is here. What motive does Ethan McAllister have to come to as event that the hospital | own is throwing? Experially since he hates me and believes everything Dionne told him.

What are you up to, Ithan?:

Author’s Note I created a Facebook group called North Rose Novels for all my readers who don’t have instagram. You can join that group and I will post update information there and my Instagram.