Playing for Keeps (19 page)

“What difference does it make?” Quentin asked. “They'll never see the light of day, right?” He strode out the door without a backward glance. Now he had the unenviable task of facing his best friend for the second time and telling him he was reneging on his promise
again.
He felt like such a heel.

He pulled out his cell phone to check his messages and noticed he had four missed calls. All from Avery. He ignored them. He wasn't ready to talk to her right now. Afterward, he would, because she would be all he had left.

 

The King Corporation offices were very plush and swanky, Avery thought as she sat down in the waiting area Richard's receptionist had ushered her into. Although she was leaving for the day, she had assured Avery that everything was fine and that Richard would be out of his meeting momentarily.

His office door opened several minutes later and Richard emerged. “Avery.” He came toward her and kissed her cheek. “I was so surprised, pleasantly so, when my receptionist said you requested a meeting with me today.”

“Yes, well…” Avery was extremely nervous. She nodded at the associates as they departed. “It was a matter of extreme urgency and confidentiality.”

“Well, come into my office,” Richard said, opening his arm so she could precede him. “Let's see how I can help.”

Once he'd shut the door behind himself, Avery stood, not sure of how to begin. She watched him remove his suit coat and throw it over his chair. He was obviously very comfortable with her.

“Please have a seat.” Richard gestured to the sofa across from his desk.

“Thank you,” she said and sat on the edge. She fiddled by smoothing down her skirt. She was scared to death about revealing her true identity.

“What can I do for you?” Richard asked, taking a seat beside her. “Have you come to accept the position I offered?”

Avery shook her head. She wished it were that simple. “No, it's not that. You see, a couple of months ago, I learned some disturbing news about my past.”

“Yes?”

“I learned that I was adopted.”

“Adopted? Wow, that must come as quite a shock. You're…” Richard paused. “In your early thirties, right?” Avery nodded. “And you just learned this information?”

“Exactly.”

“How can I help? Oh, wait, do you need some help finding your birth parents?” Richard lightly touched her cheek. “Well, my dear girl. My resources are at your disposal. I'll have my assistant put you into contact with the best private eye in the business.”

Richard started to rise from the couch, but Avery halted him and he sat back down. She was acting strangely. Now he was really curious.

“I don't need one.” She took a deep breath. She couldn't lose her nerve now. “I found my biological mother. She's remarried and living in Buffalo.”

“That's great.” He patted her knee. “You must be so relieved.”

“I was, but it didn't turn out as I'd hoped.” Avery swallowed.

“I'm sorry to hear that.”

She wondered just how long he'd be this comforting once she told him the truth.

“Okay,” Richard said, “so, if you're not here for my help, exactly why are you here, Avery?”

“Well…” She paused. If she didn't do this, Quentin would lose the only family he'd ever known and she couldn't ask him to go through that. She had to do this. “My biological mother's name is Leah Johnson, formerly Leah Gordon.”

“Wh…who?” Richard stammered out the name.

“Leah Gordon,” Avery continued. “I believe you know her?” She stared back into his green eyes.

Richard jumped up from the couch and walked over to the window. “I do,” he said with his back to her, “but what does this have to do with me?”

Avery rose from the sofa and came to stand behind Richard. “As you well know, you were involved with Leah nearly thirty-four years ago before you married Cindy.” When Richard remained silent, Avery continued, “And the two of you had a love affair that resulted in a pregnancy.”

Richard whirled around and faced Avery. “What are you saying?” he asked, even though he knew the answer.

“I'm saying that Leah gave up the baby for adoption.”

“And?”

Avery paused for what seemed like an eternity before saying, “I am the result of that pregnancy.” Once the words were finally out of her mouth, she felt liberated. No more secrets. The truth was out and now they had to live with the consequences. At least Quentin and his friends wouldn't be affected.

Avery waited for a response from Richard. She expected anger or for him to think she was lying. She was surprised when she got the exact opposite. Instead, he stared at her as if he was trying to memorize her features and match them to a woman he knew long ago.

“From the very first moment I saw you, I thought you reminded me of her,” Richard said, “but never in my wildest fantasy would I have imagined this scenario.” He rubbed his head as he stared back at Leah's same features and complexion.

