Shattered Vows: Call Me Auntie Now novel Chapter 53

"Oh, right, you were heading up to see Lillian Quincy, right? I'll come with you." Tara linked arms with Quinn as they stepped into the elevator.

"Quinn, Vivienne might have a back door, but so do you. I've told you before, my family does business with Lillian. I could easily introduce you."

Quinn gently patted Tara's hand. "You know me. I want to earn Ms. Quincy's approval through my own merit."

"Alright, but the day you finally snap and want to crush that manipulative bitch, just say the word."

Quinn couldn't help but smile at that.

The two took the elevator up to Lillian's office, only to be informed that she had already left for the day.

They had to head back down empty-handed.

"Good things take time, Quinn. Don't be discouraged," Tara encouraged.

"Yeah, I know."

Quinn then asked her, "What are you up to this afternoon? Want to come hang out at my place? Leo misses you."

"Liar. My godson is obsessed with your bodyguard these days. He barely even looks at me."

Mentioning Raymond Moretti seemed to spark Tara's energy, and she shot Quinn a suggestive wink. "Seriously Quinn, with a gorgeous piece of meat living right under your roof, how have you kept your hands off him?"

Quinn was speechless.

What kind of nonsense was she spouting now?

"Quinn, I'm dead serious. That bodyguard of yours is top-tier. Keep him around, it's way better than dating some immature college boy."

"You just haven't dated enough. You hung yourself on Dante's branch for years, and it was a rotten branch to begin with."

"You're divorced now, totally single! You should just rebound immediately and piss the deadbeat ex off!"

Tara suddenly adopted a wicked grin. "Girl, just looking at his broad shoulders and that build, you know he's gotta be wild in bed. Just jump him one night and see—mmmph!"

Quinn quickly clamped a hand over Tara's mouth, stopping her outrageous tirade.

"Tara, stop talking and go home."

"Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing. There's a college basketball league game at the arena this afternoon. I'm gonna go check it out."

Quinn chuckled. "After all these years, you still have a thing for athletic guys on the court?"

It was the dust, for God's sake!

Not Dante!

Quinn tried to open her mouth to explain, but she couldn't make a sound.

A suffocating wave of despair gripped her chest.

She frantically fumbled with her bag, desperate for her emergency inhaler.

Just then, a tall, imposing shadow sprinted toward her like a hurricane.

In the next second, a man's strong, muscular arm wrapped firmly around her weakening waist, pulling her effortlessly into a broad, solid chest.

His movements were swift and dominant, carrying an undeniable, commanding presence.

He quickly produced a cold asthma inhaler. With steady fingers, he supported the back of her neck, tilting her head up while his other hand prepped the device.

Aiming it between her parted lips, he pressed down cleanly. His actions were smooth and assertive, devoid of any hesitation.

"Open your mouth. Breathe in."