Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 106147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
I laughed nervously. “I must’ve been on the phone. I guess I haven’t checked my messages, but that’s such great news. How did you manage to make that happen? It was his third strike, so I thought he was really in trouble.”
Donovan’s lips curved to what resembled a smile, yet there was nothing happy about it. “Sold my soul to the devil. But I figured this was an important case and worth it.”
Blake took his hand from my waist and extended it toward Donovan. “Nice job. I’ll remember this. You’ve really surprised me lately. I thought for sure you’d dump old man Bentley after the crap he pulled last week.”
Donovan’s eyes flashed to mine. He put his hand in Blake’s waiting one, but his words were clearly directed my way. “I wanted to, but I realized it probably wasn’t the best idea.”
The woman whom I’d been introduced to earlier as the hostess of the party, the wife of the partner whose house we were at, walked over and wrapped her hands around Donovan’s bicep. “There you are. It’s nice to see you, Donovan.”
“You, too, Monica.”
“My husband refused to ask if you were single, so I thought I’d come over and do the honors.”
Again Donovan’s eyes met mine. “I am.”
“Good.” She tilted her head toward the pool where a gorgeous woman stood.
She was probably in her mid-twenties and wore a short, white dress that showcased tanned legs a mile long. “I’d like to introduce you to my niece. She just moved here from California and starts law school in the fall. I thought maybe you two could be friends.”
Jealousy coursed through my veins. I knew it was absolutely ridiculous, considering I was standing with another man’s arm wrapped around me. But logic didn’t change what I felt.
Donovan smiled graciously. “Of course.” He nodded once more to Blake and followed the hostess over to the woman at the pool without another glance my way.
For the rest of the afternoon, I attempted to focus on whatever conversation I was supposed to be part of while trying not to watch a certain two people across the yard. I failed miserably. Every time the blonde tossed her hair, I felt like a bull eyeing a red cape—and Lord, did she whip her tresses around. I was grateful it was a hot day, so the reddening of my face would be less conspicuous. At one point, she pressed her hands to Donovan’s chest as she laughed, and I just really wanted to go home.
“Excuse me for a minute, please,” I said to Blake and whatever partner we were now talking to. Honestly, they all looked the same. “Could you direct me to the bathroom?”
“Of course.” He pointed toward the house. “Straight up the stairs and make a left or right. There’s one in either direction.”
At the top of the stairs, I turned left. But someone was in that bathroom, so I went in search of the other. Finding it free, I shut myself inside, tossed my purse on top of the toilet tank, and gripped the sides of the sink, exhaling deeply. It felt like the first time I could breathe in hours. I wanted to splash some cold water on my face, but I didn’t have makeup to fix the mess I’d make. So instead, I dropped my head, closed my eyes, and took a few deep breaths. After a minute or two, I started to feel a little better—until the knock came.
I have no idea why, but I just stared at the door without saying a word. After thirty or so seconds of silence, the handle jiggled back and forth, but I’d locked it behind me. When a little more time passed, I thought maybe the person had taken the hint, but then another knock came. And this time, it was followed by a voice.
“It’s me.”
Donovan.
I walked over to the door and leaned my head against it, speaking quietly. “Go away.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Open the door, Autumn.”
I debated arguing with him, but I had a feeling he wouldn’t back down, and I didn’t want anyone to notice him standing around talking through the bathroom door. So I unlocked it.
Donovan opened it hesitantly. When I didn’t say or do anything, he stepped inside and clicked the lock shut behind him.
“You better not stay too long,” I said. “Your new friend will wonder where you are.”
The corner of Donovan’s lip twitched. “Jealous?”
I frowned. “No.”
His twitchy lip gave way to a full-blown, smug smile. “Right.”
I sighed. “What do you want, Donovan? You’re going to get caught in here. You should go back downstairs.”
“I don’t give a shit about getting caught. And what do I want? I thought you’d figured that out by now.” He moved closer. “I want you, Autumn.”
I looked down, shaking my head. “Just go with the blonde.” Even saying the words caused a sharp pain inside my chest.