by A. C. Arthur
He’d looked over to her quickly, wondering if she were talking about Adriana. But she was smiling at her daughter, moving the hand from his shoulder to brush down Briana’s ponytails.
“I am,” he said with relief. “She’s got my heart all tied up in that pretty little smile of hers.”
He nuzzled Briana again and continued walking towards the house with them, determined to stay focused and to stop thinking about Adriana. Because he was betting that by the way she’d been stealthily ignoring his calls, she wasn’t missing him worth a damn.
#
Adriana did not want to be here.
She did not want to see or talk to Parker. Just thinking about all that had happened between them two days ago had her filled with embarrassment. Not only had they slept together—the best part of that entire evening in her mind—but she’d told him something she’d never told anyone else before. Her therapist didn’t count because she was paid to listen to Adriana’s true confesssions. Parker, on the other hand, hadn’t signed up for all this.
He’d wanted to sleep with her, had actually made no secret about that in the last two weeks. The reality was she’d shared his attraction, so she’d let it happen. No, she’d wanted it to happen, especially with him. She hadn’t counted on the emotions to overtake her, the careful wall she’d spent years erecting to come tumbling down just because she’d lain in his arms, had loved the warmth of him cradled around her all night.
It wasn’t his fault. And it wasn’t hers either, she reminded herself. She hadn’t asked to be assaulted and disgraced. However, it had been her choice to carry that load on her shoulders for the past seven years, two of those in a physically and emotionally unhealthy way. She’d taken responsibility for becoming bulimic as a result of the emotional distress she’d suffered not only because of the rape, but because she’d felt compelled to keep it all inside. And the reason why she wasn’t completely healed, well that was her own doing as well. Talking to Dr. Aldana when she’d finally given in and called her Friday morning, had brought her to that conclusion. The situation would always haunt her as long as the key players in the reason why she did not press charges against that bastard, still did not know what had happened to her. But how could she tell her parents, especially her mother who had warned her vehemently for years about wanting to have a career in the spotlight that she’d been assaulted and had done nothing about it? Her father had thought she was better suited to attend college, get a business degree and join the company he’d worked so hard to build alongside Alex and Rico. After Renny had defected from the family business, choosing to be an artist and opening his own gallery, Adriana had thought her father would have been more amenable to letting his children choose their own careers, but he’d also been resistant about her choice. He would be just as disappointed as her mother. As for her brothers, they would scour the earth looking for the guy and then they’d bury him…possibly alive if they could get away with it. Shaking her head as she approached the front door she knew that could never happen, no matter how many nights she felt threatened by the thought of binging, or how many relationships she’d have to sacrifice, she just could not tell them. She would not.
“Oh, hi there!” Regan said, a huge smile spreading across her face as she opened the door before Adriana had a chance to knock. And before Adriana could reply she was already reaching out and taking her by the arm, saying, “I’m so glad you could come.”
Regan Donovan was gorgeous, simply put. She wasn’t tall and lithe like the models Adriana knew, but she was the epitome of fashion in her white silk jumpsuit and Stuart Weitzman nude stilettos. Her hair, which often changed with her outfits, was smoothed neatly back, hanging down past her shoulders in a long inky black tail. Huge gold hoops matched the thick band on her right wrist and when she smiled warmly, Adriana instantly thought of Gabriella and how happy she was whenever they’d been reunited.
“I didn’t really have anything else planned,” Adriana finally said, stumbling into the large foyer of the beautiful house that belonged to Reginald and Carolyn Donovan.
The red tiled roof and stucco walls were gorgeous accents to the stately looking home. Emerald green grass sprawled along the acreage, professionally manicured and maintained, with tall draping palm trees strategically placed to look as if they blanketed the entire house. There’d been a number of cars in the driveway and she’d parked at the end, weaving through the expensive vehicles occupying her thoughts by wondering which one belonged to whom. The front doors were double and glass, decorated with an ornate gold script design that prevented persons from seeing straight through to the house. Adriana had been immediately awed by the estate.
Now that she was inside, she was just about speechless. Marble floors, a winding wrought iron staircase in the center of the foyer effectively splitting the front of the house from the back and to her left a large formal living room decorated in warm sage green, coral and browns. Family pictures adorned most of the wall space.
“That’s silly of you to sit in your apartment alone when we’re all here. And there’s mountains of food. I know I’m gaining at least five pounds before I leave,” Regan was steadily talking and walking, Adriana tagging behind her like a school girl in tow.
They passed a dining room that looked as if it might actually belong in the White House or somewhere equally as impressive, and the library with floor to ceiling books and two large couches in chocolate brown that looked soft and welcoming. Of course, Adriana had seen large houses before, her parents’ estate back in Greenwich for instance, was no slacker. But that was her home and it in no way compared to this elegant, yet welcoming palace, she thought for lack of a better word.
“Everyone is going to be so excited to see you,” Regan was saying as they entered another large room decorated in pastels.
Two couches were filled with pillows, a set of recliners in a soft brown color, and an area rug with definite Spanish tones made this space seem like the heart of the house. There was also a television in here, which Adriana hadn’t seen in any of the other rooms so far. Large potted plants, a coffee table with stacks of magazines, Infinity no doubt and more family pictures. Carolyn Donovan loved her family and she wanted anyone who entered her home to know it.
