“I hope you’re right.” Lily didn’t look convinced. “Will you stay with Van?”
“After listening to you review my options, I don’t think I have a choice.”
“I’m glad. He seems like the total package—looks, personality, integrity and more looks.” Lily wiggled her eyebrows.
Rose silently agreed. “Besides, as you said, I’ve already invested six weeks wi
th him. It seems pointless to start over now with someone else.”
But can my heart survive the remaining six weeks until the reunion?
Chapter 9
Donovan recognized Rose’s phone number on his cell phone’s display on Monday morning. The question flashed across his mind: Is she ending our arrangement? When he hadn’t heard from her for the rest of the weekend, he’d wondered whether this call was coming. Still, the thought of her dissolving their agreement sucked the breath right out of him. It wasn’t all about the shelter’s statement to the city council, either. He enjoyed spending time with her.
He swiped his thumb across his cellular phone display to accept Rose’s call. He might as well get this over with. “Rose, hi. What can I do for you?”
“Good morning. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?” Her voice poured down the line like rich Scotch and had the same effect on his system.
“More like the wrong bed.” Donovan’s lips curved in a reluctant smile. He recalled her office, its sterile environment and stark, bright furnishings. Did she still have the roses he’d bought her or had they faded?
“The question of right or wrong depends on your choice of bed, Mr. Carroll. Doesn’t it?” She sounded almost pensive but Donovan also heard amusement. “It’s possible you woke in exactly the right one.”
Donovan imagined Rose pursing her lips in mock Puritan disapproval. His body tightened as he imagined himself tracing his tongue over her expression of disdain. Would the gesture make her smile—or would she take a bite out of him? “I guess it depends on who’s making the decision.”
Her low, husky laughter made his thighs flex. “Believe it or not, I didn’t call to discuss beds with you. I called the city council. The members haven’t discussed our statement yet.”
“What’s taking them so long?”
“They gave me the standard line about there being a lot to consider and the council having a full agenda.”
Donovan pictured her rolling her eyes as she sat behind her immaculate white modular desk. “Thanks for following up with them.”
“I told you Wednesday that I would.”
“Not everyone remembers their promises.” He was impressed with her all over again.
“It’s my job.” Her voice became brisk. “I wanted to give you that update. I’ll give them another two weeks before following up again. Hopefully, they’ll call me before then.”
“The board’s getting anxious for a response.” Donovan also was becoming impatient. He hoped that if the council decided in the shelter’s favor, Cecil would stop calling and emailing him for near-daily updates. But if the council decided against the shelter, that would open a different set of problems. He wouldn’t worry about that now, though.
“I can understand the board’s concerns. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything. I promise. Have a—”
“I thought you were calling to end our agreement.” Donovan sensed her surprise.
“I admit that I considered it.” Her voice was low.
His hand clenched his cell phone. “What changed your mind?”
“We’ve already invested almost six weeks in our business agreement.”
Donovan smiled at the trace of humor in her voice. “Yes, we have.”
“But this is just pretend, Van. We have to remember that. There’s no reason for us to spend so much time together.”
“We’re walking a very fine line between fact and fiction.” Donovan focused on the view outside his fifth-floor office: the vivid blue sky and vibrant green treetops that framed the concrete, metal and glass skyscrapers. “If you want to convince your former classmates that we’re a couple, we need to come across as two people who care about each other.”
“We’ll have to rely on our acting skills.” Rose exhaled. The sound caused Donovan to catch his breath.