But he did know who he was taking on a shopping spree. Montana needed a dress for the masquerade ball.
CHAPTER 40
Montana relaxed in her bedroom after dropping all of the children off at school. She tried to read a novel, but she couldn’t concentrate. Her mind kept drifting to the kiss she and Quentin shared, and how it had made her feel. She wondered what would come next.
Chloe was out of the picture—at least Montana thought she was—so there should be nothing holding her and Quentin back, except that photo. Quentin said he believed her, but she wanted Chloe to admit she’d done it. And that was something that would probably never happen.
A knock on her bedroom door pulled her from her thoughts. She knew it wasn’t one of the children, so she hoped it was Quentin.
It was.
“Montana, do you have anything pressing to do this morning?”
“No. I was just reading. Do you need anything?”
“No, but you do. I can’t let you take on the planning of this ball, alongside my mother, and not be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor.”
“It’ll be fine. I’ll watch from the top of the stairs with the children.”
“No, you won’t. You’re going shopping for a dress.”
“I am?”
“No, we’re going shopping for a dress.”
Montana was hesitant. Did this mean she was stepping into Chloe’s place? Was she going to be the next woman Quentin splurged on but never married? She wouldn’t wait around five years.
“Quentin, I don’t know if I should accept any gifts from you. I wouldn’t want to think we were going in one direction and then get my heart broken.”
Quentin nodded slowly. “You’re thinking of Chloe, aren’t you?”
“I’m thinking of me.”
“Montana, I want you in a way that I never thought I’d want someone ever again. Having you here makes Chandra’s memories only sweet and not bitter. Chloe never did that for me. I think Chloe may be the reason I grieved for so long.”
“But what if I can’t live up to Chandra’s memory either? I don’t want to forever be compared to the perfect wife.”
“She wasn’t without flaws. None of us are, especially not me.”
“If you want me to go to the ball, I’ll go, but I will wear something I already have. One of my church ensembles.”
Quentin dropped his shoulders. “Why won’t you let me do this?”
“Because I want you to know that your money isn’t the best thing about you. And that it’s not the reason I like you.”
“I know that the money isn’t important to you. That makes me want to spend it on you even more.”
“Well, spend it on breakfast, then. I really want a waffle from Waffle House.”
Quentin laughed. “I haven’t eaten there since college.”
“Well, let’s go. There’s a pecan waffle calling my name right next to a pile of greasy bacon.”
“Oh, I see you’re trying to run for two hours,” Quentin said.
There was another tap on the door. It was the rapid triple knock that was Ms. Levy’s signature.
“Well, what do we have here?” Ms. Levy asked, as she stepped into the room and saw Quentin.
“Quentin was just here for a visit.”
“In your bedroom? Quentin, you know better than that. That’s not proper.”
Quentin dropped his head with false repentance. “You’re so right, Ms. Levy. I’m horrible.”
Then Ms. Levy smiled. “It’s about time you handled your business, though. Your mother and I wondered what took you so long.”
“What? You’ve been waiting on me to fall for Montana?”
“It was like putting a piece of chocolate birthday cake in front of a toddler. At some point, the cake is . . . well, I don’t think I like where my analogy is headed. It isn’t proper either.”
Quentin and Montana burst into laughter.
“Ms. Levy,” Quentin said.
Ms. Levy slapped Quentin on the arm and smiled. Montana could tell she’d been beautiful in her youth; she was still beautiful from the inside out.
“Listen here, boy, I served plenty of cake in my day.”
“I bet you did,” Quentin said, still laughing.
“But I didn’t come in here to school you two on that. I came to tell Montana that Danielle’s dance class will go a little late today, because they are preparing for a recital. I just got an e-mail.”
“Okay. Thank you, Ms. Levy. I’ll know what to expect, then.”
Ms. Levy nodded and headed for the door. Then she turned around and winked at Quentin and Montana.
“You know the best part of the cake is the frosting,” she said, as she left the room.
Quentin looked at Montana with a confused face. “What does that mean?”
“I have no idea, but I’m almost one hundred percent sure it wasn’t proper.”
“Was Ms. Levy a freak?” Quentin asked, before bursting into laughter.
Montana joined him. “Who said it was past tense?”
Quentin scrunched his face into a frown, and then he doubled over, holding his midsection from laughing so hard.
Montana gazed at him and smiled. He looked so happy. This was the Quentin she wanted to be around. This is the man she would’ve fallen for if he hadn’t had two nickels to rub together.
This was her prince.
CHAPTER 41
Estelle was beyond furious. Quentin’s lawyer had informed her about the lawsuit, but not before a few of her society friends had already heard. The news of the filing had gone around fast, just as Chloe had intended.
More than anything, Estelle blamed herself. Chloe’s gold-digging ways should’ve been dealt with long ago. But she’d left it alone, because her son was a grown man and she didn’t want to interfere with his love life.
Estelle invited Chloe for lunch, not because she wanted the girl’s company, but because she wanted to know how much it would take to get her to drop the ridiculous lawsuit. She knew her son. He’d never agree to a settlement, even if Tippen told him it was the best option.
