life. She felt the emptiness and yearned for her mother’s presence. Leaving Florida would tear her and Edward apart, but she needed to be in London—to right the wrongs of her past. She needed it like the air she breathed.
Chloe stood in front of her, sneakers in hand. She grabbed her daughter’s face in her hands and kissed her forehead.
“Are you okay, Mommy?”
“I’m fine, baby.”
She was all but fine.
Edward leaned back in his chair as he was winding down his call. He spun around and gazed out the window at the view of the marina from his office. He quickly jotted down a few notes and then looked up. Quinn was standing in his doorway. He held his finger up to her and she gave him a smile. He admired her curves in the dress she wore. She was a beautiful woman with a five-foot frame, dark flawless skin, braids and the deepest of dimples.
Quinn had been his biggest fan, the cheerleader who supported his every venture.
He finished his call and then hung up.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“We’re all headed over to Bailey’s for a drink. It’s Martin’s birthday. The big four-o. Can you believe he’s that old?”
“Doesn’t look a day over thirty-nine,” Edward teased.
“You’re coming, right?”
“I’m gonna pass. I have a lot to finish up here,” said Edward. “And not really in a celebratory mood.”
“Really? Why?”
“Just not feeling up to it today.”
“You want to talk about it?”
“Not really. No.”
“If you don’t want to talk about it, then you have to at least come have a drink. It would be rude not to.” Quinn smiled. “Come on, dude. I’m not taking no for an answer. Leave your car and I’ll drive.”
Edward contemplated her offer. The truth was, he needed to unwind. The entire work week had been trying. He was grateful for Friday, although his Monday morning hadn’t gone well at all. He hated fighting with Savannah. He felt as if he needed to protect her, yet he was always hurting her. He was stuck in a hard place. He wanted her to be happy, but not at the cost of losing his daughter. She was all he had. Sure, he’d graduated from one of the most prestigious law schools in the country, Harvard. He’d been at the top of his class. He had practiced law at one of the top law firms and had almost won the mayor’s office. He had a gratifying career as a council member and soon he’d make a decision to run for the senate. And although he’d failed at being a husband to Savannah, with fatherhood he’d been given a second chance to make things right. He wouldn’t gamble with that.
“Fine. Give me like twenty minutes to wrap things up,” he said.
“I’ll meet you in the lobby in thirty.”
Quinn had loved Edward from the moment they’d started working on his mayoral campaign. And he knew it. She had placed her own career on hold to support his. A paralegal in the prosecutor’s office, she’d always been ambitious. It didn’t surprise him one bit when she landed a job in the mayor’s office. He knew that she loved him, but he never acted on it. He also knew that he would never love her the way she wanted him to. Not the way he loved Savannah. He would never commit to her. Not even sexually. He felt that a sexual relationship with Quinn, even after his divorce from Savannah, would violate everything he loved and honored. His reluctance only made her try harder, and having Edward in her life and her bed had always been her one ambition. But he kept things at arm’s length. He enjoyed her friendship and never gave her any reason to think there would be anything more. In fact he’d always told her that he loved their friendship just the way it was; didn’t want to tarnish it. He’d always made it clear that he wasn’t interested in her that way, and he respected her too much to give her false hope.
His six-foot-two frame sank into the passenger’s seat of her Mercedes coupe. He moved his seat all the way back and reclined. “Please drive the speed limit today,” he warned.
“Excuse me. I always drive the speed limit.” Quinn smiled and adjusted the volume on her music.
“And no rap today...”
Before he could finish his sentence, Nicki Minaj’s vocals permeated the car. Obscenities drifted into the air as Quinn let the convertible top down and pulled out of the parking garage.
“Buckle up,” she said and then zoomed down Okeechobee Boulevard.
When they stepped into the bar, their colleagues had already snagged a table near the window. John Palmer raised his glass into the air to get their attention. The birthday boy was on the dance floor with a tall, sexy woman. Dollar bills were pinned to his shirt. Quinn took a seat at the table and Edward made his way to the bar, where he ordered a round of drinks for his colleagues. At the table he began to feel the music and bob his head.
“We should dance.” Quinn leaned in and tried to speak over the music.
“If it isn’t Edward Talbot,” Martin interrupted.
“Happy birthday.” Edward gave him a strong handshake, ignoring Quinn’s offer. “What are you, like fifty now?”
“Minus ten, bro,” said Martin. “And I’m sensitive about it, so no jokes.”
“You should be glad to see another year,” Edward said. “What are you drinking?”
“Vodka tonic. And not the cheap stuff. I want top-shelf.” Martin laughed.
“You got it.”
“I’m glad you came out to celebrate with me. I feel pretty honored,” Martin said. “Take a walk with me to the bar.”
Edward excused himself and followed Martin to the bar. “What’s up?”
“The election year is fast approaching. What are you doing about the Florida Senate race? Are you running or what?”
“I’m still undecided.”
“You should run. You can win this,” said Martin. “You should’ve won mayor. No doubt you were the most viable candidate.”
“I appreciate that, but I’m happy in my current position.”
“Should you decide to run, I’m willing to invest in your campaign. I’m there for you, like you were for me when I ran for city commissioner.”
The mayoral campaign had cost Edward his marriage. He’d been gun-shy about running for any office higher than the one he held as city commissioner. His current position as city commissioner required less of his time and allowed him to spend more quality time with Chloe. He liked it that way.
“I appreciate the support,” said Edward, “and should I decide to run, you’ll be one of the first to know.”
Edward’s
