Chapter Twenty
While working to put all the last touches she thought Quinn wanted in the wedding, she was able to find a few moments during the week to have a calm luncheon with the women who had begun to be the most special people in her life.
She had several close friends, her mother, and then she had the eight women in her life who came into it first because of Quinlan and now because of her.
Maybe in the future, nine, if Cian stayed with Molly.
This group of kick-butt women laughed, cried, and committed themselves to each other as a bonded force against the world’s idea of what family should be.
To these women and their families, it meant being together.
No matter what came into their lives, they endured and enjoyed together.
This family planned on staying a family no matter what was thrown at it, and Cheyenne was grateful to be allowed into its sacred circle of strong women.
It was an important realization right at that moment because as they were enjoying their lunch, Maggie walked up, toned body, midriff well exposed, to offer her congratulations.
“Do you love where you’re going on your honeymoon?
I mean, how awesome. Quinn is so thoughtful.
But, you know that already. I mean, he has so many attributes, if you know what I mean, to do all the things he can do and then, to marry you.
” Her words were delivered with a fabricated smile of congratulations.
The implication was clear, but Maggie had no idea she was talking into the shark tank of protection.
Kelli, always the first to bite, said, “I don’t think we’ve met, I’m Kelli, Quinn’s sister, and you are...”
Maggie paused for a moment, but then smoothly dove into the tank. “I’m Maggie. Quinn and I, um, are good friends. We have a standing date every Thursday and have had for quite a while. He has mentioned you before. It’s nice to meet you finally.”
Cheyenne’s mouth dropped open, and the look on her face told the family she was about to declare war on full display in the restaurant.
A free floor show with their lunch. While her companions would have loved the act, they knew the owners and their men would not.
Jocelyn and Mom O, sitting on either side of Cheyenne, immediately each placed a hand on her hand to stay her attack. Kelli smoothly began the introductions.
“Nice to meet you. Sorry my brother hasn’t mentioned you but let me introduce you to the rest of the group.”
By the time she had introduced the women, Maggie was rubbing her hands on her expensive slacks and quickly remembered an engagement elsewhere, racing from the room.
The women laughed, all except Cheyenne, who excused herself to the bathroom.
When Mrs. Sterling went back to eating her lunch, Siobhan quietly followed Cheyenne.
“Cheyenne,” she said as she gathered the young woman she already called daughter into her comforting arms.
The moment Cheyenne heard Siobhan’s voice and felt her arms close around her, she burst into tears. Siobhan walked them to one of the small sofas in the powder room and gathered her close, whispering soothing words. Cheyenne cried herself out eventually.
“What am I going to do, Mom? Quinn said it was a surprise, but I don’t want any more surprises. Please tell me what to do.”
“Well, my advice is to not allow a stupid woman to shake the foundations of your trust in Quinlan, but I do suggest a strong conversation with that son of mine and then leave it to him to take care of. He is a man of integrity, and he expects those he deals with to also be honest.”
“I tried to approach the subject before and that’s when he told me it was a surprise. I agreed not to ask about it again.”
“Oh, a stór, he doesn’t know about this latest event.
I say you tell him what happened and watch what that man does.
I’d say he is sure to take care of it instantly.
Quinn has never stood by and allowed anyone he loved to hurt.
You are his most prized possession, and I hope he is yours. We fight for what we hold dear.”
“You’re right. I am angry about this whole thing but only because I’m so hurt. Jocelyn has taught me to look first to see what is fueling my anger and it helps to know what to do. Usually.”
She smiled half-heartedly and hugged the endearing Irish woman; her love growing stronger. There would be no mother-in-law jokes about Siobhan because it was obvious she made sure she wasn’t that type of mother-in-law.
Walking out of the powder room after repairing her face, they found Kelli waiting for them with their lunches neatly wrapped to take home.
“Are you okay, Cheyenne?” After affirmation, Kelli continued.
“Well, the rest have gone home to get back to preparing for the wedding. We’ll get back to the house so you can finish lunch and do what you need to.
” Her voice hardened, “After you talk to Quinlan O’Connor that is.
