After the Storm (KGI #8)(68)

She inhaled deeply, savoring the spicy masculine scent that clung to him. It wasn’t cologne or aftershave. It was just . . . him. She sighed into his mouth, enjoying the simple pleasure of being in his arms.

It was easy to forget everything but this man. Easy to forget the world around them. The danger she and her siblings faced. The very real threat of Walt and how far his reach extended. Here seemed a million miles away from reality. This was a reality she much preferred.

Was it wrong of her to want to forget? Just for a little while?

“Just to let you know,” Donovan murmured against her mouth. “I’m going to take it slow with you. But my idea of slow and someone else’s is probably very different. So consider yourself warned. When I want something, I go after it. And I play to win. I’ve waited a long time for this—for you—and I’m not going to waste a single minute in seeing where this takes us. I fully intend to have you in my bed—permanently. And soon.”

Her pulse raced, fluttering wildly in her veins as she processed his solemn vow. He hadn’t sounded unsure of himself at all. No, he’d uttered those words with absolute confidence. She licked her lips, her mouth suddenly dry.

“What about Travis and Cammie?” she asked in a low voice.

Donovan sent her a look of genuine puzzlement. “What about them?”

She cleared her throat. “If we . . . if you . . . if we do this thing, where does that leave Travis and Cammie? I’d never leave them, Donovan. I’d never abandon them. And there’s so much unresolved. I’m for all practical purposes a kidnapper.”

Just saying the words sent a new wave of terror coursing through her body. She trembled against Donovan, her hands shaking.

“Even if you didn’t mind them being . . . here . . . with us . . . it’s not like we can just pick up and play house. I’m a criminal. I could go to jail for what I’ve done.”

Donovan held up his hand and then gently pressed a finger to her lips to shush her. “Listen to me, Eve. Of course you won’t abandon Travis and Cammie. I would never expect you to do any such thing. You’re a package deal. And I want the entire package. As for you being a criminal and going to jail? That’s not going to happen. We’ll find a way to take your stepfather down. And when that happens, you—and Travis and Cammie—and I will be a family.”

She had absolutely nothing to say to that. She didn’t even know how to respond to such a statement. To such blind acceptance. It baffled her that he would identify her as someone he wanted a future with when he’d known her only a few short days. And that he’d accept baggage that most men wouldn’t ever sign up for.

And the way he said family instilled such a fierce wave of longing within her that she ached with it. She wanted that. God, she wanted that so much. For Travis and Cammie to be safe and happy. To have all the normal things a four-year-old and a teenager had. And children of her own. It was all she’d ever dreamed. A large, boisterous, happy family. She wanted to hug his solemn vow to her heart and never let go. But it seemed so . . . impossible. All of it.

She stared at him in bewilderment because in all of this, there was still one huge question mark. How did she feel about him?

CHAPTER 21

HAVING coaxed Eve back to bed so she could rest comfortably with Cammie, Donovan retreated to the kitchen to dig up the fixings for pancakes. He wouldn’t prepare them yet. He wanted to let Travis, Cammie and Eve sleep for as long as they would before disturbing them for breakfast.

He knew the moment Sean entered the main gate of the compound. An alert was triggered and the video monitors in the kitchen zoomed in on the vehicle, doing a retinal scan of the driver and confirming Sean’s identity.

A few moments later, Sean tapped at the kitchen door and Donovan motioned him inside. Donovan’s head came up when the alert sounded again and he saw Rusty’s Jeep pulling through the gate, pausing as she stared into the camera for the retinal scan.

Sean frowned. “What’s Rusty doing out so early?”

Donovan shrugged. “Guess we’ll find out shortly.”

Sean remained silent until Rusty came to Donovan’s door. Donovan met her and pulled her into a quick hug.

“Hey, kiddo. What brings you out so early this morning?”

Her expression was troubled, which immediately put him—and Sean—on guard. Sean looked intently at her, his gaze probing.

“Why are you here?” Rusty asked Sean, a note of defensiveness to her voice.

“I have information about Eve,” Sean said shortly.

“So do I,” Rusty said in a grim voice. “But I’d like to hear what you have to say.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Sean countered. “You need to stay out of this, Rusty. I don’t want you getting involved. You could get hurt.”

She rolled her eyes. “You don’t spill, I don’t spill. And I think you’ll be interested to know that someone was nosing around the hardware store this morning.”

Sean immediately came to attention, but so did Donovan. He turned to Rusty, his expression brooking no argument. “Tell me,” he ordered.

Rusty sighed. “Some guy came into the hardware store this morning. Real smooth. Casual. Drives an expensive car. I got the license plate numbers so you can run them,” she said to Sean.

Sean nodded his approval, grudging respect in his eyes as he stared back at Rusty.