She slanted her head to one side and shook it at a speed that suggested he was the dumbest person she’d ever met. “Nobody knows?”
“Nobody.”
She threw up her hands, and took several steps away. When she turned around, she flat-out scolded him. It was super hot. “Give me one reason I shouldn’t tell Echo.”
“It’s a HIPAA violation?”
“I’m not a doctor. I don’t think I’m bound by that.”
“Look. I will tell her. When the time is right. I promise. The important thing is that I’m fine. And we’re supposed to be having fun this weekend, remember?”
She pressed her lips together tightly. “I’m serious about this. You have to tell her.”
“I will. Scout’s honor.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
“Got it. What time is it?”
“Nearly two o’clock. I need to start Echo’s makeup in a half hour.”
“And I need to get away from the house for a few minutes.” He stood and threaded his arms into his T-shirt. “Want to go for a quick spin on the Vespa?”
“The Vespa? It’s still alive?”
“Yeah. It’s been in my mom’s garage for years. I worked on it a bit before we went on the hike. Runs like a charm.”
The most stunning smile crossed Lela’s lips. “I’d love to.”
Chapter Nineteen
Lela could hardly believeit as she stood outside the garage, watching Donovan wheel out his dinged up minty green Vespa with the chrome trim, the same one she’d ridden on countless times in college. “I just assumed this thing had died a long time ago.”
He shook his head. “It’ll never die. It just needs some love every now and then. Sort of like me.” He bounced his eyebrows at her as he buckled the chin strap on his shiny black helmet.
Lela smacked his arm with the back of her hand, then put on her own helmet. With a kick of the starter, Donovan got it to putter to life. He revved the engine, then scooted forward on the seat to make room for her. There was no real ladylike way to do this. She was wearing a dress and she was not going to ride side-saddle like in some 1950s movie. She hiked up her skirt and lifted her leg over the seat. As she climbed aboard, she flashed back to the other times she’d done this. She wrapped her arms around Donovan’s waist, pressed her chest against his back, and bracketed his hips with her thighs. Funny, but she’d somehow forgotten how sexual it felt to do this, like she was riding Donovan, and the scooter was just this thing pleasantly vibrating under her ass.
Hello, there.
They raced down the driveway, Lela’s hair flying out behind her when he picked up speed. A hearty laugh erupted from her throat when he swooped around the corner on to the asphalt, tilting them to the left nearly forty-five degrees. Donovan pushed the scooter’s limits, she could hear it in the hesitation of the engine. He was totally showing off, likely for her benefit. She didn’t care. It was too much fun.
She flattened one hand against his stomach, feeling his muscles twitch beneath her palm. Her other hand went to his chest, where thethump thump thumpof his heart raced to keep time with the scooter. Pure instinct made her rock her hips into him, the hem of his soft T-shirt caressing her inner thighs while the motor buzzed between her legs. Warmth bloomed in her belly and tension began to coil. Donovan might not have managed to give her an orgasm the first time they’d slept together, but it was sort of a miracle it hadn’t happened on the Vespa.
Meanwhile, she was still trying to make sense of the many revelations of that day and how they pertained to Donovan and her. Even if she’d known the truth at the time, the end result would have still been the same—Donovan and Genevieve would’ve been married. They likely still would’ve ended up divorced. But for Lela, life would’ve been at least somewhat different. She might have been a little less timid. She might have been a bit more bold. At least when it came to men. She’d been afraid to put herself out there for years.
Donovan took a wide curve and the warm summer air fluttered under her dress. She closed her eyes and inhaled Donovan’s scent, cedar and sandalwood, as it mixed with the faint fumes of exhaust and the sweet smell of late June while the breeze flitted through the trees. This felt like a moment to hold on to tightly and keep forever. A chance to revisit her past in a way she never would’ve dreamed. No matter what happened, this weekend would stay lodged in her memory. Forever.
Donovan slowed down and turned on to a gravel road, checked for cars, then doubled back the way they came. For some reason, the return trip seemed much shorter than the first leg, probably because she knew that the time on their adventure was dwindling. As they approached the house, Lela saw Echo pacing in front of the garage.
“I hope I’m not late,” she shouted into Donovan’s ear.
“We were only gone for a few minutes,” he replied.
The closer they got, it became more apparent that she was upset. Donovan pulled the scooter into the garage and killed the engine. Lela climbed off first, removing her helmet. Donovan quickly followed.
“We aren’t getting married,” Echo announced to them both. She bore the sure sign of misery—smudged mascara.
“Wait. What?” Donovan asked, rushing up to her.
