What Donovan Wants (The Accidental Series, Book 4) (7 page)

With his arms around her petite frame,
Donovan thought about how good this felt. This is what he needed.
But fear held him back from trying to pursue a relationship with
Kamila. And though he didn’t want to, though he had one of the best
love-making experiences of his life and though he enjoyed every
crazy moment he spent with Kamila on this cruise, he made the
decision then and there that he would stay true to his word. He
wouldn’t see her again after the cruise was over and that was
that.

~
Chapter
Nine
~

One month later, Kamila found herself back into her
regular routine of working. The cruise seemed like a distant
memory, but the time she spent with Donovan didn’t. She’d gotten
married to the man, still wore the ring he’d bought for her and
could still feel his hands on her body. She hadn’t heard from him,
not that she expected to. He didn’t bother giving her any contact
information, so she didn’t give him any of her contact information.
She did, however, find him on Facebook, staring at his profile
picture, one showcasing that perfect smile she loved so much. She
thought about sending him a private message but refused. A man knew
when he wanted a woman. If he
really
wanted her, he would’ve
found a way to contact her somehow.

* * *

Sitting at a bar after work, Kamila braced herself
for Lori’s arrival. She was caressing a glass of Moscato, twirling
the ring on her finger – the ring Donovan had given her. Why on
earth was she still wearing it?

She fantasized about the idea of him going above and
beyond to track her down and proclaim his love – things she’d seen
on Lifetime movies. But soon, she realized that Donovan was true to
his word. He didn’t want a relationship. He told her that from
jump. Still, she believed she could change him and their
spur-of-the-moment cruise ship marriage would work out in the end.
Wishful thinking...

“Hey, girl, “Lori said, squeezing Kamila from
behind.

“Hey,” Kamila said dryly. “’Bout time you got
here.”

“I was stuck in traffic.” Lori sat on the bar stool
next to her. “So what’s up? I haven’t had a chance to talk to you
since the cruise. What’s been going on gal?”

“Nothing. Just working. Other than that, nothing’s
changed.”

“What’s that you’re drinking?”

“Moscato.”

“Is it good?”

“Yeah. It’s straight.”

“Okay. I’ma order a glass.” Lori waved the bartender
her way, ordered a glass of Moscato and took a sip. “Mmm. This is
delicious.”

“I told you it was.” Kamila took a sip. “So how’s
life in the real estate world?” she asked Lori. Lori had a degree
in business administration and once deciding she wanted to be in
real estate after graduating, she got her realtor’s license and
opened up her own agency.

“Girl, you know how it’s. All they’re talking about
on news networks is how the housing market is picking back up now.
There’s actually a shortage of homes.”

“Yeah, I bet.” Kamila looked up at the flat screen
TV.

“Okay, you seem like you’re in a funky mood. What’s
wrong?”

Kamila sighed, then took a sip of wine. “It’s
nothing.”

“And we’ve been friends for how long? Go on...tell
me.”

She sighed again. “It’s um...well, you remember that
guy from the cruise?”

“Oh,” she said. “Donovan, was it?”

“Yeah, that’s him.”

“What about him?”

“Well, I kinda, sorta married him.”

“
You did what!” Lori said,
forgetting she was in public for a moment.

“Lori, calm down girl, before somebody call the
police on you.”

“You got me hearing things up in here ‘cause I
know
you did not just say you married him.”

“Actually, I did.”

“What!”

“Okay, before you go ballistic, let me explain. We,
Donovan and I, were talking about our lives and sounding so
miserable that I told him we should do something
spontaneous...something wild and crazy to forever mark the cruise
in our memories. So I convinced him to marry me.”

“Hold up, hold up...hold...up, stop the presses.
First off, if you want to do something spontaneous, go skinny
dipping, do some karaoke...don’t get married for goodness
sakes.”

“Well, I’m telling you...we got married, but agreed
it wasn’t real.”

