Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Donovan
It’s been more than two days since I gave Delia my number and yet nothing. Not one text or call from her. I know I need to accept that she’s not willing to crawl back into bed with me, but fuck is that hard. It’s so goddamn hard because I know she’s out there.
I’ve known that for months now but after experiencing those few days on the cruise with her, it’s all changed.
I feel less than whole now. It’s not as though a part of who I am isn’t there because she’s cut me out of her life. This is about what she brought to me. Joy, fun, so much satisfaction that it’s hard knowing I may never experience that again.
“What’s her name?”
I look up to see my cousin Reid standing next to the table I’ve been sitting at for the past hour. We agreed to meet at a diner for dinner but his work kept him for an extra hour. Reid is a few years younger than I am. He co-owns a venture capital firm and when he can make time to see me, I’m grateful.
We share a set of grandparents and a lot of memories.
“Delia,” I say it because I can tell this man anything and he’ll never repeat it.
“Delia who?” he questions, unbuttoning his suit jacket before he takes a seat across from me.
“Hawthorne.”
That raises his brows. “As in Dr. Matthew Hawthorne?”
Reid has met my entire staff because he made a point of doing just that when he stopped by the clinic one day. I did the same when I visited the Vidori Capital Partner’s offices on a Friday afternoon to invite him to join me for a beer.
I motion toward the server who has been helping me since I sat down. I’m on my second glass of ice water since I’m on call tonight. I gesture for her to bring me a refill along with a glass of water for Reid.
“Did you just order water for me?” he questions.
“I did.”
“Keeping it tame I see.”
I laugh that off. “Keeping it sober since I’m on call.”
“Dr. Do Good is at it again,” he uses the nickname he gave me the day I graduated. “I’m speaking purely professionally, of course. If you’re banging Matthew’s sister, that is a Dr. Do Her Good move.”
“Grow up.” I laugh. “How old are you again?”
“Thirty-two.” He narrows his eyes. “How old is Delia?”
“Why?”
“Curiosity.”
I highly doubt that’s the reason. I think it has a lot more to do with his current executive assistant and the age gap between the two of them. She can’t be more than twenty-one or two. “More like comparison. You’re thinking about Evie.”
He chuckles. “Like hell I am.”
I drop it because he’s either oblivious to the way he looks at her, or he’s ignoring his attraction to her for professional reasons. Either way, it’s his life so he can live it as he sees fit.
“How far have things gone between you and Delia?” He flashes the waitress a smile as she brings our waters. “Give us a minute and we’ll be ready to order.”
She nods in understanding before she takes off out of earshot.
“She was on the cruise I was on,” I explain. “We didn’t leave my cabin for hours, a couple of days if I’m being completely honest.”
Shaking his head, he chuckles. “It sounds like you had a hell of a vacation, Donovan.”
“Absolutely,” I agree.
“Does she live here?” He takes a sip of water. “Or was it truly a two ships passing in the night thing and she’s out of your life for good?”
“She lives here.” I tap the top of the table. “I saw her the other day and gave her my number but I’ve got nothing to report on that front.”
“So, she’s not interested in more?”
It would appear that way, but I believe the root of that is what she views as a complicated dynamic involving her brother. “I think she is but she’s hesitant.”
“I get that.” As he leans back, his suit jacket falls open to reveal a blue button-down shirt and an expensive tie.
Reid dresses the part of a successful businessman. I admire that about him. He’s put his all into his business and it’s paid off for him.
“You get that?” I chuckle. “Explain that to me.”
“She’s likely scared you’re going to screw over her brother once you get tired of screwing her.”
“I’d never get tired of screwing her,” I blurt out without thinking.
“Wait.” He tilts his head. “What exactly do you feel for Delia? Are we talking about more than a good time here, Donovan?”
If I had an answer to that, I wouldn’t be discussing any of this with him.
I shrug. “I like being around her. We have a hell of a lot of fun. I want more of that.”
He nods as he motions toward the waitress. “I’m not on call so I’m ordering a vodka and a burger to go with it. Talk to Delia again. Help her see that you won’t fuck up Matt’s life if it all goes to hell between you two.”
“That’s easier said than done.” I smile at the waitress as she approaches us. “I can’t do any of that unless she talks to me.”
“Give her a week to think about things, then go where you know you’ll find her. Manhattan isn’t that big. Running into her isn’t completely implausible.”
He may be right, but if Delia Hawthorne is determined to avoid me at all costs, I may never see her beautiful face in person again.