Walk with Me (BookStrand Publishing Mainstream) (10 page)

“Okay. So what’s the big news?”

“Now, I don’t want you to take this the wrong way. I was actually debating on whether I should even ask you this, but here goes. My training officer rented a condo in Mammoth next week to go skiing with his family, but the kids got sick so they can’t use it. He’s offered it to me if I’d like, and I was wondering if you’d like to go.”

My eyes go wide and I’m sure the expression on my face is something to be seen because Donovan pauses for a moment. “Now don’t freak out. There are two bedrooms and I would of course expect you to sleep
alone
in your own bedroom, if you wish.”

“Of course I wish. I’m just glad that you thought to explain the sleeping arrangements to me before inviting me, because I wouldn’t even consider it without my own room.” I look at him frankly. I was wondering when this was coming. I guess I was kidding myself with thinking we were developing something more than a casual connection.

“I know and respect that and you for that decision. You were just so cute at Disneyland when you thought the bubbles were snow. And when you said you’ve never seen real snow, I thought this might be a great opportunity for you to see, touch, and play in the snow. We can snowboard or ski if you want or just enjoy the mountains. You don’t need to give me an answer right now. Think about it and let me know when I pick you up Sunday. If you don’t want to go, I may just go with a couple guys from work.”

“Hmm, I need to see if Danielle will let me borrow her snow parka and pants. I don’t have any clothes for the snow.” A smile grows on his face. “That’s not a yes, but I am considering it.”

“That’s good enough for now, but I hope it’s a yes because it’ll be fun.” Donovan leans forward and chastely kisses me. “Come on, I want to dance with you.”

He clutches my hand and pulls me into the dining room and onto the dance floor. A slow song is now playing and couples are clinging to one another. My heart flutters with nerves. The first dance between a couple can be as intimate as the first kiss.

With confidence driving his actions, Donovan takes me in his arms and pulls me by the waist close to his body. The instant closeness changes my heart from a flutter to a steady drumming. Like I’m wrapped in a cocoon of Donovan, the rest of the dancers fade away and the loud music is subdued to my ears. My hands rest on his chest as we sway to the music in our secluded world. I’m reminded of our first meeting at the coffeehouse and how he made me feel the same way, like I was the only one in the room.

Donovan reaches up and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear before grazing his finger around my bare earlobe and down my neck. The touch sends electricity right to the ends of my fingertips. He lowers his lips to my ear. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”

I blush at his words. The other guys I go out with never compliment me, at least like Donovan. I never expect the compliments and they never offer. I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend and they weren’t looking for a girlfriend, so there was no need to court me or try to win me over.

“I think you may have said something like that earlier.” I focus on his lapel, stroking the smooth material between my fingers with a smile blooming on my lips like a flower that’s been deprived of the sun for years.

Donovan lifts my chin with his index finger to meet his eyes. “A girl as beautiful as you deserves to hear it again.”

I drink in his words, trying to quench my thirst, and lay my head against his strong chest. I exhale with pure contentment as Donovan enfolds me once again in a protective embrace and we sway rhythmically to the music.

“We’re calling it a night,” Danielle says, standing with Tyler next to us on the dance floor, interrupting our moment. The four of us walk back to the table.

“Okay, you guys have a good night.” I raise my eyebrows suggestively, and give Danielle and Tyler a hug.

“All right, see you at work, Donovan. Don’t you kids get into any trouble,” Tyler adds before fist-bumping Donovan’s fist and walking away with Danielle.

I turn to Donovan. “Are you ready to go, too?”

“I am if you are, but we can stay and dance some more, too.”

“Maybe we’ll stay for one or two more dances.” Donovan’s a good dancer and I’m not ready to stop. “But I need to use the restroom first.”

“Do you know where they are?” Donovan asks.

I shake my head.

“They’re down the stairs between this room and the casino room.”

