Learning To Love (The Griffin Brothers Book 4) (32 page)

I’m making my way to
Olivia when I hear someone call Zane’s name. I turn and it’s a
pretty girl in a conservative dress who I recognize immediately. Zane
sees her and moves away from his girlfriend Quinn. It almost seems
like he doesn’t want this other chick to see him with her. That
makes me realize that this isn’t going to go well.

“Whit, what are you
doing here?”

“I came for what’s
mine. You.”

“What are you talking
about?”

“You. Me. There’s
nothing better than that, and now that I have my trust fund, my
family can’t keep us apart.”

Scott breaks through
the small crows that’s gathered. “You’re not welcome here,
Whitney. Get the fuck out.”

“Well, well, well.
Little Scotty Griffin’s grown up. You’re looking hot. If I wasn’t
here for Zane, I might let you have a ride.”

“Not even if I was
dead, bitch.”

“You say that now,
but when you’re alone in bed, you’ll be thinking of me.”

“He won’tbe
alone
,
but you will be. My husband told you to get out, and I suggest you
listen to him.”

“Husband? You’re
married? This day is getting more interesting by the minute. But I
know when I’m not wanted. Let’s go Zane.”

Quinn finally speaks
up. “He’s not going with you.”

“You think he’s
yours, Quinn? He’s not. You were just a place holder for me. We had
this planned for years.” She grabs Zane’s hand and he starts
walking with her.

“Zane?”

“I’m sorry, Quinn.
I have to go with her.”

“Sorry? You’re
sorry? Oh my God. I’m so stupid.”

He pulls away from
Whitney and walks to her. “We
did
have this planned, and I have to see if there’s still something
there. It’s only fair to all three of us.”

“Go, then. But don’t
expect me to wait around for you. Because I won’t.”

He sighs and then
leaves with that psychotic bitch as Quinn drops to her knees. Yasmin
gets on the ground next to her, holding her as she cries. Scott joins
them and then picks Quinn up and takes her inside.

“Who was that, Luke?”
Ollie asks me.

“Whitney. She was his
girlfriend through all of middle and high school. Her parents never
approved, and she didn’t seem to care. Until they threatened to cut
her off. So, she ditched him and went off to college somewhere. He
got together with Quinn a few months later, and they’ve been
together for almost seven years now. She’s who he belongs with.
Anyone can see it. But apparently Whitney’s hold on him is still
there. What a fucking bastard.”

“Wow. I mean, that’s
just all kinds of messed up.”

“Yeah. Oh, and
speaking of messed up, I’m sorry for what I called you earlier. I
didn’t mean it.”

“I know. I just had
to make you suffer a little.”

Two months later

Olivia

Luke and I renewing our
vows today. We were originally going to wait until our anniversary,
but the need to show our love in front of everyone as soon as
possible won out. We’re back at the Wynn, in the same garden, but
we have more guests this time and more people in our wedding party.
I’m wearing the same dress from before, and we managed to get
matching dresses for the new bridesmaids. The guys are all in suits.

My parents are here.
Things aren’t perfect with us, but they’re better. Enough so that
my dad is walking me down the aisle. They accept Luke, and that’s a
big step in the right direction.

It’s been an
interesting couple of months. I still work for Candi and I love it.
Luke started his job at Goolsby. He loves it, and we both hang out
with Nikki, Michelle, and the rest of the people he works with on a
regular basis. We also hang out with his brothers and our friends
quite often. I’ll be the first to admit that we’re lucky and have
a great life.

The ceremony is simple
and short, just like the first time. We have my macarons, but there’s
also a big wedding cake. We smash it into each other, but it’s not
as fun as when we were alone. I’m glad for this ceremony and party,
though. It feels great to celebrate our love with the people in our
life.

Rose has to fly back to
Boston tonight, but I’m glad she could be here, even for such a
short time. She loves school and is doing really well. I look over
and see her with a hot guy around my age. I walk over and am just
about to reach them when I see Alex out of the corner of my eye. She
stops just behind the guy.

“So, pretty lady, why
don’t you let me take you out before your flight.”

“Hi Miles.” Alex
looks like she might cry, and Rose’s eyes widen when she sees her.

“Hey Alex, how are
you? I heard you’re singing now.”

