From their first kiss...

The gorgeous music mogul who saves ER nurse Simona Andrews from a hallway collision belongs firmly in her “do not date” category. He’s in the media spotlight—just like her ex, an actor who trashed her publicly after their split. Since she became guardian to her baby niece, Simona has even more reason to avoid high-profile affairs. Yet still her body is on fire from Donovan’s lightest touch.

Record label VP Donovan Wright tells himself it’s exhaustion, adrenaline...but nothing has ever matched the feeling of having Simona in his arms. Sexy and compassionate by turns, she immediately pulls him in, even as his own trust issues surface. Before she walks away for good, he has just one more chance to prove that his promise to love and care for her will never be broken...

“I’m not stalking you, if that’s what you’re thinking,” he said, coming toward her with that charming smile.

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, that’s a good thing because—” He cut her off before she could finish her sentence and her thought.

“I just wanted to make sure you got home safely, and...”

“And what?” she asked as he trailed off.

He moved closer and wrapped his arms around her waist. “And I wanted to kiss you good-night.”

Simona’s pulse spiked. Without waiting for a response, he bent and covered her lips with his. The moment their mouths met, heat flared out in every part of her body. He tangled his tongue with hers unhurriedly, as if he had all night. Her body trembled, and she moaned softly. At length, he lifted his head.

He pressed his lips to hers once more and then whispered, “Good night, Simona.” Releasing her, he turned and sauntered back down the driveway.

Simona slumped against her car, heart pounding and legs shaking. She closed her eyes and tried to steady her breathing. When she opened them, he was leaning against his car. “Donovan?”

“I’m just waiting for you to go inside.”

Such a gentleman. This man was breaking down her resolve.

Dear Reader,

You met Donovan Wright in my first novel, Just to Be with You. He had a plethora of advice on love for his best friend. Now that it’s his turn, he’s finding that the answers aren’t so black-and-white and the hurt he’s buried is not so easy to dismiss. Simona Andrews is just the woman he needs to help him move past the pain. He’ll provide the unconditional love Simona has always craved. In return, she can give Donovan the one thing he wants—a family—even if he doesn’t know it yet. Throw in a sweet baby girl, and poor Donovan doesn’t stand a chance!

It was an absolute joy to watch Donovan fall in love. I hope you enjoy the ride, and catching up on the lives of his friends, as much as I did.

Coming up, I’m excited to bring you a new family series—the Grays. Stay tuned for details.

I love hearing from readers. Please feel free to contact me anytime.

Much love,

Sheryl

Website: SherylLister.com

Email: sheryllister@gmail.com

Facebook: Author Sheryl Lister

It’s Only You

Sheryl Lister

www.millsandboon.co.uk

SHERYL LISTER has enjoyed reading and writing for as long as she can remember. When she’s not reading, writing or playing chauffeur, Sheryl can be found on a date with her husband or in the kitchen creating appetizers and bite-size desserts. She holds a BS in occupational therapy and post-professional MS in occupational therapy from San Jose State University. She resides in California and is a wife, mother of three and pediatric occupational therapist.

To my amazing husband, Lance, for your unconditional love and your unwavering support. It’s only you who sets my soul on fire.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My Heavenly Father, I am nothing without You.

Thank you to my children, family and friends for your continued support. I appreciate and love you!

A special thank-you to LaShaunda Hoffman for your expertise and encouragement. You’ve helped me more than you know.

Thank you to my editor, Rachel Burkot, and the Harlequin Kimani team for your editorial guidance and support.

A very special thank-you to my agent, Sarah E. Younger. I appreciate you more than words can say.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Epilogue

Copyright

Chapter 1

“Simona, Dr. Harris has been looking for you.”

Simona Andrews barely held back an eye roll. She had been on her feet for ten hours in the hospital’s emergency room and was too tired to deal with Dr. Harris’s antics tonight. “Why? There are several other nurses on duty.”

“True, but you’re the only one on tonight with pediatric experience,” the other nurse answered.