“Okay, I’ll be right back.” I grab my purse and give Donovan a quick kiss before turning on my heel and leaving the room.

“Mmm, hurry back,” Donovan say from behind me.

I wash my hands and reapply my lip gloss before leaving the plush facilities. As I walk out the door I nearly collide with the blonde and the impeccable updo I saw earlier. “Oh sorry.” I walk around her.

“Nice dress,” she says in a snide tone.

“Thanks.” I take notice of her dress, which is the same color.

“You, too.” I return the compliment.

“You know you’re wasting your time with him,” she says, stepping back out into the hall with me, crossing her arms.

“Excuse me?” My spidey senses are now on high alert.

“Donovan. You’re wasting your time. I saw you with him earlier. On the dance floor. He’s married to his job.”

My tough-girl shield rears her head. “Thanks, but I don’t see how that’s any of your business,” I say with my hands on my hips.

She throws her hands up in defense and stumbles. She’s been drinking. My past experiences tell me it’s best not to tango with a drunk—they’re irrational.

“There you are.” Donovan’s voice announces his presence from the end of the hall. He walks forward, taking my hand and pulling me behind him, acting as a buffer between me and Miss Updo.

“Veronica, it’s good to see you. I hope you’re doing well?” Donovan’s voice is courteous but disingenuous.

“Just having a little heart-to-heart with your date here.” She slurs her words. “I see you’re slumming it nowadays. Did you really think her hand-me-down dress and cheap-ass shoes would make me jealous and win me back?”

So that’s it? He brought me tonight to make Miss Updo jealous. What a fool I am to allow myself to get sucked up into the fantasy of the potential for more. Well, my full-body armor is back on and I’m out of here.

“Wait, Kenna. Where are you going?” Donovan asks as I start to walk down the hall.

“I’m leaving. You two obviously have some things to work out and quite frankly I don’t want to stand here anymore being insulted.”

“Smart move, sweetheart. Why don’t you run along now and let the grown-ups talk,” Veronica says.

“Enough, Veronica!” Donovan says with controlled enforcement.

“Oh please. Don’t get your police-issue panties in a bunch. You know this little innocent can’t satisfy you like I can.” Veronica struts seductively toward Donovan. “Remember, baby, how good it was between us.” She reaches out to touch him and he cuffs her wrist with his hand.

“Who’d you come with tonight?” Donovan asks, his expression passive.

“Why, you want to take me home, baby? Like old times?”

Fuck this bullshit!
I turn on my heels and run up the stairs, away from the disgusting display between these two. I can’t believe I allowed myself to be used as a pawn in his little game. I don’t stop running until the cool sea air washes over me outside the doors.
Fuck. How do I get home?
A cab is parked at the end of the hotel drop-off zone and I make a beeline to the passenger door.

“Are you available?” I lean down, speaking through window.

“Where you going?” he answers.

“Mar Vista, Venice area.”

“No problem.”
He waves me in the car.

I knew I shouldn’t let myself be charmed into thinking I’m capable of doing the boyfriend thing. Anger boils in my gut. I’m better off sticking with my Gregs and Cruzs. With them I can stay detached and protected from these feelings. That’s how I learned to endure all these years, detaching myself from reality and numbing any feelings. My armor feels heavier now that it’s back in place.

My cell phone rings, startling me and my self-deprecation. I open my handbag and the caller ID displays Donovan’s number.
Yeah, right. I don’t think so.
I toss the unanswered phone back in my bag and sit back for the short ride home.

As soon as I settle the taxi fare, I’m in the house ripping my clothes off and throwing them in the trash. The anger once churning in my stomach is now tightening every muscle in my body, fueling the need to hit something. I need a kickboxing class, an outlet for all this rage. I quickly change into my exercise clothes and rush over to 24 Hour Fitness, seeking release. After a two-mile sprint on the treadmill, lungs burning for air and a cleansing sweat beading on my neck, I’m calm and ready to resume the life before Donovan showed up.

