[Quantum 01.0 - 03.0] Boxed Set

by Marie Force

  I’m slightly astonished by her multitasking capabilities, and absolutely terrified about that appointment.

  Marlowe ends the call and returns her focus to the blender, adding more tequila until she’s satisfied. “Doctor Breslow will see you at seven thirty before they open to other patients. That’ll get you in and out before anyone else is there. You’ll love her.”

  “It must be nice to make a call on a Saturday night and get an appointment first thing on a Monday morning.”

  “Celebrity does have its perks,” she says with a wink. “Breslow’s admin is a fan, and I get her tickets to premieres and stuff. We take care of each other.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Sure thing. Breslow will fix you right up.” She pours a margarita, takes a sip and declares it perfect so she pours one for me and then writes down the doctor’s address for me.

  “I’ve never had a margarita.” The second the words are out of my mouth, I feel like an unsophisticated hick next to her.

  “Well, you’ve been missing out. Give it a try.”

  I love that she doesn’t blink an eye at my confession. I take a sip of the tart drink. “Mmm, that’s so good.”

  “Right? Just go easy. You know what they say about tequila…”

  “What’s that?”

  “Makes you take your clothes off, not that Flynn would object.”

  “Object to what?” he asks when he joins us and accepts the drink Marlowe hands him.

  “Natalie finding out about the power of tequila.”

  “You’re right.” He winks at me. “I won’t object.”

  The doorbell rings, and Marlowe runs to get it.

  Flynn notices the slip of paper in my hand. “What’s that?”

  “Marlowe got me an appointment with her doctor for Monday morning at seven thirty. Is that doable?”

  “Sure, I don’t have anything until the foundation meeting at nine.”

  “I’m kind of scared. Will you come with me?”

  He puts his arm around me and kisses my forehead. “Of course I will, sweetheart.”

  I immediately feel less anxious about it, knowing he’ll be there to hold my hand.

  Marlowe returns with two incredibly handsome men, both of them carrying twelve-packs of beer and bottles of wine that they stash on the counter.

  Flynn greets them both with bro hugs. “Jasper, Kristian, I want you to meet Natalie.”

  Jasper is tall and blond with a lean, muscular build. He hugs me like we’re old friends. “Natalie,” he says in the crisp British accent Flynn warned me about. “It’s a pleasure to meet the woman who’s finally brought our boy up to snuff.”

  I wave a hand in front of my face in deference to the accent, and Flynn rolls his eyes.

  “Nice to meet you, too, Jasper. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “What’s he said about me?” Kristian asks. He’s got dark hair and piercing blue eyes.

  I desperately try to think of something. “The Lamborghini.”

  “Yeah.” He laughs as he hugs me. “He hates it.”

  “I don’t think he said ‘hate.’”

  “Yes, I did,” Flynn says. “Now get your hands off my fiancée.”

  “Your what?” Jasper and Kristian say in stereo.

  “You heard him right, boys,” Marlowe says. “Pigs are now flying in hell!”

  “I’m sorry,” Jasper says, staggering dramatically. “I need a moment.”

  “Shut the fuck up,” Flynn says, laughing as he gives his friend a playful shove.

  The doorbell rings again, and Marlowe returns with yet another stunningly gorgeous man. This one has chestnut brown hair and golden eyes. He’s dressed in a dark suit that fits his muscular frame like it was cut just for him. It probably was.

  “Emmett!” Jasper cries. “You aren’t going to believe it. Our boy Flynn is engaged!”

  Emmett stops short on his way into the kitchen. “What’d you say? He’s what?”

  “Show him, Natalie,” Kristian says.

  I hold up the ring for Emmett to see.

  He takes a close look at the ring, then at Flynn and then at the ring again.

  “Get the poor guy a drink, Mo,” Jasper says. “He’s been shocked speechless.”

  “You’re seriously engaged,” Emmett says.

  “As serious as it gets. Emmett, meet my fiancée, Natalie Bryant. Natalie, our chief counsel, Emmett Burke.”

