Dana must have fallen asleep because the next thing she felt was a gentle hand on her arm.

"Quinn?" She sat up brushing the hair that had loosened out of her face. She didn't know how she knew it was him, but she did.

"Yes Dana, it's Bryce and me."

She had known he would come back. "How did you get in here? Come to think of it how did my father get in?" she looked at the clock to see that not very much time had passed.

"It seems your father told a sad tale about a long-lost daughter to one of the maids and she fell for it." Leave it to Bryce to know all of the answers.

"I got in using the key card that I swiped while you and your father were distracted." Quinn reached over and turned on the main light to the room.

When the light illuminated her face, she saw the horror on his.

She reached up to touch her face and winced at the tenderness. "Is it bad?" She jerked the covers off as she jumped out of bed to get to the mirror.

It was a pretty hefty shiner that ran from her eye to her lip. "He always did know just how to land a strike." Then she couldn't help but smile this time she had gotten it defending herself.

"Why on earth are you grinning Dana?" Quinn sat heavily on the bed, the guilt easy to read on his face.

She went and sat next to him. "Look at me Quinn, you see this?" she traced her cheek. "This is a badge of courage."

His eyes met hers with a haunted look.

"Quinn, I stood up to him, but not only did I do that I realized I'm not like my mother; I chose to run, which in its own way is choosing to fight. My mother didn't, she gave up, and it killed her."

Dana turned from Quinn and looked at Bryce. "Can you find out how she died?"

"Are you sure you want to know?"

Dana thought about it. "Yes, I do."

"The official report said overdose." Bryce already had the answer it seemed.

Her surprise must have shown. "I didn't know that you were not aware of how she died. I like to know as much as possible about every legal battle I fight."

Dana nodded he was nothing if not thorough. "My father pretty much confirmed how she died tonight."

"How did this happen." Quinn traced her cheek, and Dana closed her eyes at the touch, savoring it.

"I told him I would sleep with as many damn men as I wanted and there was nothing he could do about it."

She heard Quinn make an almost guttural sound in the back of his throat and she swore she saw Bryce smile.

"How did you get him to leave?" Quinn asked quickly changing the subject.

"I pulled a page from Bryce's book and told him it was his choice, he could leave, or I would call security and file charges while making a scene." She scooted a little closer to Quinn liking his warmth.

"And he just left?" Bryce sounded unsure.

"Oh no, he said something dramatic like 'this isn't finished,' and then I said something equally dramatic like 'for me it is.'" Dana smiled again quite pleased with the way it had ended.

"I don't think you need me anymore." Bryce moved towards the door. "I'll see you both at breakfast," he said, repeating Mason's comment. Again Dana swore she saw his lip twitch.

After he had left, the room filled with a tense silence.

"So did you really wear this amazing dress for me?"

Dana nodded. "I pictured you taking it off of me."

Dana rose from the bed, missing Quinn's quick intake of breath at her statement, and moved to look at her reflection in the mirror, she pretended to look at her cheek, but she was trying to watch Quinn covertly.

She wondered if he had ever thought of a more permanent relationship with her before he had found out she couldn't have children. The excuse that he had given her about wanting her to live her life now seemed weak. She had begged him to make love to her all those months ago, and if she was honest he was a man, and men very rarely said no to that kind of offer from a girl.

But Quinn, he wasn't like that, he honestly felt something for her, of that she was sure. Otherwise, he would not have done all that he had for her, and perhaps he still did feel something, but his family heritage demanded that he have an heir, and that was something that Dana couldn't give him.

He was so handsome that it hurt to look at him. His blond hair fell across his forehead, and his strong jaw and cheeks were covered in golden stubble which was striking against his tan. He wore his evening clothes well. He was staring at her intently. His expression was hard to read as he met her eyes in the mirror.

Quinn rose and moved to stand behind her, and their reflection in the mirror hypnotized her.

He reached up and took the pins from her hair slowly, one at a time; then he slowly unzipped her dress and Dana watched as every one of her fantasies she had had when she bought the dress was played out in front of her eyes.

