Head Over Heels for the Boss (Donovan Brothers)

by Susan Meier

  With a disappointed sigh, she rose from her seat, turning to say good-bye to Devon, but he was right behind her. He stood so close that they were toe to toe.

  She looked up.

  He looked down.

  A crazy feeling of rightness flooded her. She swore she felt waves of heat radiating from him. But with her gaze held by his mesmerizing brown eyes, she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t speak. The feeling of rightness became a plume of longing. For two seconds, she thought about standing on her tiptoes and kissing him. Then she remembered Barbara Beth’s advice that it was always better to let the man do the chasing.

  She cleared her throat. “I…um…was just on my way to Buds and Blossoms.”

  He quickly stepped away from her and ran his hand along the back of his neck. “I just came out to see if you have any questions.”

  “Actually, I have a lot of questions.” She pointed at the notebook on her desk. “I started writing them down. I thought it might be better for us to sit down and talk about everything at the same time.”

  He took another step back. “Yeah. That’s a good idea.”

  It hit her then that she made him uncomfortable, and her chest tightened. She didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable around her. The man was a dynamo who took what he wanted. If he wanted her, he wouldn’t hem and haw about it. He’d take her. Yet he looked at her as if she were a foreign object.

  This stupid makeover was having exactly the opposite effect!

  She grabbed the little beige clutch bag Barbara Beth had lent to her. “I won’t be in the rest of today or tomorrow. So I’ll see you Monday.”

  He nodded, and she raced out of the office and up the hall to the front door, wondering how the hell she’d gotten herself into this position and if it was too late to back out. It might take months for her hair to grow back, but in ten minutes she’d be in jeans again and a T-shirt with a flower on the front. She could go back to being plain Izzy Cooper.

  “Izzy, is that you?”

  LuAnn.

  Isabelle stopped, feeling caught like a criminal racing to escape the federal pen.

  Turning in the direction of LuAnn’s voice, she called, “Just on my way out, Mrs. Donovan.”

  She took a few steps toward the kitchen. LuAnn met her in the big open space between the kitchen and the fancy seating area.

  “Well, don’t you look nice?” She smiled. “Doesn’t she look nice, Devon?”

  She spun around. She hadn’t even realized Devon had followed her.

  “She looks fantastic. She’ll be perfect as one of the faces of our business.”

  Her chest tightened, then sprang free with something that felt a lot like joy. She’d never thought of herself as the face of a business. If she stayed here, working for Devon, is that what she’d become?

  Some of the things Ellie and Piper had said about working for Donovan, Inc. played through her brain. Traveling. Dinners with wealthy clients. Jets. Limos.

  She’d be part of that. She’d have a real career. Not that running a flower shop wasn’t a career, but it didn’t involve travel, or dinners out, or wealthy clients. Worldly clients. Really using her master’s degree. Her heart skipped a beat as the reality of it sank in. She’d loved her studies, and actually using that knowledge? The mere thought stole her breath.

  LuAnn put her arm across Isabelle’s shoulder. “It’s going to be such fun having you around. In fact, why don’t you come to dinner tonight? I’ve invited Bob—”

  Devon’s face scrunched. “Bob?”

  “Bob Bailey,” LuAnn reminded him. “Every Thursday, Finn and Ellie, and Cade and Piper, come over for dinner. It’s nothing fancy. Just pot roast and family.”

  Isabelle said, “I can’t,” at the same time that Devon said, “She can’t.”

  Though she had work to do and would be eating a baloney sandwich as she made centerpieces, Devon’s quick answer felt like an insult. Almost as if he didn’t want her around his family.

  He shrugged. “I thought you said you had arrangements to make for the funeral…or was it something for the wedding?”

  “You’re making her work at night?”

  “This isn’t my choice,” Devon casually pointed out. “Izzy took the order for the wedding flowers herself. Plus, flower shops don’t run on the same kind of schedule an office does.” He pulled a bottle of water from the fridge. “Izzy knows that.”

