by Cee, DW
“She just doesn’t like me anywhere near her favorite uncle. As long as Donovan and I are not in the same room, she’s fine,” I let a worried Emily know.
“You’re going to make some poor fella feel awfully loved, or awfully trapped.” Donovan placed James back in his chair and kissed Ellie one more time. “Ellie, can I have some of your oatmeal?” Donovan pretended to pick up her spoon.
Of course her answer was, “No! Lellie oatme.”
“Wow, her use of words is coming along. I can’t believe the way she can put together two, three word sentences already.”
Jake shook his head in forced exasperation. “I just hope she doesn’t talk our ears off in six months.”
“Where’s the baby?” Donovan asked.
“JR is not a morning baby. He likes to sleep in,” Emily answered while cleaning up the two who were done with their meals.
“He’s the smart one in the family.” Grandfather spoke. “Good morning, my sweet granddaughter. I thank you for buying a Jura for the flat.”
“I bought it just for you, Grandfather. You had one in every home I visited.”
He motioned for us to sit down once our coffees were made. Contrary to my promise, it was Donovan who went over and got us a cup of coffee and some baked goods from the sideboard.
“What did you think of the Eggleston group last night, Donovan?”
“Well, if they are as interested as they appeared, I think a sale is imminent, Roland.”
“That’s the feeling I got.”
“What does it mean to sell a law firm?” I asked.
My grandfather spoke first. “There are two options. We could technically merge two firms, with full disclosure that our firm will be eventually bought out by the other firm. This merger will allow our clients to acclimate themselves with the new firm and get comfortable. When all is settled, we will bow out of the picture completely.”
“The second option,” Donovan spoke, “is to sell the company outright.”
“What are the pros and cons of both?” I asked again.
“Merging would take longer because we’d have to make sure everyone is settled, but would make us more money.” Donovan continued to speak. “Selling outright, if all goes well legally, would be quicker, but we couldn’t ask as much because there are risks that clients may bolt on the new firm.”
“And so your job is to,” I started.
“It is two-fold. I need to court serious buyers, and I need to assure current clients that their expected level of service and legal competency won’t be compromised with a sale or merger. Rumors are rampant right now. That’s why I’ve been going from city to city visiting top clients.”
“I think I finally get it.” I smiled at my boyfriend.
“And if this all goes well, your boyfriend, soon-to-be husband” Grandfather gave me a baffled and unhappy grimace, “I still don’t know why you won’t marry the guy,” he grumbled some more. “You’re too much like your grandmother, Laney. Put the guy out of his misery and marry the damn man.”
“Grandfather,” I put on my sassy hat again. “I can’t marry someone because you or my parents tell me to marry him. I have to be absolutely certain that this is the man I want to love forever.” I feigned surprise that my grandfather would even bring up this topic, much less chastise me for my actions. “I love you for being concerned for me and Donovan, but I need to make my own decisions.” I walked over and kissed him on the cheek to let him know I wasn’t upset with his comment.
“You are undoubtedly no push over. Jane may be the spitting image of your grandmother, but you are the split personality of Estelle.”
“Why thank you, Grandfather.” I walked back over to my boyfriend and leaned into his open arms. “You were saying?” I asked Grandfather.
He thought back to what he was saying and repeated, “If this all goes well, Donovan stands to get a significant bonus for selling the firm. That’ll start you two off very handsomely as newlyweds.”
“I’ll take him rich or poor, Grandfather – as long as he comes with a latte machine.” And that was the last chuckle for the day.
The next few days passed in a flurry of activities. I followed Jake to both Oxford and Cambridge and to their corresponding hospitals. I played his assistant in the office—cleaning, putting his books away, and answering calls. At the hospital, I just watched in amazement at the technology and procedures described by fellow doctors. Jake would make a great addition as a guest lecturer and doctor, and he in turn would bring back valuable information and experience to his home base.
Donovan continued to come home at an hour where I was in deep sleep. He would wake me up, we’d make frenzied love, then fall asleep. We didn’t have time to talk during the day, but we had the most intense sex every night to make up for our lack of communication.
“Hello?” Speak of the devil, Donovan called late, the night before our trip.
“Princess,” he crooned. “What are you doing?”
“Stripping bare so I can be ready for you when you get home at some insane hour.”
“You do have a way of getting me horny every time I get you on the phone.”
“On the phone, only?”
“The sexting does not help my cause, especially when I’m sitting in a meeting.”
“Should I send visuals, instead? Perhaps another selfie?” I giggled and clicked on the picture button so it’d make that picture-taking sound.
“No!” He begged. “Please, no pictures. Those are the worst. My pants will tent and I won’t be able to concentrate.”
“That’s making me horny thinking of your pants tenting.”
“Princess. Focus and stop talking dirty.”
“OK...what’s up?”
“I won’t make it home tonight. Will you pack for me and come pick me up an hour before we have to get to the airport?”
“Really?” I didn’t like it when I slept alone.
“I know how you feel. I don’t like being apart from you but, I need to finish this so we won’t be bothered this weekend.”
“No problem. I’ll be the good little woman and pack your stuff.”
