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Donovan withheld his verbal agreement with Medgar’s suspicions about some of their colleagues. He’d witnessed the Cecil Effect himself during regular board meetings and other events. It was as though some members—all responsible, successful professionals in their own right—were under a type of spell. What was it about Cecil that impressed some people beyond reason?
“If Cecil’s the leadership they want, then I’m not in a position to get in their way.” Although he wondered whether he’d be able to remain with the board under the leadership of someone as criminally clueless as Cecil Lowell.
“Then you’d better put yourself in the position. I told you, Boy Wonder is after your job.”
“I’m not going to block the members’ right to elect my successor when my term ends next October.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you, Van.” Medgar spoke slowly. “This Gen Y baby isn’t trying to wait until your term is over. He wants your job now, and he’s planning a coup to take it.”
Donovan froze. “He hasn’t served on the board a full term, but he thinks he’s qualified to be president?”
“Now you’re getting it.”
“Do any of the board members support him?”
“Quite a few. He talks a good game.”
“I can’t believe this.” Donovan was tempted to let the board stew in their folly. But he couldn’t. Some members might be willing to act rashly, but their work wasn’t a game. Real lives were at stake.
“Read his email.” Medgar’s advice stopped the carousel of Donovan’s thoughts.
Donovan checked his black wristwatch. It was a few minutes before 11:00 a.m. “I’ve got a meeting. I’ll read it afterward.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt you at work. But Salma, Kim and I want you to at least serve out your term.”
“I appreciate that.” Donovan stood, preparing to leave.
“What are you going to do?”
Donovan crossed to his door. “Like you said, I’m going to serve out my term.”
* * *
“Have you had dinner?” Donovan showed up at Rose’s door Tuesday evening. He hoped the bags of Mexican takeout he’d brought would get him into her house. The expression on her face told him he’d need more than hope.
Rose leaned against her doorjamb, arms crossed. “I thought we talked about this yesterday. We’re not really dating.”
“I know, but I wanted to see you.”
Her gaze wavered. “You can’t just show up, Van. It’s not cute.”
“But I come bearing gifts.” He lifted the large paper bag of takeout. “It’s from the restaurant where we had lunch. You liked the food.”
A light breeze played with Rose’s hair and carried the scent of wisteria from her garden. She was silent for several seconds, her gaze moving from his to the bag and back.
Finally, she stepped back. “You play dirty.”
“All’s fair.” He crossed into her home and waited while she locked her front door.
Rose led him past her living room and into her kitchen. Donovan’s gaze paused on her black leather love seat. The memory of the last time he’d visited still stirred his body. He was having a similar reaction to the sight of her tonight. Her dark brown blouse traced her slender curves, and her black shorts hugged her slim, well-rounded posterior. Her endlessly long, honey-gold legs were slim and well-toned. Even her bare feet were sexy. The whimsical pink nail polish seemed out of character for her strong, no-nonsense personality.
Rose’s kitchen was smaller than Lily’s, but Donovan felt more at home here. He liked the vivid blue walls framed with white hardwood. Silver curtains hung in the windows and French doors. They almost matched her kitchen appliances. Place mats sat in the center of her white wooden table.
Rose pulled plates from a cupboard and silverware from a drawer. Together, they served the meal. Donovan remembered Rose liked the chicken fajitas. He’d bought himself enchiladas. They split the Spanish rice and pinto beans.
Anecdotes about their workday and current news carried them through most of dinner. It wasn’t until he was helping Rose clean up after the meal that she circled back to the fact that he wasn’t supposed to be there.
“Now, why are you really here?” Rose offered him another glass of iced tea before leading him back to her living room.
