by Cee, DW
“I have a buddy who works in the movie industry, and after a bit of research, he found the carriage and restored it for me.”
“And the Ducatis?”
“I had Max go to the Ducati dealer and pick out two bikes for us.”
“Imagine my surprise when I was told to put on jeans and a biker’s jacket for my going-away outfit, and imagine my double surprise when I got outside and found two Ducatis waiting for me. All your wedding presents were perfect!”
“Well, your surprise beat mine by a longshot. When you had us stop by the drugstore, then back at the house before our road trip, I didn’t know what to think.”
“I’m sorry I ruined your original plans. Riding up the coast in our bikes, then flying to South Africa to surf sounded like a dream. I guess I won’t be surfing any time soon, huh? By the way, what were you going to do with our bikes if we got on the plane from San Francisco?”
“I was going to put them on Roland’s plane with us.”
“Oh.” I would have never thought of that.
“Now I have a question that was never answered, Mrs. Taylor.”
“And what’s that, Mr. Taylor?”
“Who the hell sent me that diary of yours? You know, that was the final straw on the camel’s back. Although...why the hell did you put three locks on a diary? I could only read bits and pieces of that book. From those few excerpts, I convinced myself we could work, but it took a lot of convincing. Though, I adored the ones from your childhood. There was no sweeter child than you.”
I cracked-up at him. “Pretty ingenious of me to add two more locks, huh? I battled with Doug and Nick all my youth trying to keep this diary a secret. They kept stealing it from me, no matter where I hid it and would read it and laugh at me. So I invented a way of locking portions of the book so even if they stole it, they couldn’t read the latest pages.”
“You are ingenious, my lovely bride. But who was it?”
“Who do you think it was?”
“My money is on Jake. He and his wife were our biggest supporters. But when I asked him, he acted like he had no idea.”
“It wasn’t Jake and it wasn’t Emily. It was actually my mother.”
“Seriously?” Donovan laughed. “She was the matchmaking mama?”
“Yep. It was actually both our mothers.”
“What? How did Jamie Taylor get involved?”
“When I asked Mom about the diary, she explained that your mom had come over one day, lurking about…”
“Lurking…?” Donovan was amused.
“She had heard that I was dating Michael and she asked in a roundabout way about my feelings for you.”
“Once Mom caught on, she spilled the beans about my infatuation for you since I was a babe-in-arms, so to speak, and the moms started conspiring. Mom said that between the two of them, they came up with some crazy ideas to get me home, since they knew I wouldn’t see you in London. It took awhile for them to come up with a plan to get us together, but once the idea was hatched, Mom said she searched high and low for my diary and gave it to your mom to leave in your mailbox.”
“I always thought it was mailed to me. I guess I never took a good look at the envelope. Why didn’t they just mail it?”
I cracked-up again. “I asked the same question, and Mom said they were worried it might possibly get lost. Since you wouldn’t listen to your parents and come after me in London, the moms thought the diary was their only hope.”
“Well, they were right. Though I was so frustrated with the lock, I almost took a hammer myself and broke it open.”
“And what about my privacy?” I feigned horror.
“Your privacy be dammed. This book held the key to our future.”
I snorted in feigned disgust. “Our future my ass. Curiosity was killing you and you were willing to invade my privacy for your satisfaction.”
“I’ll show you what I’d like to do with you for my satisfaction, right now!”
And food was in the distant future again...
“I cannot believe you are actually on campus right now.” Nick came over and greeted me with a hug. “Let’s see the little bugger.” He peeked into the baby carrier and gently rubbed the back of his forefinger on Henry’s cheeks. “He’s a beautiful blend of you and your husband.”
“Thank you, Uncle Nick. I think he’s pretty terrific, myself,” I announced proudly.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“I’m here for the same reason you are. Today is the first day of classes.”
“You are a freaking glutton for punishment, aren’t you? You’re going to finish med school?”
“Of course I am. Thank God Henry was a bit early. Otherwise, I would have had to put med school on hold.”
“You look like one of those out-of-wedlock teen moms bringing their babies to school. You bringing him to class with you daily? The school is allowing this?”
“I’ve got a nursery set up in Dad’s office, and both sets of parents are helping for the time being. You know the first two years are mostly lectures and heavy coursework. I think that can be accomplished with kids-in-tow. It just means I sleep even less than I’m sleeping now.”
Nick grinned. “And what about when you start rotations next year?”
“Who the hell knows? Maybe Donovan can take some time off and raise the kids.”
“Mr. All-Powerful Lawyer?”
“Yep. The one and only. Since Jane and Max just got married, they’re not having a baby anytime soon. She can be at the helm of the company for a while.”
“Last I heard, Max says they’re going to try right away to have kids. My brother-in-law is a bit starry-eyed over your little ones. And speaking of little ones, where’s Scottie?”
“Scottie’s been fed and is sleeping in Dad’s office. It’s Henry who’s temperamental and needs to be walked after he’s fed. That’s why I’m out here.”