“I don't understand this. She adamantly refused to have an abortion because you were conceived in love. But if she believed that, how could she give you up?”

Avery was surprised at how torn he was by this information. “I guess you'd have to ask her that question yourself,” she replied. Though she doubted Leah could give him very many answers; she sure hadn't given Avery much. “I never had any intention of telling you the truth, but unfortunately I need your help.”

“What do you need? Whatever it is, I'll help you get it.” Richard couldn't believe he was standing face-to-face with his daughter.

“I need you to back off the development deal you have in Harlem that would demolish the community center.”

“What?” Richard was confused. “I don't understand, what does that deal have to do with you?”

“Quentin and his friends grew up in that center. His friend Malik Williams runs it and he's done a great job. You can't destroy it.”

“And if I don't agree?” Richard asked. His eyes pierced hers. “You're going to go public with this information, aren't you?” Was his daughter really prepared to blackmail him? If so, she really was a chip off the old block.

“No, I'm not,” Avery replied. “I'm asking you, Richard, to do the right thing. The community needs that center. It supplies free health and after-school care and many youth activities.”

“I have a lot riding on this deal, Avery.” Richard turned away and stared down at the rush-hour traffic fifty stories below.

“I realize that, but I'm asking you to do this for me,” she pleaded. “This really means a lot to me and to the man I love.”

“The man you love?” Richard asked, turning back to her. “I admit Quentin Davis is a decent fellow and I thought very highly of the young man, but you're in love with him?”

“Yes, I am. And that center meant everything to him growing up as an orphan. It still does. Without it, he would never have survived.” Avery grasped his arm. “Richard, I am begging you, pleading with you, to please reconsider. For me,” she added.

Richard didn't know what to say. He was standing in front of his and Leah's daughter. A daughter he never thought he'd have. He and Cindy had never been blessed with any children. After many miscarriages, they'd finally given up on having a child of their own. And Cindy had steadfastly refused adoption, so it had just been the two of them. And now his daughter, his flesh and blood was standing in front of him asking for his help. How could he possibly turn her down?

“All right, Avery.” Richard didn't hesitate for a second. “I'll do it.”

“Thank you.” She reached over and hugged him tightly. She hadn't expected him to agree so easily. “You have no idea what this means to me.”

“I've some idea,” he said. “Or you would never have come forward. So what now?”

“What do you mean?”

“Can we have some type of relationship?” Richard asked. Now that he knew of her existence, he couldn't possibly turn his back on her.

Avery was surprised at the joy that shone in his eyes. She'd thought he'd want to sweep this under the rug. Keep her existence a secret. “Do you want one?”

“If you'll have me,” he replied.

“I'd like that.” She smiled and then glanced down at her watch. “Listen, I really have to get going.” She had to catch Quentin before he said something he couldn't take back. “Thank you, Richard.” She came forward, lightly pecked his cheek and rushed out of the room, leaving Richard staring after her, still holding his cheek.

 

“What's the big news?” Sage asked when Quentin came inside Dante's later that evening.

“Yeah,” Malik concurred. “I love you guys and all, but two nights together? What's going on, man?”

“I have to talk to you about something and I know it's going to make you all unhappy so I thought I'd better tell you all at the same time,” Quentin replied.

“Oh, no. This doesn't sound good at all,” Dante commented, coming from behind the bar. He'd known Quentin was grappling with something the other day. And he guessed today was D-day.

“Does this have anything to do with some photos that you were going to send to
Capitalist
?” Malik asked.

“It does.”

“So once again you're selling me out,” Malik stated. “Once again the center loses out. I just don't understand it, Quentin. I thought I knew you, but apparently I was wrong.”

“Quentin.” Sage grasped his chin and forced him to look at her. But she couldn't read him. His face was clouded with uneasiness. “You wouldn't do this again. You wouldn't hurt Malik without cause, so why are you doing it now?”

“I can't tell you,” Quentin said.

“Oh no you don't.” Malik's face was a glowering mask of rage. “Don't back down like some coward. That's not the Q I know. So just tell us what the big darn secret is that's causing you to go back on your word
again.
”

“I can't say. All I can tell you is this has to do with Avery.”

“What does she have to do with why you can't help Malik?” Dante asked.