He trailed his finger up her thigh just as Marcus had done, but instead of revulsion she felt her muscles quiver under his touch, and she gave a little whimper when he stopped just short of his goal.

"Quinn," she pleaded.

He reached up and traced her bruised cheek again. She picked up his hand and kissed his palm feeling him shudder. "It was a battle that only I could fight."

He slowly pushed the dress from her body letting it drop. She stood looking at their reflection in the mirror. All she was wearing was a pair of silky briefs, and he was completely dressed behind her. It was outrageously sexy, and her heart is raging in her chest. Suddenly, he turned her towards him as he kissed her hard, and she was lost to any other thoughts but Quinn and the way she felt in his arms.

*******

The next morning Dana opened her eyes to see Quinn asleep beside her. She watched his even breathing, and when he didn't stir Dana took a moment to memorize every line of his naked body, his smell, the way his presence felt in the room.

After a few minutes, he slowly opened his eyes and smiled lazily at her.

Dana laid down next to him and rested her head on his chest and listened to his heart, totally content while thinking that all of the previous night's thoughts had been crazy because after last night it all seemed so clear.

Quinn cleared his throat. "Dana I asked you yesterday what your plans were now."

"I'm open Quinn." She wanted him to know that she would go wherever he wanted her to.

"Dana: don't you have dreams, something you want to do, figure out who you are?"

Dana shook her head. "You're my dream, Quinn."

He jumped out of bed as if he had been burned

"Quinn?"

"I am nobody's dream, Dana." His voice sounded harsh.

She didn't understand what was wrong.

"Dana, I need to get back to the ranch, and you need to figure who you are out without me tagging along."

"But Quinn I love you, I want to be with you. I can figure it all out at the ranch."

"No, Dana you can't. What you feel for me is some misguided feelings of gratitude with a little lust mixed in."

Dana was floored. "Quinn, don't tell me what I feel. Marcus was really good at telling me what I felt. I know what I feel, I don't need your help figuring that out."

She knew she had made a mistake by pulling Marcus's name into the discussion. Quinn's whole body grew rigid and his face lost all expression. "That's just it Dana. You just got rid of Marcus, the last thing you need is another man around." He was very calm.

"Where is this coming from Quinn?" Dana was at a loss. The last few days had been wonderful; a taste of what their future could really be.

"I have to be back at the ranch tomorrow, I'm expected."

Dana was stunned at his statement. He was leaving. Had he planned this all along? She looked at him dumbfounded. He must have sensed her unasked question.

"Dana I only promised to..." he couldn't finish his statement.

Dana cleared her throat as she turned away from him. "You only promised to kiss me." She felt her face flame, and she couldn't bring herself to look at him. She had foolishly believed that he felt like she did, that he was in love with her. His declaration that he had wanted to do more than kiss her had not been a declaration of love; just one of attraction, of lust. That was what he had called it, gratitude mixed with a little bit of lust those had been his exact words.

"I wanted this just as much as you did." He reached for her, but before he caught her, she jumped up and moved across the room.

"I don't doubt that Quinn." She took a deep breath and pushed her hand through her hair. This was one of those life lessons that she had missed out on during her marriage. Men can have sex without love.

"Dana you-,"

Just then there was a knock at the door.

"Go away!" Quinn shouted.

Dana was more startled by his reply than by the knock.

"I have orders from Bryce to be here." They heard Cassie yell back. Cassie was not averse to making a scene.

Dana rose, putting on her robe watching as Quinn reached for his pants.

Cassie banged on the door again. "I'm about to make a scene."

Dana pasted a smile on her face and went to the door opening it to allow Cassie to enter.

"Ummm Hmmmm, looks like a good night was had by all," she said, looking at the rumpled bed. Then she turned and let her glance slide up a shirtless Quinn. "Not bad."

Not bad, she had to be crazy, he was sexy as hell standing there in nothing but his trousers.

