Heart pounding, Donovan was silent for a few moments. Miami. s.h.i.t.

"I'm sorry," she replied, when she could speak.

"You should be," Jack said. "Thanks to you, I'm stuck with this little pain in the a.s.s."

Coco hopped down and began to run circles around Jack's legs and even though he said he didn't care for the bundle of fur, she watched him scoop up the little creature and rummage in the pantry until he found a box of biscuits. Something about watching this larger than life guy be so gentle with an animal not much bigger than his hand did something to Donovan.

Chest tight, she grabbed her bags. If she was going to be stuck here for the next few weeks, she was going to play it cool. She had to shut down the emotional s.h.i.t because it would only bite her in the a.s.s.

She also needed to contact her publicist, and she should at least call her mother. Their relationship was strained at the moment, but her mom would notice if she dropped off the radar, and Donovan didn't need Jayleigh poking around. Her mother would see this as nothing more than publicity, and lord knows what she would do if she found out Donovan was up here with Jack.

"Which room should I take?"

He turned then and her mouth went dry at the look in his eyes. Was he remembering the last time they'd been here?

Jack held her gaze for a few heartbeats and then spoke. "I'm the last room on the left, you can take whichever you like."

Just then there was a sharp rap at the back door and before either one of them could move, a little boy rushed into the house. Blond hair on the long side, the kid was dressed in a bathing suit and nothing else. His cheeks were still full with baby fat, his belly round and full, and if Donovan had to guess, she'd say the little guy was about five or six.

"Uncle Jack! I saw your truck and I just knew it was you!"

Wait. Uncle Jack? She knew all of Jack's brother's and none of them had kids.

Donovan watched with interest as the boy threw himself at Jack, who barely managed to catch him and not drop Coco.

"Hey buddy. I didn't know your parents were up."

The kid nodded excitedly, his chubby hands encircling Jack's face in an endearing way that made Donovan's heart turn over.

"They are. We've been here for days and days and days." The little boy reached for Coco. "You still have him."

Jack was smiling now. "I do."

The boy scrunched up his face, petting the top of Coco's head, his eyes still on Jack as if he was the most important man on the planet. "But I thought you said he was a pain in the-"

"Harry, let's not repeat anything I say, okay buddy? Code, little man. Code."

"h.e.l.lo? Jack?" A woman pushed open the door and strode into the house, a big smile on her face when she saw him. "I thought that was your truck."

"Sabrina," he said, flashing that warm smile again. "What gives? You guys are usually up in August."

"Yeah, well Brett had surgery, and we're up here relaxing."

Instant concern lit up Jack's eyes. "Surgery?"

"Yep," Harry said excitedly. "Daddy had a thing taken out of his stomach. Like a ball. Mommy says it was as big as a grapefruit."

Donovan swallowed hard at the look in Sabrina's eyes. She was small, with short dark hair and elfin features that were delicate. Huge eyes stared up at Jack, and they couldn't hide the sadness. In fact, they were so expressive that Donovan felt the woman's pain as it was a living, breathing thing.

She had a vague recollection of meeting Sabrina the one time she'd been here, but couldn't picture her husband Brett. They were close friends if she wasn't mistaken. For Harry to call Jack, Uncle, very close friends it seemed.

"I didn't know," Jack said, letting Harry down as Coco struggled to jump as well.

"We've kept it pretty quiet. Not saying much. It's what Brett wants, you know?"

"Who are you?" Harry walked over to Donovan, his expression curious. "You're pretty," he said, with a grin that Donovan couldn't ignore.

She held out her hand and accepted his in an exaggerated shake. "My name is Donovan. Nice to meet you Harry."

"That sounds like a boy's name."

"Harry! What a thing to say." Sabrina smiled widely and glanced up at Jack. "So, Hollywood Tattler got something right for a change. Congrats. When did you guys get back together?"

"Oh, no we're...we're ah..." But Donovan's tongue was all tied up in knots as alarm set it. She glanced at Jack, and he must have sensed her panic.

"Sabrina, this isn't what it looks like."

"Uh huh," Sabrina replied, smile still in place as she glanced over to Donovan.

"We're hoping for a bit of quiet to sort through some things. I hope you understand that this can't get out, or they'll be a s.h.i.t-storm of media," Jack continued.

"You don't have to worry about us spilling anything, but Jack, I'm calling bulls.h.i.t on this right now."

Harry jumped up and down at that and gave Jack a big high-five. "You're here for two whole weeks? Awesome! I have to tell Morgan."

"Morgan?" Donovan squeaked. Jesus. How many of them were there?

"His twin," Sabrina said with a laugh. "I'm just so happy for the both of you. You guys are meant to be together. I told Jack that the last time he was here with that Monique. Don't get me wrong. She was a nice lady and all, just not his type."

"What's my type?" Jack asked lightly.

"Anyone who won't take your s.h.i.t." She winked. "I won't tell a soul that you're here. G.o.d, Brett's gonna love this. He's a huge fan." She glanced between the two of them. "You'll come for supper? I've got salmon for the grill. Brett will love it."

Sabrina looked so happy, her sadness wiped out at the thought of true love, that Donovan felt herself caving.

"Mommy's making peas, too, but you don't have to eat them if you don't like them. I hate peas." Harry high-fived Jack once more and disappeared out the door, yelling for his brother or sister, Donovan wasn't sure which, as the door slammed shut behind him.

Sabrina's brows rose in question. "So, dinner?"

"Sounds like a plan," Jack replied. "What can we bring? Donovan's a whiz in the kitchen."

Okay. That was cheap. Donovan kept her smile in place, though her eyes were shooting daggers.

"Just yourselves. I've got everything covered. I'll let you guys get settled. See you at four."