“I can't break Avery's confidence,” Quentin said.

“Avery, Avery, Avery!” Malik yelled. “You know, Quentin,
Avery
was supposed to be a bet, a bet you seem to have forgotten. You were supposed to wow her with the Quentin Davis charm, get her into bed and move on. And now you're suddenly putting her over me. When did it change?”

“Malik, I—” But Quentin never got a chance to finish, because Sage nodded toward the doorway where Avery stood open-mouthed, staring back at him.

“Avery…” Quentin came toward her, but she put up a hand to stop him.

“Don't!” she replied as her face flushed crimson. “I just came to tell you that Richard is not going forward with his development deal.”

“What do you mean?” Malik asked, taking a step toward Avery.

“I mean he is backing off. There will be no condos or multimedia complex,” she informed the group.

“You're kidding!” Sage said. “How did you manage that?”

“He did it for me,” Avery replied, looking directly at Quentin. “His daughter.” And with that comment, she ran out the door.

Dante didn't understand. “Did she just say
his daughter?
”

“She sure did,” Sage replied, slumping into a barstool with her mouth wide open.

“But I thought she was adopted?” Dante returned.

“She was,” Quentin answered and took off after her.

“I guess that explains why she wouldn't want a negative story on her biological father in the press,” Sage said to Malik and Dante.

“And why Quentin refused to publish those photos,” Dante added.

“Because he's in love with her,” Malik finished. “And now I've just gone and ruined their relationship.”

“It's not your fault,” Sage replied, patting his back. “I just hope Quentin can fix this,” she said, looking toward the door.

Q
uentin ran down the street and caught up with Avery just as she was hailing a cab. “Avery, wait!” he shouted. In seconds, he'd bridged the gap between them. “Avery, please stop.”

“Why should I?” She whirled around and faced him. Her eyes blazed with fury and her face was flushed with rage. It was almost enough to stop Quentin cold, but he persevered. “Clearly, I mean absolutely nothing to you.”

The hurt he saw in those green depths tore right through to his very soul. “That's not true.” He shook his head. Although he was ashamed at having taken advantage of her trusting nature when they'd begun dating, he loved her now more than words could say. He'd been prepared to give up everything for her.

“Isn't it?” Avery asked bitterly. She was furious at him. “I was nothing more than a bet to you, Quentin Davis. You used me for you and your friends' amusement. You guys must really have gotten a kick out of this.” She was completely humiliated. Poor dumb Avery. They must have laughed and joked about her endlessly. She'd probably provided them with hours of entertainment.

Quentin met her accusing eyes without flinching. “I suppose initially it may have started out that way.”

“You suppose? Oh, give me a break!” Avery scoffed as her lips thinned with anger.

“But things changed for me, Avery. The more I got to know you, the more I liked. You weren't some stuck-up rich girl, you were warm and funny and beautiful and amazing.”

“And a sucker,” she added just as a cab pulled up alongside the curb. “They say one is born every minute. And I guess today is my lucky day. Here I was thinking we had something special. I was way off the mark.” She opened the taxi door.

Quentin halted her entrance. “Avery, you weren't off the mark. We do have something. Please give me a chance to make this up to you. To make things right.”

“You can't, Quentin. You and I are through. History. Kaput.” She slid inside the taxi and slammed the door. She rolled down the window and glowered at him. “Lose my number.”

Quentin watched the taxi and the only woman he'd ever loved drive away into the night.

He returned to Dante's and found the crew assembled at the bar. “From your bereft expression, I take it things didn't go well?” Sage asked. Quentin's face was downturned and he looked in anguish.

“No, they did not.” He took a seat beside her. He felt the changing tide. He'd seen the love fade in Avery right before his eyes and he'd been powerless to stop it.

“Just give her time,” Sage said. “She's upset, hurt and probably embarrassed.” She could only imagine how Avery felt. She'd have been just as upset if not worse.

“She thinks I don't care about her. That she meant nothing to me,” Quentin replied. “Why didn't I tell her when I had the chance? All of this could have been avoided.”

“Hindsight is twenty-twenty,” Malik said.

“I thought you were angry with me.” Quentin glanced sideways at him.