  The weird feeling tumbled through Isabelle again, stifling the part of her that wanted to be insulted. What he said was true. Flower shops didn’t run on the same schedule as an office. And she had a lot of work to do. Orders to fill that she’d taken. He wasn’t keeping her out. He was acknowledging what she’d already told him.

  But he’d called her Izzy.

  Twice.

  So much for the impact of her makeover.

  “I am working tonight, Mrs. Donovan. In fact, as soon as I run home and get into some jeans, I have to get to the shop and start making centerpieces.”

  “Oh, that sounds so nice. What did they order?”

  “Square glass vases with short-stemmed roses.”

  “Red?”

  “Yellow.”

  LuAnn sighed. “So pretty.”

  “It will be,” Isabelle said, shifting Barbara Beth’s cute clutch bag to her other hand. “That’s why I have to get going.”

  “We’ll see you at Mark and Rachel’s wedding?”

  Isabelle’s brain shifted gears again. The girls had big plans for her at the wedding of a local girl and the man she’d met at college. Plans that involved a skimpy pink dress and making room for her at the Donovans’ table. Beside Devon. Where she could flirt to her heart’s delight.

  In the dating gospel according to Barbara Beth, Saturday’s wedding was her chance to make her move. She should stick to the plan until then, at least. She couldn’t declare failure yet.

  Her confidence returned and she smiled. “Yes, you’ll see me at the wedding.”

  Around six that night, Devon came down the back stairway and headed toward the kitchen. The entire house smelled like heaven. Pot roast and mashed potatoes. Fresh corn.

  Tightening his tie, he made his way to the formal dining room, which was empty.

  He finally figured out that his mother had invited the fire chief to dinner as a way to get a donation. Giving the fire company and ambulance association hefty checks was already on his to-do list. It was strange that his mom thought she had to invite the fire chief to dinner rather than just come right out and ask. But he was a busy person. Plus, his mom had trouble asking for things. His father had beaten her often enough that she’d become meek. The past three years she’d been getting over that. But she wasn’t entirely whole yet.

  Devon would not make her ask for money for one of her favorite causes. He’d already written two checks. One he’d mail to the ambulance association tomorrow morning. The other he would give to Bob before dinner, so there’d be no embarrassment. No business at the table. They’d just be family and a friend eating a nice meal.

  Stepping into the kitchen, he said, “So where are we eating?”

  His mother said, “Outside,” just as Ellie and Finn entered through the front door.

  Finn called, “We brought peach cobbler from O’Riley’s.”

  “Yum!” LuAnn said. She took the box from Ellie before she kissed Finn’s cheek. “So you two are looking happy.”

  Ellie rubbed her swollen tummy. “Three more weeks.”

  “And then I’ll have a granddaughter to add to the grandson I already have.”

  The front door opened again. Cade held one-month-old little Richie and LuAnn scooped him out of Cade’s arms. Devon leaned against the counter, feeling a pride that he probably didn’t have any right to feel. But his brothers’ lives would be very different if he hadn’t spared them the worst of his father’s fists. Now both were married and had plenty of time for family because he’d also taken the burden of managing the family fortune. Finn was an excellent businessman, but
he had his own companies to run. Cade loved his ranch. The place made a small fortune, too, the way Finn’s businesses did. But just as Finn’s businesses were enough for him to handle, the ranch was enough for Cade.

  “So when are you guys going back to Montana?”

  Cade glanced over at Devon. “We were supposed to be leaving Sunday, after the wedding. Now we’re going to stay the three weeks until the baby,” he said, nudging his head in Ellie’s direction. “Because somebody doesn’t want to go.”

  Cade shook his head as Piper said, “Of course I don’t want to go! I’m getting a niece. I’m not missing a minute.”

  LuAnn laughed. “She’s going to be the most spoiled child in the world.”

  Good, Devon thought. Both of Ellie’s parents had passed, so the newest Donovan would have no maternal grandparents. Her paternal grandfather wouldn’t be allowed to get within two miles of the baby if the Donovan brothers had their say. The only grandparent Finn’s daughter would have was his mother. So, yeah. They’d all be getting involved with this baby.

  The doorbell rang.