Cassie turned to look at Dana, doing her best to hide her dismay at the sight of her face.

"Why are you here Cassie?" Quinn sat in one of the chairs sprawled out, his massive frame overwhelming the small armchair.

Cassie held up her bag. "I'm here to hide the bruising so that you can both join us for breakfast without causing a stir."

"So you're not going to leave anytime soon?" Quinn asked, looking put out about the situation.

"Nope," Cassie said as she started to unpack her bag.

Dana and Quinn looked at her silently.

"O.K. O.K., I get it, you want a moment," Picking up her phone she moved towards the door," but you better not take too long, I'm a very famous person, and I do not like to be kept waiting." Then she completely ruined the conceited comment by sticking her tongue out at them

After the door closed behind her, there was a moment of silence.

She didn't try to disguise the hurt in her eyes. "I do love you, Quinn. You may not believe that, but I do. I don't need to go out and find myself as you suggest. I found myself with you."

Dana watched him as he watched her, stubbornly refusing to talk. His excuse of wanting her to find herself seemed weak to her. The only reason she could come up with was the one from the night before, he wanted children, and she couldn't have any. She was damaged goods.

He was staring at her intently as if considering his answer.

"I get it, Quinn."

"I doubt that Dana. I have watched you thinking some heavy thoughts this morning, and I cannot begin to guess what is going through that mind of yours, but I'm sure it has very little to do with what I'm really thinking."

"You said you want me to have a chance to live my life. You think that if I settle for you now, I will regret it later, but I want you, Quinn. That's my dream, that's what I want my future to be, you and me." It came out in a rush as if she was afraid that if she didn't say it, he wouldn't let her.

If his real reason was wanting her to be sure and to be able to find herself, then what she just said should convince him that it wasn't a good reason at all. If it didn't convince him, then she would know that his excuse wasn't true. If he didn't give in after her heartfelt words of love, then it had to be because he didn't want her.

His expression was hard to read as he began to dress. Even rumpled he wore his evening clothes well. Dana watched as he rolled up his sleeves, his strong forearms flexing with the movement. "Dana you have the chance to make a good life for yourself you don't need me."

He picked up his jacket casually as Dana's heart was ripping in two, "You're wrong Quinn, and I know that for a fact." Dana deliberated about telling him just how much she needed him, but she knew it wouldn't make a difference.

"I need to hear you say it, Quinn. I need to hear you say that you don't want me. That is the only way that I will be able to move on with my life. That, and I never see you again."

"I won't say I don't want you because that would be a lie Dana, but I want you to live your life without me in it." His voice was low and soothing as if he was talking to one of his injured animals.

"You win Quinn. I'll stop looking for you in crowds or hoping that you'll change your mind and show up on my doorstep. I'll ask Bryce to recommend another lawyer to take his place, and I'll say my goodbyes to your family."

"Dana that's not what-"

"Goodbye Quinn." Dana rose and moved to the bathroom. "Please tell Casandra thanks but no thanks, I have covered more than my fair share of bruises, and I can manage."

"Dana."

'What Quinn?" She spun around to face him. "You said you didn't want me; I get it, message received, now please leave."

He just looked at her.

"Please Quinn." Her voice broke.

He looked as if he had something else to say.

"I'm not one of your sick and hurt animals that you can sooth into submission. I may have been abused, but I promise you that I still have a little of my self-respect. Please leave."

Quinn slowly walked to the door.

"I love you, Quinn," she said as he put his hand on the doorknob. She wanted to hear his name on her lips one more time because it would be the last.

When he still wouldn't leave she gave a final push. "No worries Quinn; I'm a survivor. Go back to your ranch and please take care of yourself." She tried to sound grown up and mature, but she hurt worse than she ever had in all of her time spent with Marcus. Perhaps it was because she knew all of her pain caused by Marcus would eventually fade but she knew this pain never would.

Dana gave him one last smile and turned away from him, trying to keep it together until she heard the door close behind him.