Anticipating what was to come, he felt his face grow hot with anger.
“He pinned me to the wall…he ripped my blouse open and started groping me.” Shaken, she rubbed a hand over her forehead. “He was so strong, but I managed to get him off me. And then I saw Jake. He was watching us.”
“God, Quinn,” Carter murmured, feeling sick.
She stared blindly at Doug as he darted into the ocean foam. A group of terns fishing there took noisy flight. When she spoke again, her words had thickened. “I think he and Mike…I think they planned it.”
Carter sat on the left side of her, and he put his arm around her. Quinn laid her head against his shoulder.
“I fled the house that night. I miscarried a few hours later.”
He swallowed heavily.
“Jake didn’t know I was pregnant. Our marriage was over, but I still wanted the baby.” She shook her head, her voice breaking. “It was my fault I lost it. If I hadn’t been involved in—”
He hushed her. “It’s not your fault, Quinn. I’m so sorry.”
They sat like that for a long time, Carter trying to process what she’d told him. Holding Quinn and trying to keep her from shattering into a million pieces. His instincts told him no one else knew. That she had told no one else the truth, including Nora Reese.
He vowed to keep Medero away from her.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“I was about to send out a search party,” Mark said to Carter once Quinn had gone indoors to look for Samantha. Carter sat on the bungalow’s covered porch while, bundled in jackets, Emily and Ethan played ball with Doug against a backdrop of sand dunes and the placid ocean.
“I guess we were out for a while. My stamina’s building.”
“Everything okay? Both you and Quinn seemed a little distracted at lunch.”
Carter removed his sunglasses and clipped them onto his sweat jacket. “After we got back from Charleston last night, Medero showed up at my place demanding to see Quinn.”
Mark frowned. “What happened?”
“Let’s just say the police are looking to arrest him for assault and property damage.”
“He assaulted Quinn?” Anger tightened his brother’s voice.
“No, me. And it was nothing. Barely a misdemeanor, but I’m not missing the opportunity to press charges. Unfortunately, Medero left town before the police could find him.”
Mark called out a reprimand to Ethan, who had made a wild throw, narrowly missing his sister. “What can I do to help?”
“I wish I knew.” Carter watched pensively as Doug danced and barked in front of Emily, who now had the ball. He thought of all his brother didn’t know. But what Quinn had told him was deeply personal. He turned his attention to the door as it opened. Samantha and Quinn came outside.
“You know you’re just adding pressure for us to get them a dog.” Samantha’s tone was light, however.
“Sounds like a good idea. Hey, kiddo,” Carter said as Ethan scampered onto the porch. Small hands grasping his uncle’s knee, he launched into an exuberant account of how high Doug could jump. Carter nodded, eyebrows raised, listening intently.
“Thank you again for lunch,” Quinn said to Samantha before turning to Carter. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah.”
Touching Mark’s arm, Quinn stepped off the porch. She walked to Emily to give her a good-bye hug, then opened the rear door of the Mercedes so Doug could jump in before she got in on the driver’s side. Announcing that it was nap time, Samantha took Ethan by the hand and ushered him indoors despite his protest.
“You’re looking stronger every day,” Mark said as Carter stood, retrieving the unused cane he had leaned against the chair’s arm.
“I’m feeling stronger.”
“But you’re still healing.” Mark’s eyes held concern. “You don’t need a war with Medero.”
Carter gave him a pained smile. “Too late, bro. I think I already have one.”
He laid his hand affectionately on Emily’s blond curls as she came onto the porch. “Later, Em.”
Carter got into the Mercedes. As he closed the door and reached for the seat belt, the strain must have been visible on his face, because Quinn said, “I’ll call Dr. Patel tomorrow.”
He was capable of setting his own appointments, but keeping Quinn busy meant keeping her nearby. They left the resort and rode in silence as, overhead, the afternoon sun had dropped in the sky that was streaked with fingers of white clouds. As they traveled through downtown a short time later, Carter took note of Café Bella’s striped awning and sidewalk tables, although the business was closed on Sunday. He thought of Samantha, how just a few years ago she had shown up in town, alone, an enigma. But she had changed Mark’s life for the better. Carter had kept her secrets, too.
“If we hadn’t talked today, were you planning not to show up tomorrow? Or the day after that?” he asked.
Quinn’s lips pressed together as she formed a response. “I would have had to come back eventually. You have my dog.”
He chuckled.
The mood between them seemed to lighten a bit, until they arrived at Carter’s. The broken gate hung open, a sobering reminder, and pieces of metal were scattered over the drive.
“Something else I can call about tomorrow.” Quinn navigated the car around the debris. She parked in front, since there was no longer a need to go around back so Carter could take the elevator.
“Do you want to come in?” He released his seat belt.
She shook her head. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
He turned to her, serious. “Quinn…I’ve lain my cards on the table. I’m attracted to you. There’s no taking that back.”
Her lips parted as her gray-green eyes searched his.
“But I meant what I said. I don’t want to add to your burden. And I don’t want to ruin what we had before I pushed you against the fridge and had the hottest kiss of my life. What I do want is to help you, however you’ll let me.”
