It Started in Paradise

by Nicki Night

  Leaning forward, Jacqueline made circles along the back of Donovan’s hand with her slender finger. “You can’t possibly be single. Right?” She managed to bring the conversation back around to him. Her eyes slowly rose from his hand to meet his eyes.

  “Let’s just say, I’m currently exploring a very viable option.” Donovan wanted to say yes and tell her it was Chloe but knew that wouldn’t turn out well for anyone. He also noticed how her touch had no effect on him. It lacked the electricity that Chloe’s touch generated whenever their skin met.

  Steering the conversation back to business, Donovan asked a few more questions he thought would help them seal the contract. Jacqueline responded to each inquiry but maintained her flirtatious manner.

  “What are you doing after this, Donovan? I know a great bar not far from here.”

  “Thanks for the offer but I have to head over to the hospital to see about my father.” Donovan was grateful to have a genuine reason to decline her offer. He knew he needed to handle her delicately until their business was done.

  “Oh, yes!” Jacqueline slapped the table lightly. “How insensitive of me.” She pouted. It looked more sexy than apologetic. With her hand to her heart, she said, “Forgive me,” and arched her back, giving rise to her breasts.

  Donovan chuckled. “You’re forgiven.” Her boldness amused him.

  Jacqueline dug into her evening bag and retrieved a card. She slid it across the table to Donovan. “Please let me know how he’s doing.”

  Donovan took the card, looked it over and stuck it in his inside pocket.

  “It was a pleasure.” Donovan stood, straightening his suit jacket. He held out his hand.

  Jacqueline pushed his hand aside and embraced him. A moment ticked by before he hugged her back.

  “A delicious meal with a handsome man is always a pleasure.” Jacqueline winked and waved her fingers.

  Despite wanting to maintain his distance, Donovan was a gentleman. “I’ll walk you out.” He stayed with her until the valet brought her car.

  As stunning as Jacqueline was, the attention she poured over him had no effect. He drove to the hospital, knowing for sure that he wanted to be with Chloe.

  When he arrived at his father’s bedside in the emergency room, he was glad to see his parents as well as his brother. After receiving an update about his father’s ankle fracture, Donovan filled them in on his meeting with Jacqueline. He could see the hope in his mother’s eyes. The conversation turned back to everyday topics and suddenly, Donovan felt compelled.

  “I have something I want to tell you all.”

  Chapter 19

  “I was just about to call you,” Jewel said when she answered the phone.

  “About what?” Chloe asked, moving forward with their conversation and forfeiting a usual greeting. She entered her home, kicking the front door shut with her toe, and then shook her shoes off.

  “Jade and I were thinking about joining you and Donovan at the lounge tonight.”

  “Oh! That would have been nice but we’re not going.” Chloe placed a bag of fresh fruit and vegetables on her kitchen counter and switched the phone from one ear to the other.

  “Not going? Why?”

  “Well, Donovan had planned some sort of surprise but called about an hour ago to cancel altogether. His father injured himself playing golf today and he had to handle some business for his mother while she went to see about him. After that, I think he said he was going to the hospital.”

  “Oh, that’s too bad. I hope his dad is okay. We were really looking forward to hearing you sing. You know what? Hold on a sec.” The phone went silent.

  Chloe removed her purchases from the bag and placed them in the fridge one by one as she waited for Jewel to return to the line. With Donovan spending so much time at her house, she went through food faster and found herself shopping much more often.

  Chloe smiled at the half-empty carafe of cold coffee sitting on the first shelf. Donovan had taken to making coffee for her on the evenings he was there so she wouldn’t have to stop for ice coffee every morning. Chloe had started getting to the office a couple of minutes earlier and hadn’t been feeling so rushed.

  “Chloe? Can you hear me?” Jewel asked, bringing Chloe back to the present.

  “Yes. I can hear you.” Chloe shut the fridge, folded her reusable bags and stuffed them in their designated drawer.