“Not everyone,” Adriana murmured as she glimpsed a picture of him. He’d been wearing a black suit, leaning against a white car, with that smile that never failed to make her heart skip a beat. She sighed, dreading the moment when Parker would look up today and see her here, with his family, of all places.
This was the reason she’d debated accepting Regan’s invitation. She hadn’t wanted to face him, didn’t know how he would react to the two days she’d ignored him, or what she’d told him. But he and his family were responsible for where she was in her life now. She owed it to them to be polite. Just as she owed it to her family not to make them look bad. So after spending those two days reading that script twice, envisioning herself as Zoe, and drawing from how strong and resilient the character was written, Adriana made the decision to attend today’s event. She wasn’t certain of how Parker would react, but whatever happened, she knew she would survive. That’s just what she did because she had no other choice.
The moment they stepped through the sliding glass doors, out into the sunlight and the gorgeous travertine tiled back yard with its massive pool, gas grill alcove complete with two large grills, and tables and chairs full of people, she knew that her survivor stance might not be enough. Because he was the first one to turn and look at her. As if their souls knew when they were in close proximity of each other and had no other choice but to react. That was dramatic and way too deep and quite possibly too close to the truth for Adriana to think along those lines any longer. Yet, it was impossible to ignore that tugging in her stomach at seeing him standing in the midst of his brother and his cousins, holding a bottle of beer, the sun casting an alluring glaze to his chocolate toned skin.
“Hey everybody, look who decided to join us,” Regan an
nounced and then all eyes were on her.
Because Parker’s just wasn’t enough.
“Hi Regan, I’m Lyra, Dion’s wife,” the petite woman, with the chic pixie haircut and lovely high cheekbones said, coming to stand beside Adriana and shaking her hand.
“Hello,” Adriana replied after taking a deep breath. Smile in place, back straight, mind set to socialize whether she wanted to or not.
“And I’m Tate,” said the second woman, a few inches taller than the first, with kind and patient eyes. This one had a little girl standing beside her and on impulse, after speaking to Tate, Adriana squatted so that she could speak to the little one.
“Hi there, cutie. I’m Adriana. What’s your name?”
She wore a yellow romper and cute little white sandals. Her hair was styled in four long ponytails held tight with white bows that matched the earrings at her ears.
“I’m Briana,” she replied, her voice clear and light, her smile quick and infectious.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Briana,” Adriana said, this time smiling genuinely at this precious little one.
Suddenly she felt extremely homesick, wondering how Bree and the triplets were doing and how much of their growing up she was missing already.
“Well, we’re certainly honored to have you here, young lady,” a man she recognized from his picture on the back pages of Infinity spoke next when Briana had stood to the side with her mother.
A blast of nerves sifted through her as she stared into the dark eyes of Bruce Donovan. He was tall like his sons, Dion and Sean, and still possessed a good, toned build, the khaki slacks and white shirt he wore highlighting his butter tone complexion and wavy raven black hair. She’d stood to greet him, extending her hand first this time. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”
He took her hand, but pulled her in close for a hug. “Nonsense, you call me Bruce,” he told her after clasping her tightly. He was smiling when they broke apart. “Janean come and meet the beautiful star of the No. 1 rated show in America.”
Another woman came forth, shorter than Bruce, her dark brown hair pulled back into a bun, round face pretty with the faintest hint of make-up. She looked much younger than Adriana suspected she was as the mother of two grown men.
“Yes, you’re just as pretty as all your pictures. I’m so glad we finally get to meet you in person,” Janean Donovan said after hugging Adriana as boisterously as her husband had done. “I’ve heard so much about you and Carolyn and I were just talking about reaching out to your mother. Tate had the fabulous idea of spotlighting strong African American women that have not only raised families, but helped build the successful businesses their husbands run. Beatriz is a perfect example of what we’d like our young adults to see and aspire to.”
“That’s a great idea,” Adriana said earnestly. “I’m sure she’d be very interested. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
The offer surprised her in the first seconds, but then, when Janean patted her hand and smiled back at her, she’d felt it was not only the right thing to say, but something she would like to assist with, if she could.
Dion and Sean were both tall and physically fit, handsome as any model or actor she’d seen to date and as smooth as every other Donovan man she’d ever met. Only coupled with their casual charm was something else. They laughed and joked, Sean now held his daughter on his lap touching her hair, answering her questions, nuzzling her neck to make her giggle. Dion kissed his wife, he smiled at her, held her hand even when she’d gone to stand beside him after he’d spoken to Adriana. And then there was Savian. She’d met him a couple of weeks after they’d begun shooting the first episode. He was a shade or so lighter than Parker in complexion, his eyes more green than gray, his demeanor more serious than playful. He was loyal, she could tell by the way he watched everyone in this yard, each member of his family.
“It appears we’re the last to meet you.”
Adriana jumped at the voice behind her, turning quickly and realizing with a start that she was now staring at Parker’s parents, Reginald and Carolyn.