I can kick some brotherly butt if you need me to. ”
Cheyenne giggled at the mental image. “Thanks, but I think I can handle him. Oh, I almost forgot,” Kelli added, “Caoimhe said the drama might be the reason she just went into labor.”
“What?” both women asked.
“Don’t worry, she’s done this before. Katie took her to the hospital and Jocelyn called Andrew. Caoimhe said the battle cry of the O’Connor women was too strong for her body to deny and it called to the next little O’Connor grandchild to come take her place in the clan.”
They all laughed as she looped one arm with each woman and set off for the car. Cheyenne knew it would all work out somehow.
Cheyenne was sitting at the kitchen table waiting for news from the hospital when Quinn came into the house looking for a couple of beers for him and Liam. They had been working in the yard, raking leaves and finishing the winter prep, when they took a break.
“Hey, baby.” Reaching down to give her a kiss, she offered her cheek instead and stood up.
“We need to talk.” She knew it was obvious, but she wanted to make sure everything was clearly understood for the next conversation. “The sooner the better.”
“Sure, are you all right? Is something wrong?”
“Just tell me when you are available.” Cheyenne was treating this as a business transaction by her tone, and it was anything but. However, she wasn’t sure she could keep it calm if she approached it any other way.
“Come on. Get your coat. I’m available now.” He grabbed a beer out for Liam and waited for her to grab her purse and coat before following her outside.
“Hey, Liam,” he tossed the beer into his brother’s hands, “got something I need to do. You good with finishing this?”
“Yep, you go ahead.”
No teasing, no complaining told Cheyenne that somehow Jocelyn had gotten to her husband since lunch and filled him in on things.
This time she thought it a welcome interference, as Quinn opened the truck door for her.
He knew something was up as well because he wasn’t questioning her more. He always had good instincts.
After they had been driving out of town in the other direction for a little bit, Quinn opened the conversation as he pulled into the club parking lot.
“Well, let’s go in here because no one will be here now.”
It was Thursday, and no training was going on until that evening.
Thursday was the day he was supposed to have a standing meeting with Maggie.
In less than forty-eight hours, he was supposed to vow his undying fidelity and love to Cheyenne.
She was sick to her stomach. Her wedding and everything she had hoped for these last two years might go up in smoke, here in the club she had grown to love.
With the man she had grown to love. She couldn’t catch the sob that escaped as she entered the foyer of The Sting.
His hand was immediately pressed protectively to the small of her back, and she felt the sting of tears. “I have to go to the bathroom,” she rushed the words as she swiftly went in the direction of the women’s locker room.
She ran to a stall, turning on a sink as she passed for cover noise.
Slamming the stall door, she allowed the tears to burst forth, overtaking her as they had in another bathroom earlier that day.
She cried from the stress and the fear of what Quinn would reveal.
She cried because she felt so angry, hurt, and lost. The strong part of her was lost in the sorrowful part.
Finally, when she had cried herself out, she noticed that the water was turned off in the sink and the room was quiet.
She resolved to find out the truth, even if it killed her.
When she opened the door to Quinn standing in front of her, giving her time and waiting patiently for her, she knew if it went badly, it would kill her.
He was the best thing that had ever happened to her, and she would not lose her dignity to be with him, but God she wanted to throw it all away for him.
He held out his hand in invitation, and she flew past his hand and into his arms, landing hard as a freight train without brakes. He grunted, and she sniffed his scent. Sweat, warmth, and the outdoors assailed her senses. Strength surrounded her.
“Come on, baby, let’s sit down on one of these sofas’ you ladies insisted on and you tell me what’s going on. I’m glad today that this locker room is so swanky. You didn’t seem like you needed a de-stressor this morning. Did I misread you?”
She shook her head. “No, I was good this morning.”
He her after settling her into his arms. “Okay, so something happened since then. Tell me what it was.” “Don’t you have a meeting today?”
“No, I’m all yours. Why?” He turned her so he could see her face.
Cheyenne shrugged. “Because it’s Thursday.”
“Go on.”
“And don’t you meet Maggie on Thursdays?” Cheyenne ducked her head, not wanting to see his face.
Quinn hesitated. “I did. Last week was the last week.”
“Oh. Because you can’t keep doing it after you are married?” Cheyenne sat up, pulling a bit away from him.