Page 32 of A Little Bit Uncertain

But a ride? I could definitely take a ride.

Tracking Theo, I saw him storm out the door while we said our goodbyes. Soon after, Donovan put his hand on my lower back and guided me out. There was a chill in the air, and I made a foolish move by not having a jacket. I knew better. Springtime in South Carolina had the most pleasant days, but nights got chilly. Goosebumps were all over my arms, and I tried to rub them away. He opened my door on his Navigator and helped me up, but before he climbed into the driver’s seat, he opened the trunk to grab something.

“You’re good to drive, right?” I shouted to him in the back, realizing it was a little late in the game to be asking that question. He shut the trunk, hopped in, and handed me a sweatshirt. What a sweet, observant man. I didn’t mention I was cold, he just noticed and acted on it; should I say cared enough to grab me something. It took all of me not to bury my face in it. I knew he smelled good, but this sweatshirt right in front of me was heavenly. What cologne did he use? Goddamn. He made sure I was looking at him before he spoke his next words. “Audra, I would never put you, or anyone, in harm’s way.” He spoke those words with such conviction that all I could do was nod back at him.

“Thank you for the sweatshirt.” I debated using it as a blanket, but I was super chilly, so I hoisted it over my head. Safe to say, I was swimming in it, but my goodness, it was cozy. He turned on the music, and we settled into a comfortable conversation as I punched in my address, and he drove me home.

When we parked in front of my house, he turned to me. “Thanks for letting me crash dart night tonight. I’m really enjoying the time I’m spending with you and your friends. Plus, I can add experienced timekeeper to my resume now. I’m not sure if you want to hear it, but what you did tonight was amazing.”

This kind of talk always made me uncomfortable because I didn’t expect accolades or anything; I was just doing what I could at that moment. “I didn’t do much, but thank you. In other news, you fit in here, Donovan. It’s been a lot of fun having you come out with us. Since you haven’t been around too long, you should know that getting an invitation to the poker game was a pretty huge deal. That doesn’t just happen, so it says a lot about how much everyone else enjoys you, too.” Realizing I was blabbering, I reached for the door handle. “Anyway, thank you for the ride. Oh, your sweatshirt.” I went to take it off.

“Just keep it until the next time I see you, which I’m sure will be sometime this week, either in the office or if I crash a Savvy Sips coffee date,” he smirked at me like he wanted to say more.

“Deal. I will drop it by the office next week.”

“If it happens to come in a bag with home cooking, I wouldn’t be mad about it,” he threw out.

“Donovan Wright, are you trying to ask me something?”

“I mean, I told you then, and I’ll say it again, those were the best fajitas I’ve ever had, and the carbonara could have passed for one I’ve eaten in Italy. I had a dream about those damn chicken sandwiches, so I can only imagine what else you have up your sleeve,” he replied with a grin. The compliment rolled off his tongue with such certainty, it was impossible not to believe him. I bet this kind of unwavering confidence was an asset in his business. “Have a great night’s sleep and a good day at work tomorrow, Audra.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” I smiled back at him.

Hopping out of the car, I made my way down my sidewalk feeling defeated. When I got to my door, I opened it, turned, and waved. Because, of course, he was doing the gentlemanly thing of waiting for me to get inside. When the door closed, I rested my forehead on it to review the night.

Most people would be excited to find out their crush lived on Stonemill. Not me. That was some of the worst news I could have heard. Because that meant that I should no longer want anything to do with Sir Donovan Wright. That kind of life ran parallel to Theo’s, and that was the lifestyle that broke me.