“Okay, now I’m all confused. Did you marry him or
not?”

“We went through the motions. He gave me this ring,”
Kamila said, holding up her left hand for Lori to see.

“Wait...and you actually signed documents?”

“Yep.”

“On the cruise ship?”

“Yeah.”

“And did you consummate this marriage?”

“Yes. We did. Twice.”

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing right now,” Lori
said, shaking her head.

“I know it was stupid, Lori.”

“What on earth were you thinking, Kamila?”

“That’s the thing...I wasn’t thinking...I was doing
what you said...getting Tony out of my system and I got caught up
in the moment and Donovan was a distraction from it all.”

“So now what? You’re seeing him?”

“No...haven’t seen or heard from him since the
cruise.”

“And you’re good with that?”

Kamila frowned. “Um...I was at first. He told me he
wasn’t interested in a relationship.”

“Before of after he slept with you?”

“Before.”

“Oh,” Lori said, surprised that he was forthcoming.
“So if you knew that, why did you—”

“Because it wasn’t supposed to mean anything,
but—”

“You caught feelings.”

“He’s a good man...”

“How good of a man can he be if he married you,
slept with you then split?”

“Like I said, he didn’t hide the fact that he didn’t
want any attachments...he told me that upfront. I just thought he
would change his mind...but we spent the last night on the cruise
together and when I woke up, he was gone.” Kamila took a sip of
wine. “In hindsight, I see how stupid the whole thing was now. I
should have never done it.”

“But you did, and now you have feelings for
him...”

“Yeah, as much as I hate to admit it.” Kamila blew a
frustrated breath. “Why do I keep ending up with the wrong
man?”

“Because you don’t listen to me. I knew that man was
trouble.”

“But he’s not—”

“And, I tried to tell you that Tony wasn’t worth
five cents either.”

Kamila grunted. “Ugh. I know, Lori.”

“Now I will say this. Judging from the one-time you
introduced me to Donovan, he seemed decent enough. He sure was fine
and those muscles...”

Kamila shot Lori a half smile. She remembered those
muscles well, how they confined and restricted her, squeezed her
tight and caressed her passionately. She got chills thinking about
the things he’d done to her body that night.

“You should’ve ran for the hills when he told you he
wasn’t interested in a relationship,” Lori said.

“Well, I wasn’t looking for a relationship either,
but—”

“But then Donovan made love to you, or what do they
say nowadays – he put it down.”

“No...well, yes, but I thought we connected.”

“Oh, you
connected
all right.” Lori
giggled.

“No, not like that. I mean, we had a lot in common,
but anyway, it is what it is. I’m good. Let’s just order some
food.”

“Hmm...”

Kamila rolled her eyes. “What Lori?”

“If you’re so, good, why do you look like you’re
about to cry?”

Kamila dismissed herself to the bathroom, took some
tissue and dabbed her eyes.

Lori came into the bathroom shortly afterwards,
trying to figure out which stall she was in. “Kamila?”

“I’ll be out in a minute,” Kamila said, sniffling.
She blew her nose and stepped out.

“You deserve more than this,” Lori said, embracing
her friend. “And you’re a smart, beautiful, amazing woman. You’ll
find a man who’s worth your time one day. We both will. Okay?”

“I know. I’ll be okay.”

“Aw-right. Now stop crying and let’s enjoy
ourselves.”

The women returned to the bar together, finished
their drinks and ordered dinner.

~
Chapter Ten
~

For the next
couple of weeks, Kamila buried herself in her
work, traveling rigorously in the surrounding areas, signing new
clients up with LightSite Insurance policies.

Today, she walked in her office after a long
day, four o’clock in the afternoon to check her schedule for
tomorrow. She took her planner from her purse, then looked up when
she heard a few taps on her cubicle wall.

“
Hi, Johnny,” she told her
boss. He was an older man, with blonde, thinning hair, dedicated to
his work. “What’s up?”