My legs feel like rubber from my purging sprint as I trudge my way up the walk to my house. I catch movement on the porch bench. “What? Is Veronica waiting for you in the car?” I spit at Donovan.

“You ran off,” he says, sitting forward with his elbows on his thighs.

“Yeah. I wasn’t about to give you two an audience. I decided to take my ‘hand-me-down dress and cheap-ass shoes’ home. I’ve got better things to do than watch you two make up.” I don’t even try to keep the venom out of my voice.

“I’m sorry about her. I didn’t know she was going to be there, honestly. Please don’t let her ruin our special prom night.”

I roll my eyes. “Please. You didn’t seem too eager to leave Blondie behind. As a matter of fact you two were so caught up in your own little world, you didn’t even notice I left.”

“You misunderstood, Kenna. I’m not interested in getting back together with Veronica. I only stayed with her to make sure she had a ride home. She’d clearly been drinking.” He stands up and walks down the steps to my level. “I found her date to make sure she got home, but when I got back to the table you were gone. Fortunately, the doorman remembered you and your red dress taking a cab.”

He reaches out to touch me, but I step away from his grasp. His hand falls to his side. “I wasn’t using you to make her jealous. That’s in her mind. There was nothing serious between us, and we haven’t even seen each other for a couple months now. You are who I want to see now. And…I thought your dress looked beautiful on you, but then again I think you’d look beautiful in anything.”

“Is she the nurse Paul was talking about?”

“No. She isn’t a nurse. There’s never been any nurse. That was just Paul trying to cause trouble, trying to make you jealous. He likes to play head games.”

Donovan takes a careful step toward me, testing my reaction. His words soften my resolve, and I allow him to take one of my hands in his, but refuse to meet his eyes. He pulls my hand to his mouth and kisses the back. “Come on. I’m truly sorry, but don’t let them ruin things.” He bends down to catch my gaze. “Do you believe me?” He waits mutely for my answer.

I throw my head back and exhale with acceptance.
I must be a glutton for punishment.
I want to trust he’s telling me the truth. “Yes.”

“That a girl.” Donovan pulls me into a hug. “You know how our special prom night can be saved, don’t you?”

“How?” I mumble in to his chest.

“Most dates go out for breakfast after the prom. What do you say? Up for some pancakes?”

“Pancakes and answers,” I add.

* * * *

“Is that all you’re taking?” Donovan asks, grabbing the overnight bag from my hands and leading me out the front door. His fingers graze my hand when he reaches for the bag and send an electric charge through my arm and down my body. My breath hitches and my heart beats a little faster.

Donovan looks like he walked off a page from L.L.Bean, wearing a navy-blue sweater, jeans, and his brown leather boots. He’s dressed perfectly for our snowcapped mountain adventure.

“Yeah. It’s only
one
night,” I remind him. “Plus, I don’t have a lot of clothes for the snow and the cold. I’m a beach girl remember?” I smile at him when I turn around after locking the front door.

This trip to Mammoth almost didn’t happen after our little misunderstanding at the awards banquet. I can remember how dejected he looked sitting under the lone light on my front porch, his tie undone and shirt collar open. If I wasn’t so angry I would have been tempted to walk up the steps and straddle his lap.

Halfway down the walkway I notice we are walking toward a large white SUV instead of his BMW. “Where’s your car?” I ask, following Donovan toward the SUV.

Pushing a button on the key remote, he raises the back liftgate. “I’m borrowing my dad’s truck. It has four-wheel drive. I hate dealing with chains.” He puts my bag in the back next to his. He pulls out his iPhone and taps the screen a couple times, holding it up for me to see. On the screen is a weather forecast for Mammoth Mountain displaying the temperature with a picture of clouds and a snowflake. He flashes me his all-American smile with side dimple and opens my door to let me in the car. “It may snow for us,” he says and leans in to give me a kiss.