Head Over Heels for the Boss (Donovan Brothers) (15 page)

Eventually, he pushed his chair back and said, “Well, this was fun, but some of us still work for a living.”

Bob said, “Stay. It’s Friday afternoon. Maybe we could play some volleyball, drink some beer and just, you know, chill out.”

He suspected his mom and Bob wanted everyone to get accustomed to this little cottage as being the new family headquarters, but Devon simply wasn’t in the mood. He didn’t need to be here to be a peacemaker or a problem solver. They were happy. And he could leave without guilt or worry.

The space in his head where his sense of responsibility had resided filled with just the tiniest bit of greed. No longer having to worry about his family, he could think about himself. Do what
he
wanted.

He pointed at his suit. “Not exactly volleyball attire.”

Piper gave him a quick onceover and agreed, but Ellie stood up. “You know what? I feel like a nap. If Devon doesn’t mind driving me to my house, I want to leave, too.”

Jumping on that, Devon said, “I’d be glad to drive you.” He turned to Bob. “We can do this again next Friday…but I’ll dress for it.”

Bob rose and shook his hand. “Sounds great.”

He left with Ellie, opening his SUV door for her and giving her a hoist up so she and her very round stomach could get into the vehicle.

It wasn’t until he was behind the steering wheel that he realized his mistake. Nobody had badgered him about his mystery woman because no one had had the chance. And here he was, giving Ellie a front row seat to privacy with him. Ten long minutes of potential questions.

In a preemptive strike, he said, “I’m not going to talk about my girlfriend.” He couldn’t quite bring himself to say
lover
to a woman about to pop out a child. It seemed crass.

Ellie lifted her head from the headrest. “What?”

“I said I’m not going to talk about my private life.”

She put her head back again and closed her eyes. “Okay.”

He peered over at her. “Not going to hassle me?”

She laughed. “Do you want to be hassled? Because if you do, Finn would be more than happy to oblige.”

“No. And thanks.”

“Don’t thank me. I’d love to pull a Spanish Inquisition, but today I’m just too tired.”

He looked at her pale skin, her furrowed brow, and her pursed lips. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Like I said, just tired.”

He helped her out of his SUV and into the big brown brick house his brother had built on the outskirts of the other side of town. She actually let him guide her upstairs and take her shoes off when she lay on the bed.

When he felt uncomfortable leaving, she shooed him out. “Seriously? What does a woman have to do to get a nap around here?”

He held up his hands. “Okay, fine. I’m going.”

But on his way to his SUV, he called Finn—who laughed at him.

“She’s carrying twenty-five pounds of baby and baby-related body weight. Of course she’s tired.”

“Check on her anyway.”

Finn laughed. “Relax, Devon. I’ve got this. We’re fine.”

He hoped they were, then felt a bit like an idiot for probably overreacting. His family didn’t need him now the way they had, and that made him glad. Not antsy. Now that his family was taking care of themselves, he was free.

He returned to a cold, quiet office, not feeling the joy he’d expected freedom to bring him. So he opened the drapes to see the pool that rarely got used, the furniture no one sat on.

Since that was depressing, he forced himself to work. The sun went down before his stomach growled for supper. He’d gotten so accustomed to eating after nine that he hadn’t even thought of food.

He went into the cool white kitchen and rummaged for dinner, but there was nothing in the refrigerator. He found canned goods in the pantry, but nothing piqued his interest except a can of beans. So he opened it, got a spoon, and took it to the fancy formal living room. He sat on the white sofa and spooned out some beans.

Wow. Geez. Seriously? Was this freedom? A lonely man eating beans out of a can? And couldn’t he at least turn on a light?

Wasn’t he stronger than this? Tougher than this?

Suddenly a beam of light passed by the front window. He heard a car door slam.

He put his beans on the coffee table, confused as he stepped out of the black and white room and into the foyer space—though none of it was defined. Half the downstairs was a big open space that freaking echoed.

The doorbell rang. He slowly walked over to answer it, not sure who the hell would be coming this far out of town, this late at night.

He pulled the door open, and Isabelle threw herself into his arms.

After a quick hug, she pulled back, put both hands on his face, and kissed him.

Relief spiraled through him, along with a joy he couldn’t even describe.

“I’m sorry I was such a freak Tuesday night.”

He stepped back, catching her hand to bring her the whole way inside so he could close the door.

“Freak?”

