Intimate Seduction - Brenda Jackson [37]
“Yes,” she responded, bubbling all over with joy. “Cameron and I found out this morning. I’m sure Cameron has told Morgan already, and I talked to Mom, Taylor and Cheyenne on my way to work. But since Chance and Bas haven’t arrived yet, you’re the first here to know.”
Feeling happy for his cousin, Donovan stood up and came from behind his desk to give her a huge hug. “I can imagine how happy Cam is,” he said.
Vanessa smiled while at the same time wiped tears from her eyes. “He’s extremely happy. I think we decided how much we both wanted a child the night we took on the role as babysitters for Little Dane,” she said of her best friend Sienna’s son. “He was such a joy, and we knew then we wanted a child of our very own.”
“Let’s just order up one baby this go-round, please,” he said grinning. “I don’t think the family will be able to handle it if you follow in Cheyenne’s footsteps and have multiple babies.” Vanessa’s sister Cheyenne had given birth to triplets last year.
Vanessa chuckled. “Yes, but you have to admit Chey is doing a grand job with them along with Quade’s help. I’m glad he convinced her to make North Carolina their home and use the house she owns in Jamaica as a vacation home.”
Donovan nodded, thinking his brothers had all gotten married and now all of his girl cousins—at least the ones living here in Charlotte—were having babies. Taylor and Dominic’s son had been born the first of the year.
“So when are you going to settle down, marry and start a family, Donovan?”
His answer was quick. “Never. I happen to like being single.”
“I thought I did, too until I fell in love. So beware, your time is coming,” she warned.
He frowned. “Don’t hold your breath, sweetheart. Just glow in your own happiness and leave mine alone.”
Vanessa studied his features. “But just think how much happier you could be curling up with the same person each night, someone who you loved.”
“Love? I’ll pass. There’s not enough love in the world to make me fall in love with any woman.”
He went back around his desk and sat down, thinking that he was beginning to feel smothered by all these Steeles who were either getting married or having babies.
Chapter 8
Humming her favorite tune, Natalie unlocked the door to Donovan’s home around nine o’clock Friday morning. She had called when she’d been a block away hoping he didn’t answer, an indication that he’d left for work already. Her plan was to get in and out before noon just in case he decided to come home for lunch.
Placing her purse down on the sofa she moved toward the hall closet where he kept the cleaning supplies. She was in a good mood. Her aunt’s visit to the doctor yesterday had gone well, and during Natalie’s restless nights she had been able to finish the first part of the project she was working on with NASA.
She still had her nightly dreams and figured there was no help for them. She was a woman whose needs were letting themselves known, but she was determined to ignore them like she always had, although they were more prevalent now than ever before.
She had finished cleaning the kitchen and had started in the living room, establishing her rhythm as she dusted the furniture while the sound of Ne-Yo blared through her earbuds. She liked music and enjoyed dancing, although her moves on Friday night had been different. She had been on the dance floor with Donovan, in his arms while moving to a slow tune. It had been a long time since she’d been held by a man that way. And even now she was experiencing aftershocks from when he’d taken her outside and kissed her, practically devouring her mouth.
Suddenly there was a tap on her shoulder. Startled, she yelped then spun around only to collide with a wide, solid chest. She jumped back, almost losing her balance in the process while placing her hand over her furiously beating heart. Donovan was standing there in bare feet and wearing