I allowed myself the moment, thinking it might be my last before my cute cottage no longer existed.
When he broke free, he stated, “I made coffee,” as if the entire scene with my mother hadn’t happened.
And that was exactly how we had our cup of joe, without a care in the world before Donovan left to work and fix the problems of Rubia, in that order.
Donovan
Ipaced my office, knowing my pounding the carpet would not help a single damn thing, but I did it anyway. Slamming my hand onto the desk, I stilled before sitting down and popping open my laptop. I needed to quiet my mind in an effort to think straight when it came to handling Ezza.
I made sure the hotel was continuing to operate at a six-star level, checking in with the manager, asking if there had been any issues. Only one, where a teenager got hurt at the pool, but a quick trip to the emergency room showed he was okay, and the parents were happy with a free night and five-course dinner.
My breathing started to regulate as I perused financials, seeing that I was in beyond good shape when it came to that area of my life. My mind even wandered to another resort I’d been eyeing, before coming back to the scene at Tulya’s from this morning.
Fuck Ezza and her throwing my dad at me; I’d taken what he’d built and multiplied it several times over. I was my own fucking man, like I’d told her, and my brain operated just fine.
Screw her. I could take care of her daughter in every way possible, and she knew it. We would figure out the powers, and I wasn’t worried other than Ezza threatening the torch. What a bitch… She was still sour over Bruno’s messed-up life. And who the hell threatened to set her daughter’s house and life on fire? Only Ezza, and maybe my own mother. Those two deserved one another.
I’d been deep in thought, tapping my fingers on my desk to an easy rhythm and calming my overactive pulse, when there was a soft knock on the door. It was open, so I had no fucking clue who it was until I looked up and spied Emelee.
“Hiiii,” she said, leaning against the doorjamb.
“Everything okay?” I asked the question, despite not being up for whatever situation was unfolding.
“Yeah,” she responded in a whisper, approaching my desk. Taking note of her slip dress and hair sleekly brushed, I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on. “I wanted to talk.”
I leaned back in my chair and watched her sit on the corner of my desk. “I guess I don’t have to ask how you got in… I never asked for your key back.”
“I want to make this work.”
That was her answer instead of addressing what I’d specifically asked. I continued to eye her acting like a woman in love, and the hackles on the back of my neck rose. “It’s not going to.”
“When you came to rescue me at Tuvy’s, I knew we were meant to be together.”
God, why is everyone getting the wrong idea over that?
“I didn’t rescue you. It was enough of taking advantage of Tuvy.”
“Tuvy, Tuvy, Tuvy. That’s her role. Ask her mom,” she said, standing and sashaying in front of me, dropping to her knees.
“What are you doing?” I tried to stand but she’d firmly placed her hands on my thighs, and I wasn’t in the habit of pushing a woman off me.
She traced a path up my leg to my groin area, where nothing was happening, but she still made a play. “We could be so good, and we could help with Blake. Cinder needs it—”
“Emelee, get up,” came out on a roar, and this time I did stand and let her gently plop to her butt. This reeked of my mom.
“You were promised to me.” She stayed on her knees, pouting.
I decided to go with, “And you lied.”
“So did you. You cared for someone else. But I was falling for you, and you were letting go of your feelings for Tuvy—”
“You don’t know anything about my feelings.”
She finally stood, and I’d hoped she was leaving but she came close to me as I stood against my desk, my ass hitting the edge, arms crossed in front of me.
“I know you fought with her mother, and I was told to make it right between us. And I have no problem doing so because I love you, Donovan Malachite. There is no you and Tuvy.”
My green eyes must’ve been turning red, I was so pissed. How dare she do Ezza’s dirty work and taint my feelings by even discussing Tulya and me? “Get out, and never say that to me again. In fact, I’d better not hear Tulya’s name come out of your mouth.”
