Surrender to a Donovan (Kimani Romance) (11 page)

Tate was swept away, not just in lust or desire but in the magical wonder of falling in love. She’d read about it in romance novels, heard about it from high school friends and craved it for the better part of her life. But in this moment, as Sean continued to work slowly and methodically in and out of her, as her body welcomed him completely, she knew this was the first time ever that she’d felt it for herself.

He shifted again, releasing her legs and turning them so that she lay on her back, her entire body on the chair, his on top of hers. His thickness still filled her, the proximity causing an erotic friction that made her eyes close.

“Tate,” he said, but it wasn’t a whisper. It was a command.

She opened her eyes, found him glaring down at her, his lips parted, brows furrowed. Tate lifted her hands to cup his face in her palms.

“I’ve never felt this way before. You make me feel so good,” she told him honestly. It was easy with him to just open her mouth and let the words come out. She wasn’t embarrassed or self-conscious at all.

“Baby.” He lowered his forehead to hers and continued to move in and out of her.

“Yes, Sean, yes!” she moaned, loving the feel of him all over.

Their release came simultaneously, an eruption that rocked them hard enough to have them gasping for breath and almost falling off the seat. He wrapped his arms around her so tightly and held her so close that Tate almost couldn’t breathe.

“I love you.”

It was muffled, said with his face buried in the crook of her neck. But she heard it. Her mind hit instant replay and she heard it again and again. No, she realized, he was actually saying it. Over and over and over, he was telling her he loved her.

And tears filled her eyes.

Chapter 17

“T
hey were married just over three years ago, and the divorce was finalized earlier this year. He was charged federally last year with fraud, but they haven’t gone to trial yet. He made a half-million-dollar bail, and there are no offshore accounts in his name,” Trent reported via conference call early Saturday morning.

Sean was in his office once more. He’d left a sleeping and very tempting Tate still naked in bed. This phone call was damned important.

“Where’s he getting his money now?” he asked.

“That’s a good question. Tate was never charged. She had a savings account when they divorced. Smart girl. Used it to relocate to Miami, where she now resides. Her credit’s good, she barely buys anything that doesn’t look like a necessity. Pays for day care, car payment. That’s it.”

“He says she took something from him. Was real adamant about it. I’m thinking it has to be money. He seems like the kind of guy to be driven by dollar signs.”

Trent cleared his throat. “I agree. But I don’t know what it could be. My buddy Devlin Bonner is in the area between government assignments. I’ve already given him your address, told him to stick to you and Tate like glue. He should be there by noon today.”

“I don’t need a bodyguard,” Sean said gruffly. If Patrick Dennison was released from jail and made any attempt to get near Tate again, he planned to finish the ass-kicking he’d started yesterday.

“Until I get a lock on who this dude might be working with, you both get a guard. He’s not working alone, Sean, that’s for sure. And if he’s got Feds on his ass, he could be real dangerous. Just do me a favor and go along for the time being.”

He didn’t like it, but Sean heard what Trent was saying. His cousin was an ex–Navy SEAL, which meant his friend Devlin probably was as well. If Trent thought he warranted sending this guy to be with them, he’d go along, for Tate’s sake.

“You get anything on Ravenell?” he asked, switching the subject.

“She’s another elusive one. I did find a couple of accounts. She’s sitting on about four million liquid. Her business accounts aren’t looking as heavy.”

“But her sales are steady.”

“Yeah, but not near as steady as
Infinity
’s. You’ve got the name and all its connections behind you. Company stock is high and rising. She doesn’t look as stable. The money in her personal account she has is new, too—about eight to nine months ago there was a big deposit. It looks like it’s from a dummy business. I have to dig a little further to get that info.”

Sean nodded, drumming his fingers over the desk. He was leaning back in his chair, staring out the window as he listened to Trent.

“So if we accepted her offer, how is she planning to come up with the money to buy
Infinity?
”

“Don’t know. If she took out a loan she wouldn’t stay afloat long. She’d have to get investors to keep it going. But I know you aren’t considering that.”

“Of course not. Besides, the decision to sell wouldn’t be my decision alone. Dad would never go for it, neither would Uncle Reggie. No, I just want to make sure I know what our position is.”

“You want all your ducks in a row before you plow her ass,” Trent said with a chuckle.

“You know it,” Sean said. “I’m going to set up a meeting to get this over with once and for all.”

“Good idea. Take reinforcements,” Trent warned.

Sean frowned. “To meet with Sabine? She’s not dangerous, just a little out of touch.”

“She’s making this insane offer to buy the magazine, and she’s connected to some pretty unsavory characters. Do what I say and take someone with you. Take Savian—his serious ass would scare anybody away.”

