CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
QUINN
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Noah is so much like his father, and I can tell they’ve had a difficult relationship. But Mr. Jenkins—Dad—is a true gentleman. A gruff one, but I seem to like my men like that.
Today won’t go nearly as well. All day I’ve had butterflies and felt sick.
Noah said I was pregnant.
We did a test, and I’m not.
“I’m nervous,” I say as we sit in the back of the Uber. I didn’t think turning up on a motorbike with my fiancé was a good idea. It’s just one less thing to worry about.
“I should have told them I was bringing someone.” I chew the inside of my mouth and lift my hand to admire my engagement ring.
It’s perfect.
I’m not sure I would have chosen anything better. It astounds me how well Noah knows me, given we never dated. The past few weeks have been the most incredible of my life.
Making love.
Falling asleep in his arms.
Waking up in them.
Discussing our future and learning new things about one another. I know it’s the honeymoon phase, but we have known one another for years and this doesn’t feel like any other relationship I’ve been in.
It’s solid.
There’s a surety to being committed on this level which takes a little getting used to, but I love it.
I belong to Noah now.
Not that a woman belongs to anyone, but he is my family. We are a partnership. That gives me a strength I perhaps should have found before now.
“You haven’t let your father stop your dreams. Stop being hard on yourself,” Noah said to me a few days ago. “From what you’ve told me, you’ve stood up for yourself many times.”
He’s right.
I suppose what I was expecting is for my father to change. He won’t...unless he wants to. So, knowing he’ll have harsh words for me today and won’t be happy for us hurts. He may refuse to walk me down the aisle or come to our wedding.
I blink away the emotions, and Noah squeezes my hand as the Uber turns into the familiar residential street.
I should’ve warned Mom.
I should’ve told them over Zoom.
God, this is a bad idea.
We climb out and walk hand in hand along the path up to the front door. Mom opens it, calling out that Quinn is here!
My brother stands behind her with a grin. He clearly saw us get out of the car.
“Well, this should be fun,” Ted says as Noah places his hand in the small of my back.
“Oh!” Mom lets out a surprised cry. “Hello.”
She stands back and we walk in.
“Mom, this is Noah. Noah, my brother Ted.”
“How do you do, ma’am?” Noah says and shakes Ted’s hand.
“Yes, lovely. Ah, come on in. Quinn, you didn’t tell us you were bringing someone.”
Not just someone.
Dad jogs down the stairs, and there’s already thunder in his eyes.
“Colonel,” Noah says, standing up straight and saluting him.
“Captain Jenkins,” Dad says, returning the salute and glancing at me in question. His eyes shift to the minimal space between us, where Noah has his hand on my back.
“I’ll pour some drinks.” Ted winks at me while I try not to throw up and walks into the living area.
“Yes, let’s go and sit down.” Mom pats Dad’s arm.
He doesn’t move.
Shit, shit, shit.
“Dad—”
“Let’s go into my study.” He glances at Noah, who nods.
Noah gives my hand a squeeze, and we follow my father, closing the study door behind us.
Dad turns as he reaches the desk and crosses his arms. “What’s going on?”
“I—”
“I asked Quinn to marry me, and she said yes.” Noah says firmly.
Silence.
“She will be my wife. I hope you’ll respect our decision. No lines were crossed while I was enlisted or her CO.”
Dad’s cheeks turn ruddy as he looks between me and Noah. My heart is thumping like crazy, and there’s a big chance I might have a heart attack.
“Is that right?”
“Yes.” I nod. “I love him. I am marrying him.” I hold up my ring.
“You are both clearly aware how this will affect Quinn’s career, her reputation?”
My brows shoot up. Is he serious?
My career? As if he cares?
Noah stiffens beside me, but I turn my already raised hand to stop my father saying another word.
“What did you just say?” I demand.
“We’ve discussed this...and him,” Dad replies.
“He is my fiancé, and you’ve spent my entire adult life telling me I shouldn’t be in the military. Now you’re worried what people will say about me?”
“I never stopped you.”
“You couldn’t. I was an adult,” I snap, then something occurs to me. “But that’s not what you’re worried about, is it? You’re concerned about the family reputation.”
When Dad’s eyes darken almost guiltily, Noah places a hand between my shoulder blades. “Am I missing something?”
I turn to him, hating that he has to listen to this. I’m ashamed of my father and all his biases, especially that he has opinions about Noah.
“Son, your playboy reputation was well-known on base. Now you want to marry my daughter. I won’t allow it.”
God, I want to die.