“A little. I’m not
sure it’s what I want to do for a career, though.” She looks
embarrassed, and I catch Rose’s eye. She shakes her head and gives
me a look, telling me she knows what’s going on.

“Well, you’ll
figure it out.” He turns back to Rose. “So what do you say?”

“No. Never. Now run
along and let my best friend and me enjoy our night.”

“Best friends?
Interesting. Well, enjoy the party.”

Rose motions me away,
and I smile as my sister takes care of Alex. I wander some more,
greeting people, and dancing with my husband. I ask him about the
guy, Miles. “That’s Miles Corrigan. His grandma’s good friends
with my mom.”

“I think I met his
brother a few months ago. Matt?”

“You met Matt?”

“Yeah. I met their
grandma, too. The lady who helped me, Reina, works for her.”

“Small world.” It
isn’t, but I keep that to myself. I have to.

I hear a commotion by
the door and look over to see Zane and Scott arguing. For the past
couplemonths, Quinn has been living here in Vegas. Scott and Yasmin
flew with her back to Chicago and got her clothes and stuff. She’s
staying in the Griffin guest house and working with Chloe on some
projects. Her love is fashion design, but she was happy for any job.

As far as I know, Zane
hasn’t tried to contact her. Luke’s gone with his brothers back
to Chicago a few times to try and talk some sense into him, but he
wouldn’t listen. I don’t know why he’s back now.

“What the fuck?’
Luke’s as surprised as I am. He takes my hand and we walk closer so
we can hear what’s going on.

Quinn has also walked
over, and she’s standing in front of Zane. “What are you doing
here?”

“I’m so sorry,
Quinn. I was an idiot. Please, can we talk?”

“No. You made your
choice. You haven’t contacted me once.”

“I know, but I’m
here now.”

“And what, I’m
supposed to just forget that I was a ‘placeholder’ for five
years, and you left me the minute your real love came back?”

“That’s not…you
weren’t…
please
,
Quinn.”

“Goodbye Zane.”

Quinn turns and walks
away from him. Luke joins his brothers and they stare Zane down until
he leaves. I have a feeling that we haven’t seen the last of him.
Luke meets my eye, and I know he’s thinking the same thing, too.

To Dominique: Sorry
that I embarrass you by saying things or people are “hot,” and
writing steamy romances in general.

To Gabi: Thanks for
taking on the role of my assistant by putting together key chains,
helping me set-up at events, and selling my books on occasion.

I love you both, and
I’m so proud to be your mom!

To Tera Childs: Without
you I wouldn’t have finished book one, much less kept on writing.
I’m so glad to know you, and partake in your awesomeness on a
regular basis.

I probably wouldn’t
have kept writing books if I didn’t have such awesome covers. Helen
Williams is a goddess, and I owe her so much. I love our late
night/early morning chats!

Jesse Gordon is beyond
amazing, and I appreciate him more than he knows!

Aliza Risby fixed my
commas for me again in this one. She deserves a big thanks since
commas and I have a “hate-hate” relationship!

To the rest of my
co-workers at the World Series of Poker: Thanks for the support when
I started writing this over the summer while I was working. Your
encouragement and friendship means so much to me! Mollie Hunt, Heidi
Nolan, and Flora Sanchez made cameos in Creating A Love (along with
me). Kyle and his partners actually do have a new bar called The
Reserve in Los Angeles. He talked with me about the layout so I could
describe it while I was writing the scene from there over the summer.
Josie Murillo and Wameeka Bivens gave me lots of support (and
friendship), too!

Jessica Hinners,
Mallory Daybell, Lisa Dess, Erika Babbitt, and Courtney Axelrod
experienced this book first, and their love for it made it all the
better for me! You ladies are AWESOME and I love you!

To Candice McCallum,
and Brent Surratt: Thanks for the continued support, friendship, and
love. I appreciate you coming to my events and buying my books (even
though you’re too freaked out to read me writing sexy things). I
love working with the two of you!

You all know Cyndi
Porter has one of the best side characters in my books. She will also
be seen in my new series, Corrigan & Co., which debuts in
January. Cyndi is hands down one of the best people I know, and it’s
an honor to know her, and work with her every day!

