Dispute Resolution

Chapter Twenty-Four

Quinn sat in her hotel room. The past day had a been a whirlwind of luggage and flights and itineraries and she had not had the time to stop. But now she was alone, finally. She had unpacked her suitcase and was lying in her bed with her iPad trying to read a book. Except she couldn't concentrate on what she was reading and she was starting to think being alone wasn't such a great idea. Because despite her best efforts not to, all she thought about was Gray. Not about the way he had loved her, or made love to her, but the way he had hated her, the kind of hatred that was so absolute, he had wanted to destroy her.

Crushed. That was the best word she could use to describe the way she felt about all of this. Or maybe she was just really stupid. She had known what he was like before she'd even met him. What was she thinking sleeping with him, becoming involved in his life, falling in love with him? Gray had hated her, no surprises there, she'd done this to herself. Now, she had to find a way to pick up the pieces of her life, again. At least being out of the country was a start- better than triple chocolate ice cream. She had skipped straight past that step this time and gone straight into getting her career on track. Retail therapy could be on the cards, too. As for taking care of her own orgasms? She felt so non-sexual at the moment that just thinking about sex made her want to curl up and die, so no chance of that happening.

Quinn closed her eyes and tried to shut off but that was just worse. Suddenly the room started to spin like she'd been drinking too much. She opened her eyes and sat up on the bed. She had to get up anyway. It was almost time to go.

****

It was getting on dusk but Quinn was just starting work for the evening. She was excited but nervous at the same time. Tonight she was furthering her research on the availability of drugs in the nightclub district. Her team was just getting ready in the lobby of the hotel they were staying in. There were several other reporters, a camera crew, some photographers and Rory. She'd done her best to keep her distance from him the entire day that they'd already been out here but tonight he seemed determined to put himself in her space. She was just checking her bag to make sure she had everything she needed for tonight when she felt him behind her.

"What do you want, Rory?" she asked, turning to face him.

"I just wanted to see if you've started writing your article yet?"

"Not yet."

She viewed him impassively, she was so not in love with him anymore. Why had she ever thought she was? Compared to what she felt for Gray, her feelings for Rory were laughable. To think she had wasted a whole tub of triple chocolate ice cream on him let alone six months of her life.

"Come on, babe, lighten up."

"Don't call me that."

"Why? You used to love it if I remember correctly," he said, his voice took on a sultry tone and she knew exactly what that meant. It was the voice he used to use when he wanted sex. He wasn't going to get it.

Careful, Rory."

"So, you're really in love with Holloway then?"

"Do you really think I'm going to discuss any aspect of my relationship with Gray, with you?"

"Have you heard from him? I thought maybe he might come out here, pay you a little visit."

She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. "You sound more interested in Gray than in me."

"I'm not."

"Why did you really think of me for this job? Do you think you're going to get to Gray through me?"