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“Your opinion about Gabriel is of no interest to me,” Quinn said. “However, I wouldn’t get your hopes up. He’s a royal duke, and we both know what I am.”
“You are the smartest, most honorable woman on God’s green earth.” Brendan’s voice rang with pride and sincerity. Such a good actor. “Your duke is lucky to have you.”
“Yeah, well, his family might not agree with you.” She heaved a sigh of relief as the door opened and Gabriel stepped through.
The golden light from her house glinted in the silk of his dark hair and highlighted the elegant planes of his face. He caught her gaze and smiled, his teeth a flash of white in the gloaming.
A rush of emotion flooded through her with such power that she could barely breathe. Love, longing, regret, loss—it all swirled together and swamped her heart.
“Cariño mío.” It was a reassurance and a caress as he sat beside her on the love seat and drew her against his side. She nestled into the warmth and solidity of him, wishing she could cocoon herself in his arms until her father departed from Caleva. Gabriel’s gaze fell on the packet of money sitting beside the wine bottle. “Perhaps we should put that somewhere safe.”
“I’ll take it to the bank tomorrow,” Quinn said.
“It’s time for me to rest my weary bones.” Brendan pushed out of his chair and picked up his bag. “You don’t need to get up. Just give me directions to the guest quarters.”
“No, I’ll show you,” Quinn said, although she hated to leave the shelter of Gabriel’s body. “I have to get some towels for you.”
Gabriel boosted her to her feet, and she scooped up the packet of money. “I’ll be right back,” she said to him.
She trudged up the stairs and showed her father to the guest room, pulling a set of towels out of the linen closet on the way.
“’Tis a lovely home you’ve made.” Brendan’s gaze swept around the room with its simple pine furniture, woven teal and gold rug, and long, billowy curtains. He turned to her, and she saw tears welling in his eyes. “Thank you for letting me stay the night.”
Maybe some of the emotions she felt for Gabriel spilled over onto her father. Or maybe she lost her mind.
Quinn walked over and put her arms around him. “You’re welcome, Dad.”
Her father wrapped her in the embrace that she remembered from childhood, with the aroma of whiskey, a rasp of late-night stubble against her temple, and the feeling that she was safe from the world. She shoved away the knowledge of how wrong that feeling was and let herself stand in the memory.
“I’ve kept my promise to you. Straight as an arrow I am now.” He loosened his hold and kissed her on the forehead. “I love you, Quinnie darlin’. Forgive me. Please.”
She stepped back, saw the pleading in his eyes. “I can forgive you, but I can’t forget. I thought I could escape the past, but it follows me everywhere, even here to Caleva. It raises a wall too high to climb between me and the man I love.”
Her father slid his hands to her shoulders. “If I could turn back the clock and do things differently, I would.”
“Let me know when you find a time machine.” But she stood on her toes to press a quick kiss on his cheek. “Sleep well.”
She stopped to stash the money in her home safe before rejoining Gabriel on the patio. “Can we just sit and not talk?” she asked as she snuggled in against him again, finding comfort in the heat of his body and the strength of his arm around her. “I promise to explain everything about Brendan and me tomorrow, but right now I’m too exhausted to find the words.”
His arm tightened, and she felt his lips on the top of her head. “You’ve had a difficult night. I will say only one thing. Your father loves you.”
“I know he does. Your father loves you too. That doesn’t mean they are good parents.”
She heard Gabriel blow out a breath. “But perhaps love can build a bridge.”
Chapter 28
The next morning, Quinn found the door to Brendan’s room open and the bed stripped. Resting in the center of the bare mattress was an oversized postcard sporting a picture of a Calevan dragon.
My darling Quinnie,
You treated me better than I had any right to expect. I thank you for that. I promise not to return.
While you might not trust my wisdom, here’s a piece of advice: Never underestimate the strength of love. You and Gabriel love each other. I could see it wrapping you both in light last night. Believe an old pro at reading people when I say that Gabriel is a good man. Your past will not stop him, so don’t let it stop you from being with him. Maybe you can’t forget, but you can put it behind you and refuse to look back.
“Ah, Brendan, if only it were that easy,” Quinn muttered.
Maybe there’s a little self-interest involved when I say that.