Noah takes a step forward while keeping a physical connection with me. “Did you just call me a playboy?”
Dad doesn’t respond, and I glance between them, not wanting this to get out of control.
“Sir, with all due respect, every soldier on that base dates women, and not just one. I was no saint, sure, but I certainly didn’t have a reputation in excess of any other GI.”
Dad’s cheeks deepen, his nostrils flare.
“Dad?” I press.
“Jenkins, you were caught with that woman.” Dad draws in a deep breath and looks at me almost with pity.
I look back at Noah. “What woman?”
His brow is lowered.
“The one at the club, son. You have to tell her. You can’t marry her without telling her. I won’t have it.”
The blood drains from my face.
What is going on?
“What are you talking about, Colonel? What club...ohhh.” Noah relaxes, and an odd smile hits his lips while I freak out.
What club?
What woman?
What do I need to know about the man I’m going to damn well marry?
“Noah!” I grab his arm.
He runs a hand over his face. “You thought that was me? All this time?”
I glance back at Dad, whom I’m pleased to see looks a little uncertain.
“Yes...?”
Noah reaches for me, brushing a hand over my hair. “In my late twenties, a few years before I met you, there was a guy in my platoon. David Jenkins. He was a playboy. He frequented a club in Austin...it was a whorehouse, so let’s call it what it was.”
“David...” Dad mumbles and lets out a curse. “You sure?”
“Think I’d remember if I roughed up a woman and was questioned by the police, sir. And for the record, I have never hurt a woman and never will.”
Holy shit.
My mouth falls open. “You thought Noah had...is that why you didn’t like him training me?”
“I was told there was an attraction between you and...well, I thought he was the man involved in the incident. I saw how you looked at him and was concerned. I wasn’t able to divulge the private information at the time.” Dad circles his desk and points to the chairs.
Noah looks at me for direction. I give him a small, reassuring smile, and he leads me to the chairs.
“I heard everything. All the rumors about you rising up the ranks fast, and how that might be happening,” Dad adds.
“On her own merit, sir. I would never promote a soldier for any other reason,” Noah says firmly.
I love him for that a little bit more.
“It appears we have a case of mistaken identity. I thought you were the man who had roughed up that woman, and the police were unable to prove it.” Dad shakes his head.
I can’t believe this.
“David Jenkins was discharged six months later,” Noah shares. “From memory. I didn’t know him well. We share a surname, that is all. I don’t hang out with assholes like that.”
I reach for his hand, and Noah gazes into my eyes, his own filled with love. But I also see the frustration, and that he blames this mishap for keeping us apart.
I’m not sure it was.
I did that.
“And for the record, Colonel, I don’t want to marry your daughter. I am. If things had been different, if you hadn’t confused me with David, perhaps I would’ve asked for her hand.” He glances at me. “But I think we both know she’s the only one with the permission to give that to me.”
Dad lets out a sigh. “On that, son, we agree.”
I smile at my father, unsure where we go from here, but hope lingers in the air.
“You’ve chosen a dangerous career, Quinn, and I will always be worried about you because of it. If the country goes to war, you’ll be sent off to fight.”
“I know.”
“Then I can only hope your future husband gets you pregnant, so you end up on a different path. I’m not sorry about that. I am your father and love you.”
“I wanted your support.” I lower my eyes as Noah lets out a groan next to me.
“It was my job to protect you,” Dad replies gruffly, and when I look back at him, I see a glimpse of something I’ve not seen in years: affection and love. “You’re an accomplished soldier; I can’t deny that. Pride is hard to feel when I worry every day that my little girl will be shipped overseas.”
Emotion overwhelms me. I almost break down but draw in breath after breath, instead, not wanting him to see me cry.
He’s hurt me too much for too long.
I don’t know if we will ever get our relationship back, but I know we both have to try.
“None of us want that. But you should know,” Noah says to my father. “This beautiful daughter of yours is the one who saved me in California when the cartel attacked.”
“That was you?” His eyes widen.
I shrug, feeling pretty damn proud of myself.
“I mean, sometimes it takes a woman to fix things, you know.”
Dad shakes his head. “I don’t want to know. Come on, let’s get to the table before your mother bites my head off.”
Noah stands and lifts me to my feet, kissing my forehead.
Dad walks over, shakes his hand as I step back, giving them space. “Welcome to the family, Noah.”
“Thank you, sir. I promise I will love and honor your daughter with every breath I have.”
“Good.”
I walk out of Dad’s study with hope in my heart and the two men I love in my wake.