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“And then I can kill him?”
“No.” She linked her hand in his but not before slipping off her white glove and his.
The skin-to-skin contact was so needed since he wasn’t able to kiss her right now. Given the only privacy they had was a strung-up sheet, Donovan decided acting on impulse—to take British into his arms right now—needed to wait. After eight hours of playing Santa and being on his p’s and q’s, he needed some one-on-one time with British. For Donovan the suit jacket with the three giant black-plastic buttons on the front came off easily. Knowing it was going to be hot underneath, he hadn’t bothered putting on a shirt.
The Mrs. Claus dress required help, which Donovan didn’t mind. Again, the two moved in unison and without words. British took off her hat and gray wig, then lifted her dark curls off her neck and exposed her back to him. Donovan resisted raising her skirts and showing her just how much he wanted her right now. An excited scream from a girl outside the area stopped him. Regretfully, Donovan rebuttoned British’s costume. Kissing her neck, he swatted her bottom.
“Did you have fun today?” British asked him, turning around in his arms.
“I hate to admit it, but I did.” Donovan never thought he’d have a blast playing a married man. They walked down the red carpet toward Will and Zoe. Zoe he liked. Will? Donovan balled his fists together. But as they approached his little brother, Donovan’s irritation settled and he reached out to hug him.
“What the hell are you doing here, man?” Will asked him, patting him on the back. “Have you been here this whole time?”
“Yep,” Donovan answered.
Despite the latest pressures of the job making the youngest member of the Ravens family act like a tyrant lately, Donovan knew he couldn’t stay mad at Will. Will had never asked to be the CEO of the company and Donovan had played his part by nominating him to be at the helm. Will had just come off a career-ending soccer injury, and Donovan had known he’d needed something else to focus on. And he’d been right. Will’s vision for bringing classic beauty back to the company had helped refresh the sales. Donovan had seen the financial reports.
“You’re such a copycat,” Will joked. “This is my hideaway spot.”
Zoe stepped between the two men to give Donovan a hug. “Don’t be mad at Donovan for having good taste. Hey, brother-in-law.”
“Hey, sister-in-law,” Donovan replied. “You look as beautiful as ever.”
“Thank you.”
“So beautiful, I think you should grace the face of Ravens.” Donovan gave Will as smirk before letting Zoe go.
“You’re not getting off that easy,” Will said, tugging his wife’s elbow so she fit in the crook of his shoulder when he draped his arm over her shoulders. “You still need—”
Zoe silenced him with a squeeze to the hand. “Sweetie, we’re on vacation.”
“Speaking of which...” Will began. “Where did you spend Thanksgiving?”
“Here,” Donovan said.
“With my family.” British spoke up. “Hi, we haven’t officially met.”
“Oh my God,” Zoe knocked herself in the head with the palm of her hand. “Where is my brain?”
Zoe, Will and British laughed at some inside joke, which baffled him. Donovan cleared his throat to break up the camaraderie. “Will, allow me to introduce you to someone very special, British Carres. British, this is my annoying little brother, Will, and his—”
“British and I go way back,” said Zoe, with the flick of her left wrist, waving the Ravens family heirloom engagement ring When Will had asked for it from their grandmother, Donovan couldn’t have been more pleased. He loved Zoe but wondered if it would be rude to ask for it back when the time was right. Donovan gulped at the thought. Prior to coming to Southwood Donovan was sure he’d never get married. And now here he was, not sure if he wanted to leave without taking British as his wife. The notion was a pleasant surprise. British made him happy.
Will extended his hand to British. “Pleased to meet you. Thanks for allowing me to film Donovan.”
Donovan looked between the two of them. “What’s that?”
“Well...” British began, her cheeks turning his favorite reddish hue. “This is for charity and with the load of cash your brother dropped, we’re able to feed everyone in Four Points whether they need it or not.”
“My humiliation for charity, huh?” Donovan accepted with a nod. “I suppose no one is going to recognize me.”
Again the three of them shared a laugh.
“Oh, honey,” British cooed, “I don’t know how to tell you this but you’re Southwood famous now.”
Whatever that meant, Donovan didn’t care, just as long as it got British to move against his frame. As natural as it felt, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pretended to ignore Will’s questioning gaze at the intimate touch.
“Is that Maggie Swayne?” Zoe asked, shielding her eyes from the setting sun. “Sh
