VICTORIOUS (A Quantum Novel)(58)

She smiles weakly.

Emmett comes back. “That was awesome, Natalie. You handled him like a pro.”

“I just told the truth.”

“You did it brilliantly.”

“See?” I tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I’m not the only one who thinks you’re f*cking amazing.”

“Don’t forget I’ve had training on how to deal with hostile questions, cross-examination, the whole nine yards.”

“I’m so turned on right now.”

“And that’s my cue to get the hell out of the love nest,” Emmett says, laughing.

I get up to shake his hand. “Thanks for coming, man.”

“You got it. Any time.”

“We’ll see you at the office tomorrow and at the club on Friday.”

“Oh. Really?” He glances between Natalie and me.

“Really.”

“Well, okay. See you soon.”

“Keep me posted on anything you hear from the investigator.”

“I will.”

I see him out the door and return to the kitchen, where Natalie is staring out at the pool, lost in thought. Probably lost in torturous memories. If I could, I’d spend every dime I have to erase those memories for her.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just that I’ve been forced to confront my past more in the last few weeks than I have in years.”

“It’s not lost on me that those are the same weeks you’ve known me.”

She takes my hand, brings it to her lips and looks at me with gorgeous green eyes. The color is still new to me, but the warmth, affection and love are familiar by now yet no less humbling than they were when I first knew her.

“Just when I think I can’t love you any more than I already do,” I tell her, “I find out there’s more, so much more.”

The chime sounds to indicate the front door is opening. “Is it safe to come in?” Addie calls.

“Everyone is dressed,” I say with a smile for Natalie.

Addie comes in, a tray of coffees in hand and a pile of mail that she places on the counter for me to go through when I have time. “Morning! How’d it go with the FBI?”

“Fine.” I take two of the coffees from her and hand one to Nat. “Natalie ruined all his fun.”

“I would’ve liked to have seen that,” Addie says.

“It was quite a show.” Right then and there, an idea comes to me that takes my breath away because it’s that captivating.

“Flynn?” Natalie asks. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Just thinking about something for work.”

“He does that,” Addie says with a smile for Nat. “Spaces out in the middle of conversations when he gets a big idea. What is it this time?”

“It’s…” I can’t say it out loud or even entertain the possibility without first speaking to Natalie. “It’s not ready for discussion yet. Early stages.”

The doorbell rings. “That’ll be Tenley,” Addie says of the stylist who has been dressing Natalie for award season. She goes to open the door.

“You’re sure you’re up for this today?” I ask her.

“I’m positive. I wouldn’t dream of missing a chance to celebrate my talented husband.”





Natalie enjoys the Oscar luncheon at the Beverly Hilton and the opportunity to meet more of my friends and colleagues, who are equally fascinated by her. I take a lot of razzing about giving up my bachelor status, about strapping on a “ball and chain” and all the usual bullshit guys say to each other. But my “ball and chain” is absolutely stunning in a midnight-blue dress that clings to all her sumptuous curves. I’m the envy of every straight guy in the room and a few of the women, too.

After a delicious meal of tasty fish, rice and vegetables, we sit through the comments offered by the Academy’s president as well as the producers of the show, who lecture us about keeping our acceptance speeches to forty-five seconds. I find that amusing. It takes months, sometimes years, to make a quality, award-worthy film, and winners are expected to boil down those years to forty-five seconds.

If I win, and I’m favored to after the run I’ve already had this award season, I suppose I can jam what I want to say into forty-five seconds.