by Ava Miles
Someone suddenly slapped him on the back, and he turned around to see all of his siblings save Connor grinning at him alongside his father. Annie was also in the mix, which was only appropriate given she would be a CEO in her own right in the proposed restructuring plan.
“Man, you and Francesca outdid yourselves,” Trevor said, bear-hugging him. “We all finished reading the report. Damn! It’s ridiculous.”
“I’m underutilized,” Flynn said, pulling a face. “Quinn, prepare for an onslaught of tech initiatives that are going to make bank.”
“Bring them on,” he said with a laugh.
“You’re lucky I’m cool having two CEOs in the family,” Flynn said, nudging his wife. “Right, Annie?”
“Like it changes anything,” Annie said, but she was beaming. “Thank you for your support, Quinn. It’s all so exciting.”
“The board is going to love it,” J.T. said, stepping forward and man-hugging Quinn. “As a member, you have my vote. But seriously. Well done, man. Both of you.”
He wished Francesca were here to hear this praise, but she was off with his mother, Aunt Clara, and Alice in town. Something about showing her the shops. Meanwhile, Boyd had taken some of the in-laws and Annie (and now Flynn’s) girls on a special botanical tour at the University of California at Davis that morning along with Hargreaves.
Quinn had decided to stick around his parents’ house and hang with his family, thinking it would be a good opportunity to discuss the plan with them.
“You two did great!” The bride-to-be grabbed him and kissed his cheek. “J.T. has my proxy for the vote, but I’ll be thinking about you guys next Tuesday.”
“Sorry we had to call an emergency meeting while you were on your honeymoon,” he said, watching as her eyes darkened.
She and Boyd had decided not to go on safari in South Africa due to the virus. Boyd didn’t want to chance anything, and while Michaela had agreed, Quinn knew it was a disappointment. To bolster her spirits, he and his siblings had arranged for a chef’s tasting at the mountain resort they were going to in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. There was an abundance of wildlife there, and Boyd had joked it would be their domestic safari.
“You need to move forward with the plan,” Michaela said. “It’s a good one, and I know everyone at Merriam has been dying to hear it.”
His dad came forward and extended a hand to Quinn. “Everyone who’s served as the president of Merriam knows what a tough job it is to steer the company out of troubled waters. You’ve made us all very proud with this plan, Quinn.”
He shook his dad’s hand, oddly emotional. “Thank you, but it was all Francesca.”
“You brought her in, and that makes you smart,” Caitlyn said, putting her arm around him. “Also, thank you for believing in me.”
He kissed her cheek. “You believed in yourself and wrote a kick-ass proposal. I’m glad I funded it.”
“Me too,” Flynn said with a shake of his head. “Otherwise, I would have had to kick your butt. Frankly, Quinn, while you’ve been pretty grouchy lately, you’ve also made some really good decisions. I look forward to seeing how much better you’re going to do with your woman by your side. She looks good on you, bro.”
His mouth twitched. “Yes, she does.”
Then Connor came down the hall with Louisa, and Quinn went still inside. How would his brother react to hearing about the plan? Never in a million years did he want it to hurt him.
But his older brother just crossed to him and shook his hand, and he knew what it meant. Connor was assuring him he needn’t have worried.
“I don’t know the details, but it’s good to hear everyone’s happy with the restructuring plan. Congratulations, bro, on a job well done. When Francesca returns, I’ll have to tell her the same.”
Caitlyn wiped tears from her eyes, and Flynn took her hand in comfort. They all knew how hard it was for Connor to approach him—all of them—like this. Quinn was just glad his brother didn’t try apologizing again. They were done with that chapter of Merriam Enterprises.
“If I had something to drink, I would give a toast.” Quinn looked around at his whole family. “To all of our futures. May they be bigger and brighter than we ever imagined.”
“Sounds like we all need some champagne,” their father said. “Come on. It’s happy hour somewhere, and this calls for a celebration.”
Quinn dug out his phone and texted Aunt Clara.