“
A big commission for you,
young lady, and new business for this company,” he said
cheerfully.

“
Really?”

“
Yep.”

“
Who’s the client?” Kamila
asked.

“
Zenadel Electronics...out
in Norfolk...need you there bright and early tomorrow.”

Kamila frowned, thinking of Donovan right
away. “Did you say Zenadel Electronics?”

“
Yep.”

“
How’d you land that
business?”

“
Got a call out of the
blue from the head honcho a few hours ago...said they were looking
for more options to offer their employees and didn’t want to renew
the contract with the existing insurance carrier.”

“
Really?”

“
Yep. It’s so funny how
things work out. I’ve tried for years to get LightSite in Zenadel’s
hands, and one simple phone call from Mr. Zenadel himself made it
happen.”

Yeah, it was one simple
call all right
, Kamila thought. Donovan
Sharper was the only connection between LightSite and Zenadel. But
why would he rig this deal on her behalf?

“
Johnny, I really
appreciate you thinking of me for this deal, but I can’t do
it.”

“
Darling, you have
to.”

“
You can get Darlene, or
better yet, Alex. He’s not nearly as busy as I am. Besides, I don’t
want to drive that far.”

“
It’s only an hour and a
half.”

“
Yeah, but—”

“
No buts on this one. They
specifically asked for you.”

“
They did?”

“
Yeah...must’ve been a
referral from one of your satisfied clients.” Johnny slapped his
hands together and said, “So go ahead and take the rest of the day
off. Tomorrow, you’re heading to Norfolk.”

He left her cubicle, leaving Kamila alone
with her thoughts. Was Donovan really behind this? She surely
didn’t know anyone else who worked for Zenadel. And if he was
behind this, why? What would she do if she ran into him tomorrow?
What would she say? Would he even acknowledge her, or pretend he
didn’t know her in front of his coworkers? And what about the
annulment?

She packed her briefcase with pamphlets and
new enrollment forms along with everything else she thought she
would need for the trip. She also made sure she put in the envelope
containing the annulment papers as well. This would be her
opportunity to get Donovan to sign them if she ran into him. Then
she headed home, calling Lori as soon as she pulled out of the
parking lot of her apartment complex.

“
Hey, girl. What’s up?”
Lori answered.

“
Lori, you’re not going to
believe this. I have knots in my stomach right now.”

“
What’s going
on?”

“
So my boss is sending me
to Zenadel Electronics tomorrow.”

“
And?”

“
That’s the place where
Donovan works.”

“
Oh. Oh!”

“
Yeah...”

“
So Donovan asked you to
come?”

“
I don’t know. Somebody
from there called my boss and requested me.”

“
You know anyone else
there?”

“
No.”

“
Then Donovan must not be
done with you just yet.”

Kamila sighed. “I hope I can get in and out
of there without running into him.”

“
Don’t count on it. When
are you leaving?”

“
Tomorrow
morning.”

“
Look girl, just remember
what I told you. You deserve better.”

Kamila unbuckled her seat belt and shut off
the engine. “What exactly does that mean?”

“
It means you deserve a
man who’s going to treat you like a queen...someone who will love
and respect you. Not a drive-by man.”

“
What if the man you’re
describing does not exist?”

“
He does.”

“
But how can you be so
sure? I’m twenty-six and I haven’t ran across anyone remotely close
to the man you’re describing. Men don’t want commitment
anymore.”

“
Some men do.”

“
Well, where are they
hiding, because I’m getting tired of looking.”

“
Then stop looking. Most
treasures are found accidentally.”

“
So I’m supposed to
accidentally
stumble
upon some man and live happily ever after?”

Lori sighed. “Kamila, girl I see I’m going
to have to school you.”

“
Yeah, I guess you are,
but some other time...I just got home so I’m going to relax my
nerves for a while...maybe even take a hot bubble bath and enjoy a
bottle of Moscato.”