A Seductive Proposal (22 page)

“Of course.”

By nine o’clock the house was quiet. All the guests, except Eve, had been sent on their way and Eve had already retired to her room.

* * * * * * * * *

Quint took Carly to bed and made love to her for hours.

After a full month, he still couldn’t get enough. He loved hearing all the sounds she made, the moans, of which she made at least a dozen different kinds, the heady pants, the strangled cries when she came.

Usually, when a deal fell apart, he spent the time afterward drinking hard and trying to figure out how he could have handled things better. He would get that tight feeling in his gut that if he didn’t get moving right away, poverty would steal in and shoot him right back out onto the streets.

Instead, as he held Carly close, her body tucked against his, he felt calm, relaxed.

For a moment, he didn’t want the affair to end.

He sighed. He almost wished… but no, that wasn’t going to happen. He just didn’t believe in love and marriage and more importantly, he didn’t want Carly to get in too deep.

She kissed his fingers. “How tired are you?” she asked. She pushed his hand lower to cover her breast.

He hardened like he always did for her. He shifted and moved over her. He kissed her. “I could run a marathon,” he said.

She laughed. “Promises, promises.”

He loved a challenge and set about proving he meant what he said.

As he held her close, he again wished he had just a little more time with her, a few weeks maybe. At the same time, he knew it was time to end things.

He put a hand to his chest. All that heavy moving equipment had showed up again.

He remembered what Brad said about growing a heart. He was still ticked off by that remark, but it didn’t matter. He knew what he needed to do. Once he and Carly split for good, he was going to make an appointment to see a doctor.

He fell asleep thinking that tomorrow he would settle the matter of the winery with her once and for all.

The next morning, Carly sat in bed, her knees pulled up, a sheet curled over her chest. Her heart banged around in her rib cage and she felt a little dizzy.

Quint had just shut off the shower so she knew the time had come to say what she needed to say. She smoothed the sheet over her knees. She had practiced her speech since dawn.

At last Quint emerged. He wore a towel around his waist and one around his neck. She patted the bed next to her. “Come here for a sec.”

He smiled and sat down. The towel fell away a little revealing muscled thighs, which for a heady moment distracted her. She sighed and met his gaze again. She took a deep breath. “I don’t want this to end,” she stated.

“Carly—” he began.

But she put her fingers against his lips. “I know we agreed and if you don’t want to see me again, I’ll accept that. I will. I just want you to hear me out.”

He nodded, but there was something so patronizing about his expression that she hesitated. Should she refrain from speaking after all?

She lifted her chin. She hadn’t come all this way with Quint to be shut down by him right now. She was no longer that young woman who would allow her life to be determined by a man and in this case, by a man who, for whatever reasons, couldn’t see the forest for the trees.

“You’d be a fool to let me go, Quint. What we have here is so much more than just sex. That you can’t see it I believe is because of your past. I need you to try to see beyond what you learned growing up about love and marriage.”

He looked away from her. “We agreed.” His frown grew into a canyon between his brows.

“How could you know what love looks like based on your experience? But I can tell you with certainty that this is love, Quint, what exists between us, right here, right now.”

He glanced at her but his jaw tightened. “I made you no promises.”

“I know you didn’t. You’ve had integrity from the first. But you’re wrong. I love you and you love me.”

“That’s a big assumption.” His nostrils flared.

“Then why can’t you stay away from me? Why have you told me things you insist you’ve never shared with anyone? Why do you make love to me as though I’m the last woman on earth?”

“Sex, Carly.” His eyes blazed now.

She shook her head. “No, not just sex. Love.”

“You’re wrong, at least about me. Carly, I never meant to hurt you but you’ve got it all wrong. I don’t love you. I know you’re asking for a future, but there is no future for us. I told you that from the beginning.”

He rose from the bed but she caught his hand. “You know three years ago, I said nothing when I should have spoken. But I won’t be silent now, not with you. Quint, you’ve short-changed your life because you’ve never really left behind the trauma of your youth. But you’re no longer a child, at the mercy of an unconscionable father. You’re a grown man, in command of your world. You can make better choices for yourself. Make a better choice now. Choose me.”