  “Jade? Are you there?” Jewel asked.

  “I’m here,” Jade said.

  “Good. I’ve got everyone! Bad news, Jade.”

  Jade grunted. “What is it now?”

  “Chloe isn’t singing tonight. She’s not going into the city at all.”

  “Aw! Why?”

  “Something came up with Donovan,” Jewel jumped in, answering for Chloe.

  “So let’s go somewhere else. It’s been a long time since we’ve done the sister thing,” Jade said.

  “That’s not a bad idea,” Jewel replied. “Are you in, Chloe?”

  “For sure. Where should we go?” Chloe asked, now heading to her room to change. “I need to know what to wear.”

  “Can we start with dinner? I’m starving,” Jade said.

  “Oh! Let’s go to Josephina’s.” Jewel’s enthusiasm was evident.

  “We always go there,” Jade whined.

  “I can already taste that lobster scampi. Mmm.” Chloe moaned. “Come on, Jade, you know you love their tiramisu. It’s been a while since we’ve been there together.”

  “You got me there,” Jade said. “Fine. Then afterward, let’s go to Chris’s place,” she said, referring to the wine bar that their brother and two friends had just opened. “I hear they’re trying out a new jazz band tonight. Maybe you could sing a little something there, Chloe. I love the name they came up with for the place, The Reserve. I think it’s elegant,” she added.

  “Me, too,” Chloe said, flipping through her closet with her phone propped between her ear and shoulder.

  “What time should we meet?” Jewel asked.

  “I told you I’m hungry. How’s six thirty or seven?” Jade said.

  Chloe looked at her clock. “That gives me just enough time to take a shower and find something to wear. I’m getting off the phone. See you ladies soon.”

  “Yay! Can’t wait. I’ll give Chris a call and let him know we’re coming by later,” Jade said.

  Within the hour, Chloe was on her way to Josephina’s for an overdue girls’ night. She missed Donovan already but looked forward to an evening of dinner, laughs and music with her siblings. She even thought about taking to the microphone once they arrived at The Reserve just for the fun of it. Starting out a bit nervous, Chloe had come to love being onstage. The audience fueled her.

  When she arrived, Jade was already there. The two waited out front for Jewel, who came speeding up the driveway, causing one of the young guys who worked the valet to two-step his way to safety. She hopped out, tossed him the keys and winked. He shook his head, jumped in Jewel’s Jaguar and peeled off.

  “You almost hit that boy,” Chloe said.

  “No, I didn’t,” Jewel said as if Chloe was overreacting.

  Jade’s wide-eyed expression showed that she agreed with Chloe. Jewel waved her off.

  “Come here, silly.” Jewel opened her arm and Jade stepped into her embrace. She pulled back, holding Jade at arm’s length. “Don’t you look super cute? Turn around,” she instructed with a twirl of her finger.

  Jade sashayed in a circle showing off her couture printed leggings, flowing top and four-inch stilettos. Then she struck a runway-worthy pose with one hand on her hip. “Thanks.”

  Fresh out of graduate school, Jade was by far the trendiest and most daring dresser out of the three of them. Chloe kept her attire classic. Jewel loved chic ensemb
les with soft textures and sexy feminine lines.

  They headed into the restaurant where the entire staff was familiar with them and were seated in their favorite spot, which was close to the window so they could people-watch. From their vantage point, they could also get a good look at most of the people inside the restaurant.

  “So how are things going with Donovan?” Jade asked as the waitress set a carafe of Pinot Noir in the center of their table.

  “You sure don’t waste any time,” Chloe said, picking up the glass the waiter just poured. She nodded her approval, set the glass down and the waiter filled it halfway.

  “Well?” Jade sang.

  Chloe blushed. “I really like him.”

  Jade squealed.

  Jewel snickered. “I told you so.”

  “Whatever, Jewel.” Chloe playfully rolled her eyes. “There’s one problem.”

  Jade’s expression dropped. “What’s that?”