Sabrina gave a quick wave and disappeared, leaving the two of them staring at each other in silence. "Chin up, Donnie," Jack said softly. "At least you don't have to cook."

Chapter Fifteen.

Jack grabbed a bottle of red and white from the wine rack and waited for Donovan to come down from her room. She'd escaped up there as soon as Sabrina left, and he hadn't heard a peep from her since. He was just thinking he would have to go up and get her when the door to her bedroom swung open, and she appeared on the landing.

d.a.m.n.

She wore a soft yellow sundress, one she'd worn in Belize, and the cut while conservative, did nothing to hide her curves. If anything, the way the soft material draped over her hips made her look wholly feminine, just the way a woman was supposed to look. With her golden skin, long hair pulled back into a simple ponytail and her face free of makeup, she was so much like the Donovan of old that he had to remind himself that she was a long way from the girl he'd fallen for.

Of course that was easier said than done. His body automatically tightened, and he realized it was going to be a hard few weeks denying the pull. He wanted her. And though she would no doubt deny it until she was blue in the face, he knew that she wanted him.

But this here-this time spent at his summer home-was all about finding closure, at least for him. Discovering secrets and learning some answers to all those questions he still had.

These few weeks were nothing more. Nothing less.

She froze when she caught sight of him, her cheeks slowly turning a nice shade of blush. The air, h.e.l.l, the air felt alive as the two of them stared at each other. But then, hadn't it always been like this? Since that first night he'd spied her in Nashville?

Jack broke the spell, but it took more nerve than he wanted to admit to. Hard few weeks? That didn't come close.

"We're late," he said.

Donovan raised an eyebrow and started down the steps. "Sorry. I fell asleep and then needed to shower."

Coco pounced on her as soon as her foot hit the bottom step, and she bent over to rub her hand along the top of the dog's head. "Hey you," she murmured as Coco, the little s.h.i.t, pranced for her. d.a.m.n dog had no loyalty.

"Let's go," he said curtly, pointing toward the door.

Donovan straightened, her chin set at a determined angle, and it was one he recognized. She wasn't going to make any of this easy. But then again, had she ever?

"I'll go because Sabrina is a nice woman, and it seems to me that her husband will enjoy the company. But before I do, we need to get a few things straight."

""A few?" s.h.i.t, there was never just 'a few' with Donovan. "We're already late," he said again, his irritation growing by the second.

"No s.h.i.t," she replied. "And we're going to be a h.e.l.l of a lot later unless you listen up."

His lips pressed together. "You've got one minute."

"That right there is your problem. Your need to control every situation. You can't control me, Jack, and I'll take however long I d.a.m.n well need. I've had time to think about our situation, and I've got some rules you need to hear. You abide by them and we just may come out of this without killing each other."

"Rules."

"Yep," she said, nodding. "Rules. You remember those don't you? Or are you gonna pull the politician card and play by your own?"

Something sparked inside him. Something hot and electric. He hated to admit it, but he was enjoying himself. "I always play by my own rules, or is that something you've forgotten?"

"You're so full of yourself," she snapped, her control slipping a bit. He saw the tick near the corner of her mouth. Bingo.

"I've heard that a few times."

Donovan took a few steps forward, and he noted the gloss on her lips. They looked all shiny and wet and soft just the way he liked them to be, though he wasn't going to think about that right now. Nope. He needed to push that stuff back and think about something else.

Like the pulse at the base of her neck. It was erratic, and her breath hitched at the back of her throat telling him that she was more than a little worked up. Good. He just hoped he was doing a better job of hiding his reaction from her.

"Rule number one," she said, tongue darting out to moisten that already shiny mouth. She was probably doing that on purpose, because he was finding it hard to concentrate on pretty much anything besides that mouth.

Donovan James was a witch.

"Do not talk to me like I'm one of your underlings. I don't answer to you, and I certainly don't take orders from you. When you start that, I just shut down. Thought you'd at least remember that."

"Got it."

If she was surprised at his fast reply, she didn't show it.

"Rule number two. Don't expect me to play the girlfriend on this trip. I'm not your girlfriend. I'm not your anything. Heck, I'm pretty sure that I'm not even your baby-mama."

"Not yet," he said softly. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly, and those cheeks of hers were now a rosy red.

"Rule number three."

"Christ, how many are there?"

"Two weeks is all you get from me."

"What if I want three?"

"Rule number four," she continued, ignoring him as she plunged forward. "I won't have s.e.x with you."

Jack grinned, though he felt anything but glee. He took the last few steps until he was so close to Donovan he could count the freckles that dusted her nose, and the eyelashes that shadowed her cheek.

He bent low and felt her tremble even though he didn't touch her. His body was hot and tight and d.a.m.ned if that didn't p.i.s.s him off more than a little bit.

What. The. f.u.c.k.

Jack reminded himself that she was no good for him. That the only person she loved was herself. He thought of five years ago and felt a spark of anger join the boatload of c.r.a.p inside him. Good. Anger was good. That's what he would focus on.

"Let me make myself clear, Donnie. If you were the last woman on this f.u.c.king planet, I wouldn't go there. Not with you. Not again. You're not worth the bother. This here is all about what might be inside you. The fact that you could be carrying my child is something I take seriously, but don't flatter yourself into thinking this is anything other than that. Once we know, we'll decide what to do."

He took a step back, done for now. "And as for number three? You'll leave here when I'm good and ready to let you."

"You're a b.a.s.t.a.r.d."

"Call me whatever you want," he replied, pointing toward the door. "Now let's go. Sabrina and Brett are expecting us."

He moved aside so that she could pa.s.s, glaring at Coco when the animal practically jumped into her arms.