“Thank you. I’ll see you in the morning?”
“Try and stop me!”
Friday we all got up extra early and seamlessly got ready to leave with the three kids. With so many adult-helping hands, we had no issues leaving the house. I got out a little earlier than everyone else and took a separate car to pick up Donovan.
“I’m here.” It was very tempting to go up and see Kate and her bff, and show them that Donovan and I were not breaking up, ever, but I decided to call instead.
A knock on the car window made me jump. “Hey.” Donovan hopped in and kissed me, open-mouthed in the taxi. “I’ve missed you.”
“Me, too.” I whispered. “Ready for our trip?”
“Can’t wait.” He grinned. “Everyone on their way to the plane?”
“Yeah. Your dad and mine took our suitcases and golf clubs. I was surprised you brought your clubs with you to London.”
“Why would you be surprised? I knew I’d end up golfing with you here.”
“You came better prepared than I thought you would.”
“Princess, I came prepared with all the arsenals needed to win you over.”
“Stupid me. I gave in after one kiss. I should have read up on the art of playing hard to get.”
“You get me hard all the time,” he whispered and got me cackling our way to the airport.
We arrived at the beautifully lush golf course and resort. After a “quick” meal, as quick as it could be with eleven adults and three little ones, we all changed into our golf attire ready to compete.
“Oh Donovan,” I was in a daze with the gorgeous surroundings and the happiness of being with everyone I loved. “Every place you take me to is more beautiful than the last.”
“You think this is beautiful, wait till I take you to Vienna n
ext week.”
“You have to ‘work’ out there next week?”
“Yes, I have to ‘work.’ You know how hard I work don’t you?”
“Of course I do. I was only kidding.”
“You like it here?”
“I don’t know if it’s because you are with me, but everywhere we go, it’s magical.” This dreamy mood continued.
“Shall we go kick ass in golf?” He smacked me in the ass.
“You just worry about your own ass being kicked.” I slapped him back. “Shall we play for something?”
“How about loser is the winner’s sex slave for the weekend?” he suggested with a wickedly beautiful smile.
“Is that a punishment or a reward?” I copied that same smile, but mine wasn’t as beautiful or as wicked.
He kissed me until we were both out of breath and said, “Let’s go before I pull up that orange golf dress of yours and fuck you against this wall.”
Damn! That sounded divine to me. “The hell with golf,” I wanted to say.
We were the last ones to arrive and I thought I heard a “Duchess” from the crowd.
“No fucking way,” Donovan spit out. “Is that your English duke?”
I looked carefully and tried to make sense of the blob of people milling around the pro shop.
“Duchess.”
What the hell?
“Laney Reid. You owe me a game of golf.”
The duke was here, too. Shit. Awkward!
“Hi Michael.” I went over to give him a side hug, but Michael took advantage of my proximity and he gave me an amorous-type hug and light kiss on the lips.
Donovan exploded in anger. “Keep your fucking hands and lips off my girlfriend.”
The duke cackled at his grandson’s prankish move, and I quickly admonished, “Not cool, Michael,” before walking away. He shrugged and his laissez-faire grin made me let out a small laugh while shaking my head no. “I’ve told you where I stand, Michael. Please respect my decision.”
“And I’ve told you where I stand, Duchess. I’m not living in regret the rest of my life.”
Jake could only hold back Donovan for so long. I let that statement go and calmed Donovan before fisticuffs happened at the golf course.
“Don’t, Donovan. It was just a greeting, and he didn’t mean to do that.”
“Like hell he didn’t.” Donovan was still angry.
“I sure as hell did.” Michael joined our conversation.
Jake and I blocked Donovan from moving in Michael’s direction.
“Michael.” I warned and Michael put up his hand in defeat and walked to his grandfather and another man standing next to the duke. “Donovan?” I turned my attention to this furious man. “I’ll be more careful next time I see him. Please don’t be angry. We have our families here, and your ire will only make this situation more awkward. I love you.” I declared in front of everyone and smiled. “Enough of this. Let’s go kick some ass.”
“What are we playing and how are we pairing up?” My dad who’d been watching and waiting to break-up a fight got us back in the right mood.
“What the hell are you and your grandsons doing here?” I heard Grandfather talking to the duke.
“What the hell do you think we’re doing? We’re here to play golf.” The duke was no pushover.
“Why aren’t you at your fancy club?”
“We thought we’d play with you commoners for a change.” This was getting ugly.
“Grandfather, you want to pair up with me? We’re playing the Pinehurst System.”
“I thought we were playing as a team?” Donovan grabbed my hand and pulled me back to him.
“Tomorrow?” I pleaded and promised at the same time. “I’ll pair up with Grandfather but we’ll be in a foursome with you and your partner.”
“Tomorrow,” he pledged. “Jake, you want to pair up?”
“We are teeing off soon,” the duke answered. “Why don’t you all join us? We can go in three groups of four. Miss Reid, I believe, owes me a round of golf.”
“The hell she does.” Grandfather spoke before Donovan could say anything rude. “She’s playing with me. If you want to join us, you better control your older grandson and have him stay far away from my granddaughter. Otherwise, we’re going to have problems.”