* * * * * * * * *

Quint withdrew his hand from hers. He shook his head at her and scowled. “You’re way out of line here,” he said. “And I resent this pious lecture of yours.” He drew a deep breath. “We had an agreement and you just broke it.”

He turned his back and crossed the room then entered the walk-in closet. He’d packed his wardrobe onto a single rack in his soon-to-be closet.

Everything was settled, the die cast.

Why had Carly screwed this up? Why had she needed to talk of love? He jerked a shirt off a hanger. He stuffed his arms into the sleeves. His head throbbed. He wanted to kick something, hard. Why had she screwed up their last day and made what he would do next look like a complete betrayal?

He hated her for this, for making a clean break look more like a vicious hack job with a dull axe.

Love?

No.

He slashed a hand through the air.

He cursed softly.

He moved into the bedroom and opened the dresser. He retrieved a pair of briefs and climbed into them. His lips moved over a couple more curses. He went into the bathroom and brushed his hair. He met his gaze in the mirror. He saw the man who had everything, who worked hard for the thousands he employed, to keep as many people off the street as he could, to keep women safe so they wouldn’t die of pneumonia.

He stopped brushing and gripped the edges of the sink. He couldn’t alter his life now to allow the love of a woman in. He had work to do, a daily grind to keep himself from poverty and as many others as he could. Why didn’t Carly get that?

His chest started to hurt. He squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed between his pecs. He took deep breaths. The familiar agony was back; all that earth-moving equipment deep inside. He had to get a grip. He took more breaths and focused on finishing out the day. As soon as Eve left, he’d settle the winery business with Carly, have her sign the papers, then he’d leave.

* * * * * * * * *

An hour later, Carly joked with the wait-staff in the winery house kitchen. As a farewell to the departing guests, she had planned a spectacular breakfast. Only Eve would be present now to enjoy the feast of fresh fruit crepes, eggs cooked to order, toast, bagels, muffins, ham, bacon, hash browns, fresh squeezed juice, and of course excellent coffee.

Quint sat at the breakfast table reading the New York Times, one of three papers she had brought in for their guests. He still wasn’t speaking very much. In this way, he’d told her what she needed to know, but she wasn’t through yet. She would try at least once more to get through to him before he took off for Phoenix.

At nine o’clock, Eve made her appearance. She looked happy and rested. “You went to all this trouble
just for me
?” She laughed.

“Just for you,” Carly said. She gave her a hug. “Hey, we’re worth it, aren’t we?”

“Absolutely.”

“Vineyard owners like us ought to have a fancy breakfast once a year.”

“We should make it a tradition. Next year, you and Quint should come to my house.”

“That would be great.”

“What do you say, Quint?” Eve asked. She winked at Carly.

He looked up from the Times, “To be honest, I’m not sure where I’ll be next summer. I’m planning on an extended stay in China. But if I’m available, count me in.”

“Well, that’s settled then,” Eve said. “One year from today, a fancy breakfast, with chef and staff, at my winery—if you’re both available.” She turned toward the rust-colored granite. “Now, what are my choices here?”

The chef gave her a list as long her arm. She listened then placed her order. Carly made her selections as well. Quint followed and offered to prepare their coffees.

“He’s a good guy,” Eve said, taking up a seat at the round breakfast table. “I wish you all the luck in the world with him.”

She sat down next to Eve. “I haven’t given up but so far it’s not looking good.”

“Give him time. I think he’ll come around.”

“You have got to be my new best friend,” she said, chuckling. “I wish you could stay longer.”

“I’d love to but I have to get back. I intend to make a visit to my attorney a first priority. I’ve known something was going on for a long time, but I just couldn’t make myself face it. I think the trip up to the Rim did it, though. Knocked me out of my doldrums.”

Quint brought the mugs of coffee to the table.

