“He’s fine. His blood pressure has stayed down over the past month.”
“That’s good to hear.” His father’s blood pressure had been elevated due to the stress of dealing with distant family members challenging his grandmother’s will. Thankfully, everything had been resolved, and his father was getting back to his healthy self.
“Well, I know you probably have a lot to do today. Make sure you get some rest. Don’t forget to send me the pictures of Terrence’s baby. Oh, and don’t tell Giselle I told you.”
“I won’t. Love you, Mom.”
“Love you, too, sweetheart. Talk to you soon.”
Donovan disconnected and replaced the phone. He couldn’t get over the fact that his baby sister was going to be a mom. A wave of loneliness washed over him. He wondered if Simona liked children. At the hospital that first night, he had gotten a glimpse of her thoughtfulness and compassion. Without a doubt, he knew she would make a phenomenal mother.
Shaking his head, he forced the thoughts away. He shouldn’t care one way or another. And he shouldn’t let her get too close.
Donovan downed the rest of his water and placed the glass in the dishwasher. Not let her get too close? Yeah, right. Something told him he was fighting a losing battle.
Hours later, he sat in his home office getting a few things done for tomorrow. He was meeting with Terrence and Audrey at seven to discuss the employee shift. Stretching, he chuckled, remembering the conversation with his sister. She had known their mother told before he could say anything. And, like his mother, she had asked whether he was seeing someone. Donovan told her about Simona, but reiterated several times that he’d known her only a short time. Her only response had been, “Ooh, I can’t wait to tell Mama.”
As he leaned back in the chair, a vision of Simona in that blue dress floated through his mind. It had hugged every luscious curve. And those high heels accentuated long, firm legs. His body reacted with lightning speed, and he shifted in the chair. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about that encounter in his office or their last kiss. If he ever got her in his office again, all bets were off. He glanced over at the clock and picked up his cell.
“Hello.”
“Hey, beautiful,” he said when Simona answered. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“No. I’m just putting away some laundry. What’s up?”
“Nothing much. I just wanted to hear your sexy voice.”
She laughed softly. “I already agreed to go with you to the barbecue, so there’s no need to try to butter me up.”
“I’m not. You have this low, husky thing going on. It’s sexy as hell.” When she didn’t comment, he spoke her name. “Simona?”
“I’m here. I don’t know what to say. No one has ever said that before.”
“I’m glad to be the first.”
“Donovan, I...”
“What?” he asked when she trailed off.
“I...I was just going to say that you’re one of the most thoughtful men I’ve met.”
His gut clenched. “Thanks. You’re the first woman who’s told me that.”
“Well, I’m glad to be the first.”
Donovan closed his eyes and tried to force down the emotions swirling in his gut. “So, are you working tomorrow?”
“No. What about you?”
“Yep. I’ll probably get to the office around six-thirty.”
“That’s early. It’s after ten, so you should probably get off this phone and go to bed.”
“Probably. But what I’d really like to do is come over and kiss you good-night.”
“You can get that kiss when I see you next week.”
“You don’t want me to come over? I promise it’ll be worth it.”
“I’m sure it will be...next week,” Simona said with a laugh.
“Okay, okay.” He could listen to her voice all day and night. He sat up abruptly. Where had that thought come from? He was getting way ahead of himself. “I’ll call you later this week.”
“That’s fine. Have a good night.”
“You, too.” Donovan disconnected, tossed the phone on his desk and drew in a deep breath. Simona was quickly getting under his skin. He had never thought of listening to a woman day and night, yet with her, he would do it in a heartbeat.
* * *
On Thursday during her lunch break—the first one she’d had all week—Simona sat with her cell cradled in her palm. She’d had the perfect opportunity to tell Donovan about Yasmine when he called on Sunday, and she’d chickened out. Since then, she had tried to get up the nerve to call him. Here it was, four days later, and she still hadn’t said anything, even though she’d had plenty of opportunities. He had called her on Monday, and again last night, and the words stuck in her throat. She had been able to avoid inviting him inside her home so far, but it would be rude not to at least let him get a foot in the door. She was running out of time.