Holding On by Meg Jolie Page A

dance with Jemma.
    “Are you having an okay time?” Quinn asked. The moment the words were out of her mouth, she realized just how loaded the question was.
    Luke’s face clouded over and she immediately wanted to retract her words. She didn’t have time before he threw out his response.
    He tried to force a smile when he said, “I just watched my big brother marry the girl I’ve loved my whole life. I’ve had better days.” Then he was the one who instantly regretted his words when he saw the hurt look settle onto Quinn’s face. “I’m sorry,” he immediately said. His gut was twisting with regret at having said something so callous. The hurt look on Quinn’s face was enough to make him want to cut out his own tongue. “That was completely uncalled for. I mean, just because it’s out there now, doesn’t mean I should ever bring it up. Especially not today.”
    “Luke,” Quinn started but he cut her off again.
    “Quinnie, I’m so sorry. That was a really horrible thing for me to say. Can we just forget I said it? This day is about you. Not me.” He shook his head. Quinn could see the regret on his face. She was sure he hadn’t had a lot to drink but possibly just enough to loosen up his tongue a bit more than he liked.
    “It’s fine. I just wish things were different,” she said.
    “But they’re not. So let’s just try to get past it? Okay?” He shook his head. “The last thing I wanted to do was bring you down on your day. So forget I said anything and just dance with me? Please?”
    She nodded. “Okay.”
    She had her arms looped around his neck but looking into his eyes was proving to be too painful. She hated the sight of the hurt she had caused. Instead, she rested her head on his chest as they slowly swayed to the music. She wanted to make the most of this time with Luke because she had a terrible suspicion it might be a while before she saw him again.
     
    *~*~*
     
    “It’s perfect, Jake,” Quinn repeated yet again.
    She glanced around the room. The walls were covered in a tasteful floral pattern, just what she’d expect ed from this type of place. The furniture looked heavy and was made out of deep, cherry colored wood. Best of all, the bed had a canopy.
    Quinn thought canopies, just like picnic baskets, were oddly romantic. Jake didn’t look as convinced as he took in his surroundings.
    She loved the quaint bed and breakfast that he’d chosen. It was in a small, touristy town with plenty to do. The town was at the foot of a mountain. The town itself was filled with antique shops, which Quinn loved. He’d scoped out the place months ago. In fact, he even had the reservation made.
    This cute little place was the one he’d chosen to bring her to when he proposed. Instead, he’d called to extend the reservation to accommodate a short honeymoon.
    He placed their suitcases on the floor and shut the door. It was a little after midnight. They’d left their dance only an hour ago. The woman who owned the B&B had been willing to wait up for them. She’d gotten them signed in and had shown them to their room. She gave them a hasty run down of the itinerary, breakfast in the morning between seven and nine. Then she hustled away, sure the newlyweds were anxious to have her gone.
    She was right.
    “I just wish we could’ve gotten away,” he said as he came up behind her. “I feel like I should’ve taken you somewhere amazing. Like a tropical island…or at the very least Niagara Falls. Not just down the highway.”
    “I suppose it would be pointless to point out that as long as we’re together, I really don’t care where we are?” Quinn demanded with a smile.
    “I know,” Jake said with a sigh. “I feel the same. But still…” He’d wanted to do something amazing. Something memorable. Something so incredibly special that she’d never forget it. He felt that even though it was a cute little place, the bed and breakfast just wasn’t what he’d had in mind. But it had been