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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 208.

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.