“I was, but when it all comes down to it, you're my brother, Q. And the last few weeks without all of you have been hell. So there, I said it. I missed you lugs.”

Quentin smiled. At least something good had come out of this. They'd all realized just how important they were to each other. “And we missed you, didn't we?” Quentin glanced over at Sage and Dante.

“Yes,” they said in unison.

“So, is this family drama finally over?” Sage asked. “Because I for one have had my fill of it.”

“You and me both,” Dante replied. He was tired of being the man in the middle.

“Now if only I could get Avery back,” Quentin said wistfully.

“You can and you will,” Sage said fervently. “I have never known you to give up on something without a fight and Avery Roberts will be no different. Go find that woman and make her yours.”

 

“Mom, thank you so much for the use of the house in the Hamptons,” Avery said the following morning when she stopped by her parents' home before getting on the road. When she'd called her mother last night, she'd been more than willing to part with the keys.

“It's no problem, sweetheart,” her mother replied. “But can't you at least tell me what or
who
has upset you?”

“I don't really want to talk about it. All I want to do is get away for a while. You know, get some distance. And I hope some perspective.” She was hoping to figure out where she'd gone wrong and how she could have let a man like Quentin dupe her so easily. She had some serious soul-searching to do.

“The Hamptons house is always a pleasant retreat,” her mother said. “There's nothing more beautiful than walking along the shore collecting seashells or hearing the waves crash outside your window.” It would be exactly what Avery needed. “Here's the keys.” Veronica pulled the set out of her desk drawer.

“Thank you.”

“How long will you be staying?”

“Oh, about a week or so.” Hopefully, after she'd cried her eyes out, she could return to work and come back as the clear, levelheaded person she used to be. She didn't even recognize the spontaneous creature she'd become with Quentin Davis.

“Stay as long as you need,” her mother said.

“I will. Thanks again, Mom.” Avery squeezed her shoulders before leaving.

 

Quentin had tried to reach Avery several times over the last couple of days. He'd thought she was avoiding him until he'd finally broken down and called the gallery. That was when Hunter had informed him that Avery had taken a vacation. Where? He didn't know. The only person he could think of who would know where she was was her mother. And so he showed up on Veronica Roberts's doorstep midweek.

“Quentin, I'm surprised to see you,” Veronica said when she opened the door.

“I'm sorry to stop by uninvited, Mrs. Roberts,” Quentin apologized.

“You are always welcome, please come in,” Veronica said and walked toward the living room. She thought very highly of him. “Please have a seat.”

“Oh, I won't be staying long,” Quentin said from the doorway.

“All right, well, what can I do for you?”

“I'm sure you've heard that Avery and I had a huge row.”

Veronica chuckled. “Actually no, I hadn't. Avery was very closemouthed on this one. So you two had a fight? Well, that would explain her need for distance and perspective, as she called it.”

“I made a huge mistake, Mrs. Roberts, and I fear Avery won't forgive me.”

“Oh, pooh.” Veronica threw her hand down. “Quentin, if she can forgive me, she most certainly can forgive you for whatever wrongs you've done. Just so long as you weren't unfaithful?” she asked.

“I was not unfaithful,” Quentin replied. “But I was certainly less than forthcoming. And I want, no, I need to make this right, Mrs. Roberts. I love Avery.”

“Of course you do.” Veronica smiled. “I knew it the moment you came to get me after her biological mother rejected her. You knew exactly what to do to console her. You knew she needed me…. You bridged the gap between me and my daughter, and you have no idea how grateful I am for that, Quentin.”

“It was my pleasure.”

Veronica rose and walked over to her desk. “That's why I'm going to help you.” She scribbled something on a piece of paper and handed it to Quentin.

“What's this?”

“It's the address and directions to our beach house in the Hamptons.”

“Why?”

“It's where you will find my daughter and I hope bring her back to her senses. Because if she lets you slip through her fingers, it would be a great loss indeed.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Roberts.” Quentin bent down and brushed his lips quickly across her cheek.

“Oh!” Veronica smiled and touched her face. Quentin's eyes were sparkling with devilment. “You had better get out of here!”

“I will and when I come back I'll have Avery with me,” he promised.