Josh Dunlap, Lindsey
Collins, and Chris Phillips are awesome co-workers, too. Thanks for
listening to my crazy stories, and ideas!

Sierra Johnson, I will
get you to read a companion book if it kills me. And it just might!

Cyndy Ryann, you’re
such a good friend. I’m thinking it might be time for a new hair
color, so stay tuned!

Sam, Cel, Rose, Addy,
Laura Ann, Velvet, April and Jenny: Thanks for always supporting me
in all aspects of my life!

Nikki Bylina-Streets
and Michelle Malone really are the librarian, and a teacher at
Goolsby. I’m glad I got to write them in as Luke’s co-workers!

Lita Weissman is the
Events Manager at Barnes & Noble The Grove in Los Angeles, and a
good friend of mine. I was happy that I could give her a cameo in the
book. She is beyond awesome, and really would be friends with Yasmin
if she happened to be a real person!

To: Sarah Vela, Sean
Babbitt, Alesha and Guil Claveria, Alison Packard, Tracy Wolff, Codi
Gary, Jenn Valencia, and Sophie Jordan along with many other friends
(who I’m sure I forgot to mention, but will catch in one of the
next 12 books), thanks for the support and encouragement! I’m lucky
to have you all in my life!

To all the readers and
fans, you’ve been awesome, and I love you all! Always feel free to
reach out, because I love to hear from you! Thanks for buying my
books, and loving my boys! Luke was the hardest to write, because he
was the last one, and I felt protective of him. Don’t worry, you’ll
still see the Griffins in the two novellas, and they’ll pop up in
the new series from time to time!

Turn the page for a Sneak Peek of
Zane & Quinn’s
novella,
Designing The Love

Coming
November 2014!

The
final book in The Griffin Brothers series will be:

Working
on Love,
Miles & Alex’s novella (December 2014)

Zane

I made the biggest
mistake of my life two months ago. I knew the choice I was making was
wrong, but I did it anyway. I thought I had to do it. To leave Quinn
at the wedding, and go with Whitney. I felt that if I didn’t, I’d
always be wondering “what if.” Then I found out the real reason
Whit needed me, and I couldn’t just abandon her. So I spent these
past months with the girl I once thought I’d love forever, and in
the process, I lost the woman I
know
I love.

I’m going to get her
back, though. Quinn is everything to me. That’s why I’m here in
Las Vegas. I left my manager in charge of my tattoo shop, telling him
I have no clue when I’ll be back. He can handle it. My clients may
be pissed, but I can’t worry about that now. I have to come up with
a plan.

I need my buddy, Scott,
to help me. He’s not speaking to me at the moment. He came to
Chicago with his brothers a few times to try and talk some sense into
me. I didn’t listen to him, and now he won’t listen to me. I
deserve it. I know that. But I’m not giving up.

Quinn is with his
family. She could be with him and his wife, Yasmin. Or with any of
his brothers. Maybe even his parents. The Griffins are an awesome
family, and will help their friends and family any time they need it.
Quinn definitely needed it, and I’m grateful to them, but now I
need to find her.

I saw her at Luke
Griffin’s wedding, but she told me to leave, and I couldn’t get
past the four brothers, so I left. I’m not leaving Vegas, though.
Not without Quinn. I won’t force her or stalk her or any crazy shit
like that. I’m going to prove that I love her and that I’m sorry.
Then she’ll take me back and we’ll live happily ever after. If
only it was that easy. I know it’s not, but what I described is the
only acceptable outcome for me.

* * *

Quinn

I’ve been in Las
Vegas for two months now. I thank God every day for the Griffin
family, and how they’ve helped me. I have a great place to stay and
I love working with Chloe. It’s not fashion, but it
is
design, and she makes it fun for both of us. She does the major
design work, but she lets me contribute my ideas, and then we work
together to being her vision to life.

Our first building is
almost ready for us to go in and put the finishing touches on. It’s
a building for a non-profit in Tucson. We’ll be going there next
week to check on the progress and I can’t wait. After Zane showed
up here last week, I need to get out of town. If he pursues me, I’m
going to go back to him. I won’t be able to help it. I
have
been in love with him since we were twelve. We’re twenty-five now
and if anything, I love him even more.