Rowan’s lips twisted into a scowl. “You’re very annoying. Has anyone ever told you that?”
“I’m fine with it.” Alex winked. “Now, go do your soap opera thing. I’ll hold down the fort.”
QUINN PICKED A QUIET spot on the deck, far away from the action, as the FBI descended and started taking people into custody. He sat on one of the loungers at the stern of the ship and tugged Rowan so she had no choice but to sit with him.
“About before ... .”
“You don’t have to say anything.” Rowan was overly forceful as she placed her hands in her lap. “I didn’t say it because I wanted you to say it back. Okay, that’s not exactly true. I want you to say it back, but only when you’re ready.”
Quinn managed to keep his expression calm and serene even though his heart threatened to pound out of his chest. “And you don’t think I’m ready?”
“Obviously not.”
“Even though I told you I had a big plan to tell you, somehow, you don’t think I’m ready, huh?”
Rowan shrugged, noncommittal.
“Sweetie, I’ve been ready for a while,” Quinn volunteered. “I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time. I wanted it to be special, though. I wasn’t lying about that. It seems every time I thought I would have an opening, something else happened.
“Like murderous movie producers, an uncle you haven’t seen in years showing up out of the blue, evil cheerleading coaches, and now a father you thought was dead resurfacing,” he continued. “I wanted to say it at a time when we could both focus on it.”
Even though she felt a little better given his words, Rowan’s nerves were shot. “You don’t have to say it.”
“Oh, I’m going to say it.” Quinn’s lips quirked. “Tonight I realized that picking the perfect moment was unnecessary. Feeling it, saying it, those are the most important things. You blurted it out and it felt right even though we were in the middle of an operation to bring down a drug smuggler.”
Rowan’s eyebrows shifted higher on her forehead. “Drugs?”
Quinn nodded. “Fitzgerald admitted it in Michael’s office. Apparently Bart was going to kill him to take over the operation, something Fitzgerald caught wind of. I think that’s why Fitzgerald had the omen on him in that photo. Fitzgerald told us everything.
“That was the longest five minutes of my life, by the way,” he continued. “Demarcus told us what was happening and that Alex was going to handle Dalton. My first inclination was to abandon the operation and go after you. I had to trust that Alex would do right by you, though, because taking Fitzgerald down was important to our future.”
“Because he wanted me dead,” Rowan mused. “Dalton told me. Fitzgerald thought he might be able to get you on his team if I was out of the picture.”
“That was never going to happen regardless. Losing you, though, simply would’ve meant that I killed Fitzgerald. I don’t want a life without you and I would’ve killed him if he laid a hand on you.”
Rowan’s smile was rueful. “I don’t think Jasper Fitzgerald is the type to get his hands dirty. He orders everyone else to do it.”
“Yeah. He’s a coward.” Quinn stroked his hand down the back of her head. “Sweetie, I love you.” His voice was strong and clear as he uttered the words. “I’m still upset you stole my moment. I wanted to be first. That doesn’t change the fact that I feel it. I need you to know that.”
Rowan’s eyes filled with tears as emotion washed over her. The words were like a punch to the gut, although it was a blow she was happy to absorb. “I love you, too. You didn’t have to say it, though. I could’ve waited.”
“No. We’re done waiting.”
Rowan sniffed as Quinn tugged her tight against his chest. He rocked back and forth as he held her. The tears didn’t overly bother him — it was an emotional night, after all — but he was eager for her to put that aside so they could celebrate later. Sure, it was hours down the road, but it would eventually happen. He was looking forward to it.
They sat like that for a full five minutes, until Rowan’s tears had abated and she was in control of her emotions again. “I’m glad you held to Alex’s plan and took down Fitzgerald,” she said finally. “We would’ve always been looking over our shoulders otherwise.”
“Definitely,” Quinn bobbed his head. “Still, all I could think about was you. I wanted to get to you.”
“Dalton never laid a hand on me.”
“Which is why he’s still alive.”
“He’s the one who did all the heavy lifting,” Rowan supplied. “You don’t think he’ll get a deal, do you? He did all the killing.”
“I don’t think anyone will be getting a deal. The FBI wants to make a splash with this takedown. Larry is already fashioning press releases so he’ll look like a hero. It’s going to be all over the news.”
“Well, as long as the bad guys are locked up, I think that’s all that matters.”
