Luckily, the mother-to-be was busy opening gifts, oohing and ahhing over every little thing. Really? A package of diapers deserved an Oscar-worthy performance?
When it was obvious no one had realized he’d been gone, Donovan made his way to the bar, ordering a drink, then resuming his post against the wall. Since Kora had left, he knew it would look suspicious if he did, so he was doomed to spend a little more time there. At least until he could meet up with Sam, give him the customary congratulations speech.
And then he’d be able to leave.
Reaching for his phone, he shot a text to his assistant, informing him that he needed an address for Kora Madison. She had disappeared, sure, but he wasn’t going to allow her to disappear forever. He fully intended to track her down.
How could he not? Personally, I don’t think I could’ve let Presley go without a fight at this point—something I’d have to spend some time thinking about later. We’d established a connection in a short period of time. Yeah, it had been longer than a day, but who said there was a time limit on these things?
As he sipped his drink, he thought back to their rendezvous in the closet, to the way she’d felt, her pussy clamped onto his dick, her fingernails digging into him. They’d had on too many clothes, and he would’ve preferred to feel her nails raking down his bare skin. It was safe to say he wouldn’t forget what had happened between them.
“Hey.”
Donovan focused on the present, realizing Sam was standing directly in front of him, a curious expression on his face.
“Hey,” he greeted, tossing back what was left of his drink.
“I thought you left,” Sam told him.
Donovan shook his head.
“Where’d you go?”
Sam’s curious inquisitive expression look turned to one of skepticism, making Donovan realize his brother had probably noticed that he’d disappeared at the same time Kora had.
Not that he really gave a shit. Sam had screwed the pooch in that deal. His dumb ass hadn’t been able to keep it in his pants long enough to realize he’d had a damn good thing.
So, as far as Donovan was concerned, Sam’s loss was his gain.
He decided against telling Sam that, though. Instead, he lied. “Stepped outside to get some air.”
“Oh. You okay?”
“Perfect,” he lied again.
“I was hoping to introduce you to Kora,” Sam said, peering around the room. “But it looks like she left.”
Why would Sam want to introduce Donovan to Kora? After all this time? Not once in all the time that Sam and Kora had been dating had he ever wanted to make those introductions. Seemed strange, but Donovan decided to pretend not to notice.
“She was here?” he asked, praying like hell that this wasn’t a trap. If it was, he’d just walked right into it.
“Yeah, but I don’t see her now. I’m sure she had something—or someone—better to do.”
A flash of anger sparked in Donovan’s gut. He didn’t like that Sam was making accusations. Especially since Sam was he one who’d cheated on Kora. Then again, Donovan figured Sam had been living the lie for long enough now, he probably didn’t realize who knew the truth and who didn’t.
Donovan knew the truth. And he honestly thought Sam was a dick.
“I am gonna have to go soon,” Donovan told him now.
“How long’re you in town?” Sam inquired.
“A week.” Donovan had managed to wrangle some time off, though he was only a phone call away if something arose. He doubted that would happen. The people in his employ were quite capable of managing for a few days without him.
“Maybe we can get together one day this week. Have a couple of beers.”
“Sure.” He wanted to ask if Kora would be around, because there was no way Donovan could leave town without seeing her again, but he managed to keep that to himself. He had some resources of his own, and he’d give those a shot before he resorted to hitting Sam up for Kora’s address or phone number.
“Thanks for coming,” Sam said, slapping Donovan on the back. “I’m glad you could make it. It really means a lot.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it,” Donovan lied. Again.
At this rate, he feared walking out into the parking lot. It was quite possible—after all the lies he’d just told—lightning would strike him if he did.
Then again, it would be a suitable end to an already stormy day.
As far as I was concerned, this was only the beginning