Dispute Resolution

Chapter Ten

Gray closed the door to his study. He was having a conversation with Matt Power, his private investigator. He hadn't expected him to call so soon, least of all tonight when the subject of his investigation was in his house.

"What have you found out?"

"Quinn was dating Alex's best friend, Rory. I think her information is credible."

Matt Power was thorough, he didn't make mistakes when he was investigating, it was why Gray had hired him.

"But this Alex could've been lying to Quinn," Gray said.

"The only way to prove that is to get a hold of his laptop. Without that, you've got nothing." Matt paused a moment before he continued. "Can I ask you a personal question, Gray?"

"Go ahead."

"Why are you rehashing this now. I mean, your family was acquitted, why not let it go?"

Gray sighed. He knew the answer to that question, but verbalising the truth out loud was something he wasn't sure even he was ready to hear. He wanted to believe that Quinn was telling the truth because he was starting to like her and it was important to him to understand her side of the story, even if that meant finding out a few things about his brother and Dad.

"Just wondering if I have grounds to fire her," he said.

"Right, well I'll keep digging," Matt said before he hung up the phone.

Gray raked a hand through his hair. What was he doing? This was taking his attraction to Quinn just a little too far, surely? He knew it was crazy. He knew he should be putting his family first, to trust no one but his blood, it was what his father had always taught him. He could just imagine his father telling him to stop thinking with his dick and get on with it. He would probably be right, too and Gray knew what he had to do.

No more kissing Quinn. Truth was, his body was screaming at him to go back out there and pick up their 'conversation,' but the phone call with Matt reminded him exactly why he shouldn't even think about sleeping with her.

****

It was some minutes later when Gray finally returned. His hair had that just fucked look and Quinn smiled inwardly at the thought that it was because of her own wild hands only minutes ago.

"So, are you going to cook my dinner?" he said.

"Um, sure."

She guessed their earlier line of conversation was over. She must've had a confused expression on her face because Gray suddenly started to explain himself.

"Sorry about before, I got a bit carried away," he said, his voice sounding cold and distant.

"Fine," she said slapping the side of the lounge as she rose. "You know what, I'm off men and sex anyway. Where's the kitchen?"

Gray regarded her a moment, thinking, then answered her question with another question. "You've been hurt recently, haven't you?"

"How can you tell?"

"Because you said the same thing after I kissed you the other night. You're angry, but not entirely jaded, which makes me think it was recent."

"You're quite good at reading people."

"So what happened?"

"My boyfriend of six months dumped me for a younger model. They're already living together, something he never wanted with me. God, he didn't even want me to meet his mother." Quinn shook her head.