Seeking Escape

19: Unexpected Appearances

*** Quinn's POV ***

I haven't figured out exactly how I want to play this except to send the message that Joyce is mine. I know I have zero right to be possessive, which is why I asked her. She must think I'm a weirdo. One day I'm being careful with the use of labels and the next day I'm branding us a couple. But somewhere between the intoxicating kisses and catching small glimpses of how her past has shaped her into who she is today, I've become hooked.

I didn't want to worry about some other bloke trying to haphazardly extract her from her shell. I wanted that honor. I wanted to be the one watching her surprise herself with each new milestone. Like today, getting in my car. Something we all take for granted, but my girl had to recondition her body to not respond with fear and crippling anxiety. And also try to not let on to how draining that shit was.

I wanted to hold her hand or let her hide her embarassment in my chest. To kiss the top of her head and tell her that it was going to get easier. That no one would hurt her like that again. That I was here for her.

As I gathered her from her side of the car, she stopped dead in her tracks as though she were cemented into place. I turned back to her assuming she was nervous about how I planned to handle Neil.

"Caroline? CAROLINE! We all thought..."  I followed her gaze to some guy in a light-colored suit who looked as though he was seeing a ghost as he stared at her. I could feel her start to tremble and instantly I became protective. I didn't know who this guy was, but I knew that he was using her real name and she was scared.

I pulled her into my side, tucking her away from this guy and beelining for the door, as I addressed him directly. "You must have her confused with someone else."

"No. WAIT! Caroline!" He moved in front of us, blocking our way. I shifted her behind me.

"Quinn, it's fine." She said gently, although she clung to my arm and made no motion to come back around me.

"She's my...she was my...fuck, Caroline. We thought you were dead." He pleaded his case to her. People were beginning to gawk. The valets were getting backed up because this guy wouldn't just get in his car and go about his way. We were drawing too much attention.

I growled at the guy. "Look, man. I suggest you go. She doesn't know you."

"That's a lie! She was my girlfriend!" He dropped that bomb at my feet then begged her. "Caroline, please. What happened to you? Where were you? Is this guy holding you against your will?"

I took a menancing step towards this douchebag for making such a suggestion. I felt Joyce pull at my arm as she squeaked. "No, Dan. Please. Just go. We've already made enough of a scene."

He fumbled with something in his inner suit-jacket pocket and produced a business card. I wanted to take it and rip it up, but I stayed unmoving between the two of them.

"Please, Caroline. I need closure. You just disappeared. I need to know what happened and that you're okay now. Please. If you ever loved me..." He was near tears, desperate for her affirmative reply. If I knew that this guy wasn't a threat, I would actually feel sorry for him.

"Quinn, can you take the card please?" I heard her little voice ask.

I accepted the card from this guy and glanced at it briefly. Dan Moorehouse, Construction Manager, Moorehouse & Moorehouse Building.

He snapped me out of my overview when he grabbed my forearm. His dark eyes pleaded with me. "Please make sure she calls me."

I stood a little straighter and shook him off. "I'll give her the card. She'll make her own decisions about what to do with it."