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“My brother really is an idiot. You’re a catch.”
“On both those points, I agree.”
What I don’t tell her is that I think he’s a catch too. Nope. I keep that all to myself.
11
DONOVAN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Donovan
This is supposedto be the best day of the year, but it’s shit. Everything’s perfect, of course. Violet planned it that way.
All the guests are excited, milling around the resort and having the time of their lives. Even my mother has a half-smile etched across her face as she sips a glass of wine and watches the guests on the dance floor.
Nothing about this day feels right. Not without Violet. She should be here to see how everything’s pulled together. To talk with Carol and Bill. To try the fantastic food and make me dance in front of all the guests. I’d fight her every single step of the way, but we’d both love it.
Fuck.
I’d hold her in my arms, feel her body against mine, brush my lips across her forehead… down the length of her throat… I’d never let her go.
I shouldn’t have let her go this time.
But I was—am—stupid.
The second she pressed her lips against mine, when she stole that fucking kiss from me, I was a goner. That’s a lie. I was a goner the second I laid eyes on her. I think it’s safe to say I’ve been in love with her for well over a decade.
I’m not sure what makes me a bigger fool. Thinking I had any right to touch her in the first place, or letting her walk away after I had. No, it’s neither of those things. What makes me a fool is that I didn’t chase after her the second I realized she was gone. Instead, I wallowed in my own self pity and allowed my mother to distract me.
Well, I’m done. Done with her disrespect and disregard for me as a person and as her son. If she can’t see the good I’ve done since I’ve taken over the hotel, that’s on her. And if she wants to take ownership back, well… that’s also on her. I’m fairly certain I can get a job anywhere I want. Like Nashville.
Invigorated with purpose, I make my way out of the bar area, but don’t get too far before my mother blocks my path.
“Donovan? Where is it you think you’re going?”
I stop in my tracks, straightening my shoulders, refusing to be intimidated by her anymore. “Sorry, Mother, but I have somewhere else I need to be.”
“Excuse me.” Her eyes widen and she truly looks appalled. “What could be more important than being here at your resort? The food hasn’t been served and the fireworks won’t go off until dark. There’s still so much to do.”
“No there’s not and you know it. Everything is under control and the guests are having a good time.”
“You cannot leave right now, Donovan. I forbid it.”
I raise a brow, running a hand down the length of my tie and toying with one of my suit buttons. “You forbid it?”
“Yes.” My mother tips up her chin, defiance written all over her face.
“Well, that’s just too bad.” I shake my head. “I appreciate all you’ve done for me. Really, I do. But I can’t stay here and pretend everything is okay when it isn’t.”
“What does that mean?”
“Violet should be here right now and the fact that she’s not doesn’t sit well with me. You can think what you want, but she made this party what it is. It’s the best damn end of summer party this resort has ever seen. She handled everything down to the tiniest detail.”
Her eyes widen and her mouth opens and closes a few times before she pulls herself together and points a finger in my direction. “Including you, it looks like.”
“You’re right.” I grin, keeping myself from chuckling right in her face. “She handled me like a damn pro.”