“Shit, Laney. You are a posterboard for birth control and maybe even abstinence.”
I laughed, but not too loudly. This little one had finally gone down for his nap. “I’ll see you later. The twins don’t like to be separated for long. I’ve got to quickly put Henry down next to his brother in their travel crib before either child notices.”
“Bye and good luck.”
“See ya. Say hi to Aunt Bee for me.”
Author’s Note Part 2:
I can’t thank enough all the friends who’ve made this book possible. I want to start by thanking S.N. who has tirelessly looked for every grammatical error committed by me. It’s a tough job to look for the subject-verb agreements or to remember that Delaney said “this” in one chapter and didn’t switch to “that” in the next. I also want to thank all my dear friends who were willing to read this story and find errors out of the goodness of their hearts. D.F. and my British expert, R.P., thank you from the bottom of my heart! And to J.M. and J.T., who despite their crazy schedules, pull through for me every time and provide valuable insight just listening to what I have to say, it’s a comfort knowing you are there.
But the biggest thank you has to go to all my Reiders / Friends! Without you, these books would be a waste of time. I thank you for loving the Reid family and for giving me an identity. This is a late-found hobby and thanks to you, I see myself writing for years to come. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing.
As always, you can reach me at:
http://www.dwcee.com
[email protected]
NEAR PERFECT ATTRACTION – DONOVAN’S STORY
By
DW Cee
Copyright © 2014 by DW Cee
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be copied, reproduced, transmitted, or downloaded, whether electronic or mechanical, without the written consent of the author.
This story is a work of fiction. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Ebook Edition
&n
bsp; Chickygirl Publishing
Books by DW CEE
Indelible Love Series (ebooks)
Indelible Love – Emily’s Story
Indelible Love – Jake’s Story
Indelible Lovin’ – Max & Jane’s Story Vol. 1
Indelible Lovin’ – Max & Jane’s Story Vol. 2
Unlikely Attraction – Delaney’s Story
Near Perfect Attraction – Donovan’s Story
Unyielding Love – Nick & Bee’s Story Vol. 1
Unyielding Love – Nick & Bee’s Story Vol. 2
Indelible Lovin’ – Max & Jane’s Wedding
Finally, Love! – Michael & Chloe’s Story Vol. 1 (April 2015)
Finally, Love! – Michael & Chloe’s Story Vol. 2 (Sept. 2015)
Indelible Memories – Estelle’s Story
Harmony Series (ebooks)
Unfinished Melody
Perfect Harmony (Summer 2015)
Stand-Alone (ebook)
Entwined
Paperback Books
Indelible Love – Emily’s Story
Indelible Love – Jake’s Story
Indelible Lovin’ – Max & Jane’s Story (combined volume)
Unlikely Attraction – Delaney’s Story
Coming Soon
10,000 Reasons Serial
To the real Jamie T.
Because one year of friendship equals a dozen
Because a new pair of shoes and a shiny new handbag can change your outlook on life
And because you are definitely not a first loser in my book
Thank you for answering my daily calls
A Word or Two from Donovan:
Looking back, I should have come to an earlier realization that I was in love with the woman who started as a “little girl,” but eventually became my princess, my love, and the mother of my children.
Throughout this book, and especially in the Delaney portion of my tale, I was obsessed with how I felt, how she felt, what I’d done to her, what she’d done to me—my emotions were all over the map. I wouldn’t blame you if you thought I was schizo. What the hell was I thinking, refuting all the good advice I received from everyone around me? Call me an idiot. Call me an asshole. Call me what you like because I was all that and more.
As you read about the days leading to my final profession of love, I was blind, deaf, and dumb. It’s a wonder Delaney loves me so wholly in return. I know you ladies believe Jake Reid is the ultimate romantic and husband. Trust me when I say, after you finish reading my confessions, you’ll forget all about the guy who chased Emily to the ends of the earth to secure her hand in marriage. My story is better because of the drama before, during, and after my chase that eventually bound us as one. Who wants to read about a good guy staying a good guy? It’s much more exciting to read about an asshole who discovers he’s lost his one true love, and turns into the ideal man. Plus, I know for a fact, I’m better looking than Jake Reid. So what if he has dark hair and “blue eyes the color of Tahitian water?” My wavy brown hair and blue-green-gray eyes beat him by a mile. If he’s McDreamy, I am McSteamy! Am I right, or am I right?
Once this is all over, I expect you ladies to be Team Donovan rather than Team Jake! But more on that later—I hear one of the boys calling. Which one? You’ll have to ask their mother. I still can’t tell just by the sounds of their voices. Don’t tell the wife, but there are times when I can’t tell by their looks either. Hey, don’t judge! They’re identical.
P.S. I forgot to mention, if this is your first Reid novel, I suggest you start with Indelible Love - Emily’s Story. If you’re too anxious to get going with what I have to say, then at least read what the wife had to say about me, first, in Unlikely Attraction – Delaney’s Story. That’ll fill in any missing parts to my story. As you know, we men are not exactly detail oriented. Though, I’m definitely a cut above all men!