  His mother’s face changed. Her eyes got bright. Her lips formed a grin. “That’s Bob.” She handed little Richie to Piper, whipped off her apron, and headed for the door.

  Devon pushed away from the counter as his mom entered walking hand-in-hand with Bob.

  Wait a minute. Hand-in-hand?

  But his mom was a hands-on person. She was always touching people, putting her arm across someone’s shoulders. Hadn’t she put her arm around Izzy?

  “You all remember Bob?”

  Finn said, “Who forgets the fire chief?” He held out his hand to shake Bob’s and Bob took it.

  Cade stepped forward. “Bob.” He also shook Bob’s hand.

  Everybody faced Devon. He stepped forward and shook Bob’s hand. “Nice to see you.”

  His mom said, “Great. What do you say we just get right to dinner? If I’m starving, I know Ellie’s probably about dying.”

  Ellie laughed. “I am.”

  LuAnn herded everyone to the French doors. “I set everything up on the table on the deck.”

  Carrying Richard Sean, Cade and Piper walked out to the back deck. Finn and Ellie followed them.

  Not wanting to make a scene or a big deal out of the check, especially since his brothers had already approved the sum, Devon stepped forward, stopping the chief, who was about to help his mom with the pot roast.

  He pulled the check from his suit coat pocket. “Chief, my brothers and I had approved this a few weeks ago, but I just got around to cutting the check.”

  Bob’s brow furrowed. “Check?”

  “It’s a donation to the fire company from the family.”

  Bob’s face reddened. “Well, thank you.”

  His mother ambled over, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. “What’s that?”

  “It’s the check.”

  LuAnn gaped at him. “Now? You decided to give it to him now?”

  “Isn’t that why he’s here?”

  “No!”

  Cade walked into the awkward silence. “I need Richie’s bottle—”

  LuAnn sputtered. “No, he’s not here to get a check! He’s here for dinner!”

  She turned to get the pot roast out of the oven. Bob said, “Let me help you with that.”

  By the refrigerator now, Cade grabbed Devon’s arm. “What are you doing?”

  “I thought he was here for our donation check. I thought I’d spare him the embarrassment of asking for it.”

  Cade barked a laugh. When Devon didn’t laugh, Cade frowned. “Are you serious?”

  The confused look on his brother’s face made Devon angry. Still, he kept his tone civil when he said, “Yes.”

  “How can you not know he and Mom have been dating?”

  “Mom dates?!” He swore he felt his heart stop. He tried to picture his mother going out to dinner with someone and he couldn’t. All his protective instincts rose. The last man in his mother’s life had not treated her well, and Devon had been forced into the role of family protector. He couldn’t believe she’d been seeing someone without warning him. Without needing him.

  Cade laughed again. As his mom and Bob walked away from the stove and closer to the refrigerator, Cade grabbed Devon’s arm and pulled him down the hall.

  “She’s been seeing Bob for a few weeks. How can you not know that?” Cade shook his head. “No. Don’t answer; I already know. Your head has always been on business of some kind.” He turned Devon toward the French doors. “Just eat your dinner. Don’t say anything insulting. It will all sink in.”

  Following Cade, Devon ambled to the covered back porch and the huge round table. He took the seat between Ellie and Piper and realized that put him directly across from Bob.

  Because it was a hot June day, his suit jacket was a tad too much. Shrugging out of it, he noticed his brothers were both in polo shirts and jeans. Their wives wore shorts and tank tops.

  He loosened his tie. “Wow. It’s a really nice day.”

  Without looking at him, his mom said, “You should get out more. Then you would know that.”

  He knew his mom was offended by the fact that somehow he seemed to be the only person in the world who didn’t know she’d started dating.

  Finn handed him the plate of roast beef. As he forked off a thick slice, he said, “This smells great, Mom.”

  “Thanks.”

  She still wouldn’t look at him. He got it. He really did. If he didn’t spend so much time in the office in the back of the house, he probably would have noticed his mother was dating someone.

  Dating someone.