Reaching for the cane, he exited the car and opened the back door for Doug, who bounded out. Quinn’s eyes briefly met Carter’s through the door’s glass before she drove away.
Aware of her uncertainty, he watched her go.
* * *
“Good evening, young lady.” Mrs. Kent’s husband spoke as Quinn entered the B&B’s foyer. The two pairs of houseguests stood with Nora in the living room. Mr. Kent peered theatrically at the door Quinn had just come through. “I thought you might turn up with another star—they seem to be in big supply.”
Quinn forced a smile as they all laughed, with the exception of her mother. She noticed they wore coats and the women held their purses.
“We were just leaving. We’re going to have dinner at that little Italian place on the square.” Mr. Kent zipped up his jacket. “Nora’s coming, too. Would you care to join us?”
Quinn was glad her mother had something to do, although she was surprised she was missing Sunday-night church. Nora made a point of not looking at her, instead fussing with something inside her purse. Quinn thanked them for the invitation, but declined. “I’ll stay here. But have a nice dinner.”
The group filed outside. Quinn watched from the living room as they piled into a station wagon with Tennessee license plates and pulled away from the house. She felt relief that, at least for an hour or two, she would have some time to herself. Picking up the glasses that had been left on coasters on the coffee table, she carried them into the kitchen. As she washed them, she caught a faint reflection of herself in the window over the basin in the fading light of day.
Quinn had never considered herself beautiful, not like Shelley. She never imagined being caught between two famous, powerful men. Nor would she have ever thought Carter would be a source of comfort, someone she could confide in. She had poured her heart out to him on the beach. But she had no illusions. He would soon return to his life in Hollywood. Even if he didn’t plan to, she knew getting involved with him would only end up brea
king her heart.
The dishes done, she looked through the refrigerator for something to eat, then removed a container of her mother’s homemade vegetable soup. As she looked through the cabinets for a pot to heat it up in, she heard the chime of her cell phone inside her purse, which she had left in the living room. It indicated she had received a text. She went to retrieve the phone. When she saw the screen, her stomach clenched.
WORTHLESS SLUT.
The message was from Jake. She had gotten yet another new number when she had replaced the phone thrown into the ocean. Had Nora provided him this number, too? The phone chimed again. Quinn’s breath shuddered out of her.
I WARNED YOU.
HE CAN HAVE YOU.
THEY ALL CAN.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“There’s nothing you can do?” Irritation made Carter pace in front of the coffee table where his cell phone lay. Jolene had opened the shutters wide upon her arrival, and morning sunlight washed the spacious, high-ceilinged room.
“Not this time.” Through the phone’s speaker, Elliott’s voice had the roughened croak of a bullfrog, reminding him how early it was in California. “Celeb Snitch bought the photos as an exclusive—otherwise, they’d already be online.”
Briefly closing his eyes, Carter squeezed the bridge of his nose. “When’s the issue dropping?”
“A week from today. And you can say she’s just your physical therapist all you want. My source has seen the photos. I’ll say this—it didn’t take you long. Rossi’s barely dead for four months, and you’re cuddled up on the beach with some curvy little redhead. The wife of a pro baller, no less.”
“They’re legally separated,” Carter pointed out. “And my personal life is no one’s business.”
Elliott let out a laugh. “You’re Carter St. Clair—you’re everyone’s business. Expect some backlash. The tabloids will paint you as insensitive for not adhering to some reasonable mourning period. Hell, they’ll probably spin this as you being the reason for Medero’s marriage breaking up. Thank God I’m your agent and not your publicist. Speaking of, Ariel will be calling you later, and she’s not a happy camper.”
Carter silently cursed the telephoto lenses and high-tech drones that paparazzi used. He could take the blowback, but he didn’t want this to come down on Quinn.
“So what do you want from me?” His patience was wearing thin. “There must be a reason for this heads-up.”
“I want your cooperation. My thinking is we let the gossip sites run with this for a few days, then we announce your impending return. The Rainy Season was on the bestseller lists for months. The film adaptation is big news. Your signing on as the lead will dilute the fervor over this.”
Carter looked at Doug. The dog was lying on the hardwood floor, but his ears had perked up. A second later, he rose and trotted off to the foyer.
“I’ll call you back later.” His eyes met Quinn’s as she entered the space.
“I’m holding you to that.” Elliott sounded tired and frustrated. “You’re saying yes to the film. The world’s a fickle place. The tide can turn on anyone, Carter. Even you.”
“That sounded dire,” Quinn said once he disconnected.
Barefoot, wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt, he drew in a slow breath. He had to tell her. It was better than being blindsided.
“Quinn…we were papped at the beach yesterday.”
* * *
She had taken the news with grace, but Carter could read the disquiet in Quinn’s eyes. He’d had to tell her how the gossip sites would most likely spin the photos. “This is just a part of my life that I have to deal with. I didn’t want to pull you into it. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t understand. I…think Jake might’ve alerted the paparazzi to get revenge.”
Carter frowned. “What makes you think that?”
She had dropped her duffel onto the sofa, but she moved to it and retrieved her cell phone. Lighting up the screen, her features taut, she handed it to him. Reading the texts, an angry heat coursed through him.