Table of Contents
Prologue
Kate Beauvais
Jane Reid
Jane? or Delaney?
Kate? or Jane? or Delaney?
Delaney? or Jane?
Delaney Reid
Delaney Taylor
Mr. & Mrs. Taylor
Forever
Prologue
“Jake, who is that stunning blonde laughing with your bride?”
“That’s the little girl you called your fifth sister.”
“Shut the fuck up! That is not Delaney Reid!”
“That is. She’s all grown up, huh? While you were screwing around with Kate and all the other women in between, our Laney grew into quite a beauty.”
“She was always beautiful, and bright, but was she always that well-endowed?”
“Hey. That’s my little cousin you’re talking about. Uncle Henry would kick your ass if he knew you were ogling his daughter in such a way.”
“Speaking of kicking your ass, I see that Jane and your bride’s ex have become an item. Shit, you knew I wanted to ask Jane out and you wouldn’t let me. What the hell?”
“Buddy, I’ve always told you. She’s not the girl for you. I say this not just because she’s my sister. You and she are too fickle, too alike, too selfish—the list is endless. It would never work between you two. But I think this match with Max is a good one. And Emily is thrilled with the two of them getting to know one another.”
“When the hell did you become a matchmaking mama?”
“What’s wrong with the woman you have in your arms right now?”
“Nothing’s wrong. She’s just not right.”
“And Kate?”
“Kate and I are done. I’m tired of us.”
“What happened to living in wedded bliss with her for the rest of your life?”
“That wedded bliss ended the moment I got out of my early twenties. I don’t think I’ll ever find my Emily.”
“Don’t look too far. She may be closer than you think.”
Perhaps I had been looking on the wrong cul-de-sac.
Kate Beauvais
“Damn! Who the hell is that?” Directly in front of me was a goddess of the English kind. She stood behind a six-foot table at our college recruitment fair and she could make any man heel with that body, gorgeous face, and sexy accent.
“I don’t know, but let’s go introduce ourselves.” Jake, my best friend, pushed me toward this nymph. “Hello,” he started the conversation. “I think my buddy here is interested in your company, but only if he could work directly under you.” The asshole making a crude joke at my expense was also the asshole who broke the ice. Wonder woman put her hand out to greet me.
“I think we could work something out if we choose to hire you.” Damn! She not only had an English accent, but her tongue curled in a French-kind of way. I’d do anything French to this woman if given a chance.
“My name is Donovan Taylor, and I’m wondering where I sign up for your recruiting class.”
“What year are you?”
“Junior year. Would it bother you to date someone your junior?”
“No, but it would bother me to date someone my subordinate.” This goddess was actually flirting back.
“Well I guess I’ll have to work extra hard to become the dominant. Dinner, tonight?” What the hell, I thought. The worst that could happen—she would neither give me a job nor go out with me.
“It would have to be late.”
“Late works for me.”
And that was how I got my first date with a woman ten years my senior, and a hell of a lot more experienced than I. After dinner at the hotel restaurant, she invited me back to her room and I did my best to prove what a dominant I was in bed. Kate Beauvais was this beauty’s name, and she was no kitten between the sheets. Just like her big personality in the corporate world, she was commanding in the bedroom. It was a hell of a night.
But to backtrack…
Jake and I left the job fair and made a stop at his home.
�
�You ready to leave for your internship?” he asked.
“I guess. There’s not much to it. Ma’s a mess because I’m leaving, but Rachel and Becky are jumping for joy.”
“It’s not like you live at home anymore. What do they care?”
“I wondered the same thing.”
“I’m told all my cousins are swimming at Gram’s. You want to take a dip and cool off before going out with that hot chick? Damn! She was gorgeous.”
“Watch it or I’m going to tell my sister.”
“Just saying…”
“Shit yeah, she was gorgeous. And I have a date with her tonight.”
“Incredible.” Jake shook his head in disbelief. “What the hell do women see in your pompous ass?”
“Just that…my beautifully pompous ass!”
We both put on swim trunks and jumped into the pool. When I popped up, an adorable face greeted me with a huge smile. “Hello, Little Girl. How have you been?”
“I’m good. How are you, Donovan?”
“Great, now that I see you.” This Delaney Reid was the cutest little girl and possibly my favorite Reid, next to my best friend. She made me laugh with her genius-sized vocabulary, and never failed to use every SAT vocab word she knew.
Holding back a few choice vocab words, she was floored when I told her I was headed to the East Coast to do an internship that paid nothing. Her favorite word, asinine, was most likely on the tip of her tongue. She was probably correct. What was the point in spending money living in New York and working for free? I supposed it didn’t matter. It got me out of this small town and into the big city with Kate, who was based out of New York and London. In hindsight, if our date worked out tonight, this New York idea was genius!