But Estelle was the matriarch of the family. And in the best interest of the Chambers’s good name, this strumpet needed to be dealt with. Estelle wanted no other roadblocks to Quentin and Montana becoming a couple.
Her son was smiling again, the way he had when Chandra was alive. The two of them had always been like children, laughing at some joke or playing some prank. Quentin had lost that youthful spark when Chandra died.
But it was back now. Estelle had watched Quentin chase his children around outside with water guns. And she’d felt her heart swell with love for her only son.
Estelle purposely arrived at the lunch twenty minutes late. She wanted Chloe to sit there and wonder if she’d ever show up. She wanted Chloe to feel as uncomfortable as she was making the family feel.
Chloe perked up when she finally saw Estelle. Chloe had to know what this meeting was truly about. She wasn’t stupid. She and Doris had played exactly the right cards.
Estelle sat in the seat that was being held out by the waiter.
“Ma’am, can I get you anything to drink?”
Estelle nodded. “I’ll have coffee. Thank you.”
Estelle stared at Chloe. Chloe stared back. She didn’t seem intimidated, but Estelle guessed that her confidence was an act.
“You’ve really made a splash in the society news circuit of late,” Estelle said.
Chloe shrugged. “That wasn’t my intention.”
“What was your intention? You have to know that your case will never win in court. You’ll come across as that woman that men love to hate. That term that I despise, but fits best here—a gold digger.”
“So what does that make your son? Did he think he could exchange gifts and money for sex for all of those years and not have to compensate me in the end? I am not a prostitute.”
“But yet you’re asking for money in exchange for your five years of servi
ce. As far as I know, you only served my son in one way.”
“He promised me that I could run Transitions Kids, and then he took it from me. I never wanted to just get a check. I’ve always worked for mine.”
“Yes, Chloe. You’ve put in hard labor indeed.”
Chloe frowned. “Did you ask me here just to insult me?”
“That would’ve been a fun afternoon, but no,” Estelle said, “I didn’t invite you here for that.”
“Well, let’s get to it. I have to meet my lawyer soon. We have to discuss our strategy.”
Estelle shook her head and chuckled. “You want money. I’ve got it. I’m offering you two million to end this right now.”
Chloe laughed out loud. “Two million? Quentin offered me a job and promised me his hand in marriage! Do you think I’ll accept two million when you all are worth so much more. Try again.”
“Quentin never offered to marry you. He would’ve continued bedding you for the next ten years if I hadn’t brought Montana to our home. She is a woman who will get a ring from Quentin.”
Chloe narrowed her eyes. “I knew you planned to have that nanny steal Quentin from me.”
“You never had him, honey. You laid claim to his private parts, but never his heart. Two point five million.”
“You can’t buy me out of this, Estelle. I’m going to win the full amount.”
“It’ll be a cold day in hell before my family gives you twenty million dollars for services rendered.”
Chloe stood from the table. “Well, Estelle, you better get your mink coat and snow boots ready, because it’s about to get a little chilly in your final resting place.”
“If I’m going to hell, then you’re leading the way,” Estelle said.
“Maybe so,” Chloe said, “but I’m going there in a pair of Jimmy Choos.”
Estelle fumed as Chloe stormed out of the restaurant with her head held high. She had underestimated Chloe, but no more. It was time for Estelle to pull out the big guns. She was about to call her private investigator. And her prayer group.
CHAPTER 42
Montana prayed silently as she sat at a table in the coffee shop where she’d first met Rio. She’d asked him to meet her after she read the contents of Chloe’s lawsuit against Quentin. Montana wanted to punch Chloe in the face for putting her name in it. She hadn’t encouraged Quentin to break up with Chloe. Obviously, he wasn’t in love with her. And since when was dating someone considered a contract?
When Rio walked into the coffee shop, Montana took in a deep breath and then exhaled. She had no idea what was going to happen once she talked to Rio, but she needed to know why he’d helped Chloe.
“I knew you’d call me,” Rio said, as he handed her a cup of coffee. “Your favorite.”
Montana took a sip and set the cup down as Rio sat in front of her. “It’s good, but it’s not my favorite anymore. I drink chai now.”
“You do? You’ve changed, haven’t you?”
Montana nodded. “But you haven’t. You’re still the same, Rio. Still selfish, still competitive, still always having to win.”
“Whoa! I thought this was a friendly meeting. I was hoping for a reconciliation here. Why are you insulting me?”
Montana stared directly into Rio’s face. “Why did you give Chloe that picture? What were you trying to do? Get me fired?”
“What makes you think I gave it to her?”
“Oh, come on, Rio. You are the only man who has pictures of me like that. I never sent those to anyone but you.”
Rio cracked his knuckles and stared back at Montana. “Chloe said it would help me get you back. I didn’t know her plan, but I know I want you in my life.”
“See, I don’t understand why you’re so hell-bent on getting me back now! I begged you to come to church with me. You were the only man I wanted!”
“Besides that pastor, Kumal Prentiss.”
Montana shook her head. “Don’t you see that it wasn’t about Bishop Prentiss? I had fallen in love with Jesus, and I wanted you to have the same thing! You made me choose. You did that.”