“Hello,” she said, rubbing her palms down the pleated culottes she wore. Remembering they were white she yanked her hands quickly away, only to have one immediately scooped up by Reginald.
“Heard a lot about you and I’ve watched you on the show. Pretty as a picture even at a cook-out,” he said before leaning in and kissing her on the cheek. “Glad you could join us today.”
He and Regan had the same golden honey complexion, the same laughing eyes. He was a bit slimmer built than his brother, Bruce, but still carried that heir of strength and sophistication.
“Everybody states the obvious,” Carolyn said touching her hands to Adriana’s shoulders and turning her to towards her. She looked at her with cool assessing eyes.
“You’re very pretty, but we already knew that. There’s something more here, something nobody ever mentions.”
Oh goodness, Adriana wanted a big hole to open in the earth and swallow her up instantly. This woman was looking right through her, seeing perhaps what she’d even wanted to hide from herself. She couldn’t help it, she took a retreating step back.
“I like it,” Carolyn said holding on to Adriana before she could completely pull away. She’d smiled then, a warm spread across her face. Her hair was curly, resting against her shoulders. She looked a lot like Parker when he smiled, Adriana thought with another start.
“A woman should have layers, makes it all the more interesting for a man to get to know her. Isn’t that right, Parker?” Carolyn asked with a lift of an expertly arched brow, her gaze still on Adriana.
And then she felt it, that tell-tale flutter in her stomach. Today it felt like butterflies gone wild and she resisted the urge to touch her hand there in the hopes of quieting them down.
“Interesting and definitely worthwhile,” he said coming to stand right beside her.
Too close, she thought as she sucked in a deep breath.
“Lovely,” Carolyn said. “The two of you standing side by side. It’s no wonder you’re working well together. Now, Parker take her over there and get her something to eat. She’s all skin and bones, probably because she’s living alone. I’m sure if your mother was here she’d worry about that too. So I’ll just fill in for now. There’s salads on ice at the counter, burgers, ribs, steak, pulled pork, all over by the grill. Fix her a plate, Parker, a good plate.”
Then she was gone and Adriana felt as if she’d been taken for a fast and very confusing ride.
“And that’s Carolyn Donovan, my mother and the first love of my life,” Parker said stepping in front of her, giving her that damned smile of his once again.
“She’s…amazing,” Adriana told him. “They all are.”
He looked amazing, she thought, dressed in his light linen, looking as if he were heading out to party on a yacht instead of settling in for an afternoon of backyard family fun. And still, the way he stood with his hands in his pockets, his legs spread slightly apart said casual, relaxed, totally in his element.
“They’re my family,” he replied. “You only get one so you gotta love ‘em.”
“Yeah,” she said wistfully. “I guess you’re right.”
After a few awkwardly silent seconds, Parker reached for her hand. Adriana didn’t pull away, but let him lace his fingers through hers.
“I’d better get you that plate of food before she comes this way again or neither of us will hear the end of it,” he said and began walking her towards the grills.
She nodded and followed him. “I believe you.”
#
Twenty minutes and a heaping plate of food later, Adriana had finally managed to get away from the Donovans long enough to come into the cheerfully decorated yellow and white kitchen. She’d used the excuse of taking her trash inside and was grateful for the work related conversation that Parker, his cousins and Jaydon who had arrived just a few minutes ago, were embroiled in because they barel
y paused to stop her.
She hadn’t been able to eat all of the food, but she’d given it a good try. Favoring Carolyn’s homemade potato salad, she’d eaten all of that and emptied the tall glass of half lemonade and half iced tea that Parker had also fixed for her. After she’d stopped by the trash can Adriana had leaned against the large marble-topped counter. She inhaled deeply, enjoying the smell of grilled food that sifted in from the patio, the sounds of people laughing and talking. This quiet moment was good too. Better, she thought turning around and letting her elbows rest on the island. Dropping her head she tried to get a grip on the emotions swirling around inside of her. It was homesickness she was certain. While she’d finally talked to Gabriella on the phone Friday night and her parents on Saturday morning, she missed being near them, being able to reach out and hug them anytime she wanted to. The way she’d seen Janean hugging Lyra and Carolyn rubbing her hand down Regan’s hair. She missed the joking and teasing of her brothers, which was shocking enough to have a quick chuckle bubbling up.
“You came all the way in here to laugh,” Parker said. “I was counting on you to strengthen my stance on the dating game idea but you left me hanging. Again. We’re gonna have to work on this teamwork thing.”
She hadn’t heard him come in and yet she hadn’t startled at his arrival either. She’d remained still as he came to stand beside her, his back leaning against the island, so all she had to do was turn to the side to see him. If she just inhaled she picked up his sexy and alluring scent. And if she closed her eyes she would see him naked and on top of her, just as she had for the last two days.
“I needed space, Parker,” she told him, staring down at her clasped fingers. “Friday, not today. I told you something I’d never told anyone else and that was huge for me. I needed time to adjust to whatever was going to happen next. And I didn’t know what that was, how you were going to look at me afterwards or if we could still work together. I just didn’t know and I needed to think about all that.”