“You know. Moody.” She walked over to him and kissed him again. Then she bounced back comically. “Oh my God! I’m sorry. I never even thought about your mom.”

“Probably because she’s never here.”

He took her hand and started to walk into the living room, but he stopped. The freaking living room wasn’t a place where you could shuck your clothes and show your girlfriend how much you liked her.

“My mom may never be here again. She likes Bob’s cottage. After lunch there this afternoon, I understand why.” He glanced at the black and white club chairs, the white sofa, the blueberry-colored throw pillows. “His house is comfortable.”

She sidled up to him, put her arms around his neck, and kissed him before she said, “Wanna go to my parents’?”

He laughed against her mouth. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Chapter Fourteen

E
verything was right again with Isabelle’s world. She was a professional woman now. During her hours and hours in the air that afternoon, she’d realized that at this stage in her career, she didn’t have time for marriage. Or kids. And affairs probably were the norm for women in her line of work. She was
not
falling in love with Devon. She liked her job too much to risk it.

She got into her car and watched Devon get into his SUV. At the outskirts of town, she saw in her rearview mirror that he turned right when she turned left. Undoubtedly so that no one would see their cars together.

She pulled into the driveway. Inside the house, she set the craftsman ablaze with lights, since she’d been away and no one had been around for almost three days. Then Devon came in through the back door, and she walked toward him, unbuttoning her blouse.

He caught the hair at her nape and tilted her backward, kissing her hard. Arousal pooled low in her belly.

His phone rang.

She smashed herself against him. “Ignore it.”

He chuckled. “Just let me see who it is.”

He slid his hand into his pants pocket, but she kept herself pressed against him, her tongue gliding along his ear lobe, tickling, tempting.

He laughed and said, “Stop,” but she could hear in his tone that he didn’t mean it.

He said, “This is weird. It’s Cade.” He clicked the button to answer. “Yeah, Cade, what’s up?”

Standing so close, Isabelle could hear when Cade said, “It’s Ellie. She’s at the hospital.”

Isabelle gasped, but Devon gave a quick shake of his head, reminding her to be quiet. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

A
s he disconnected the call, Isabelle said, “She’s due in a few days, right?”

He sucked in a breath, remembering what she’d looked like that afternoon. But as Finn had said, he had it under control. And Devon had liked not having to be all things to all people. This was Finn’s responsibility, and Devon was going to let him take it. So when he spoke, he was positive. “I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.”

Raising her gaze to his, she quietly said, “My friend has gone to the hospital. I will worry.”

He pulled his keys from his pants pocket. Just because he was letting Finn take responsibility didn’t mean he wouldn’t be there for the birth of his niece. “Then come to the hospital with me.”

“Really?”

He didn’t reply. He wasn’t sure how. It was a risk having both of them arrive together. Still, they could just say she was at the house debriefing about San Diego when Cade’s call came. And, as she’d said, she and Ellie were friends.

To make his debriefing story true, on the drive to the hospital he asked Isabelle about her trip. She told him about the CEO being grateful for the job description change, the CFO being flattered at what he perceived as a promotion, and everybody breathing a sigh of relief that they’d staved off bankruptcy.

“So you did good?”

“I felt I did. I settled nerves, but took charge. And when I left this afternoon, I made sure everyone had a sense that we were a team.”

He looked over at her beaming face and knew she’d probably been much better than good.

“Pretty soon you’re going to realize this company is your baby. You have it in you to be a great businesswoman.
This
is your shot.”

She burst out laughing. “I know!”

And he was abundantly glad he was with her when all this fell together in her head. Gladder still that he was the one giving her the chance. That made him so happy he could have stopped the car and kissed her, except…there was a baby being born.

After parking the car, he and Isabelle raced into the hospital and up the stairs to the maternity waiting room. His mom rose immediately when she saw them.

She said, “She’s only a few days early.”

But Devon could see his poor mom was riddled with worry. “Everything’s fine, Mom.”

As if uncomfortable being there, Isabelle said, “I’m going to go to the cafeteria and get some coffee, anybody want some?”

Piper gave her a curious look. Then she looked at Devon.

Answering her question before she asked it and gave everybody ideas, Devon said, “Isabelle was debriefing at the house when Cade called.” Luckily, she was still wearing the black pencil skirt and slim white blouse of a business suit, absolutely looking the part.