“Where is he?”

“Exam room four.”

“Thanks,” Simona called over her shoulder, increasing her pace. She hoped the good doctor really had a patient this time. Then she heard the crying—well, screaming, actually—from two doors away.

“Thank God,” Dr. Harris muttered when he looked up and saw her enter. “Ms. Andrews, Thomas here is a victim of little brother syndrome.”

He placed a subtle hand on her back, and she immediately moved out of his reach. “Hi, Thomas.”

The doctor quickly explained that the child’s mother had brought the two-year-old into the hospital’s emergency room when he wouldn’t stop crying and couldn’t move his right arm. Further questioning revealed that the woman’s teenage son had been swinging Thomas around in circles by his wrists, resulting in Thomas’s right shoulder dislocating.

Simona moved closer to the table where Thomas sat crying, shaking his head and clinging to his mother. She knew the doctor could easily maneuver the joint back into place, but not without some pain to the child. She produced a small stuffed tiger from her pocket and extended it to him. He stared at it for a lengthy moment, then reached out to touch it. Gradually, his tears stopped.

“Does your arm hurt?” she asked softly.

He nodded, and his lip began quivering again.

She pointed to the tiger. “That’s why I brought you my special friend. I think his name is the same as yours—Thomas the Tiger—and he helps little boys be brave when they get hurt. Would you like to hold him?”

He looked down at the tiger and back up at her, as if trying to decide whether Simona was telling the truth. Finally he nodded again and took it from her outstretched hand.

Simona smiled. “Now, Dr. Harris is going to fix your arm, but it might hurt a little, so Thomas the Tiger is going to stay right in your arms to help you be brave. Is that okay?”

He glanced at the doctor, back to Simona and then laid his head against his mother.

She caught the doctor’s eye, and he maneuvered closer to the little boy’s injured shoulder. While she told Thomas stories of the tiger’s adventures with other little children, Dr. Harris worked quickly. Thomas winced and let out a small whimper, but by then the doctor had finished and stepped back.

“Wow, Thomas. You did a great job,” Simona praised. “You didn’t even cry.”

He gave her a shy smile.

“You’re such a big boy,” his mother said, kissing his forehead. “Thank you, doctor.”

“No problem, Mrs. Peters.” He gave her some precautions and patted Thomas on the knee.

“And thank you, Ms. Andrews. I don’t think my baby would’ve let the doctor touch him if you hadn’t been here. You even calmed me down,” Mrs. Peters added with a chuckle.

Simona smiled and gently stroked Thomas’s back. “You’re welcome. Take care, Thomas, and no more human airplanes.” He reached for Simona, catching her off guard, and she hugged the toddler.

His mother stared. “I can’t believe it. He never goes to strangers. You must be a baby whisperer, Ms. Andrews.”

“I’ve said the same thing,” Dr. Harris murmured.

Ignoring the doctor, she laughed. “I don’t know about that, Mrs. Peters, but I love children.”

“Do you have any children of your own?”

“No. But I’m a proud aunt.”

“Well, you’re going to make a terrific mother someday.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” the doctor chimed in with a gleam in his eyes that went well beyond professional.

She sent a warning look his way, then turned back. “Thank you, Mrs. Peters. Let me show you to the discharge area.”

Dr. Harris chuckled. “Have a good evening, Mrs. Peters, and take care, Thomas.”

Glaring at him over her shoulder, Simona ushered Mrs. Peters out before she could ask any more personal questions.

“Is my son going to be okay?” the woman asked nervously as they walked out.

She smiled reassuringly. “Your son will be fine, Mrs. Peters, but please make sure you tell your other children not to swing Thomas by his arms. As the doctor said, at this age his joints have not completely developed, and it’s easy for them to slip out.”

“Thank you, I will. Believe me, if I see one of them so much as tug on Thomas’s arm, they’re going to be the ones in the emergency room.” She shook her head. “I’ve told them over and over to quit swinging him around. Wait until I get home,” she fussed. She cradled Thomas against her shoulder and stroked his back lovingly while avoiding his injured side.

