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Chapter Thirteen
Ella stirred the rich concoction on the stove in front of her, letting the aromas that the pan of cocoa and Kahlua released as it blended and heated, wash over her. She breathed in deeply and closed her eyes. The smell of this chocolatey, boozy mixture would always mean winter to her, and it never failed to spark feelings of warmth and comfort.
“How’s it coming in there?”
Hmmm. That voice that drifted in from the living room would also never fail to spark feelings in her, and they were a hell of a lot edgier than simple “warmth” and “comfort.”
“Almost ready!” she called in to Donovan, then poured the rich, dark liquid into the two mugs that she’d set out on the counter.
She carried them across the kitchen and through the archway that led to her living room.
Donovan took his mug from her and wrapped his hands around it, then sipped the steaming liquid. “Mmmmm. Spiked.”
She settled herself onto the couch facing him. “Would you expect anything less?
He set the mug down on the coffee table in front of them and shifted to face her fully. “I’m glad that we have this chance to talk.”
She flushed with pleasure. “Me, too.”
“There’s something I need to ask you, and I need you to be completely and totally honest with me. No sugarcoating.”
She nodded. “I’ll do my best.”
“Okay.” He took a deep breath, then looked down at his hands for a moment before returning his eyes to her face. “So, really. What is the deal with my grandmother and that mute block of marble who’s apparently her nurse?”
Ella burst out laughing. That was classic Donovan—set her up for one thing and then defy her expectations by following up with something totally absurd. It wasn’t a side of him that many people were allowed to see. She felt honored to be one of the chosen few he let into the more twisty workings of his brilliant brain.
“Oh, my God. I can’t believe no one’s filled you in on that!”
“Nope. Not a one. You get to do the honors.”
She shook her head. “I wish I had more details. The only thing I know is that a few years ago, her back went out and the home care nurse the service sent over happened to be a young, fairly attractive guy. The back pain went away. The young, hot nurse didn’t.”
“Shit. So, this Armando character’s been around for a few years?”
“Oh, no. That first one was…oh, hell, I don’t remember his name. I don’t remember any of their names, really. I couldn’t have told you this one was Armando if you hadn’t just used it.”
“Holy shit. So you’re telling me that this woman—this dignified woman, who drilled the importance of keeping up appearances into me before I could even walk or talk—has suddenly decided to entertain a revolving door of eye candy, and no one has said a word about it?”
Ella snorted. “Oh, no, people have said plenty of words. Just none of them to her face. You know how it is. Small town.”
Donovan collapsed against the back of the couch and groaned, then leaned forward and took a large gulp of his cocoa-lua.
“I don’t even want to think about it.”
“I think it’s great.”
He looked up at her, eyebrows shooting up so far and so fast that she almost expected them to keep going, flying straight off his face until they hit the ceiling. “I’m sorry. I must’ve heard you wrong. I know the word you said started with ‘gr’ so it must’ve been ‘gross.’ You think it’s gross. Because, for just a second there, I could’ve sworn you said that you think it’s great.”
Ella couldn’t help but laugh. “I do think it’s great!”
He ran his hands over his face. “Please. Explain.”
“Think about it, if she were a man her age who surrounded himself with young hot women—correction, young hot nurses—everyone would wolf whistle and say it was great. They would have respect for his prowess. But because she’s a woman of a certain age who indulges in the exact same thing, that means she has no dignity? Fuck that noise. Double standard city.”
Donovan’s face softened up a little more with each word she spoke. When she finally wound down, he smiled and brushed his fingers against her hand. “I forgot how cute it is when you get a head of steam going about something.”
“Well, I feel strongly about misogyny. And ageism.”