“Back from my first successful business trip,” Isabelle said, cementing their story.

Still, just in case, Devon stepped away from her, reducing the risk that they’d accidentally touch. “And if you’re getting coffee, I’d love a cup.”

Smiling, Isabelle faced LuAnn and Bob. “Coffee? I’ve never been involved in this process but from what I understand it takes a while. You might be glad for some caffeine.”

She took coffee orders and went to the cafeteria.

Devon sat in one of the hard plastic chairs along the wall and picked up the TV remote. “Maybe we can catch the news.”

But ten minutes later, as Isabelle returned with a tray of coffee, Finn entered the waiting room from the door on the other side.

“She’s here. Baby’s born,” he said, sounding mystified. “Ellie’d been in labor all day. She didn’t realize it was labor because she wasn’t in pain. She just felt funny. But apparently that counted because the baby is here.”

Devon said, “I told you something was up!” at the same time that LuAnn burst into tears and Piper hooted for joy.

Bob said, “Can we see our new little girl?”

Finn shook his head as if he was still having trouble believing all this. “They said give them twenty minutes to get her cleaned up, and they’ll tell you what room we’re in.”

Finn left and Isabelle handed out coffee. They waited forty minutes before a nurse came in and told them Ellie’s room number.

When they walked in, Ellie was crying. Wiping tears from her face, she said, “I’ve been like this since she was born. Can’t seem to stop.” She squeezed Piper’s hand. “I have a baby.”

Piper bent down and kissed her cheek. “You’re a mom.”

“I have a real family.”

Though he fought them, tears filled Devon’s eyes, too. Just like Isabelle, Ellie was an only child. Her mom had been killed when Ellie was just a kid. Her dad had died two years ago. Without Barbara Beth and the Donovans, Ellie had been alone. Christmases might be great for only children, but Devon couldn’t help believing the rest of the time, being alone sucked.

He glanced at Isabelle. Her eyes were moist and he knew, just
knew
, she was thinking exactly what he’d been thinking.

His heart twisted a bit. Her parents had been gone a couple of weeks, and as far as he knew, the only time they called was when they needed something.

Not that they weren’t nice people, but he suddenly realized how alone Isabelle was.

She walked to Ellie’s bed and kissed her cheek, too. “Congratulations.”

Devon’s heart twisted again. She’d make a great mother, but he was turning her into a great businesswoman.

Still, it was what she wanted. And he was out of the “responsibility” business. His family was taking care of themselves. He wasn’t going to adopt Isabelle as his new project. She was a grown woman who could make her own choices. In fact, he would
insist
she make her own choices.

Ellie squeezed her hand. “Thanks.” She nudged Piper and Isabelle toward Finn. “Go see her.”

Finn handed the tiny red baby wrapped in a simple white hospital blanket to Devon. Even experienced with babies because of little Richie, he still stared at her as if she were a foreign object. Only six weeks old, Richie seemed to be double her size. “She’s so little,” he whispered reverently.

Patting Finn’s belly, Cade said, “Obviously, she takes after Ellie not Finn.”

Devon said, “Her hair
is
red.”

Piper walked over and ran a finger over the sparse red strands of hair. “Wow. Isn’t that cute?”

“She’s going to be teased in grade school,” Ellie said then burst into tears again.

The mighty weight of being the Donovan protector filled Devon. He might be done being his brothers’ protectors, and he wouldn’t overstep into dad territory, but he did intend to be the absolute best uncle in the world.

“Hey, we’re not going to let anybody tease her.” Then he bent and put a kiss on the baby’s head. “Welcome to the family.”

Even as he said the words, Piper reached out and wrapped her arms around Isabelle, bringing her closer so she could see the baby.

With her finger on the baby’s tiny hand, Isabelle faced Ellie. “What are you going to name her?”

“Well, LuAnn’s father’s name was taken,” she said, referring to Richard Sean, named after Piper’s dad and Cade’s grandfather. “So we thought we’d go in another direction.”

Cade said, “Another direction?”

Ellie sought Devon’s gaze. “Devon’s middle name is Sebastian. Too mannish to give to a little girl. But we thought Sabrina was close enough.”

His face fell. Overwhelming emotion flooded him. “You’re naming her after me?”

“I understand you more or less held everything together when you guys were kids.”

“For many years,” LuAnn said, walking up to Devon and putting her hand on his shoulder. “But thank God that’s over now.”

