Intimate Seduction - Brenda Jackson [20]
“Just like Drew did in his day.”
Donovan couldn’t help but laugh. Drew Steele was one of his father’s cousins, and from what Donovan had heard, thirty years ago Drew had had to leave Charlotte when a bunch of women threatened to do him bodily harm because of his notorious reputation. Drew escaped to Phoenix, eventually married and had a slew of kids.
“Yes, just like Drew,” he said, not the least bit ashamed to claim such a thing. What he didn’t say was that, unlike Drew, Donovan felt he had his game together and didn’t intend to get run out of town by a bunch of women. Times had changed. Most men weren’t seeking a woman’s undying love and affection—just a chance to share her bed. He made a point to make sure the women he messed around with knew the difference.
“I take it you knew Drew,” he said, indicating the obvious.
The frown returned to the elderly woman’s face. “Oh, yes, I knew Drew. He would have messed up my daughter’s life if we hadn’t sent her off to school in Florida with my sister. She was so convinced she was in love with him and that he loved her. Everyone in town knew he didn’t love anyone but himself. That was over thirty years ago. She eventually married and got on with her life.”
Donovan nodded, happy for her daughter. There was no need to tell her that although Drew had pretty much settled down some of his sons were following in their father’s footsteps. “Did you want to place an order?” he decided to ask her.
She slowly began moving toward the counter. “Yes, I got a sick church member, and I want to send her a bunch of those flowers over there,” she said, pointing to the refrigerated glass case containing an assortment of flowers prearranged in a ceramic vase. “Any ones will do in the twenty-dollar price range.”
“All right. Do you want to take them with you?” he asked, writing out the order form.
“No, I want Kylie to have them delivered for me,” she said and then handed him a slip of paper.
He glanced down at it. “Earline Darwin?” he asked. Of course he recognized the name.
“Yes, you know her?” the elderly woman asked.
“Yes, I know her.” But I want to get to know her niece even more.
“Did you get a lot of orders while I was gone?”
Donovan glanced up when his sister-in-law walked through the door. “Around three phone orders and only one walk-in. A Ms. Hayes stopped by to send a bunch of flowers to Earline Darwin.”
“Like I said yesterday, Ms. Darwin is a popular lady. I’ll make sure she gets them tomorrow,” Kylie said, moving to the register to close it out for the day.
“No need. I’ll drop them off on my way home.” Donovan figured Natalie would be there taking care of her aunt since she couldn’t get around much.
Kylie tilted her head to look up at him with a bemused look on her face. “Why? Did Ms. Hayes say she wanted them delivered today?”
“No, but I thought I could do that and also check on Ms. Darwin.”
Kylie crossed her arms over her chest. “Okay, what’s going on here, Donovan? You’re a nice guy and all but what’s the real reason you’re dropping by Ms. Darwin’s home? And I recognize the address. It’s not on your way home, nor is it close to the Racetrack Café. So just what are you up to, Donovan Ridge Steele?”
Donovan tried hiding his smile by looking down at his feet. He’d gotten caught so he might as well come clean. Besides, this was Kylie. Since marrying Chance, she’d had two teenagers in the household to deal with—teens that Donovan had discovered could be as conniving as they came.
He lifted his head to meet Kylie’s questioning gaze. “I told you that Ms. Darwin is my housekeeper.”
She nodded. “Yes, you did mention that.”
“Well, what I probably didn’t mention is that her niece is filling in for her for the next six weeks.”
He watched as understanding shone on Kylie’s face. “She’s pretty, I imagine.”
“Very.”
Kylie frowned. “And knowing you like I do, I guess that means you want to add her to your ‘get-her-in-my-bed’ list.