Loving Quinn Novel by North Rose

(Quinn)

Watching Annora walk down the aisle today was one of the happiest moments of my life. She was absolutely stunning in her wedding dress. A goddess in white as her father slowly led her down.

the beach stairs toward me.

With every step she took, my heartbeat became more and more erratic. Outwardly, I looked calm, but on the inside, I was a nervous wreck. I couldn’t wait for her to be standing with me before our family and friends as we said our vows.

The moment her father put her hand in mine, I let out a shaky breath of relief. That moment had been a long time coming, and I was elated that we were finally there. We were finally at the alter to become husband and wife. Having the preacher announce it to all our family and friends was by far the happiest moment of my life. I don’t think there is anything else that could make this day any better.

When the preacher said I could now kiss my bride, I had every intention of keeping it chaste. That flew right out the window the moment I pressed my lips to hers. I wanted to devour her right then and there. Thankfully, the preacher coughed and brought me back to my senses.

It took everything I had to not drag her to our room and ravish her. The fact that we had guests wouldn’t have stopped me. However, knowing that I would have her all to myself in the penthouse suite at the five-star hotel I booked for us made waiting tolerable.

As I watched her walk to our room to help Grace change, all I could think of was that the two of them were my life. We were a family before today, but now it feels like those bonds between us are stronger than ever. Grace was practically vibrating with excitement last night before bedtime.

We made all our dreams come true today.

Well, almost all of them

There will be plenty of time for the rest.

Later, after she returned from our room with Grace, we wandered around to talk to our guests. Grace ran off to try to convince her grandmother to steal a piece of the wedding cake for her. I could see the look of defeat on her face as she plopped down in a chair.

Annie laughed, but she went over to the table with the cake on it and sliced a small piece out for Grace anyway. Grace took her cake and made a beeline for the beach stairs. I followed her and sat on the top stairs with her while she ate her cake.

“Momma looks very pretty in her dress today.”

“She really does. You look beautiful in your dress too, Grace.”

“Sometimes I wish you would have been here before she married the…” She looks up at me with a frown on her face.

“I wish that too, my sweet, sweet girl. I am here now, and I am not going anywhere.”

“Not even if you get called on for duty?” This time, the sparkle of tears glistens in her eyes.

Oh. I never thought about that or how it would affect my daughter if I got called for active duty again. I should have, and now I feel like an a**

“With luck, that won’t ever happen. Even if it does, that won’t change things here. I will come home to you and your mother when my time is done.”

“Promise?”

I pat my lap and wait for her to climb up when I see the first tear fall down her cheek. Once she is on my lap, I wrap my arms around her in a bear hug. I know she isn’t a baby, but I rock us from side to side anyway, more for me than for her.

“I promise that no matter what happens if I get deployed, I will try my hardest to come back safely to you and your mother.”

We stay like that for a few minutes until Grace pulls away. She looks up at me with a big smile on her face, gives me a hug, then rushes up the stairs and back to the party. I make a me**l note to put some time aside for a father-daughter day as soon as we get back home.

I have to admit that I never thought of how they would feel if I did end up getting deployed again in the future. Since I am in the IRR, just waiting for the end of my enlisted contract to expire, I highly doubt I will be called on. It could happen, but I doubt it right now.

I guess I will have to talk to Vincent when we get home to make an update on my will. There will be no need for it, but I want it there just in case. I should have done it when I had the prenup done. Grace made me think of it now, and I am glad she did.

With a sigh, I shake my head to clear my heavy thoughts. This is a party. There is no time for dark thoughts. At least not those kinds.

Now I need to go find my bride.

When I find her standing with her back to me, lust shoots through me. The dress she picked really

accentuates her a** to perfection. Not that it needed much help.

All I want to do is sneak off somewhere and make love to my s**y wife. My wife. Annora is finally my wife after all these years.

I am on cloud nine, and nothing will ruin this day for me.

“There you are. What were you and Grace talking about?” She asks when I step up behind her and pull her into my arms.

“Father-daughter stuff. It’s a secret.”

I nibble her neck and groan internally as I feel her body shiver. I may not make it until later tonight. Looking around, I notice that everyone is milling about around the bar and dessert table. Now would be a perfect time to take her to our room.

“Alright everyone, dinner will be served soon, so please find your seats.” Vivien announces over a microphone.

Well s**t.

Annora laughs when I groan. “We will have plenty of time over the next few days for all those wicked thoughts in your head.”

“How did you know?”

“Because they are in my head too.” She twists around in my embrace so she can loop her arms around my neck. “You look so d***n s**y in that tuxedo. I want to peel it off you one piece at a

time.”

“Oh, you little tease. That is just mean.”

“Just building the anticipation, my love.” She grins, then leads me to our table.

Slowly, everyone makes their way to their seats. There is one big table for the bride and groom, then smaller tables off to each side to make a large half-circle around the patio. Tori and Vivien did a fantastic job on the decorations.

We have been sitting at our table for about thirty minutes now while our guests are served their dinner. Annora is a bit pale, so I fill her plate with plenty of food from mine. She gives me a mischievous smile as she eats some fruit from the bowl beside her water.

What is that smile about, Annie?” I ask as I lean over to place a kiss on her shoulder. “You should eat more.”

‘I am too excited to eat, and you will find out why very soon.”

She points to the white sheet that someone hung on the back wall of the house. Her mother and Victoria are standing next to it with a laptop on a small table. I have a feeling I know where this is

headed.Material © NôvelDrama.Org.