After leaving the woman with the discharge clerk, Simona headed back to the nurses’ station, still seething. Doctor Lionel Harris had been coming on to her since she had started working at the hospital, taking every opportunity to make suggestive comments. He had even gone so far as to lure her into an empty treatment room under the guise of needing assistance with a patient.

At thirty-six, he had been featured on the covers of several magazines and was a sought-after lecturer for his knowledge of emergency medicine. Combined with his charm and good looks, he’d be the perfect guy for some woman—just not her. But for some reason, he couldn’t take no for an answer.

Simona had relocated to Los Angeles from Oakland a year ago to escape the drama that had become her life, and she had no desire to hook up with someone as famous as Dr. Harris and have her relationship play out for all to see. And that would be exactly what would happen if she—a nurse—started dating one of the most attractive doctors on staff. Had it not been for her grandmother, she might have moved clear across the country after breaking up with her ex. LA was close enough to Nana, but big enough to get lost in. Now she only wanted to do her job and go home—no drama and no men.

“Hey, Simona. What are you doing here? I thought you were off at seven.”

“Hey, Phyllis. I was supposed to be, but Annette called in sick and Dr. Cortez asked if I’d cover the first four hours. Betty is covering the rest of the shift. Then I’m off until Tuesday morning.”

Phyllis nodded. “Lucky you. One hour to go. Right before all the heavy weekend drama starts.”

The weekends were always busy in the emergency room—more parties and drinking often translated to more fights and accidents. Simona was glad to be off.

Another nurse rushed over to them and clutched Simona’s arm. “Oh, my God!” she whispered excitedly. “You’re never going to guess who’s here in the hospital.”

“Who?” Phyllis asked.

“Monte. I think his wife is having a baby. He is sooo fine, and his music...” She sighed dreamily.

Simona stared at the young nurse, whose name she couldn’t remember, and shook her head. She’d heard of the popular R & B singer and producer, and owned a few of his CDs, but had no idea he had a wife or that she was expecting a baby.

“We should go up and see if we can get his autograph. I have all his CDs.”

Simona glanced down at the woman’s badge. “No, we shouldn’t, Alyssa,” she said firmly. “What we should do is allow the man to have some privacy. This is a hospital, not a concert venue. How about displaying a little professionalism?” People not respecting other’s privacy topped the list of Simona’s pet peeves.

Alyssa had the decency to look embarrassed...for about five seconds. “It’s just a little autograph. Geez, lighten up.”

Simona was poised to give Alyssa a blistering retort, but the sound of sirens interrupted whatever she had planned to say. She and Phyllis shared a look and rushed off with Alyssa trailing them.

* * *

Donovan Wright pushed through the hospital doors and went to the front desk. “Can you tell me what floor maternity is on?”

“Fourth,” the older woman behind the desk answered with a smile. “Is this your first?”

His heart clenched. “It’s not mine. I’m here for a friend.”

“Oh. I just thought...well, a handsome guy like you should have no problem finding a wife.”

He smiled, thanked her, then sauntered off toward the elevators, his loafers echoing loudly on the highly polished floors.

As he waited for the elevator, he pondered the woman’s statement. No problem finding a wife? Yeah. Right. Donovan stepped in when the doors opened, pushed the button for the fourth floor and leaned his head back against the wall.

Closing his eyes, he exhaled deeply. He was exhausted. With Terrence out of the office for the past week, Donovan had been working sixteen-hour days at the record company just to keep up. As the executive vice president of RC Productions he oversaw most of the departments and had managed the music career of Terrence—who used the stage name Monte—for the past decade, along with one other group at the record label.

He’d been up to his eyeballs scheduling tour dates, negotiating fees, going over contracts and meeting with various entities. If not for his two assistants, he would more than likely still be sitting at his desk despite the fact that it was nine thirty.