“So what if I said I wanted to change now and go to church with you? Would you stop pretending like you don’t still love me?”
“It’s not about going to church. It’s never been about that. Going to church is not a condition of being with me. Loving God is the condition.”
“That’s not the condition. I’ve done some checking around on your employer. He used to be a church guy. Not so much anymore. He’s a sinner just like me. What do you think he and Chloe have been doing all these years?”
Montana frowned. “I know about Quentin and Chloe.”
“Okay, then you are full of crap. You’re just like the next chick who wants a rich guy. You don’t care whether he loves God or not. You just want a happily ever after. You think life is a romance novel.”
“You’re wrong.”
“And you know what else?” Rio said. “That’s why I gave Chloe that picture. I was hoping it would bring you back to your senses. I was thinking it would make you remember what we had. Maybe it wasn’t perfect, but it was a hell of a lot better than some fictional, fairy-tale bull you made up in your head.”
“I haven’t made up anything in my head.”
“Yeah, well, Quentin Chambers isn’t Prince Charming. All you have to do is ask Chloe about that. I felt sorry for her, and I don’t regret helping her.”
“Rio, if you ever cared anything about me, would you please just tell Quentin the truth?
“Why would I do that? Why would I help you get with him?”
“Because, Rio, I just don’t want to be with you anymore.”
“That’s what you think now. But when you finally see the truth, you’ll be looking for me. See, I accepted you for who you were.”
“But you’ve never accepted me for who I am right now. A child of God.”
Montana got up from the table and walked out of the coffee shop. She hoped to never see Rio’s face again. There was a time when she wondered if she’d ever be able to live without him. But now she knew that she hadn’t come alive until she’d left him behind.
Still, the things he said about Quentin struck a nerve. Had she excused his indiscretions with Chloe because she’d romanticized him? Deep down, was she really any different from Chloe?
The questions scared her. She couldn’t have one standard when it came to Rio and another when it came to Quentin. Even though she thought it hadn’t accomplished anything, Montana was glad she’d met with Rio. It made her even more determined to not embark on a relationship with Quentin until he was right with God.
CHAPTER 43
Quentin read the notes Tippen had compiled for his response to Chloe’s court filing. Tippen had hit all of the major points Quentin wanted covered. He had never once told Chloe he loved her. Chloe had volunteered to become a part of his organization; it wasn’t a job offer. He didn’t pay her living expenses; he gave her gifts. As a boyfriend.
Seeing his relationship with Chloe spelled out on paper, in black and white, bothered Quentin. He’d never intended for any of this to happen. He’d never intended for five years to go by without falling in love with Chloe.
Quentin heard a soft knock on his office door and was drawn from his thoughts.
“Come in,” Quentin said.
Montana stepped inside the office but stayed near the door. “Quentin, can I ask a favor?”
“Yes, of course. Whatever you need.”
“Do you mind if I move into the guest house? I can still care for the children from there.”
Quentin nodded but looked confused. “Is there something wrong?”
“No, not really. I just don’t feel comfortable living under the same roof with you after you kissed me.”
“Well, I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
Quentin put the papers down on his desk and crossed the room. He tried to hug Montana, but she resisted.
“I thought you said there was not
hing wrong.”
“Quentin, let’s slow down with the affection, okay?”
“Okay. Why?”
Montana looked at his face and frowned. “Chloe’s lawsuit. I don’t like the things she’s saying about me.”
“We both know they’re not true.”
“Yes, but what about everyone else? People from my church are able to read that court filing. She makes it seem like I came here and seduced you. What if people feel sorry for her? What if they make me a villain?”
“Who cares what other people think?”
“Maybe I shouldn’t, but I do. I’m not a man stealer.”
Quentin took Montana by both hands and pulled her over to his desk. He sat down on the edge and squeezed her hands tightly.
“How could you steal my heart from Chloe? She never had it.”
“It just doesn’t feel right.”
Quentin let go of her hands. “What would you like me to do? I can’t erase the past five years. I can’t. And I never meant for any of this to happen. I didn’t go into my relationship with Chloe thinking we’d end up this way.”
“What did you expect?”
Quentin eased up off the desk and paced the floor. “Do you know what happens when a person breaks a bone and it’s not set properly?”
“It doesn’t heal correctly.”
“Right. Sometimes it ends up twisted and deformed. Sometimes you can lose the use of a limb.”
Montana shook her head. “What does this have to do with us?”
“When I met Chloe, I was broken. I tried to heal myself with sex and fun. I looked healed, but inside I was still twisted.”
“So now what?”
Quentin stopped pacing and stood in front of Montana. He needed her to see how serious he was about this.
“Now I want to really be healed. I want to be there for my kids. My son needs me.”
“Deirdre needs you too, Quentin.”
He furrowed his eyebrows. “I don’t know what to do with Deirdre. We’re like oil and water these days.”
“All of the children need you to be whole.”
“I know. Breaking up with Chloe is one of the steps to getting me there. When a bone doesn’t heal properly, you have to rebreak it and start the healing process all over again.”
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