Sean laughed and felt a little of his stress melt away. “Savian’s getting better.”

“You still don’t lie good, man. I talked to Parker last week, and he said his brother was in dire need of some lovin’.”

“If I know Parker, he didn’t put it that delicately.”

“Of course not. Said something about getting that monkey off Savian’s back.”

The cousins laughed and talked a little about the upcoming reunion that was being planned. The Donovans, the entire clan, tried to get together at least once a year. This year the suggestion was for them to visit the private island they owned in the Caribbean.

After hanging up the phone, Sean sat thinking about Briana on the white sand beaches, taking her to play in the clear blue water, sharing the sights of the island with Tate. He thought about them doing lots of things together. In fact, all he could do was think about the three of them as some sort of unit now, a family.

* * *

“I’m nervous,” Tate admitted when they stepped up to the door at the Big House.

“You’ve been here before,” Sean said, adjusting Briana on his hip and reaching for the doorknob.

“But that was before.” She didn’t want to verbalize what she meant by “before,” but she raised her eyebrows at him and was graced with his full laughter once more. It seemed like they’d been laughing and enjoying each other all weekend.

“Before we had sex. I get it. But I promise you I won’t bring that up,” he told her and opened the door.

They stepped into the foyer, which Tate remembered from before. She looked over the shining champagne-and-gold marbled floor and the thick winding banister that accompanied wide steps. There was artwork on the walls and huge potted plants on either side of the archway that led to the main living room. It was huge and stately and homely all at once.

The minute they entered, Lyra came in from the living room. “Finally,” she said with a warm smile as she walked over to take Briana from Sean’s arms. “Hi, Tate. Come on in here with the womenfolk,” she said, nodding toward the living room.

Tate looked to Sean, who was smiling and nodding at her. Elbowing him in the ribs probably wouldn’t go over too well at this moment, but she promised she’d pay him back later. Instead she followed behind Lyra, who was dressed in a long sundress and high-heeled sandals. Her hair was pulled away from her face and held in place with a headband.

Tate had opted for a sundress as well, in a pale yellow color and a few inches shorter than Lyra’s. Its filmy material circled around her calves. Her white bolero jacket capped her shoulders and made her full breasts look a little smaller. Her sandals weren’t as high as Lyra’s—only two-and-a-half-inch heels. She’d dressed Briana in yellow as well. Bright yellow shorts and a tank top with eyelet trim. Her cap was all-white eyelet, and her sandals where white with butterfly clasps.

Her daughter smiled happily at Lyra and drank up every word the woman said like it was formula. When Lyra sat down and lowered Briana to the floor, Tate was shocked to see her daughter walk right over to a particular table and pull at a seashell that was sitting there. Instinctively she jumped up to get it from her, not knowing how expensive the piece may be.

“Oh, let her go. It’s nothing that can’t be replaced.”

Tate turned at the sound of the mature female voice and smiled nervously when she recognized that it was Janean Donovan, Sean’s mother.

She looked just as attractive as when Tate had met her a few days ago. Her tan slacks were perfectly pressed, and the cream-colored V-neck tunic complemented her full figure well. Brown curls framed a full face with high cheekbones and a sprinkle of brown freckles across the bridge of her nose. Her smile was friendly, her eyes welcoming, and still Tate’s heart beat like she’d just run a marathon.

“Hi again, Mrs. Donovan,” Tate said. Janean moved closer to take Tate’s outstretched hand in both of hers.

“Hello, Tate. I hear you’ve been going through a lot lately. Here, sit down and relax.”

Tate took the seat. It was a large chair and looked as if it should fit more than one person. Tate sat back, taking slow breaths. “There has been a lot going on.”

“Including you sleeping with my cousin,” Regan said as she made her way into the room and sat on the couch next to Lyra.

Tate gulped.

“Iced tea?” asked another female who looked to be the same age as Mrs. Donovan.

Tate gratefully took the glass from the other woman.

“I’m Carolyn Donovan, married to Reginald. You must forgive my daughter, Regan. She’s never been able to hold her tongue.”

“What? I just said what we’re all thinking,” Regan said with her eyes still on Tate.

It wasn’t a mean glare, Tate surmised. She’d been on the receiving end of a mean female glare before, and this wasn’t it. But Regan was definitely curious. She wanted to know what Tate’s intentions were, wanted to make sure Tate wasn’t just trying to take advantage of Sean and the Donovans. She could relate to that.

So she smiled at Carolyn, who wore a long sage-green skirt and matching blouse. Her skin was like milk chocolate, and her eyes were a lovely almond shape. Regan looked a lot like her mother.