  He shakes my hand. “So nice to meet you.”

  “You, too. Thanks for all your help this week.”

  “Believe me, I’ve enjoyed sticking it to that bastard David Rogers. We’ve made his life a living hell, and we’re just getting started.”

  “Thank you.”

  Addie arrives with Flynn’s sister Ellie, and then Hayden comes in a short time later, bearing grocery bags and another twelve-pack of beer.

  “You let a guy borrow your beach house and how does he thank you? By throwing a rager.”

  “You’re lucky we decided to invite you.” Flynn gives Hayden one of those side-handed handshakes guys do these days.

  “There’s big news afoot,” Jasper says.

  Hayden cracks open a beer and drinks half of it. “What’s that?”

  “Our boy Flynn? Engaged.”

  Hayden chokes on the beer, coughing profusely while Jasper laughs and pounds on his back.

  I have no idea how to take Hayden’s reaction. Once the coughing stops, he stares at Flynn for a long, uncomfortably quiet moment.

  “Well,” he finally says, “it appears congratulations are in order.”

  “Thanks,” Flynn says tightly. I can tell he’s less than pleased with his best friend’s reaction.

  Like the first time I met him, I can’t help but notice that Hayden is incredibly handsome in a rugged sort of way. I muster the courage to speak directly to him. “Hayden, I wanted to thank you for your support on Twitter this week. It meant a lot to me.”

  “Sure. We’re all on your side in this thing. I still can’t believe it happened.”

  “Neither can we, but the outpouring of support has made it more bearable.”

  “Glad to hear that.”

  “How’d the interview with Carolyn go?” Kristian asks.

  “It was good,” Flynn replies. “Natalie is a natural, and Carolyn asked all the right questions. We’re hoping it’ll put an end to the insanity.”

  Hayden laughs at that.

  “What’s so funny?” Flynn asks.

  “Wait till they hear you’re engaged. You haven’t seen insanity yet.”

  “They aren’t going to hear that.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We’re getting married Monday night in Vegas. By the time they hear about it, it’ll be a done deal.”

  The announcement is met with stunned silence.

  “Monday,” Marlowe says after at least a minute has passed. “That’s like two days from now.”

  “Yep.”

  “What’s the rush?” Hayden asks.

  I can feel the tension coming off Flynn in waves. “No rush. It’s just what we want.” He puts his arm around me. “Where are those enchiladas, Mo? I’m starving.”

  With that, he sends the message that he’s done talking about our plans.

  I’m fucking furious at Hayden. I don’t expect him to jump for joy over my announcement, but I certainly didn’t expect him to question me that way in front of Natalie. Hours later, I’m still fuming. I’m with the guys outside on the deck, playing poker and enjoying some Cuban cigars Kristian brought. The girls are inside laughing and talking and drinking. I’ve been keeping an eye on Natalie, and she seems to be enjoying herself with my friends and my sister.

  “I’m out,” Emmett says, folding.

  Jasper tosses his cards on the table. “Me, too.”

  Kristian follows suit. “Me, three.”

  It’s down to Hayden and me. I glare at him, letting my fury drive my desire to not only beat him at poker but to have it out
with him before this night is over. He studies his cards for a long time before he drops them on the table. “Fold.”

  “Seriously?” Though he’s handed me an easy victory, it’s all I can do not to leap across the table and go for his throat.

  He shrugs. “My heart’s not in it.” Then, in a low tone, he says, “What the fuck are you doing, Flynn?”

  “What am I doing? I thought I was playing poker.”

  “You know what I’m talking about. You’re getting married? To a girl you met two weeks ago? Who knows nothing about your true lifestyle?”

  “Shut the fuck up, Hayden. It’s none of your fucking business what I do.”

  “Oh, is that how it is now? I see.”

  “You don’t see anything.”

  “I see you about to make a massive mistake, and you don’t want to hear it from anyone.”