  Jewel looked concerned as well.

  “He’s no longer interested in keeping us a secret,” Chloe said. Both Jewel’s and Jade’s mouths dropped open.

  “What are you going to do?” Jewel asked, leaning in toward Chloe.

  “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought this far. I was having fun and the next thing you know we started spending every available moment together. He spends the night at my house several times a week. He wants more.” Chloe swallowed. “And so do I?”

  “So what’s the problem?”

  Chloe and Jewel looked at each other and then toward Jade. “Mom!” they said in unison.

  “Oh. Yeah. That.” Jade grunted. “So freaking what? You’re a grown woman. She’ll understand or not!” Jade shrugged.

  “She’d expect this from you and me,” Jewel said, pointing between Jade and herself. “But never from Chloe.”

  “Chloe.” Jade waited for Chloe to look at her. “Can you see yourself falling in love with him?”

  Chloe inhaled. “I can certainly see myself falling in love with him.”

  Jade shrieked, then quickly covered her mouth. They laughed together, momentarily becoming the center of the restaurant’s attention.

  “Wait a minute!” Jewel held her hand up. “That’s Jacqueline Bosley over there.”

  “Where?” Jade and Chloe said simultaneously. Their heads whipped in the direction Jewel pointed.

  “Over there.” Jewel narrowed her eyes to slits, peering across the room. “I swear that woman moves like liquid seduction.”

  For a moment, the three of them watched as she threw her head back, laughed and then leaned forward, making circles on the hand of the man she was sitting with.

  “Wait another minute,” Jewel said in disbelief. Each seemed to recognize the man she was with all at the same time. “That’s...”

  “Donovan...” Jade finished Jewel’s sentence with a whisper.

  Chloe’s mouth dropped at the same time as her heart. Her eyes were glued to their table, taking in Jacqueline’s blatant flirtation. She wanted to look away but couldn’t.

  Jacqueline reached over and squeezed Donovan’s arm, sweetly dipped her head toward her shoulder and released another carefree laugh. Donovan smiled and sipped wine.

  Chloe couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Here she was, contemplating for days about how to tell her mother about him, telling her sisters how she could love him and he was here with Jacqueline Bosley after lying to her about a business meeting and an injured father.

  Donovan was a liar! How had she missed that? Chloe felt her heart perforating, ready to tear in pieces. She felt more hurt than she could have expected.

  When Chloe finally turned around, both Jewel and Jade were staring at her, mouths slight ajar, eyes filled with concern. Her lips moved but words wouldn’t form. Her appetite was gone instantly. The lobster and linguine sitting on her plate no longer looked appetizing.

  “We should go,” Jade whispered.

  Chloe thought to go over to their table and make her presence known but remembered that Jacqueline was a potential client. She could never be so unprofessional.

  Then it hit her. This could have very well been a date but Chloe suddenly knew that this had to be so much more. This was a plot to win the contract. Jacqueline had been sweet on Donovan since the moment he walked into her office that day. Chloe remembered how she would overtly peer at him in the middle of the meeting.

  She decided not to say anything to Donovan at all. She’d wait and see who’d win the contract the coming week. If La Belle Riviere got it, she’d know for sure that Donovan used underhanded tactics to gain the advantage. She was almost thankful for this turn of events. It gave her a chance to see that she was about to fall for a man with marred integrity.

  “Chloe,” Jewel said quietly. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m... I’m fine.” Chloe’s tone was clipped.

  “I’ll go ask for the bill.” Jade got up and searched for their waiter.

  Words didn’t pass over the table until Jade returned. “The bill is taken care of. Let’s go.”

  Chloe stood but her knees threatened to buckle. She felt her sisters’ eyes on her. Swallowing, she lifted her chin and led the way to the door. Outside, they didn’t even bother talking about going to The Reserve. Chloe refused their offers to come to her house. Each kissed the other, solemnly climbed into their cars and left.

