Sebastian couldn’t be happier. He had the love of his life and a son. Could it get any better then this? He thought not. This had been all so unexpected though. He had fought long and hard not to fall in love with Raelynn, yet he did anyway. Michael was an accident. An accident that Sebastian would be forever grateful for. His life had changed so much in the past year and a half. Changed in a way he never thought possible. It was all good though. He didn’t regret any of it. He was finally living the life he had always wanted.
Epilogue
Quinn walked in silence behind his brothers as they entered the bar. It was the first guys-night-out since Michael and Adalyn were born. Sebastian and Henry have been so busy with work and their families that Quinn hasn’t seen either of them in about a month. Quinn saw Christian at least once a week, if not more. But he had missed Henry and Sebastian.
They found a table and Christian insisted on buying the first round. Sebastian and Henry both downed half their beers in one shot. Then groaned loudly and shared a relieved look. Quinn had no idea what they were going through and he honestly didn’t want to know. He didn’t want kids. Didn’t think he was at all cut out for having kids. Kids needed a father who could show them how much he loved them. Quinn didn’t think he was capable of showing the affection that kids so often craved.
The conversation started. Quinn leaned back in his chair with his beer and listened. Only commenting every once in a while or if asked something directly. He watched Sebastian the most. The change in the man was incredible. He was vibrant and alive. He was animated when he talked. He laughed loud and often. Quinn was so very pleased that Sebastian was as happy as he was. Quinn wanted nothing but the best for his brothers.
“ Quinn?” asked a French accented female voice, breaking through his thoughts.
Quinn’s eyes lifted to see Margot standing next to him. How did he not hear her walk up? It wasn’t that loud in the bar. He had been too lost in his thoughts. Margot smiled brightly down at him.
“ I thought that was you!” she said sweetly. She then shocked the hell out of him when she leaned down and gave him a kiss on each cheek.
Quinn blinked stupidly at her, his cheeks burning from where she kissed him. “ Margot?”
“ Hey! Is this the chick you’re working with on that Trump Casino thingy?!” Sebastian asked, jumping up out of his seat.
Quinn opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. He just watched as Sebastian introduced himself. Margot greeted him, also giving him kisses on both cheeks. He knew that was a French thing, but it still irritated him that she did it to his brother. Then Henry and Christian introduced themselves too, also getting kisses.
Quinn scowled. What the hell was she doing here? He looked her over as she spoke animatedly with his brothers. She looked spectacular. She was wearing skinny jeans and a pink and black polka dotted sleeveless blouse that had lace cut outs on the shoulders. Her blouse was tucked into her jeans and she wore a thin shiny black leather belt. Her heels were just a plain black platform pump. Her long dark hair was down and parted on the side so that it had to sweep partitally over her forehead. Her makeup was minimal except for the bright red lipsick she had on to accentuate her plump bow shaped lips. Quinn could only imagine what those lips would look like wrapped around his...Goddammit! He had to stop thinking like that around her. He’d be walking around with a perpetual hard-on. And he was sure she wouldn’t appreciate that.
“ Quinn, I did not know you had brothers!” she smiled warmly.
Was she oblivious of his dislike of her? Or maybe she didn’t care and was just an all around pleasant person all the time.
Quinn shrugged with indifference. His brothers all stared at him in disgust. He just raised an eyebrow as if to say ‘What?’
“ Well, it looks like you are having a boys night, non? I will not stay. I will see you at work, Quinn,” Margot said with a small smile. She gave them all a wave then walked away. Quinn watched her make her way over to the bar where a couple of the other women from work were sitting.
A slap upside the head had Quinn whirling around to glare at Henry. “ What the fuck?” he growled at his brother.
“ What the hell is wrong with you?! That’s the girl you’ve been complaining about?” Henry said in exasperation.
“ Yes,” Quinn snapped.
“ Dude, she’s cute as hell,” Sebastian added.
“ I never said she wasn’t,” Quinn shrugged and sipped his beer.
“ She seems really nice,” Christian said, glancing back at her.
“ I never said she wasn’t. I just said she gets on my nerves,” Quinn muttered.
“ You should bring her as your guest to my wedding!” Sebastian exclaimed like it was the best idea he’s ever had.
“ Uh...no, definitely not,” Quinn said, shaking his head.
“ Uh...yeah, definitely yes,” Sebastian mocked. “You either bring her or you’re not invited,” Sebastian said, pointing at him.
Quinn snorted and finished off his beer. “ You would really not invite me because I don’t want to bring her?”
“ Yes. Besides, you don’t have anyone else to bring,” Sebastian pointed out.
“ Can’t I just come alone?” Quinn frowned.
“ Not now. You’re bringing Frenchy. If you don’t invite her, I will,” Sebastian said seriously.
“ He’ll do it.” Henry smirked.
