You look really sexy in it, by the way.
Donovan: One cup of coffee.
Donovan: I’ll be on my best behavior.
Donovan: I swear.
That had been his last text, but the minute I finished catching up on them, a new one arrived.
Donovan: You’re reading my texts now. I can see they just changed to Read. So I know you’re not sleeping…
I smiled sadly and sighed.
Valentina: No, I’m not sleeping. Although, I should be. You know why? Because I’ll be up a five a.m. tomorrow morning, no matter what time I go to bed. I bet you can sleep until noon, like most young people.
Donovan: Actually, I’m at the gym by 5:30 and the office by 6:45 every morning. Nice try. How about coffee at 6 a.m., if you’re up anyway?
I chuckled to myself.
Valentina: You’re persistent. I’ll give you that. But I’m sorry, I just can’t, Ford.
I’d started to type: I just can’t—no matter how much I want to. But I erased it. I needed to put an end to this craziness, for both of our sakes.
Instead of responding, I went to my contacts and edited Donovan to Ford—a gentle reminder that Donovan wasn’t a man I could ever be attracted to; he was simply Ford, the boy next door.
Chapter 6
* * *
Valentina – Two weeks later
The air smelled better in Montauk. The salt seemed to open my lungs and wash away the stresses of life. It had long been dark by the time I arrived. After Memorial Day, Friday night East Hampton traffic became a war zone of designer-clad people. It was why I’d always preferred Montauk. For most men there, a fancy dinner outfit meant changing out of your fishing boots.
Standing on the back deck at almost midnight, I shut my eyes and listened to the waves crashing as I inhaled deeply. After a few more exhales, my shoulders began to relax.
Until a voice startled me.
“Mrs. Davis?”
I jumped and let out a very girly sounding scream.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s Bella—Annabella Donovan from next door.”
“Oh.” My hand held my chest. “Hi, Bella. I didn’t see you there.”
Our beachy neighborhood didn’t have fences, just a sand pathway between the elevated houses. Bella stood on the beach at the bottom of the stairs leading up to my deck.
“I didn’t know anyone else was out here,” she said. “I wasn’t even sure if you owned the house anymore. I haven’t been out here in years. But I’m glad you guys are still around. It’s so quiet at night out here.”
“Actually, it’s just me now. Ryan and I divorced, and my son Ryan is staying at college for the summer to do an internship.” I held my breath for a moment before asking the next question. “Are you…out here alone?”
“Yep. I drove my brother crazy enough that he let me come out for a long weekend. I wanted to stay the entire summer, but God forbid he trust me out here alone.”
A confusing mix of relief and disappointment hit me. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about Ford often over the last couple of weeks—he’d made sure of it with a text or two each day. But I hadn’t answered since the night I’d come home from study group.
“So it’s just us girls then,” Bella said.
“I guess so.” I smiled.
“Until my pain-in-the-ass brother shows up.”
My skin prickled, and it wasn’t because of any chill in the air. “Are you…expecting him?”
“He’s not supposed to come out, but he doesn’t trust me. He’s away on a business trip right now, although I get the feeling he might show up when he gets back. He called me five times today and had an alarm system installed at the house.”
“Well, I suppose that’s what big brothers are supposed to do, watch out for their sisters.”
She shrugged. “Hey. Would you want to do a sunrise yoga class on the beach with me? It’s only a few houses down. I’ve been getting up a half hour before and walking to warm up. I have a free pass for a friend if you want to try it tomorrow.”
I felt rather out of sorts from the surprise of Bella being next door, not to mention the prospect of her brother coming out to check on her. So I failed to think of a quick excuse why I couldn’t do sunrise yoga.
“Umm... Sure. I’d love that.”
“Awesome. I’ll meet you back here at six?”
“That sounds good.”
“Okay, then, I’m going to go shower. I have sand in places there shouldn’t