Get my woman back here STAT. We’re toasting the restructuring plan, and she should be here for it.
She responded quickly.
You always were bossy, but that’s a Merriam for you. Message received.
He followed the rest of the family into the family room, smiling as multiple champagne corks were popped. More toasts went around once everyone had a glass, and he took a moment to savor the feeling of being among his family. All of his worries had disappeared this week—mostly. Sure, he had to initiate layoffs, but they’d reduced them by half with Francesca’s brilliant solution and also because his siblings had decided to forgo their salaries too. He still didn’t like the prospect of eliminating jobs, but he could live with it.
“I heard we were missing a celebration,” their mother said, entering the family room some twenty minutes later, carrying a blue gift bag. “Quinn, your father walked me through the major points of the restructuring plan before we came downstairs for breakfast. You did good, son.”
He lifted his flute in her direction. “Thanks, Mom.”
Francesca came in laughing with Aunt Clara and Alice, and the colors in the room suddenly seemed more vivid. She lit up a room by being herself, and he drank in the sight of her in an asymmetrical red cashmere sweater and navy wool pants. Soon, he’d ask her to marry him again. As far as her work plans went, he trusted she’d come up with the perfect answer. She had always exceeded his expectations. This time would be no different.
“Finally!” He crossed the room and kissed her sweetly on the mouth. “Everyone has been toasting me for the restructuring plan, but they should be toasting you.”
Her regal brow rose. “I’ve told you before, Quinn. When you lead, all the successes or failures rest on your shoulders.”
What a crock of shit. “I wouldn’t have been able to come up with any of this without you.”
“Are you two really going to argue over this?” Aunt Clara rolled her eyes. “I thought this was a celebration. Where’s my champagne?”
“Coming, Aunt,” J.T. called, filling more glasses and then enlisting Annie to help him pass them out.
“Let me show you how this is done,” Aunt Clara said, giving him a set down and lifting her glass to the room. “Arthur, Hargreaves, and I didn’t do much matchmaking this time, but these two have found their way back to each other. I’m calling that a success. To another Merriam finding his soulmate. May your love make you more joyous each and every day.”
“Hear, hear,” Trevor and J.T. shouted.
Francesca clinked their champagne flutes together, reminding him of that day, a few weeks ago now, when she’d held back. “I believe we’re both being called to more graciousness. How about a toast to our mutual success?”
He loved it when she talked like that. “I can jump on the bandwagon of anything mutual when it comes to you, babe,” he said so only she could hear.
Except Alice bit her lip, and he knew they’d been overheard. Well, with everyone underfoot, he’d gotten used to it. The other day, his mother had walked in on him kissing Francesca in his old bedroom and said, “Have fun, you two. Only next time close the door.”
He hadn’t needed to be reminded twice.
“Now, to Francesca,” Aunt Clara was saying. “I read the plan well into the night with Arthur snoring beside me, and I have to say, it is downright ingenious. You two make an incredible pair.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” his father said, lifting his glass.
They all toasted Francesca, and he squeezed her waist as they sipped their champagne. Seein
g his family’s pride in the woman he loved filled his heart.
“It’s nice when your partner brings out the best in you,” Flynn said, smiling at his wife.
“To love,” Caitlyn said. “It brings out the best in all of us.”
“It does?” Uncle Arthur said, stepping into the family room with Boyd and the rest of their party.
The girls ran through the room, chattering about finding a snack. Boyd had his bridegroom glow on, but Beau and Caroline looked green, which puzzled Quinn.
“News to this old journalist,” he said, prompting Aunt Clara to let out an unladylike noise and cross the room to her husband and poke him in the belly.
“You know it does,” she said, kissing his weathered cheek. “You missed me, I bet.”
“If I did, I know better than to say so,” his uncle said. “You drinking already? It’s not even noon.”
“Yes, it is,” Aunt Clara said. “How was the tour? I was so conflicted about what to choose, but Assumpta was persuasive.”
“Boyd could have left out the snakes.” Uncle Arthur shuddered.
“Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t go!” Aunt Clara said with real regret. “You know how much I love snakes.”
Michaela grinned as she crossed to her soon-to-be husband. “You just couldn’t resist the temptation, could you?”
He kissed her full on the mouth. “Nope. I’m like your aunt. Something about them just appeals to me. Maybe I was a snake charmer in another life.”
“It was terrifying,” Caroline said. “I may never be able to hike in Dare Valley again. Good thing Beau offered to go outside with me. I think we were both green when we came across one eating a mouse.”
That explained it. Quinn would have been green too.
“It wasn’t my favorite moment,” Caitlyn’s fiancé said with his usual low-key humor.
“Oh, yuck, babe,” Caitlyn said, taking his hand. “I’m so glad I stayed home to read the report.”
Is that why his siblings had stayed home? He knew it impacted their jobs too, but he still felt all kinds of choked up anyway. Francesca rubbed his back, as if sensing his emotional response. The smile she gave him settled him some.
“I loved the snakes,” Becca said, putting her hands to her face. “They’re right fearsome creatures though, especially the ones that puff up. We don’t have them in Ireland, you know.”
“Another reason I love Ireland,” Trevor said to his wife.
“No offense, Boyd, but I think it’s time to head off more snake talk guaranteed to give me and others the heebie-jeebies,” Flynn said, clapping his hands. “Time for the real fun. Louisa and I dreamed up the perfect way to get everyone excited for your wedding day. Hargreaves! We’re ready when you are.”
Louisa came forward and gazed around the room. “You missed the fun in Chicago,” she said in her best pro-wrestling announcer voice, “but you heard about it. Said you’d have joined in—”
“Oh, no,” Quinn said out loud, because he suddenly knew where they were going with this. Francesca didn’t, though, and she turned her head and gave him a puzzled look.
Caitlyn started clapping with Flynn, and Louisa and Connor joined in.
“It’s time for Merriam karaoke!” Louisa cried out, pointing to the doorway.
Hargreaves wheeled in the portable machine, his usually inscrutable smile completely absent.
“Cool!” Alice cried out.
“Not karaoke!” Uncle Arthur smacked his hand to his forehead.
“We have every song from your favorite soundtrack, Sleepless in Seattle, all primed and loaded for you,” Louisa said, doing a happy dance.
“I love it!” Michaela jumped up and down like a little kid. “Boyd, what first?”
“How about ‘A Kiss to Build A Dream On’?” he asked, then kissed her slowly on the mouth and waved his hand in the air to the crowd, signaling they should applaud as it continued.
“Boyd’s certainly getting into the spirit of things for tomorrow,” Flynn said with a lopsided grin. “It’s the only time you get to kiss like that in public and have people clap. Kinda weird when you think about it.”
“I think it’s great,” Caitlyn said, leaning her head against Beau’s chest. “I can’t wait for our turn. We might need to practice.”
“Anytime you want, sweetheart,” Beau responded.
Quinn thought about practicing with Francesca. He liked the thought of kissing her unreservedly whenever he felt like it, and he patted her hip to let her know.
Michaela and Boyd gave an endearing rendition of their chosen song, and Louisa had apparently taken on the master of ceremony duties, because when they finished, she took the mike and held it out to him and Francesca.
“Are you two ready for your duet? I was thinking ‘We Are The Champions’ by Queen might be the perfect victory song. Will you accept the challenge?”
Quinn had watched the last Merriam karaoke in Chicago from the wings, just like he’d experienced most family events in recent years, and everyone knew it. He planned to change that. He turned to Francesca, who was pursing her lips. Was she in shock or trying to hide her amusement? “You game, babe?”
The elegant Francesca Maroun he’d fallen in love with wouldn’t have been inclined to participate in karaoke any more than the old Quinn Merriam. But her eyes flashed, and suddenly she was taking the mike from Louisa. “I love Queen, but how about something more apropos. Do you have DJ Khaled’s ‘All I Do Is Win’?”
