He was staring at Mo, so I shifted my gaze to her as well. The answer to his question was no. I knew she was still questioning this situation, mostly because I hadn’t told her about it, but that would be a conversation for me and her to have later.
“We’ve been married for over a year now, and it was my decision to keep that a secret,” I told everyone at the table. “I know I don’t have to explain to any of you what it’s like to live with this name and all its expectations hanging over your head. I’ve always wanted something for myself, something that wasn’t attached to the family or its legacy.”
“We know that, Kodi,” Suri said softly from across the table. “That’s why you started your own business, in the field of your choosing, not the family’s.”
Fabian rubbed his thumb over the back of my hand, and I leaned fully into that touch, to the presence of him by my side. It was steadying when I should’ve been solid while surrounded by these women I loved and respected so much.
“Hell, we’ve all fought to have our own identity,” Bailey added. “The world of the Donovans can be stifling.”
“Especially for the women.” That came from Regan. She chuckled as she continued, “I feel it every day even though I did exactly what my parents wanted and went into the family business. I mean, I know my place at DNT and I have no doubt that I pull my weight and make significant contributions to thenetwork’s success. But damn if I’m not flanked and measured by my brothers’ plus Dion and Sean’s success. Nobody comes right out and says that, but I feel it every second of every day.”
Maria dabbed her lips with the napkin, then set it beside her plate. “I don’t deny the pressure, but surely that doesn’t mean we can’t have love and happiness. Suri, Regan and Bailey found it, got married and are living their dreams. And Hannah’s probably going to accept Pippin’s proposal before the question ever leaves the man’s lips. You didn’t have to hide your marriage.”
“And we’re not,” Fabian responded before I could. “Not anymore.”
“Well, obviously not from you.” I took a quick breath, turning my hand in his so I could squeeze it. “But I don’t want anyone else in the family to know.” Fabian tensed beside me. “Not until after I tell my parents next week at Sunday dinner.”
We were scheduled to leave on Thursday, and I didn’t want to tell them over the phone or video call.
“We’ll tell them at Sunday dinner,” he said, lifting my hand to his lips for a quick kiss.
“Awwwww,” Hannah cooed.
Suri clapped her hands gleefully.
“I can’t wait to hear how that goes,” Mo said, a smirk replacing the questioning look on her face.
She knew as well as I did that it wasn’t going to go well.My father and Cade are going to flip the fuck out, and my mother…I gave myself a little shake to rid myself of the thought. Right now, I needed to stay present. I wanted to enjoy this breakfast, my favorite cousins and my man. The rest would have to wait.
CHAPTER 6
FURY
The seven Donovan women I met this morning were indeed a force. The way they’d each sat around that table as Dakota and I walked into the dining room was nothing short of a visible circle of protection. I liked the idea that Dakota had people willing to go to bat for her. Not that it was a surprise. I knew several members of her family and had heard the rumors of some I hadn’t met in person yet. The Donovans were a tight unit, even with thousands of miles between some of them. Similar to the way it was with the Ryders, if you messed with one of Donovans, you messed with them all.
That show of unity at the breakfast table had been admirable but unnecessary. I had Dakota now, so she no longer needed their protection. However, that hadn’t stopped one of her cousins from approaching me as I returned to the house. After breakfast I’d gone outside to check-in with Suri’s security team. Since I’d been in a hurry to get to my wife last night, my conversation with them had been short. This morning, I wanted details on the property and what else they were doing to secure the women during their time here.
There was still tension between Dakota and Mo. If I hadn’t picked up on it during the meal, it was apparent when Mo grabbed Dakota by the hand the moment she was finished eating and carted her off to another room in the house. I wasn’t a man that normally gave a rat’s ass what people thought about me, but I loved my wife and I wanted the situation with her family finding out about us to go as smoothly as possible. So, I kept my mouth shut and let Mo have her moment. That courtesy would change if I found out Mo was talking shit about our marriage.
I’d just closed the door behind me when I heard, “Pssst! Over here.”
Turning to my left where the foyer opened into a big, comfortable seating area, I tried not to frown at the woman waving her hand like we were about to devise a plan of attack. Instead, I followed her direction and momentarily stood in front of her.
“I don’t know you very well yet,” Hannah said. “But if Kodi loved you enough to keep you a secret, then that’s good enough for me.”
Something about her comment was off, but I was down for the portion of it that seemed to approve of our marriage. Not that I needed any of their approval, I just knew that would make things easier for Dakota.
Hannah continued when I only stared at her. “We’re heading down to the shops this afternoon, then having a late lunch, but I know something else that Kodi loves to do when she comes down here.”
Slipping my hands into the front pocket of my joggers, I nodded for her to continue. There was a resemblance between Hannah, Maria, and Mo, so I presumed they were sisters. They each had the same cinnamon brown complexion, high cheekbones, and pert noses, but their personalities were starkly different. Hannah was the friendliest.
“She loves the water but prefers the more secluded beaches like the ones here on the island. Maria hates the sand, and the others prefer the pool or shopping, so Kodi usually does the beach on her own. She always comes back with a bag of sand dollars.”
“You’re telling me I should take her for a walk on the beach?” I asked, still wondering exactly what was happening here. Hannah seemed earnest and completely uninhibited in her approach.
I was a big guy with a menacing demeanor that I never tamped down for the world. Soft wasn’t a word that could ever be used to describe me, except where my wife and sister were concerned. And as she’d stated a few minutes ago, Hannah didn’t know me. She had no idea if I’d be offended by her telling me what to do with my wife, or if I’d be grateful for the heads-up on something that would make Dakota happy.
“Thanks,” I said, giving her a half smile. “I’d like to see more of the island myself, so walking on the beach sounds like a good idea.”