“Not all.” Quinn pushed Rowan’s hair away from her face. “What also matters is that I love you. I’m going to keep saying it until it sinks in. I love you. I love you. I love you.”
Rowan barked out a laugh as Quinn pressed a firm kiss to her mouth. Each time he said it, the fist clasped around her heart eased. “I love you, too.”
“Good.” He kissed her again before resting his forehead against hers. “I know we both have to make statements and everything — and we have no choice but to do it tonight because we set sail tomorrow with a ship full of authors — but I really wish we would could sneak away and spend the rest of the night locked in your room with only each other to focus on.”
“That does sound nice,” Rowan agreed. “We have jobs to do, though. We’ll have time for each other later tonight. And, I mean, the ship is going to be full of authors. I’m guessing they’re not rowdy or anything. Hopefully we’ll have a quiet cruise this go around.”
“That would be a nice change of pace.” Quinn heaved out a disgusted sigh when his phone dinged with an incoming text message. “That’s probably Alex. I hate to say it, but I would rather give my statement now.”
“The faster we do it, the faster we can sneak away,” Rowan agreed, surreptitiously swiping at her eyes as Quinn studied his phone screen. “I just want to spend some time with you.”
“Yeah.” Quinn licked his lips as he slowly raised his eyes. He was torn about the message he’d just received, and he didn’t know how to move forward. “Ro, that wasn’t a message from Alex.”
“Who was it from?”
“Fred.”
“What does he want? Did he hear what went down?”
“He has some information on Fitzgerald’s workers, something that would’ve helped us figure things out two days ago.” Quinn chose his words carefully. “That’s probably not necessary now.”
“Probably not.”
“He also broke the code on the message Nick left behind.”
Rowan’s shoulders stiffened. “Oh. Do I want to hear this?”
“I have no idea. I think you need to hear it, though.”
“Fine.” Rowan exhaled heavily. “What does my uncle have to say? What was his excuse for leaving?”
“He had to make travel arrangements,” Quinn replied softly. “Your father is on his way. Heck, your father is probably already in Florida.”
Rowan balked. “He hasn’t contacted me.”
“He’s not going to. Er, well, he’s not going to until he’s on the ship.”
“He’s coming to the ship?” Rowan furrowed her brow. “Well, of course he is. We’re leaving port tomorrow so he’s arriving at a time I can’t meet with him. That just figures.”
“No, honey, I don’t think you understand.” Quinn licked his lips. “He’s one of the guests for the next cruise. That’s what the message says. Come tomorrow, your father will be here and he’s going to sea with us for the better part of a week.”
Rowan was officially dumbfounded. “What?”
“I know.” Quinn pulled her back
for another hug and kissed her cheek. “Tonight is the night of surprises, huh?”
Rowan had no idea how to respond.
“It’s probably good I already told you I love you,” Quinn mused as he rubbed the back of her neck. “I don’t think we’re going to get a perfect moment for quite some time.”
“Yeah.” Rowan rested her head on his shoulder. “Do you think he’s really coming?”
“I do. I always thought that even though you tried to convince yourself otherwise.”
“Oh, my ... .”
“I know.” Quinn and Rowan were lost in each other and didn’t bother to look up when Alex appeared on the deck. “It’s going to be okay. We have each other. I will be by your side for all of this.”
“Uh-huh.”
Alex cleared his throat. “If you lovebirds are done petting each other, we need you inside.”
Quinn nodded, resigned. “We’re coming.” He slowly pulled Rowan to her feet and secured an arm around her waist as they walked. She seemed a bit wobbly. “It’s going to be okay. Just remember I love you.”
“I love you, too.” The clouds cleared from Rowan’s eyes. “It’s all finally coming together.”
“It is.”
“I can’t believe it’s finally happening.”
“Believe it. Tomorrow, we’re setting sail on another adventure.”
This adventure was one a decade in the making, of course. It was time, though. They couldn’t move forward without looking back. The answers were finally on their doorstep.
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Acknowledgments
I’m a romantic at heart. A true romantic. I love the idea of a happy ending, so much so I have trouble writing a sad one. The world is sad enough. I like escaping in fiction. That’s just me. I like sarcasm and snark – but I’m not sure a sad ending is in me. If you’re looking for an edge like that, you’re probably looking in the wrong place. Just FYI.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Churning Seas Page 20