Two years ago, both he and Terrence had worked long hours at the record company Terrence started. With Terrence taking on the role of CEO and producer and working on his own music, they’d had no choice. But since Terrence and Janae married, his friend made a point of not staying late as often as he used to. Now, with the new baby, Donovan wondered if Terrence would be working even less and if they would need to hire another executive just to keep up.

The elevator doors opened on the fourth floor, and he followed the signs to the nurses’ station. Before he could ask, Donovan spotted Terrence and met him halfway. He brought Terrence in for a one-armed hug.

“What’s up, man? The baby here yet?”

“Hey, D. Not yet,” Terrence answered.

“You look exhausted. How’s Janae holding up?”

“It’s been over eight hours, and I know she’s in a lot of pain, but she refuses to take anything. She wants to do this naturally.” He scrubbed a hand over his head. “I feel so helpless.”

Donovan clapped him on the shoulder. “Well, hopefully it won’t be much longer. What are the doctors saying?”

“They just checked her and said she’s eight centimeters dilated, so I’m praying it won’t be much longer. I was on my way to the waiting room to tell my grandparents before I go back in.”

“They’re here?” Donovan asked, following Terrence.

“You know they’ll be here all night, if necessary. They’re more excited than we are.”

Donovan laughed. “I can imagine.”

Terrence’s grandparents had been his only family until he married Janae. Both were in their seventies, but rose swiftly when the two men entered.

“Is my great-grandbaby here yet?” Terrence’s grandmother asked.

“Not yet, Grandma.” He told her the same thing he’d told Donovan.

“Hi, Donovan. I didn’t expect to see you here tonight. Terrence told me about all the late hours you’ve been working.”

“Hey, Grandma. You know I had to be here for the birth of my first godchild.” Donovan leaned down to kiss her cheek. He extended his hand to Terrence’s grandfather. “How’s it going, Mr. Campbell?”

“Can’t complain.”

“I need to get back,” Terrence said.

“I’ll wait here with your grandparents, T. Give Janae my best.”

“I will,” he called over his shoulder, hurrying off.

Donovan sprawled out on a loveseat, dangling his legs over the armrest. He spent a few minutes catching up with the grandparents, then asked, “How long have you two been here?”

“About four hours,” Mr. Campbell answered.

“Let’s hope it won’t be much longer,” Grandma said. “I’m so glad Terrence found someone to share his life with. You know, Donovan, if my stubborn, commitment-phobic grandson can find a wife, I’m certain you can, too,” she added casually.

Uh-oh. “I’ve been too busy to even think about a relationship.”

“Well, no time like the present to slow down and smell a few roses. Don’t you think? What happened to the young lady you were seeing a while back? She came with you to one or two of the barbecues. The two of you seemed quite serious, and I thought for sure there’d be wedding bells in your future.”

Donovan leaned back, closed his eyes and frowned at the mention of his ex-girlfriend. Rolanda Evans had committed what he considered an unpardonable sin—she’d betrayed his trust in so many ways. In his mind, no trust equaled no relationship. “We broke up a long time ago.”

“Hmm, so you haven’t found someone else?”

“No, ma’am.” And he hadn’t been looking. He sincerely prayed this birth wouldn’t take long. Miss Ellie was worse than his mother. Since his mother lived far from LA, he could dodge her easily. Not so much with Terrence’s grandmother. However, now that his small circle of friends had all married, lately he was starting to feel like a fifth wheel.

“Ellie, quit badgering the boy,” Mr. Campbell said with a chuckle.

She shrugged. “He calls me Grandma, and that gives me privileges.”

Had he known Eleanor Campbell’s sweet offer to call her Grandma came with privileges, he would have refused it in a heartbeat and run in the opposite direction. Maybe it wasn’t too late to go back to Mrs. Campbell or Miss Ellie.

“One of the ladies in my yoga class mentioned that her great-niece had just moved to the city. I saw a picture, and she’s absolutely gorgeous. I think she’s around thirty—”

Donovan sat up abruptly, swung his legs around and jumped up. “Um, Miss Ellie...”

