Page 66 of You Found Me
Until he didn’t.
Rachel hadn’t called after he’d shipped out. Not once. She hadn’t made any effort to get in touch at any point when he’d come back for holidays over the years. Not since she married the guy who’d replaced him at quarterback.
So why had she rushed over the second he was back in town tonight?
She had an agenda. She always did.
He’d been too blind to see it back then, but he sure as hell saw it now.
“You know,” Della said, “Donny seems so bitter and standoffish on the surface, but he’s such a softie once you get to know him. He’s like…like dark chocolate wrapped around a marshmallow.”
“Marshmallow?” Gretchen choked on the word.
“What makes you think he’s bitter?” Rachel’s voice took on an edge of ice.
“Oh, bitter’s probably a strong word,” Della said. “Brooding is better. My wa—I mean, Donny is always ready for something…you know, to go wrong.”
If Della kept talking, their cover would be blown in less than three seconds. Ward stepped into the kitchen.
Della stood near trays of brownies and cookies one one side of the island, while Rachel and Gretchen perched on the stools on the other.
There were glasses of water and plates set up like they were having a garden party.
“Lucy.”
Three heads swiveled in his direction. They stared at him in stunned silence for a fraction of a second before all three women exploded into noise and movement.
“Hey, Storm.” Gretchen finger waved at him.
Rachel slid off the stool with a smile and slinked toward him. She had the Friday-night-after-the-game-hookup gleam in her eyes. “Donovan!”
“Honey bear!” Della brushed past Rachel and launched herself at him with a little squeal. “You’re home! We were just talking about you.”
He caught her in his arms, then dipped his head as if he was going to kiss her on the cheek. “Lucy, you have some explaining to do,” he growled in her ear.
“They brought brownies,” Della said as if that explained everything. Her eyes glinted with amusement.
He gave her a significant look. “You opened the door for brownies?”
“And cookies.” Della’s smile was stiff, like she’d been wearing it awhile and it was starting to hurt.
“Makes sense.” It felt like he’d stumbled into the middle of a polite girl fight. He had no idea who was winning until Della brushed his lips with hers.
It only lasted a fraction of a second, but it sent a jolt straight to his groin and left him momentarily stunned.
Della’s gaze locked on his. Her mouth was slightly open, and her hand rested on his chest in a gesture that was intimate and familiar. She looked just as shocked as he felt.
Ward shook off the sensation and gently moved her hand away. She hadn’t meant anything by it. She was playacting. That’s what she did. She was a professional entertainer, and she took nothing seriously.
“Donovan.” Rachel’s voice was filled with attitude. “It’s so wonderful to meet your newgirlfriend. An actress. How…unlike you.”
The backhanded compliment made his back stiffen. It was designed to get a rise out of Della, and if Rachel kept twisting her little hooks long enough, she could upend the careful charade they’d built.
He put an arm around Della’s shoulders and gave her what he hoped could pass for a loving look. “I’ve always found confidence attractive.”
Della’s eyes narrowed as if she couldn’t quite figure out if he was serious. It passed in a flash, then Della’s face brightened and she leaned her head against his chest. “I told you he was a marshmallow.”
He tried to keep his irritation at that comment off his face, but his arm tightened around her shoulders to let her know exactly what he thought.