“He just gave us more cause for the restraining order,” he said tightly. “I’m assuming the he is me, but what does he mean by they all can?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know.”
It was possible Medero had given his location to the photo agency and clued them in on Quinn and him. Carter had let his guard down here. It was likely the paps had followed him yesterday to the Reese B&B and then to the St. Clair without his being aware.
“Maybe the photos are just of us walking on the beach,” Quinn suggested hopefully. “That doesn’t mean anything. It’s part of your therapy.”
“Elliott knows someone who’s seen them. I think they were taken while we were sitting at the lifeguard stand.”
She released a soft breath of realization.
It was ironic that now that Carter had taken a step back from her romantically, they would most likely be presented as lovers by images taken out of context. Quinn looked over her shoulder at the sound of Jolene’s vacuum cleaner starting up in another room.
“So what do we do?” she asked, returning her troubled gaze to his.
“I’m going to borrow your phrase. We keep it business as usual. We file for the restraining order, just like we discussed. At least we have time to prepare family before the magazine hits.”
At the dread in her eyes, he asked, “What is it?”
“Mom’s been insistent my relationship with you isn’t professional.” Nervously, Quinn scraped a hand through her hair. “She hasn’t been happy about our spending time together. She keeps hoping I’ll change my mind about the divorce. You could say she’s Team Jake. He’s gone out of his way to charm her.”
Carter’s lips pinched together, his suspicion confirmed. “Nora doesn’t know why you left him, does she?”
At his scrutiny, she bowed her head. “She doesn’t know anything. I can’t tell her what I told you. And when the photos come out, she’s going to think I’ve been lying to her about you and me.” With a weary breath, she added, “I guess I have been.”
He knew she was thinking of what had happened between them.
“Quinn,” Carter entreated softly, moving closer. “She’s your mother. She needs to know the truth about your marriage, even if it upsets her.”
She looked away.
“I’m just sorry you’ve been dealing with this on your own.” He wanted to touch her, but instead he left his hands at his sides. “If you want to skip work today, you can.”
“No, I agree with what you said. I’d rather be busy.” She switched into physical-therapy mode, despite the worry that remained in her eyes. “I called Dr. Patel’s office while I was in the car. He can see you at three today. Until he checks you out, we should avoid any shoulder work. How’s the pain?”
“A little better.”
“Good. The ibuprofen and ice packs are helping. We’ll get in your cardio this morning. I was thinking maybe we’d walk the beach here. We’ve been avoiding the steps down from the terrace, since they’re pretty steep, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem anymore.”
They should enjoy the beach while they could. Once the photos were out, he expected their privacy to end. Carter needed a shower. He had been lured downstairs by the aroma of coffee Jolene had made in the kitchen, but had gotten sidetracked by Elliott’s call. “Take Doug with you, and I’ll meet you by the pool in fifteen minutes?”
She nodded, and he turned to go upstairs. Carter had been making a point of no longer using the elevator, and as he made his slow but steady climb up the staircase, he looked down at Quinn, who had turned away from him. Arms hugged around herself, she looked absently out through the French doors. She appeared rattled and alone. Thinking of what Medero had said to her in his text, anger rekindled inside him.
* * *
Carter hadn’t significantly reinjured his shoulder, but Dr. Patel still advised Quinn to take it easy on that aspect of his therapy for the next several days. She now
sat in her car in front of her mother’s home, the night sky a dark blanket over the sleepy beach town. She had turned off the car’s engine, but remained looking up at the glow emanating from the house’s windows.
She’s your mother. She needs to know the truth about your marriage.
Quinn knew Carter was right. Her mother’s ignorance about her relationship with Jake was the cause of the widening chasm between them. The only way Nora would ever see past Jake’s façade was for her to learn the truth about him, even if Quinn had to expose her own culpability.
The dashboard clock indicated it was well after eight. Gathering her courage, she exited the car and locked it. Quinn entered the house to conversation and laughter once again coming from the dining room. Although the B&B’s practice was to serve only breakfast and a light snack at night, it appeared Nora had made a farewell dinner for her guests before they traveled on to the Florida Keys the next morning. She had gotten out the fine china, and each place setting held what appeared to be the remnants of a pork loin with cornbread dressing. She recalled the meal from her youth, one of her mother’s specialties. The quintet was so involved in their lighthearted discussion that Quinn stood there for a time unobserved. Her throat tightened at the rare sound of her mother’s laughter and how much younger she looked with the tension gone from her face.
“Quinn,” Nora said upon seeing her. “We’ve been having such a good time I didn’t hear you come in.”
The warmth in her voice had replaced the chill that had been there whenever she had spoken to Quinn over the last several days. Perhaps the two empty wine bottles sitting in the table’s center were responsible. Quinn placed her duffel on the brocade-upholstered settee just outside the dining room. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“Would you like to eat? I’ll get you a plate. I know you won’t touch the pork, but there’re side dishes.” To the others at the table, Nora said with an air of disbelief, “My daughter took off to San Francisco and returned a vegetarian.”
Low Tide: Rarity Cove Book Two Page 17
