Chapter 48
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Delia
I wait until the woman delivering what looks like pizza to Donovan descends the steps. She pauses briefly on her way to a white sedan to smile at me. “You’re one lucky lady.”
“The pizza is that good?” I manage a small smile.
“The man you’ll be sharing it with is.”
Jealousy shoots through me again. The feeling is becoming all too familiar since it’s been nagging at me constantly since Matt made it clear he thinks Donovan does a lot more than network with other vets at the conferences he goes to.
“He told me you’re the woman of his dreams.” She sighs. “I’d give almost anything to be that to any man.”
Shocked by what she just said, I look toward where Donovan is still standing in the doorway to his home. “He said that?”
“That man loves you,” she whispers. “I’ve seen love before and he’s got it bad for you.”
I didn’t know how badly I want that to be the truth until I realized that Donovan might be out there looking for more fun than I can give him.
She nudges my elbow. “The pizza isn’t bad either.”
I laugh. “I’ll try a piece.”
“Leave a review on our website,” she calls after me as she heads toward her car. “Five stars are always appreciated.”
As soon as she’s back behind the steering wheel, I look at Donovan.
“The pizzas getting cold, Delia,” he says. “If you’re not in the mood for that, I can give you some berries or pickles and ice cream.”
Smiling, I shake my head. “Pizza will hit the spot.”
“Let’s get inside.” He jerks his thumb over his shoulder. “I really need to put on a shirt.”
“Do you really need to?” I question as I reach the bottom of the steps.
He huffs out a deep laugh. “If you prefer me this way, I’m good with it.”
I take the steps quickly until I’m right in front of him. “Ignore the fact that my dress is covered in black hairs.”
He squints to try and see them against the dark blue fabric of my dress. “Should I ask what you’ve been up to while I’ve been gone?”
That opens the door for me to ask a very similar question, so I do, “Should I ask what you’ve been up to since you’ve been gone?”
His gaze locks on mine. “You should, Delia. I want you to.”
Surprised by that, I nod. “I will.”
He steps aside to grant me access to his home. “You were at the animal shelter visiting old Ralph, weren’t you?”
Nodding, I step inside the foyer. “I spent most of today there.”
“I spent most of today thinking about you,” he admits as he shuts the door behind me.
I stop mid-step to turn toward him. “Is that all you did today?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “I didn’t just think about you, Delia. I worried endlessly about you.”
My silence was necessary for my own peace of mind. I had to think. I had to plan and I had to weigh every scenario that was racing through my head since I saw Matthew last night and he blurted out his suspicions about his boss.
“Pizza first and then we’ll talk?”
He considers my request before he nods slowly. “That works for me.”
I kick off my sandals and start walking toward his kitchen, knowing he’s right behind me every step of the way.
I want to clear my conscience before I question him about where we stand, so I do just that without any warning, “I’ve been offered a job in Paris.”
He stops mid chew. “What?”
I skim a fingertip over the empty plate in front of me.
I wanted to eat the pizza straight from the box, but Donovan grabbed two small plates from the cupboard, white linen napkins, and then poured two glasses of chilled water.
I told him any real New Yorker wouldn’t dare eat pizza with utensils when I noticed him heading toward the drawer where he stores his forks, knives and spoons. He laughed and sat down next to me at his kitchen island before telling me that he never had eaten pizza that way and never would.
“It’s at a university there.” I take a deep breath. “I’d be teaching a course in humanities to begin with, but there’s a potential for more.”
He rubs his face, stopping to suck in a deep breath. “I’m happy for you, Delia.”
“Are you?”
His gaze meets mine. “If this brings you fulfillment, yes, I am. I want that for you more than I’ve ever wanted anything.”
I believe him. It’s not just the tone of his voice. It’s the way he’s looking at me, or maybe it’s into me. I swear that this man can see my soul.
“What if I go?”
“I’ll go with you.” There’s no hesitation at all in his words or a break in his gaze. “I’d go anywhere with you.”
“As a co-parent to our baby?” I question, skirting around the real question I want to ask. “You’d give up everything here to move to Paris with me for our child?”
He arches his neck back. Silence sits between us for what feels like endless moments even though I know it’s not more than a few scant seconds.
When his gaze falls back to my face, I see something within his eyes I’ve ached to see. I may have allowed myself to not want this, but now that I’m staring right at it, I’ve never wished for anything more.
“I wouldn’t be giving up anything if I followed you to Paris.” His hand reaches for mine. “I’d be gaining everything. I love you, Delia. A life with you is all I want. It’s all I’ll ever want.”