 

As Quentin took the two-hour ride to East Hampton, he recited over and over in his head the speech he wanted to give. He just hoped Avery would let him get the words all out. He didn't blame her for being angry with him. She had every right to be. He was no longer the cynical, commitment-shy man he'd been when he'd met her. In his previous relationship incarnations, he'd always been quick to leave and onto the next assignment. He'd never had the time for romantic entanglements, but Avery was different. With her, he'd opened up more than he had with any other woman. He'd told her what it was like growing up as an orphan. Sure, he'd known love from his grandmother. She'd reared him until he was ten and given him values, but when she passed, she'd taken his love right along with her. And he hadn't felt it since, at least not until Avery.

When Avery opened the door, she looked as beautiful as ever, barefoot, with her hair in a ponytail, wearing a bikini top and some skimpy shorts.

“What are you doing here, Quentin?” she said, folding her arms across her chest in an attempt to shield herself from Quentin's riveting male gaze. Even though she was angry with him, her breasts betrayed her by reacting to his nearness and growing taut.

“I came to make things right.” He couldn't help but notice the steady rise and fall of her chest, even though she was furious with him.

“And how did you find me?” Avery asked despite knowing the answer to the question.

“A little birdie told me.”

Her mother. Once again, the woman had a hard time minding her own business. “Well, she shouldn't have because I don't want to see you. Matter of fact, I don't want to have anything to do with you ever again in life.” Avery tried to slam the door in his face, but Quentin managed to pry his foot in.

“Ouch, that's harsh,” he said. “A lifetime is a long time.” He tried to force his way in, but Avery pushed her whole weight against the door. “Are you sure you don't mean for a few weeks, perhaps a month?”

“Don't joke with me, Quentin. I am not in the mood. Why don't we just say the foreseeable future? Would that suffice?” When she couldn't hold the door any longer, Avery let go and ran to the back of the house. Before Quentin knew it, she was out the back door and headed to the stairs for the beach, but he followed her.

“Quite frankly, no, it wouldn't,” he said from behind her. He had to jog to keep up with her. He didn't care that sand was getting in his shoes; he'd come to win Avery back and he wasn't leaving until he did.

“Running is not the answer, Avery,” he said. “It's what I've been doing my entire life, but I'm not doing it anymore. That's why I'm here.”

“Stay away, Quentin,” she said over her shoulder as she walked along the beach. “Can't you see that I just want to be alone?”

When he didn't answer, she took off running down the shore. He caught up with her and grabbed her by the shoulders. His dark eyes bored into hers. “I am sorry, okay? I'm so sorry. I should have told you sooner. I was just afraid of losing you.”

“
Sorry
doesn't cut it, Quentin.” Avery tore herself out of his grasp. “You hurt me. After I gave myself to you so completely.”

“I made a mistake. Can't you forgive me? Like you've forgiven your parents? Adoptive and biological? I know you have it within you, Avery. You have the capacity because you have a huge heart.” He'd seen her forgiveness and compassion with her family. Why couldn't she do the same for him?

“You hurt me!” she yelled. “And now what, you're here to pick up the pieces? As if that were possible.”

“It is if you allow it to be. If you give me another chance. Avery, I love you.”

“Love? You don't know the meaning of the word,” she said. “You're just saying it now to save face. So your friends will still think you're a great
playa.
”

“Avery, c'mon, think about it. If what you say is true, then why would I have been ready to trash my relationship with Malik if I didn't love you? I know you put yourself out on a limb for me by telling Richard, but I was willing to do the same for you. I was in essence ending a twenty-year friendship with the only family I've ever had. For you.” Quentin titled her chin and forced her to look up at him. “For you, Avery. Because I love you.”

“No, no, no.” She shook her head and wrenched her arms out of his grasp. “You can't love me. Because I'm unlovable.”

“Why would you say that?”

“My own mother didn't want me, why would I think you would? Mr. Smooth Operator. You're used to cutting and running. Why would I think you're in it for the long haul?”

“Because I never found a woman worth throwing in the towel for until now. When I met you, that changed. I finally stopped running away from love. Can't you see the difference? I feel it. After the childhood I endured, I didn't even think it was possible to fall in love with anyone, but I did. I fell in love with you, Avery, please believe that.”