Oh, Quinn knew Sebastian would do it. Dammit! Why did she have to be here tonight? Why did she have to come over and meet his brothers?! Now he was stuck. Maybe he could say he asked her and come up with some kind of excuse for her not to come. But knowing Sebastian, he would get her number somehow and call her up to find out the truth.
“ Dammit. Fine, I’ll ask her,” Quinn conceded reluctantly.
Sebastian grinned in triumph. Fucker. Quinn hated him just a little bit right now. He didn’t want to spend time with Margot outside of work. It was enough that he had to spend all day with her. Although, they had been getting along a little better now that he had earplugs. He wasn’t as irritated all the time and they could actually have small civilized conversations here and there. Margot thought the earplugs were hysterical. He caught her many times just staring at him with a huge smile on her face. Then he’d scowl at her and she’d laugh. She was so fucking cheery all the time. Quinn didn’t understand it.
The rest of the night went off without a hitch. Other then the occasional jab from his brothers about Margot, it was a pretty decent night. Sebastian’s wedding was in 5 months. So Quinn had plenty of time to ask Margot to be his date. Quinn stifled a shutter. He didn’t like the sound of that at all. Margot as his date. He’d never thought her name and ‘date’ would ever be in the same sentence. Oh well. He’d probably be too smashed at the wedding to even worry about her. He actually felt kinda bad for Margot. She would have no idea what she was getting herself into if she accepted his invitation. Beck family functions could get a bit crazy. Sebastian’s wedding would be no exception - she was definitely going to be in for one wild night.
Coming Soon...
Chapter 1
Quinn sighed heavily as he stared down at the invitation in front of him. He had hoped Sebastian had forgotten about their little conversation a few months ago. But no. He hadn’t. He even put her damn name on the invitation. Fucker. Quinn read the envelope again.
Mr. Quinn Beck & Ms. Margot Leclair
Dammit! He was so freaking screwed. Quinn took a deep breath and got up from his drafting table. Margot was sitting at her desk designing a hotel room on her computer. He walked over and stopped in front of her. Margot had her chin resting in her palm as she clicked away on her mouse. He tapped the invitation against his leg nervously. He really didn’t want to do this.
“ Margot?” Quinn murmured quietly.
Margot clicked a few more times before looking up at him, a small smile on her pretty face.
“ Qui?” she replied. Qui was one of the few French words that Quinn actuall
y knew.
Quinn cleared his throat. “ I...uh...my brother’s wedding is coming up and...uh...well...,” he stammered, like a fool. Quinn sighed heavily and held out the envelope with the invitation in it toward her.
Margot gave him a quizzical look and took the envelope. She looked at it in confusion at first before smiling wide. She covered her mouth with her hand as she started giggling. Quinn scowled down at her. Margot’s amused gaze lifted to meet his.
“ Your brother is...how do you say? Messing with you, non?” Margot grinned.
Quinn nodded. “ He told me the night he met you that I better bring you or I wasn’t invited.”
Margot laughed then bit her bottom lip to try to stop herself. “ I am sorry. I do not mean to laugh. It is very comical though,” she said.
Quinn rolled his eyes. He was going to kill Sebastian for this.
Margot looked at the invitation then back up at Quinn, her smile fading. “ You do not want to take me,” she said. A statement, not a question.
Quinn watched her for a moment. He couldn’t tell what she was thinking. She had closed off her face. On the outside she seemed impassive and it was so unlike her that Quinn knew it was an act. Could she possibly be upset? Did she seriously want to go with him?
“ Do not worry, Quinn. I will decline to attend,” Margot said quietly. She handed back the invitation and went back to her work.
Great! Now he felt like a dickhead. “ I don’t have anyone else to go with,” he found himself blurting out. He was so going to regret this.
Margot’s hazel eyes lifted again to meet his. He caught the flash of hurt in her eyes before she covered it up. “ It is okay, Quinn. I am sure you would much rather go by yourself then bring me with you. I understand,” she said neutrally.
Dammit! She was really going to make him say it, wasn’t she? Quinn had just opened his mouth to say that he did want her to go but Peter’s voice interrupted him.
“ Oh good! You’re both here!” Peter said cheerfully as he walked into the office.
Quinn spun to look at Peter. His boss and good friend strolled in with his hands in his gray pants pockets. His shirt was white and he was wearing his signature bow tie and black framed glasses. He was super skinny and was a good five or so inches shorter then Quinn, who was 6’3. Peter was an okay-looking guy. Very nondescript. If it wasn’t for his bow tie and glasses, he would be practically invisible.
“ Bonjour, Peter,” Margot said. The pep back in her voice.
Quinn glanced back at her but she avoided looking at him. Quinn sighed in irritation and turned back toward Peter. “ Hey, Peter. What’s up?” Quinn grumbled.
“ Well, I just registered you two to attend the World Architectural Seminar in London,” Peter smiled proudly.
Quinn gaped at him. “ You did what?” he asked dryly.