“Michael. Can you keep your hands and lips off Laney for a few hours?” The duke asked sarcastically.
“I shall try.” Michael answered with a false resignation.
I could tell Donovan wanted to protest, but he was mindful of my grandfather’s position in this family and respected his decision. It helped that my dad, his dad, and Jake were doing an intervention in the corner.
It turned out that Grandfather and I paired up with the duke and my dad. Jake and Donovan paired up with Michael and his cousin Niles. Pa and Uncle Bobby played on their own.
“Please don’t get into a scuffle with Michael.” I begged Donovan as we headed out to the first tee. While Grandfather and the duke rode in a cart, or a buggy as they called it here, the rest of us walked with a couple of caddies per foursome. “Jake,” I pleaded with my cousin, also. “Please keep Donovan and Michael apart.”
“Don’t worry, Laney.” Jake reassured me looking at both men, but I knew trouble was brewing.
From the first shot, I played terribly. The fairway was wider than an airport landing strip and I couldn’t hit onto it. Grandfather rescued us from total disaster as I got my ball into an ugly bunker when I took my second swing with Grandfather’s ball. The format of this game had both players shooting their own balls at first. Then we played each other’s ball on the second shot, and for the third shot, we picked the better-shot ball. From here on, we played alternate shots till the ball got in the hole. Luckily, Grandfather’s second shot was a good one and he saved me with his great alternate shots.
“Losing your touch, Laney Reid? Was that beginner’s luck the first time we played?” The duke was playfully harassing me.
I couldn’t concentrate on the game as I kept my eyes on Donovan’s group more so than my own.
“They’ll be all right, Laney. They’re grown men. You don’t have to worry,” Dad reassured me.
“Oh, Daddy. In my twenty-three years of life I’ve never really dated anyone – until now, where I decided to date two guys within months of each other. What have I done so wrong where I ended up on a golf course with both of them in the same foursome?” I scratched my head in frustration.
My dad put his arm around me. “You found two men who love you. Consider yourself a lucky girl. That Michael wants to fight for what he lost. I respect that, and it puts Donovan on the defensive and offensive. He knows he can’t take you for granted because he’s replaceable.”
“Daddy.” My father was taking this all in from a father’s perspective. I placed my head on my father’s shoulder while we walked to hole two.
The next couple of holes were just as dismal. I heard a shout from behind us and if it hadn’t been for my grandfather bringing my attention back to him with a poor attempt at a joke, I would have lost it. Worrying about Michael provoking Donovan had my nerves on edge. At one point, I almost broke down and cried. Before something ugly happened, I walked to the next hole by myself.
“Delaney.” I turned around at the welcome voice.
“Donovan.” I ran into his arms and started crying. “What are you doing here?”
“I saw you walking by yourself so I came after you. What’s the matter? Why are you here, alone, and why are you crying?”
“I’m so miserable right now. This whole thing with Michael shouldn’t have happened…I don’t know how we ended up playing together…and you seemed so upset with everything…I’m sorry.” I stayed in his shelter and cried some more. “You know Michael doesn’t mean anything to me. You know I love you, right?”
“I know,” Donovan’s voice softened and his body relaxed. “I love you too, and I’m so
rry I’ve made this difficult for you. I’ll try and finish this game without troubling you, OK?”
I just nodded. “Maybe we shouldn’t have come here. I can’t get my head into the game without worrying about you.”
“If you lose, you’ll be my sex slave, so I’m all for you losing.” That made me break into a smile. “Princess.” He wiped away my tears and kissed me several times. “I should have realized earlier this would stress you out. Let’s finish this game and go have a quiet evening in our room with no interruptions, all right?”
“That sounds wonderful,” I tried to dry up the tears and calm myself down. “You know I love you, right? You know that’s not why I haven’t agreed to marry you? I decided the other night when we talked that I was being silly and selfish. I thought I needed a…” I didn’t know why I needed to profess my love to him again, and I didn’t know why it hurt to give up my dream of a proposal. But the more I thought about it, it was just a formality. It was childish of me to expect something Donovan didn’t understand. “It doesn’t matter anymore what I need. We love each other and there’s no reason why we can’t get…”
Donovan cut me off with a hard kiss and wouldn’t let go until my father announced, “You’re both going to get us all kicked off this course for indecent behavior.” I was too embarrassed to look at my father when the three of us walked to meet our groups.
Apparently, all the groups had convened at our hole for a pow-wow. “We are all going to get along and finish this game like grown adults, you got it?” My grandfather addressed the two in question. “Stop being shitheads and let me and my granddaughter kick your asses fair and square.”
“Yes, Sir,” both men answered.
“I’m sorry, Duchess.”
Before Michael could finish his sentence, Donovan got angry again. “How many fucking times do I have to tell you she’s not your duchess?”
“I don’t see a fucking ring on her finger, which means she can still be my duchess.”
“Cut it out!” The duke roared. “You two can duel at dawn when we’re not around to see your moronic behaviors. Take out your anger on the golf course. Let’s sweeten this game with a bet. With all this idiotic bluster, I think we need to put a little money on this game.”
