“Are you still in love with Ben?”
“Good grief, no.” Rose’s response was instant and sharp. Donovan found great satisfaction in that. “My feelings for Ben died an unlamented death when I realized he’d been playing me for a fool.”
“Your anger is understandable, but how long are you going to hold on to it? At some point, you have to leave the past in the past.”
“I disagree. The past is always with us.” Her voice hardened. “It shapes us. I’ll never forget the lesson Ben taught me, and I never want to.”
“What lesson was that?”
“Men can’t be trusted.”
Donovan’s eyes widened. Hearing her express those feelings made him wonder if he’d ever be able to reach her.
Why am I worried about that?
He sat up on his executive chair. “You’ll have to at least pretend to trust me. We’re supposed to be in love.”
“As long as we both remember that we’re just pretending. Goodbye, Van.” She didn’t wait for his reply.
Donovan set down his cell phone. That was going to be a problem, recognizing where the pretense ended and real feelings began. Saturday had felt a little too real for him.
* * *
“You’ve been unusually quiet today.” Xavier walked into Donovan’s office late Monday afternoon.
Donovan watched the finance executive settle onto one of the gray upholstered guest chairs in front of his desk. Seven weeks had passed since Xavier had broken up with his girlfriend. He seemed to be putting the unpleasant experience behind him. His confidence and sense of humor were returning. Good. But Donovan was curious; how much of Xavier’s healing was due to time and how much of the credit belonged to Lily Beharie. The Beharie sisters were having quite an effect on the Anderson men.
“I’ve got a lot on my mind. I’m planning the sales campaign for our new games.” Donovan glanced at the clock on his computer monitor. It was just after five. The day had disappeared in a flash.
“Have you heard from Rose?” Xavier settled his right ankle on his left knee. To the casual observer, the other man seemed relaxed, but Donovan sensed his friend’s tension. What was causing it?
“The city council hasn’t met to discuss the statement yet.” Donovan tapped a couple of keys on his keyboard, then spun his chair forward to face Xavier.
“Government entities move on their own special clock.” Xavier’s tone was dry.
“It’s amazing anything gets done.” Donovan studied his friend’s expression. Xavier had an amazing poker face. “What’s on your mind?”
Xavier’s onyx gaze seemed to reach into Donovan’s mind. “After what Lauren did to me, I felt like a jackass.”
“This isn’t on you—it’s on her.” Donovan’s temper sparked when he thought of the games Xavier’s ex-girlfriend had played with the finance executive. With all of them.
“No, Van, it’s on me. I made the mistake.” Xavier’s voice was firm as he accepted responsibility. “Believe me, it’s a mistake I’ll never repeat.”
“We know.”
“You, Ty, Mom and Uncle Foster helped me realize that I can’t let that mistake define me. It’s not who I am. It’s a lesson I learned.”
Why did Donovan have the sense Xavier was trying to send him a message? If that were true, his friend would have to be much more direct.
“I’m glad you realize that.” Donovan hoped Xavier was in fact on the road to recovering from his horrible relationship experience. He and Tyler hadn’t liked Lauren. Donovan suspected Kayla and Foster hadn’t, either. They’d liked her even less after what she’d done to Xavier, Iris and their company.
“You should realize it, too.”
“What do you mean?” Donovan frowned.
“Tell Rose about your childhood and the time you spent in the homeless shelter.”
“We’ve had this discussion. I’m not going to do that, Xavier.” Donovan’s protective walls settled into position.