“ The two of you are going to London on Monday so you can attend the World Architectural Seminar,” Peter replied.
“ How long will we be gone for?” Margot asked.
“ Five days. It’s a three day seminar. You’ll fly in on Monday. The seminar is Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday then you’ll come home on Friday,” Peter explained. “ All expenses are paid for. The only problem is that the hotel was book up tight, so you will have to share a room.”
Quinn closed his eyes. He needed to block out Peter’s face before he punched him in it. What the fuck was going on here? Why the hell did it seem like everyone was trying to force Margot on him? First, Sebastian and now Peter. It was most likely all in his head, but he still felt that way.
“ You guys will have the weekend to pack. Stop by my office before leaving and I should have your plane tickets printed out and ready to go, along with your itineraries,” Peter said before walking out of the office.
Quinn took a few deep breaths to try to calm himself. He was practically vibrating with anger. He could not believe Peter did this. As if it wasn’t bad enough that he had to spend five full days with Margot but he had to share a room with her too? That was insane! Did Peter want him to go crazy? Not only from Margot’s fidgeting but with lust too. His body didn’t care that she was annoying. All it cared about was how sexy she was. He was seriously going to reconsider his friendship with Peter for this stunt.
Margot sat quietly as she absorbed the news that Peter just gave them. She could tell that Quinn was livid. His face was blank but his body was wound up tight. She didn’t mind going. In fact, she thought it would be a great opportunity to possibly learn something new. Her only hesitation was Quinn. He did not care for her. She knew she irritated him with her fidgeting, but she just wasn’t the type of person to sit still. Quinn was a quirky guy. He had many pet peeves that she apparently touched on.
Margot considered herself a complete fool because she liked him anyway. He was complex. Like a puzzle she needed to figure out. It definitely didn’t hurt that he was extremely handsome with his medium-brown hair and chocolate eyes that were framed with long dark lashes. She always found herself staring at them. His lips were full and firm looking, making her wondered what they would feel like against hers.
From what Margot could see, considering he always wore a shirt and tie, was that he had an amazing body. His shirts were fairly form fitting and showed off his broad chest and back. He would sometimes roll his sleeves up to reveal his muscled forearms. He had a delicious derrière too. Every pair of pants he owned hugged his firm tush, making Margot want to drool. Margot could only imagine what he looked like underneath his clothes.
“ I have never been to London, have you?” Margot asked Quinn, who was still standing in front of her desk.
Quinn opened his eyes and looked down at her. “ No,” he said shortly.
“ Maybe we can do some sightseeing if we have time, yes?” Margot asked hopefully. She would love to get the chance to look around London. Go see some of the sights.
Quinn gave her a sharp nod before moving back over to his drafting table. Margot had hopes of possibly getting on Quinn’s good side on this trip. Maybe if he got to know her outside of work, he would come to like her better. Margot wasn’t used to people not liking her. Usually everyone liked her bubbly attitude and openness. Margot normally did not care about what people thought of her, she was who she was and she would change for no one. Something about Quinn not liking her rubbed her the wrong way though. It was her new mission in life to get him to like her, even if it was only as a friend.
“ You’re going with me to my brother’s wedding,” Quinn told her as he sat down.
Margot blinked at him. “ I do not want to go if you do not want me there, Quinn.”
Quinn lifted his eyes to meet hers. Margot could see that there was going to be no arguing with him. “ You’re going,” he said with finality.
Margot pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes at him. “ Fine,” she said after a moment.
Margot was sure there was something wrong with her. Was she really going to let him tell her what to do? There was something extremely sexy about him when he was being domineering though. Yes, there was definitely something wrong with her.
“ When is the wedding?” Margot asked.
“ The first Saturday in March,” Quinn replied.
Margot nodded and added it to her calendar on her computer. She really did want to go. His brothers seemed really friendly and charming when she had met them a few months ago. She couldn’t remember ever being in the presence of such a handsome group of men. Every one of them was good-looking and built. They were all tall and broad. They were all blonde except for Quinn, who had brown hair. There was no mistaking that they were brothers since the resemblance between the four of them was apparent.
Even in the short amount of time that she had spent with them, she had realized that Quinn was very different from his brothers. The rest of them seemed fairly outgoing while Quinn was quiet and reserved. His one brother Christian seemed a little shy. There was a difference between being mildly shy and being intentionally reticent thou
gh. Margot had worked with Quinn for close to a year now and he hadn’t said one word about having brothers. Really, she knew nothing about him. He never talked about himself. Maybe this little trip will open him up a bit.
Quinn was not a morning person. So getting up at 5am to catch a plane made him extraordinarily cranky. It definitely didn’t help that Margot was her bright chirpy self. She was wide eyed and full of smiles. Jesus Christ. Quinn could barely keep his eyes open and they had only gotten to the check-in desk.
Sebastian (The Beck Brothers #2) Page 19