Page 47 of Dreamboat

He’s told me that before, so I grin. “And now?”

“You’re growing on me, kid.” He pinches my chin. “You’re growing on me.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Donovan

It’s been more than two days since I gave Delia my number and yet nothing. Not one text or call from her. I know I need to accept that she’s not willing to crawl back into bed with me, but fuck is that hard. It’s so goddamn hard because I know she’s out there.

I’ve known that for months now but after experiencing those few days on the cruise with her, it’s all changed.

I feel less than whole now. It’s not as though a part of who I am isn’t there because she’s cut me out of her life. This is about what she brought to me. Joy, fun, so much satisfaction that it’s hard knowing I may never experience that again.

“What’s her name?”

I look up to see my cousin Reid standing next to the table I’ve been sitting at for the past hour. We agreed to meet at a diner for dinner but his work kept him for an extra hour. Reid is a few years younger than I am. He co-owns a venture capital firm and when he can make time to see me, I’m grateful.

We share a set of grandparents and a lot of memories.

“Delia,” I say it because I can tell this man anything and he’ll never repeat it.

“Delia who?” he questions, unbuttoning his suit jacket before he takes a seat across from me.

“Hawthorne.”

That raises his brows. “As in Dr. Matthew Hawthorne?”

Reid has met my entire staff because he made a point of doing just that when he stopped by the clinic one day. I did the same when I visited the Vidori Capital Partner’s offices on a Friday afternoon to invite him to join me for a beer.

I motion toward the server who has been helping me since I sat down. I’m on my second glass of ice water since I’m on call tonight. I gesture for her to bring me a refill along with a glass of water for Reid.

“Did you just order water for me?” he questions.

“I did.”

“Keeping it tame I see.”

I laugh that off. “Keeping it sober since I’m on call.”

“Dr. Do Good is at it again,” he uses the nickname he gave me the day I graduated. “I’m speaking purely professionally, of course. If you’re banging Matthew’s sister, that is a Dr. Do Her Good move.”

“Grow up.” I laugh. “How old are you again?”

“Thirty-two.” He narrows his eyes. “How old is Delia?”

“Why?”

“Curiosity.”

I highly doubt that’s the reason. I think it has a lot more to do with his current executive assistant and the age gap between the two of them. She can’t be more than twenty-one or two. “More like comparison. You’re thinking about Evie.”

He chuckles. “Like hell I am.”

I drop it because he’s either oblivious to the way he looks at her, or he’s ignoring his attraction to her for professional reasons. Either way, it’s his life so he can live it as he sees fit.

“How far have things gone between you and Delia?” He flashes the waitress a smile as she brings our waters. “Give us a minute and we’ll be ready to order.”

She nods in understanding before she takes off out of earshot.

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