Hargreaves entered in the search and started nodding within seconds. “Yes, Miss, we do.”
“Then hit it, Hargreaves,” she said.
“Oh, my God!” Flynn said, tapping his chest. “I love her. Quinn, you’d better step up your game because your woman has serious swag.”
“Serious,” Trevor agreed as the song started playing.
Quinn couldn’t believe it, but she pointed to the screen showing the lyrics in that commanding way of hers and he joined her. He knew the song, of course, and really liked it. He hadn’t expected Francesca to go for it, but she started jamming to the beat, making his family start jamming along with her.
Trevor whistled, followed by an answering catcall from J.T.
Quinn was bobbing his head, close to Francesca’s, and he realized he was having the time of his life.
That sense of celebration continued in the house into the wedding the next day. Michaela and Boyd’s ceremony was heartfelt and touching. When Aunt Clara read a love poem written by one of the Maasai children, inspired by Michaela and Boyd, there were few dry eyes in the house. Quinn’s throat had grown thick at the line about Boyd sitting by her bedside night after night during her illness. To the little girl who’d written it, his vigil was the greatest act of love any one person could ever give another. He saw Francesca wiping a tear and took her hand.
The absence of most of the international guests was felt, especially at the reading of the Maasai poem. Quinn caught sight of Evan Michaels and Chase Parker, who owned and ran the company where Michaela and Boyd now worked. Selling off the natural health division to them had been a necessary step to ensure Michaela and Boyd could work together on the miracle health cure they’d found.
He felt a pinch about that decision. Their subsidiary would have fit wonderfully under Francesca’s new scheme. Maybe in a few years when profits were back up, he could try and bring it back under the Merriam umbrella. It would be nice to have another one of his siblings working with the company.
At the reception, he bypassed the dancing and led Francesca out into the vineyards. He’d thought of this moment for weeks, ever since she’d agreed to go to the wedding with him.
The weather was cool, but she’d wrapped an ivory silk scarf around her shoulders in a fashionable knot. Her elegant navy velvet dress had a sexy slit up the right thigh that inflamed his imagination.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked, her eyes shining like starlight.
He stopped between the vines, where the breeze couldn’t touch them, a
nd pulled out his wallet. She reared back as he opened it, and for a moment his heart hurt. She’d thought he was going to propose, and she wasn’t ready.
Anger spurted through him.
Give me some credit.
If she hadn’t figured out her work future, she wasn’t ready to be asked. The next time he asked her, he wanted to be damn sure she was going to say yes.
He pushed his hurt and anger aside and took out the picture of her that he kept in there. Handing it to her, he shifted his weight. “When Flynn got married after Christmas, I came out here and stared at your picture. I know this might sound weird, but I’ve kept it in my wallet for fifteen years. I couldn’t bring myself to take it out.”
Somehow it was easier to say that than to use the words to describe the pain and sorrow he’d felt after their breakup.
“It helped me feel like you were still with me. Even after all that time, I was still missing you.” He swallowed thickly when she raised her head, the strain on her face noticeable. “Connor found me. I might have mentioned that he urged me to win you back. I wanted to bring you out here and rewrite the scene, so to speak. The last time I was out here, I didn’t have you. Merriam Enterprises was in trouble, and I didn’t know how the hell I was going to turn it around—personally or professionally.”
She pressed the photo to her chest, her eyes somber. “I remember this. I didn’t have makeup on, and knowing you thought I was sexy like that made me feel…giddy. And so loved.”
“Well, you were. You are. I love the hell out of you, Francesca.” He blew out a pent-up breath. “My talk with Connor was over a month and a half ago. I wanted to bring you here to cement how far things had come for both of us.”
Taking one of her hands, he squeezed it gently.
“We can move mountains together, babe. I can’t wait to see what else we accomplish together. That’s all.” He raised her hand to his mouth and kissed it.
She smiled at him, a look so full of love and intimacy, he bathed in it. “I’m glad you came after me, Quinn. And may I add… It was about damn time.”