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“Love,” Donovan corrected. His heart ached seeing her upset. “I love you, British.”
“That’s just something you say,” British said, stepping back, away from his touch. “Like you told her.”
“But I didn’t mean it.” Donovan tried to reach for British’s hand but she folded her arms across her chest. His heart ached at her rejection. All eyes turned to him.
British’s mouth dropped. “Wow.”
“C’mon, British, you know it’s not like that. Yes, I was in a relationship with Tracy. You were aware of that. Before you, I’ve never felt love before. I’ve never been in love with anyone like I am with you. I need you, British. Tell me you need me. Tell me you’re mad, but don’t walk away from us. You have to believe me. Surely you know how I feel about you.”
“What I do know—” British pointed at him “—is that you’re exactly what I thought you were when we first met. A free-loving playboy floating from woman to woman to bide your time until the next one. What was I, your Southwood flavor of the month until you left to go back to Miami?”
“I’ve changed, British, and you know it.” Donovan’s arms flopped to sides. “You have to stop comparing me to your Christian. I’m not perfect but I will always love you.”
“Oh,” she scoffed, “there’s no comparison. Christian may have suffered from an enlarged heart, but you, Donovan Ravens, don’t have one at all.”
“Ms. B,” Stephanie said, poking her head around the corner of the hallway. “My parents had to go back to Magnolia Palace and wondered if you could bring me back.”
Just like that, British inhaled deeply and tore her eyes away from Donovan. The cold glare chilled him to the bone. He reached for her fingertips, which, for a brief second, she allowed him to touch. She paused by his shoulder. Donovan leaned down to kiss the top of her head. “Don’t do this, British.”
“I can’t be a good role model of a strong woman and believe the words you so frivolously give out. Goodbye, Donovan.”
Chapter 11
“I feel like every time I meddle with a Ravens’s love life I seem to make things worse,” said Kenzie.
British hugged her body and leaned against the door of her car. She’d just dropped off Stephanie with her parents and wasn’t in the mood for heading home just yet, knowing Donovan would be waiting at her place to talk further. There was nothing left to say. He admitted to saying things that weren’t true, like that he loved Tracy. How was she supposed to believe him now? On top of that, his callous behavior toward that woman, Tracy, was in poor taste, especially in front of her students.
By the time she’d reached Magnolia Palace, the exposé or documentary on Donovan’s portion of the Ravens story had already aired. On top of everyone in Southwood seeing it, Tracy wore a ring she said Donovan gave her. Everyone in British’s family left messages for her to call. Everyone wanted to know how she was doing or what was going on. Enough people at city hall had overheard the quarrel between Tracy and Donovan, and then with her. Small towns and gossip...
She sniffed. “This isn’t your fault, Kenzie,” she said to her friend. “I initiated things with Donovan knowing full and well he was a perpetual bachelor playboy who would leave. This is what I get for being so fast.” She tried to laugh through the pain. It hurt to know she’d foolishly opened her heart to someone who only walked away, making her feel like a fool. The night was not supposed to end like this. Tonight she was going to celebrate the girls winning and tell Donovan she loved him, too. And she did. Or she thought she did. British was confused.
“You weren’t being fast. You were testing the waters. Had you married that first yahoo from Peachville, I would say that was fast.”
First Vonna knew about British’s failed dating life and now Kenzie. “How did you know?”
“I’ve been Southwood’s historian for a while now,” Kenzie said, reaching over and pushing British’s shoulders. “I tracked down a story for the gala last summer and saw you leaving a restaurant with some man.”
A cold breeze whipped through the air. Again British smelled the faint burning of wood, like she had the first time she’d met Donovan. This time of year she figured a group of hunters had set up camp somewhere nearby. She considered taking post at a deer stand just to avoid everyone.
“Anyway, I feel I need to share the blame. I thought it would be a great idea if the two of you had rooms next door to each other so you’d see how perfect you are together.”
“It’s a science, Kenzie,” said British. “Any two people can be attracted to each other if they spend time together.” It hurt to say the words out loud, especially since she had wanted a temporary fling with him. Why did he have to ruin things by telling her he loved her? And why did she have to go believe him? Why did he have to bring up Christian? It was a low blow and proof that he would say anything to get what he wanted. He wanted to hurt her, so he did.
“Save your science mojo. The point is you two had chemistry together, otherwise nothing would have happened between you.” Kenzie wagged her finger in British’s face. “And before you want to lie to me, I am the one who clea
ned the rooms when Ramon and I returned.”
“Oh.” British bit her bottom lip and shamefully looked away. She’d been too quick to become intimate with him, physically and emotionally.
Kenzie shoved her hand through her wildly curly red hair. “Anyway, Zoe left here that one time absolutely done with Will.”
“And yet they’re happily married,” British laughed. Laughter was the best medicine. She’d seen the ending to the Ravens show and knew how it ended—that Tracy chick finding a diamond ring in Donovan’s dresser drawer. No wonder Donovan didn’t want to talk about filming! He’d planned on proposing to the superstar. And could she blame him? Tracy fell perfectly into Donovan’s fast-paced world. Meanwhile she was here, just quaint.
“Anyway, Kenzie, look at you, all married now.”
“Don’t try to change the subject on me,” teased Kenzie, frowning. “Why don’t you come inside and we can talk? Ramon brought back some of his family’s secret-recipe rum.”
As tempting as it sounded to sit out back and drink, British still had to work tomorrow. She needed to think clearly, now that the girls were going to represent Southwood at the next level. “Maybe after the competition? Are you coming to the dance?”
