phone and took it out onto the balcony.
“According to the navigation, I’m about twenty minutes out,” he answered.
“Great. And how do you feel about all this?”
“Huh?”
“Are you excited?”
Donovan laughed. “You sound like Leanne Miller and you’re calling me from her phone, but who are you?”
Leanne rolled her eyes. “I am the version of Leanne Miller who you get once we’re outside of the firm. And you’d better get used to it.”
“Yes, boss.”
“And don’t call me boss.”
“Err, no, boss.”
She laughed. “Stop it. I know this is all a bit sudden. But I couldn’t leave you there at Anderson’s mercy. I felt bad abandoning you. I think I’m going to end up working up here and I’m going to need an assistant. You’re the best I’ve worked with. So, if you want to come with me, I’d love to keep you on. This week will give you a chance to get a feel for the place and see what you think. And don’t worry, if it’s not for you, I’ll help you get in with another group at the firm or help you find something somewhere else. Sound fair?”
“Thanks Leanne. It sounds more than fair. I’ll be honest; I wasn’t expecting you to come back. I’ve been putting feelers out since you told me about you going to Summer Lake. It didn’t occur to me that you might want me to come. And going back to your original question: yes, I’m excited. Obviously, I want to know more about what the job will entail, but come on … working for Dan Benson? The guy’s a legend.”
Leanne had to laugh at that. “Yeah. I suppose he is. I forget that. To me, he’s the best friend I’ve ever had. He’s a sweetheart. And don’t go calling him a legend when you get here, will you? You’ll embarrass him.”
“I won’t. And don’t worry. I won’t embarrass you either.”
“I know that.” She was tempted to tell him that she might embarrass him. That she might have to ask him to play the role of her boyfriend. She’d have to explain to him that she’d told Ryan that. But she’d wait until he got here. She didn’t want him spending the rest of the drive worrying about what he was getting himself into.
“You know where you’re coming when you get to town?”
“I do. I put the Summer Lake Resort into the navigation.”
“Okay. I’m in room two-seventeen. Ask the front desk to let me know when you get here? I’ll come out and meet you. Have you eaten?”
“No.”
“Can I buy you dinner?”
He laughed. “Sure, but that sounds wrong. I know you don’t mean it that way. Do you?”
“No. Don’t worry. You’re safe. And sorry about the kisses on the text yesterday. Someone was reading the screen and I wanted him to think I was talking to my boyfriend.”
“Ah. Thanks for explaining. That did have me puzzled. Is some guy giving you trouble? I can take care of it if you want me to. Just say the word.”
She had to smile at that. It was good to know that he’d step up for her if she needed him. At the same time, she couldn’t imagine he’d stand a chance against Ryan. Donovan was no weakling, but Ryan … she closed her eyes. Ryan was history. “Aww, that’s so kind of you. Thanks, Donovan. But it’s not a problem.”
“Okay. But I mean it. If anyone gives you any trouble, I’ve got your back. You’ve always had my back at the firm, and I know I can’t help you in that way. But I can look out for you in the ways I know how.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it. Don’t forget, have the front desk call me when you get here.”
“Will do. See you in a little while.”
She hung up and went inside wondering who Donovan really was. He was a great assistant, but she wouldn’t call him a friend; theirs was a purely professional relationship. She made a face. She didn’t really have any friends in San Francisco. She kept in touch with Ari when they could, but they were both busy. Why would Donovan say that protecting women from creepy dudes was what he knew how to do?
She shrugged. It didn’t matter. What mattered was that she was going to have to explain to him that it hadn’t been some random creeper that she was trying to make think she had a boyfriend—it’d been Ryan. And she might need Donovan to put on an act. Or not. It was