Seemed so wrong that Quinn's on his own and Rick got the girl. But that was in the past ... Thanks to my Sisters as ever for all the support and encouragement.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nina

Chapter 1

Quinn heard the car approach from his vantage point overlooking the pool and leapt to his feet in surprise, shading his eyes against the glare of the midday sun, his newspaper temporarily forgotten. The only people who knew he was still out there were the three who'd shared his nightmare holiday and he couldn't see any of them rushing back in a hurry, even now Dominick had his money back and everything was sorted.

A pair of shapely legs emerged from the back of the taxi followed by their owner and his heart lurched. Petite, slim, hair newly cut into a sleek dark bob, she watched as the driver removed her luggage from the boot, tucking her hair behind her ear in a familiar gesture. He knew she would be chewing her lower lip nervously and suddenly he was hurled back twenty years, leaning in to kiss her, feeling her smile against his lips.

He closed his eyes with a groan as the need he'd fought to repress for so long washed over him threatening to sweep all his emotional barriers away. He'd thought he was immune, assumed he was over her after all this time but when they'd met up just before that fateful trip to Majorca all his old feelings had resurfaced with a vengeance.
Ostensibly she'd wanted to talk about her marriage, about whether he thought it was worth saving, but there was something in her eyes that he couldn't quite fathom out. Regret, maybe? Longing? Did he dare to hope she might still want him after all these years?

His breath caught in his throat as he watched her making her way up the drive, struggling under the weight of the case, and then he remembered his manners and went to help her.

"Nina! What on earth are you doing here? Where's Rick and the kids?"

He took the case from her, his fingers brushing against hers, and thought he felt her shiver at his touch. She took off her sunglasses and he saw the dark circles under her eyes.

"Sorry to arrive unannounced, I just … really needed to get away. Can I stay for a few days?"

He leaned in to peck her on the cheek and there it was again, a little tremble as his lips gently brushed her skin. He began to hope that maybe there was an ulterior motive for this visit.

"Stay as long as you like, I'd be glad of the company. It does get a little lonely here to be honest."

He smiled down at her as they set off back to the house, and she gave him a sideways glance from under her lashes.

"Nobody special at the moment, then? I should have checked it was OK to visit, it wasn't till I was on the plane I realised you might have … company …"

His heart leapt and he only just succeeded in preventing a huge grin from spreading over his face.

"Nope, no-one special in my life at present. You know how useless I am with women."

She looked directly at him, one eyebrow raised in exasperation.

"Well if you mean not noticing when there's a roomful of them drooling over you, hanging on your every word and practically crawling into your lap, then yes, you are entirely useless …"

He grinned sheepishly, secretly flattered.

"I wish! Look around. You notice them all camped out on loungers round the pool? Not exactly Hugh Hefner, am I?"

He carried her luggage up the stairs and into one of the spare rooms and she followed slowly, torn between eyeing up the sumptuous interior and ogling his long legs and firm backside. She shook herself mentally. What was she thinking? She'd just come for a few days away to get over recent events. Hadn't she?