  “You’re right. I don’t.” It’s all I can do to remain in my seat and not act on my earlier urge to jump over the table and beat the shit out of him.

  Emmett clears his throat.

  “You got something to say?” I ask him.

  “Just wondering… And don’t get pissed at me, too… But have you considered a prenup?”

  “No, I have not considered a prenup. I love her. She loves me. This isn’t about money.”

  “Flynn…” The single word from Jasper is full of something I don’t want to hear.

  “You’re really prepared to give her half of what you’ve worked so hard for when this goes bad?” Hayden asks.

  “When it goes bad? Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence. I really appreciate it.”

  “You know he’s only looking out for you,” Kristian says quietly. “All of us are.”

  “I don’t need him to look out for me. I don’t need any of you to do that. I guess it was too much to hope for a little support from my closest friends.”

  “That’s incredibly unfair,” Hayden says. “We’ve always got your back. You know that. But when you turn your back on everything you are and everything you believe in for a woman, you’ll have to pardon us if we call foul on that.”

  “I haven’t done that,” I say, even if Hayden’s words score a direct hit to my deepest worries where Natalie and I are concerned.

  “Have you told her about Club Quantum?” Hayden asks.

  I glance toward the house, where I can see Natalie with Marlowe, Addie and Ellie. “No need to. I’m quitting the club.”

  The announcement is met with dead silence.

  “I gotta go,” Hayden says as he gets up from the table.

  “You’ve been drinking, dude,” Kristian says. “You should crash here.”

  “I’m not crashing here.”

  “Then come to my place, but don’t drive back to town.”

  “Fine, but I want to go. Now. Oh, and Flynn, any time you want to come back to work, I could sure use some help on that film we’re supposed to be finishing.”

  “Next week,” I reply tersely.

  “Great.”

  Jasper stands. “I drove Kris, so I guess I’m going, too. Good time tonight, everyone. Flynn, congratulations. I’m happy for you both.”

  “Thanks.”

  Hayden heads into the house without another word to me.

  The three of them take their leave, but Emmett remains. The dustup with Hayden has left me unsettled, not that I’m entirely surprised by his reaction. He’s been wary of my relationship with Natalie since the first minute I met her.

  “You know he’s just looking out for you,” Emmett says after a long silence.

  “I wish he was a little less concerned.”

  “Unfortunately, we all remember the aftermath of your divorce a little too well.”

  “This is different, Emmett. I already love Natalie more than I ever loved Val. It’s nothing like that.”

  “Nothing?” Emmett asks, his brow raised in query. “The thing that caused you problems with Val is not something you can turn on and off like a switch. It’s who you are. Who we are. You’ve tried to live outside the lifestyle before with disastrous results for you and for Val. None of us want to see you there again.”

  “I know that, and I appreciate the concern. But this is different.”

  “So you’ve said. Look, Flynn, it’s none of my business. It’s none of Hayden’s business. You’re our friend, and we care about you. That’s it. One thing you’ve never been is a fool. But if you marry this woman—or any woman—without protecting yourself and your considerable assets, you’re a fool.”

  He’s right. I know he is, and if one of my closest friends was considering marrying a woman he’d known two weeks without a prenup, I’d be freaking out all over them. But I can’t imagine broaching that subject with Natalie. She isn’t after my money. I know that in the deepest corners of my soul, and it’s one of the reasons I love her so damned much.

  “She couldn’t care less about the money, Em.”

  “Everyone cares about money, Flynn. Especially people who don’t have any of their own.”

  I hate this conversation and the way it makes me feel with a fiery passion.

  “There’s a way around it, you know,” Emmett says tentatively.

  “What’s that?”

  “Set her up with a big account and have her sign something that says that’s all she’ll get if the marriage ends.”

  I’m shaking my head before he finishes speaking. “I’m not going into this marriage like it’s a business deal. That would be disrespectful to her and to what we are to each other.”