A few minutes later, the chef served up three spectacular plates. Carly savored every moment, the good food, Eve’s conversation, and the fact that Quint was still in her house. Until he walked out the door for good, she could hope.

About the time the last bite left Carly’s fork, Eve leaned back in her chair and said, “So Quint, do you enjoy the investing game?”

“I love it.”

“But this deal didn’t work out for you, did it?”

“No,” he said, chuckling. “But I think we had some fun.”

“You thought this was fun?”

“Well I didn’t expect all the blood,” he said, teasing.

Carly laughed. Eve joined her.

“You know, I’m impressed with how well you survived the recent stock market struggles. How did you accomplish that?”

“I saw some markers early on and before things got rough, I moved my clients’ investments to more conservative mutual funds.”

Eve nodded. “Well, I did a lot of thinking last night and I’d like to know if you’d be interested in handling my portfolio? You see the man who was investing for me has been banging some other chick, he squandered at least three million of my principal and lost another twenty in the horrendous debacle of last year. You interested?”

Carly gasped.

Quint, who had brought his coffee cup to his lips, didn’t take a drink. He set the cup back down on the table. “Paul handled
your
investments, not his own?”

“When I married him a little over eight years ago, that was my choice, what I wanted the world to see. Fortunately, I had a pre-nup, but I let everyone think the assets were his. I think he may have skimmed a couple of million as well. Maybe he knew this day was coming or even planned it. I don’t really know. In fact, I don’t really care. Sometimes lessons come the hard way. What’s done is done.”

Carly stared at Eve then at Quint.

Oh, my God.

She stared at Eve a little more.

Eve wanted Quint to handle what was left of her stock portfolio.

The Napa deal had worked after all, just not in the way Quint had thought it would. She couldn’t believe it. Tears rushed to her eyes.

“I talk over every move with my clients,” Quint said, his intense gaze fixed on Eve. “You will always understand the risks, large and small. We make the decisions together.”

“I know. I trust you.”

“That’s a powerful statement. Thank you. I won’t disappoint.”

“I know that, too. I’ve had a whole weekend to observe you, to listen to your philosophy about business and to watch how you are with Carly. At this point, I think I’d trust you with my life.”

Quint blinked. He met Carly’s gaze and frowned a little. He looked back at Eve.

She rose to her feet. “I feel obligated, however, to give you one small piece of advice.”

Quint smiled but he rose as well. “And what’s that?”

“Don’t you dare let Carly get away from you. Trust me on this—she’s worth ten times your fortune.”

Carly could have laughed at the sudden confusion in Quint’s eye and for the first time since she’d met Quint, he didn’t know what to say.

Eve, however, glanced around and said, “I feel kind of silly but I just remembered—what about transportation?”

“There’s a limousine waiting on the drive,” Carly assured her. “Just for you. It was meant of course to take everyone back to Phoenix this morning but it’s all yours now.”

“Well, that’s terrific. I’ll have the whole car to myself.” She seemed happy. “I have a little more packing to do then I’d best be on my way since my flight is at four.”

While Eve packed her bags, Quint didn’t say anything to Carly. Instead, he took his coffee out onto the deck and stood staring out at the vineyard, his stance wide, almost as though he owned everything he saw.

Carly’s stomach began to writhe all over again. She had expected some kind of acknowledgement for her part in the success of his deal. Instead he just walked out onto the deck without even looking at her. She busied herself paying the wait-staff and thanking them for their efforts. With the kitchen clean, she walked the help out, all of whom she knew since Sedona was such a small city, and waved good-bye as they drove away.

A little later, Eve descended the front steps and Quint carried her bags to the porch. The driver took the bags the rest of the way. Carly walked her to the door of the limousine. She wished her every happiness and promised to be in touch. She gave her a big hug. “I look forward to next year.”

“Me, too,” Eve said.

* * * * * * * * *

Quint waved good-bye and swelled his chest. He took in a mountain full of the clear canyon air. Satisfaction rippled through him and a kind of slow buzz that began in his brain extended deep into the muscles of his arms, torso and legs.