  He would need more than a minute for that to sink in as the family dinner went on around him. One-month-old Richard Sean sat on his mom’s lap. Ellie ate her mashed potatoes with enthusiasm. Finn teased her. Piper came to her defense.

  Cade sat back. “Only a fool teases his pregnant wife.”

  Bob laughed. So did LuAnn. Her eyes sparkled when she looked at him, the way Finn’s eyes sparkled when he looked at Ellie and Cade’s eyes sparkled when he looked at Piper and little Richie.

  Devon closed his eyes. When had his frigging life changed so much? And why did he suddenly feel like a stranger in his own home?

  He rose. “You know what? I forgot all about a call I’m expecting in a few minutes. From California. A guy looking for seed money. I could cancel, but I’m sure he’s waiting on pins and needles for an answer.”

  LuAnn rose, too. “Devon, you love pot roast and mashed potatoes. Call the man, tell him you need an hour to eat, then come back.”

  Ellie smiled up at him. “You also love peach cobbler.”

  Piper added, “And there’s no guarantee Richard Sean will still be awake when you get back if you take too long.”

  He forced a smile. “That’s okay. I’ll just have a roast beef sandwich later. I’m fine.”

  But he wasn’t. His whole damned family had somehow changed while he was busy managing the fortune they’d inherited when their grandfather died. They were all happy.

  And he didn’t fit into their lives anymore.

  The family he’d worked so hard to protect didn’t need him.

  Chapter Five

  At the wedding on Saturday, Barbara Beth rushed up to Isabelle.

  “So, are you done with the flower stuff yet?”

  “I have a few more boutonnieres to pin on.”

  “And you know what to do tonight?”

  “Not even a little bit.”

  Barbara Beth took Isabelle by the shoulders and looked her in the eye. Like a drill sergeant, she said, “At eighteen-hundred hours, Ellie and Piper will arrive at the fire hall and make sure there’s an extra seat at their table, which they will save for you. So when you arrive at the reception at eighteen-thirty, you find them.”

  “What if I get there early?”

  Barbara Beth lightly shook her. “You do not get there early! You make an entrance.”

  “Right.
Look, Barbara Beth. I appreciate your help, but I’m not sure I’m going to be any good at this.”

  “You are my protégée. All you have to do is listen to what I say and do it.” She suddenly straightened. “Here’re the Donovans now.”

  Isabelle almost panicked, but when she turned around, all she saw were Piper, Ellie, and LuAnn.

  “Hey, ladies.”

  LuAnn hugged her then kissed her cheek. “Hey, Izzy. I can’t wait to see the centerpieces.”

  “Wait until you see the bouquets on the altar.” She wondered about LuAnn’s sudden appreciation of flowers, but only for about two seconds. It was nice to have someone truly interested in her work. “They are so beautiful I can’t believe I made them myself.”

  LuAnn laughed and hugged her.

  Barbara Beth said, “Where are the boys?”

  Ellie slid a quick look at Isabelle. “They decided to stay home and watch the game. They don’t like wedding ceremonies. They do like baseball, and they swear they will all…ALL…” she said, giving Isabelle a significant look, “be at the reception.”

  Barbara Beth let out a gusty sigh of relief. “Okay, then.” She hooked her arm through Isabelle’s. “You go find your last groomsmen and then come sit with us when you’re done.”

  Isabelle took the box with the remaining boutonnieres and headed for the back of the church. The invitation to sit with the Donovans was nice. Welcome. The day after she went to work for Devon, her parents really had packed their suitcases and gone to Myrtle Beach. She hadn’t felt odd when she was alone in her apartment. She was always alone there. But going to work at the flower shop, knowing there was no chance her mom or dad could pop in, had made her a little misty. And also made her feel buying the flower shop might not be the answer. Part of loving working there had been spending time with her parents, and that was gone now. Letting the Donovan brides and Barbara Beth help her had been like inviting herself into a private club, giving her a sanctuary while she adjusted to being alone.

  The wedding went smoothly, beautifully. The bride’s mother sobbed. The groom’s father kept looking at his watch. The choir sounded like a band of angels. And, luckily, the priest kept it short.