  “I hear you, and I’ll even confess to being envious that you’ve found someone you feel that way about. But as your friend and your attorney, I’d be negligent if I didn’t urge you to reconsider.”

  “I appreciate your concern, your friendship and your legal advice.”

  “But you’re telling me to fuck off anyway, right?” he asks with a laugh.

  “In the nicest way possible.”

  “Fair enough. I’ve done my due diligence. If you change your mind, give me a call. I can put something together for you in the morning.”

  “I’m not going to change my mind.”

  “Then I’ll be on my way.” He gets up, and I shake the hand he offers me. “Thanks for a great time tonight.”

  “It was fun. Just what the doctor ordered after the week we’ve had.”

  “You know I wish you all the best, Flynn. Natalie seems like a really great person.”

  “You have no idea how amazing she is.” I look up at him. “Keep me posted on the situation with Rogers and Natalie’s school.”

  “I will. Congratulations again.”

  “Thanks.”

  After he leaves, I sit for a long time staring out at the dark ocean, where a half moon leaves a glowing trail over the surface. My friends have left me with doubts, which are infuriating in light of the certainty I feel where Natalie is concerned. I wasn’t lying when I said that I know, in the deepest part of me, that our relationship has nothing to do with my money or my fame or my celebrity or any of the other bullshit reasons women in the past have been interested in me.

  No, with Natalie, it’s all about the two of us and what we’ve found together.

  “What’re you doing out here all by yourself?” she asks as she comes out to join me.

  “Enjoying the view, which just got exponentially better. Did everyone leave?”

  “Yeah, they said thanks for a fun night.”

  I hold out a hand to her and guide her onto my lap. When she’s settled in my arms, her familiar scent filling my senses, I feel like I can breathe again. Nothing about this could ever be wrong. It is the most genuinely right thing I’ve ever known in my life.

  “Why so quiet?”

  “No reason.”

  “Did you have fun with your friends?”

  “I did. How about you?”

  “They’re so nice. I love them all.”

  “They loved you, too.”

  “Even Hayden?”

&
nbsp; “Of course. He thinks you’re great.”

  “Sure he does. He ran out of here awfully quickly, leading me to wonder if the two of you had words over our plans for Monday. And just in case you’re interested, Addie went after him.”

  She’s incredibly astute and insightful, which is part of why I love her as much as I do. “He’s a little concerned about the haste but not about you. You have to know you’ve earned the undying admiration of everyone in my life this week.”

  She drops her head onto my shoulder. “I would much rather have earned it the old-fashioned way.”

  “And how would that be?”

  “By loving you the way you deserve to be loved for the rest of my life.”

  And that, right there, is why there’ll be no prenup ahead of this wedding. “You know what we haven’t done yet?”

  “What’s that?”

  “Properly celebrated our engagement.”

  “And how does one properly celebrate an engagement? I’ve never been engaged before, so I have no idea.”

  With her in my arms, I get up to head inside. “Come with me, love, and I’ll show you.”

  Flynn carries me into the house, past Fluff curled up in a ball on the sofa, and straight into the first-floor bedroom we’ve been using. He puts me down beside the bed.

  “Get naked, sweetheart.”

  Lifting his own T-shirt up and over his head, he watches me remove my top and shorts.

  His shorts fall into pile at his feet, and he reaches for me.

  “Wait, I’m not done getting naked yet.”

  “I’ll do the good parts myself.” He quickly removes my bra and panties and then stands back to admire me, which invokes a full-body blush. “Mmm, look what I get to love for the rest of my life. The sexiest woman in the world.”

  I don’t know if I’d go that far, but he makes me feel as if it’s true by the way he touches and caresses me until I’m ready to beg him to move things along.

  With his hands on my ribs, he bends his head to kiss my neck. His lips are soft and gentle and utterly persuasive. I’d give him anything he wants as long as he doesn’t stop touching me. He’s promised me a lifetime of pleasure and love and laughter and all the amazing things we’ve found together, and I’m more than ready to collect.