“What are they up to?”

Just a small slide show they put together. You will like it, I promise.”

Vivien holds her champagne glass up high and taps on it with the end of a spoon. It takes a few minutes for everyone to quiet down before she speaks. She looks at our table with a huge smile on her face.

I glance at Tori with an odd emotion forming in my gut. There is a look on her face that is telling me that the knows that I am curious. She nods at me, then holds her hand up and signals me to wait. So, I grab Annie’s hand and focus on the now-dark screen.

My beautiful daughter, Annora. The summer we spent at your grandparents’ cabin when you were eighteen was meant to be a relaxing summer. It was to be our last for a while before you went to England for medical school. It didn’t quite go as intended.” Vivien says the last part with a laugh.

The slide show begins with a baby picture of Annora in Vivien’s arms.

“Now, imagine our surprise when she met Quinn on the riverbank while fishing with her grandfather. He pulled our little girl’s head out of the book and made her live. It was one wild

summer.”

“Good thing they don’t know everything we did that summer,” I whisper in Annie’s ear.

The next slide makes me catch my breath. It is another baby picture, but this one is not of Annora. I recognize the room the photo was taken in. That baby is me. My gaze finds Tori’s, and she smiles at me and takes the microphone from Vivien.

“Many years ago, my son brought a new kid in our neighborhood home one afternoon. Quinn was that boy. He was home after years away. Well, during those years he spent away, we moved to his hometown. Quinn and Aaron became fast friends.

The next picture in the slideshow was one I remember well. Aaron was standing behind me, and we were in our Batman and Robin Halloween costumes. I laugh when I hear Aaron groan. I look over at him, and he is just shaking his head with a grin on his face.

Through the years, those two boys got into all kinds of trouble. They became close, like brothers.

The summer Quinn met Annora, I gave him some advice. Later that same summer, he shared his dreams of the future with me. Today, one of those dreams came true.”

Tori wipes her eyes with a napkin, then hands the microphone back to Vivien. I want to go to her and give her a hug. I also want to know where she got my baby picture from. How long has she had it? Does she have more?

Vivien’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. The slide show continues with pictures of Annora and me during the summer we met. I had no idea that those were ever taken. I can’t help but smile as each new picture flashes on the screen.

“Annora’s grandmother loved to take pictures. Her favorite thing to do was to take them when she knew no one was watching. She made a lot of amazing memories that way. Quinn won her over with a bright smile and a new camera. Well, new to her at least. As you can see, she put it to use every time Quinn came by to take Annie out.”

Annie leans her head against my shoulder. “I had no idea my grandma took these. She never told me.

“Our family seems to be surprising us a lot today.” I lean down to kiss the top of her head.

The next few slides confused me for a moment before I realized that I was looking at pictures from Annora’s bachelorette party. She is smiling brightly with that sash across her body that says bride in big, bold letters. Shawna is on her left with a glass of wine in her hand. Rylan is on her right with a beer in her hand.

The last slide makes me lift my head and then look at Annora as she lifts her head off my shoulder. I glance at the image, then back at her. There are tears in her eyes and a bright smile on her face.

“Are those what I think they are?” I ask her as surprise merges into happiness.

“If you think they are pregnancy tests, then yes.”

“Holy s**, Annie. You’re pregnant!”

‘I am.”

“Are you sure?”

She nods her head and points to the positive pregnancy tests on display for everyone to see. She laughs, then nods her head again. “I am very sure.

I stand up so I can pull her into my arms. We are having a baby, i pepper her face with kisses, then place my hand over her stomach. All our guests start clapping and cheering for our happy

news.

“Grace, you are going to be a big sister!” I yelled at her.

“About time!” She yells back.

Everyone laughs at that.

Shortly after the big reveal, which I am still in shock over, the lights dim and the music turns to a slow song. Vivien announces that it is time for the bride and groom to have their first dance. With a grin on my face, I lead Annie into the center of the room.

“Dance with me, Annie.”

“With pleasure, my love.”

I pull her close as the music plays. Her body fits perfectly against mine. It always has. I sigh happily as she lays her head on my chest with one hand over my heart. We sway slowly in circles to the gentle sound of the romantic ballad. I don’t ever want this song to end.

I don’t ever want to let her go.

I love you, Quinn.” She whispers.

“Oh, Annie, I love you too. So very much. Thank you for becoming my wife. Thank you for giving me the world.*

She looks up at me with the most dazzling smile on her face. “Thank you for giving me you. Thank you for giving me Grace and this new baby. I am so head over heels in love with you, Quinn Greyson.”

I lean down and smash my lips against hers.

“Get a room!” Somone yells. I am pretty sure it is her brother, Daniel.

Annora laughs, and when the song ends, I lead her back to our table. I spot Tori and head in her direction. I want to thank her for what she said today, but I also want to ask about the photo.

As soon as I reach her, I pull her into a bear hug. She lets out a squeal of laughter as I spin her around before I sit her back on her feet. I kiss the back of her hand, then step away.

“The picture, Tori, where did you get it?

“I have had them all in storage since the day your dad went into his first care facility. He made me promise to give them to you when you get married. I wanted to give them to you when I heard about Grace, but I made a promise. They are all waiting for you at home.”

She kisses my cheek, then pushes me back toward my bride.

My father left me something that means more to me than he will ever know. Pieces of our family’s history have been immortalized on film. Even at his worst, he thought of me.

Thank you, Dad. I miss you and love you. If we have a boy this time, I will name him after you.