He knew she was referring to the fact that their dad was gone. In Arizona. Thousands of miles away. But in his heart, Devon felt that sense-of-responsibility space in his head shimmy and shiver and ultimately disappear. With the birth of Finn’s child, his baby brother truly was all grown up, able to care for himself. And Devon really was free.

His mom said, “Can I hold my granddaughter now?”

He handed the baby to her, dumbstruck. When he sought Isabelle, he found her nestled with Piper and Ellie, laughing.

It should have pleased him that she was so close to Piper and Ellie, that she had friends. Given that her parents had moved south and she was basically alone, seeing that she had people in her life should have pleased him. Instead, he felt disconnected. Like he wanted to hug her. To celebrate this moment. Not just getting a niece but being free. Even if his brothers and mom hadn’t demanded he protect them, he’d felt a demand of fate. And today it was gone.

But that was stupid—

Wasn’t it?

A nurse walked in. “Normally, we let family have as much time as they want with the new little one,” she said, ambling up to LuAnn and taking the baby from her. “But it’s late. And the new mom needs some sleep.”

Though she looked sad at giving up the baby, LuAnn wholeheartedly agreed. “Yes. Let’s let Ellie rest.” She kissed her daughter-in-law’s forehead. “Thank you for my granddaughter.”

Ellie laughed through her tears. “In all the excitement we forgot to say Sabrina’s middle name is LuAnn. Sabrina LuAnn.”

LuAnn pressed her fingers to her lips. “That’s—” She swallowed hard then waved her fingers in front of her face as if that could ward off tears. “Thank you.”

I
t took twenty minutes of tears and happiness before everyone trooped out of the room. Cade and Piper headed back to Karen O’Riley’s to get little Richie. Bob led weeping LuAnn to his Jeep. Devon took Isabelle’s hand as they walked to his SUV.

Knowing that everyone had gone off in a different direction, so no one would see, she didn’t say anything. When he drove them to her parents’ house, not his house, she also didn’t argue.

They walked up the driveway, around to the back porch, in silence and darkness. As she inserted the key in the lock, she said, “If you’re hungry, there’s some leftover shrimp scampi in the refrigerator.”

She stepped into the kitchen and he followed her. The second she tossed her purse and phone to the breakfast bar, he slid his arm around her back and pulled her to him.

“I’m hungry, but I don’t want food.”

And her Devon was back. His lips fell to hers and he kissed her hungrily, his hands roaming along her back. She wished her clothes would just melt away so she could feel his touch, but before she could do anything about her clothes, he pulled away.

“Let’s go upstairs.”

“What? No trail of clothes?”

He laughed and took her hand, leading her up the steps. When they got to the guest room, he kissed her again, and his hands went to the buttons of her blouse. He removed it slowly, sensually, letting the soft material slide across her sensitive skin. Then he ran his hands along her back, soothing, massaging, before he found the closure for her skirt, opened it, and lowered the zipper.

Though it was late, and she thought he’d be rushed, Devon made love to her slowly. Actually, for the first time in their relationship, she felt like they were making love, making a connection. She almost reminded herself that thinking these thoughts, making too much of what they were doing, could be trouble. But after seeing Ellie and Finn and their brand new little girl, she couldn’t help being a little sentimental. She let herself go, let herself enjoy this sweet lovemaking session that might be a once-in-a-lifetime thing between her and Devon.

When they were through, he took her with him as he rolled to the side and fell to his pillow.

“We had quite a day today, didn’t we?”

“Yes.” She knew he was thinking of the baby, and being around his family together, pretending not to be in a relationship. But she was thinking of the catch in her heart when she raced off the plane, believing he would dump her for getting serious when they weren’t supposed to. She’d driven like a mad woman to get to Harmony Hills, so afraid he wouldn’t want her anymore that she’d broken speed limits. Then a baby had been born and tears had come to his eyes and he’d made love to her with unbearable tenderness.

How was she supposed to not notice that? Or not crumble because of it? The air between them was thick with emotion so sweet, her heart ached.

She swallowed and said, “You have a niece now.”

“She’s pretty, right? I mean I know all babies are red and wrinkled, but I saw the spark in her. She’s going to be beautiful.”

She lifted herself up so she could look into his luminous eyes. “Wow. Two minutes of holding her and you’re already wrapped around her finger. What’s going to happen when she’s three and cries?”