  Once Chloe had pulled off the restaurant’s property, she allowed the dam holding her emotions to crumble. Tears slowly rolled down her cheeks as she drove home. She was upset with Donovan but also with herself for getting so caught up in him. She felt like a fool. The fact that her sisters were there to witness his betrayal made things worse.

  By the time she reached her house, anger had replaced the hurt. Instead of going to her room, she headed to the study, turned on the computer and pulled up the files on the shared drive for Jacqueline’s foundation gala.

  Chloe caught herself fine-tuning the package to make it even more impressive, adding some of the well-received elements of her own family foundation’s annual event. As usual, Chloe was able to release some of her angst by losing herself in her work. However, once she showered and laid her head on the pillow, those feelings of hurt returned.

  Chloe was distraught. How would she feel the next time she saw Donovan face to face? What would she say to him? What would he say to her?

  Chapter 20

  Joliet hadn’t taken the news well. For the remainder of the weekend, she reminded him of all the reasons why dating Chloe would be a bad idea. “What if you actually fall in love with that girl? Who’d want El as a mother-in-law? What is it about her? Why her anyway?” Joliet asked these questions and more.

  Joliet had shivered at the thought of being forced into close proximity with El. “Family gatherings would be ruined. Think of what you’d have to put yourself through? You know she’s evil, right?” Joliet said all of this with a straight face.

  Donovan shook his head. His father shrugged. Joliet continued her protest.

  Donovan had called Chloe when he left the hospital to tell her the news but she hadn’t answered. In fact, she hadn’t answered his calls all weekend. She did, however, text him once both Saturday and Sunday to let him know that she had family gatherings to attend.

  Donovan sensed that something was wrong but couldn’t confirm anything. Hearing her voice every day was something he had become used to. After going an entire weekend without speaking with her, he felt off.

  Taking files from his desk, he headed to Joliet’s office. Dressed in a stylish, navy blue pencil dress and her signature red lips, she looked polished and ready for business.

  “Get that portfolio for me, sweetie,” she said, hanging her purse from her forearm. She picked up a box with samples of their menu, being careful to hold it straight.


  Donovan grabbed the portfolio as his mother had asked him. “You look nice,” he said.

  Joliet winked. “Thanks, darling. You have the information from Dean over at the golf course, right?”

  Donovan lifted his briefcase, tilting his head in its direction. “Right here.”

  “Then we’re all ready. Let’s go.”

  Donovan held the doors for Joliet as they made their way to his car. Preparing for their meeting with Jacqueline had his mother on edge most of the morning. His thoughts mostly swirled around Chloe. They still hadn’t spoken and he didn’t have a good feeling about it. He hoped to run into her at the presentation.

  Jacqueline hadn’t mentioned if they were all meeting together or if she would be seeing each company separately. There wasn’t much he would be able to say to Chloe at that time but at least he could see her face. Hopefully, he’d walk away with some kind of insight as to what was going on with her. Was she getting cold feet? Whatever it was, he needed to find out. Not only did her miss her voice, he also missed her touch.

  Jacqueline was saying goodbye to the owners of The Crest as Joliet and Donovan walked in. Joliet and Donovan nodded politely as they left.

  Jacqueline gestured for her assistant to take the box Joliet had been holding. She hugged Joliet, air kissing both sides of her face. Turning toward Donovan, she opened her arms wide and then wrapped them around Donovan. He hugged her back briefly. She held on a little longer and squeezed him as she pulled away.

  “I’m so excited. Can we get you anything?” Jacqueline asked.

  “I’m fine,” Joliet answered and looked at Donovan.

  “Nothing for me, thanks,” he replied.

  Jacqueline clapped. “Let’s get started.” She held her hand out toward the chairs, inviting Joliet and Donovan to sit. She joined them. “I want to thank you for making the time to meet with me Friday evening.” She smiled seductively at Donovan. When she turned to Joliet, her smile appeared more cordial. “How’s your husband, Joliet?”