Read Online Donovan's Child by Christine Rimmer - Free Book Online

backward until he was out of her line of sight.
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    Dinner was at seven-thirty, as usual. He went to the dining room with apprehension tightening his chest, sure she was going to give him a hard time about spying on her while she swam.
    But when she joined him, she seemed the same as always—or at least, the same as she had been since they’d both said too much on the morning Ben left. She was quiet. Polite. Professional. They spoke of the project. They agreed that it was going well.
    Olga was just clearing off to bring the dessert when the doorbell rang. The housekeeper straightened from gathering up the dirty dishes.
    Abilene leaped to her feet. “It’s okay, Olga. I’ll get the door.” She spoke to the housekeeper—but she was looking straight at him. Daring him. Challenging him.
    Olga hovered in place at the edge of the table, not sure what to do next.
    So be it, he thought. “All right, Abilene. Go ahead. Get the door.”
    It was almost worth having to deal with whoever waited outside, to see the look of surprise on her face,the frank disbelief that he was finally going to let someone else in the house.
    Olga calmly went back to clearing off.
    And Abilene disappeared through the archway into the living area and the front hall beyond.
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    Abilene opened the door.
    On the other side stood a pretty woman with thick black hair that fell in shining curls to below her shoulders. Small and shapely, the woman wore snug skinny jeans, a tight sweater and very high heels. She might have been thirty, or forty. Hard to tell. Behind her, in the dusty turnaround in front of the house, a red Cadillac waited—no doubt the same Cadillac Abilene had seen the night she first came to Donovan’s house.
    â€œHello. I’m Luisa. Luisa Trias.”
    â€œAbilene Bravo.” She shook the woman’s offered hand. “I’m working with Donovan for a few weeks. Come on in…”
    Luisa eased her fingers free of Abilene’s hold and moved back a step. “Is Donovan here?”
    â€œHe is, yes. In the dining room. We’re about to have dessert. Join us, why don’t you?”
    â€œOh, I don’t want to butt in. I only want to know that he’s all right. I’ve driven out here twice before. Both times, I was told that he wasn’t at home….”
    Abilene hesitated. Really, how much did she have a right to say? Maybe jumping up and insisting that she would answer the doorbell hadn’t been such a brilliant move, after all.
    But then Donovan spoke from behind her. “Luisa. How are you?” Abilene glanced over to see him sitting in the archway to the living area.
    The pretty black-haired woman gasped. Clearly, she’dhad no idea that he was using a wheelchair now. But Abilene had to hand it to her. She recovered quickly.
    The woman scowled at him. “I’ve been calling. You never call back. And I’ve been out here, to try to see you. Your housekeeper keeps sending me away.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Luisa. Truly.” He actually sounded remorseful. “I haven’t been feeling like seeing anyone lately.”
    â€œLately? It’s been months since you came back.” The huge dark eyes grew just a little misty. “A friend is a friend. You should know that. How is it that you’ve become such a bastard, Donovan? A big, selfish bastard, who cares so little for those who care for him?”
    He had the grace to look ashamed. “It’s a long story. Too long.”
    She touched the gold crucifix at her throat. “Are you all right?”
    â€œI am. I’m fine. I promise you.” He spoke gently, with what sounded to Abilene like real concern for Luisa’s feelings. “Come in. Have some crème brûlée with us.”
    Luisa looked at him sideways. “I shouldn’t forgive you….”
    His smile was rueful. “Please. Come in.”
    â€œAre you sure? I needed to know that