“It’s all right, Mrs. Donovan,” she said. “I completely understand and appreciate Regan’s candor.” Tate took a sip of her tea and then cleared her throat.

“For the record, yes, Sean and I are sleeping together. We haven’t been for very long, but I’m pleased with the direction our relationship has taken.” That was the first time she’d admitted that aloud. It felt good.

Lyra chuckled. “Well, I guess that answers your questions,” she told Regan.

Tate shook her head. “No, but I have an answer for that as well. I’m not rich. I was married before and now I’m divorced. I love and need my job at
Infinity
but not enough to sleep with the boss to get ahead. What Sean and I have is separate from work, and we’ll most likely keep it that way.”

There, she’d set them all straight. She hoped.

“Well, now
that
answered my question,” Janean said. “And for the record, my question wasn’t if you were trying to use my son. Sean’s a smart boy, probably the smartest of this whole bunch here. He would know if a woman was using him, and he’d put her quickly in her place. So if he’s bringing you and your daughter to us, that means something. And you just confirmed that you’re feeling the same way about him. I’d say that’s cause for celebration. Dinner will be ready in five minutes.”

And with that Janean and Carolyn both left the room.

“We’re not normally like this,” Lyra told Tate when Tate was looking like she didn’t know what to say or do next.

To keep her calm, she watched Briana waddle around the room, smacking her small hands on the tables and basically exploring every inch of this large room. On the one side there were floor-to-ceiling doors that looked out to a deck and a sprawling lawn. Briana would love to get out there and play. Thankfully the doors were closed.

“I can see why you’d feel protective of him. There’s a lot at stake.”

Regan shook her head. “No, it’s nothing like that. I mean, it’s not just about the money. As far as I can remember, no Donovan man has given his money to an unworthy woman. We’re more concerned about Sean being hurt in any way.”

“I would never hurt him,” Tate said adamantly.

“But your circumstances could,” Regan replied.

She nodded. “You’re right. But I didn’t ask him to get involved. I don’t even know what Patrick wants. He just showed up.”

“Patrick is your ex-husband?” Lyra asked.

“Yes. I haven’t seen him in almost a year, and he just showed up here yesterday. I don’t know why.”

Regan crossed her long legs, the short ivory skirt she wore giving way. “Maybe he found out you were dating a Donovan.”

“Then why not just ask me or Sean for money? Why break into my car and into my house?” Tate wondered.

“She’s right,” Lyra said, going to the door to play with Briana, who was tapping on the glass.

“Exes are idiots, no matter what. You should write that in your column.”

Tate had to laugh at Regan. The woman looked absolutely serious as she spoke.

“Exes and guys who think they’re walking gods when they’re actually living breathing asses,” Regan continued.

“Ah, okay. I’ll take that into consideration.” Tate didn’t know what else to say to that.

“She’s not talking about your ex now,” Lyra said as she came back to her seat with a clapping Briana in tow. “She’s talking about Gavin Lucas, a man she despises.”

“I don’t despise him. I hate everything about him, from his spit-shined Jimmy Choo loafers to that stupid mole on his left jaw. He’s everything I hate about a man.”

Regan’s tirade was interesting. Tate couldn’t help but respond, “And everything you love about them.”

“What?” Regan asked in a tone that said she didn’t want to hear what Tate was about to say.

Well, Tate hadn’t wanted to be questioned like she was at an inquisition either, but that hadn’t stopped Ms. Regan Donovan from doing so.

“You love a somewhat arrogant man. One who’s confident and sure of himself and everything that he does. To be up to your standards he’d have to give as well as he could take. You say you hate him, and I’ll bet if he was here he’d say the same to you. Two very dominant and assertive creatures are bound to butt heads, but they’re also almost certain to fall hard when the love bug bites. Their connection would be fierce and stronger than either of their personalities alone. So yeah, he’s everything you love about a man.” She shrugged. “Unfortunately.”

Lyra chuckled. “You are absolutely perfect for Sean!”

Regan seethed for a second and then lifted her own glass and took a sip. “Yes, I agree. She’s absolutely perfect for my cousin.”

* * *

Dinner was fabulous. Tate hadn’t enjoyed a home-cooked meal like it in ages. They were enjoying coffee and dessert on the deck, with the ladies in lounge chairs and the men standing near the bar. Briana had fallen asleep and was content in the portable crib that Janean had mysteriously pulled out of one of the closets. She’d said it was left over from one of her children, but Tate knew that wasn’t true. Her children were both grown men, and this box with the crib in it still had a tag on it with a delivery date of two days ago.

Tate had been warmed by the idea that Mrs. Donovan was preparing for Briana to spend time at her house. Briana had never had a grandmother, and she could do worse than Janean Donovan.