She laughed. “So, we’re back to Miss Ellie, huh? All right. I’ll leave you alone for now.” Miss Ellie pointed a finger his way. “But you need a wife.”

Before he could form a response, Terrence burst through the door.

“We have a baby girl,” Terrence announced with tears in his eyes. “A beautiful five-pound three-ounce baby girl.”

“Oh, my,” Miss Ellie cried.

“Congratulations, son.” Mr. Campbell engulfed Terrence in a bear hug.

“Congratulations, T,” Donovan added. “How are mom and baby?”

“Janae is understandably exhausted, but she’s good. They’re checking the baby now. Since she’s almost a month early, they want to be sure nothing is wrong. But my girl has a set of lungs already. I think she’s gonna sing with her daddy,” Terrence said proudly. “Let me get back. I’ll come get you guys in a little while.”

Forty-five minutes later, Terrence escorted the trio to Janae’s room. Donovan hung back to allow Terrence’s grandparents some time with their new great-granddaughter.

“Donovan, come meet your goddaughter,” Janae said.

He approached the bed, leaned down and placed a kiss on Janae’s cheek. “Congratulations, Mama. She’s a beauty. Thank goodness she takes after you and not Terrence,” he joked.

They all laughed, and Terrence said, “Don’t mess around and get your godfather card revoked in the first hour.”

Janae handed him the baby. “Say hello to Nadia Elise Campbell.”

Donovan gently cradled the tiny bundle against his chest. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

“Hey, Nadia. I’m your Uncle Donovan. You and I are going to have so much fun together.” He dug his cell out of his pocket and handed it to Terrence. “Get a shot of me with my little goddaughter. Oh, and take a couple extras. You know Mrs. Lewis will have my head if I show up Monday morning without pictures.” Mrs. Lewis was Terrence’s secretary, and the older woman loved Terrence like a son.

“No lie.” Terrence laughed, snapped a few pictures and handed the phone back.

Donovan pocketed the phone and adjusted the baby in his arms. She opened her eyes, stretched and then closed her eyes again. Emotions unlike anything he had ever felt engulfed him, and he couldn’t stop staring at the petite baby with a head full of dark curls framing her small face.

“You okay, D?” Terrence asked.

Donovan blinked back the tears clouding his vision, lifted his head and met Terrence’s scrutinizing gaze. “Yeah, man.” He transferred Nadia to her father.

“We’ve known each other a long time, and I know something’s up. This isn’t the first time I’ve noticed it,” he whispered.

Donovan ignored the comment. “Does Karen know Nadia came a little early?”

Terrence raised a brow, but didn’t press. “No. She and Damian are finally taking their honeymoon cruise.” Karen was Janae’s best friend. She’d gotten married several months earlier, but due to her job as an elementary school principal they’d postponed the honeymoon until after the school year ended.

Donovan took a quick peek at his watch. “It’s after eleven o’clock. I need to get out of here. I have an early morning telephone conference.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Fine. You just concentrate on your family. We’ll take care of the office.”

“I know. Thanks, man. I’ll call you.”

Donovan said his goodbyes, trekked back to the elevator and rode the four floors down. He rounded the corner and crossed the lobby, noting that the front desk was now empty. As he reached the entrance, he saw a sign indicating he would have to exit through Emergency. Changing directions, he shoved his hands in his pockets and started toward the other exit.

His mind went back to his goddaughter. He hadn’t expected the riot of emotions that swirled in his gut when he held Nadia. As hard as he tried to keep the distant memories from surfacing, they came anyway. He inhaled deeply and forced them down. Out of the corner of his eye, movement caught his attention, interrupting his thoughts. Then he heard a woman’s startled cry. Donovan took off at a dead run.

He caught the falling woman around the waist with one arm and helped the other person steady the tumbling coffee cart with his free hand. He registered the searing pain as his arm snagged the edge of the cart, and hot coffee spilled over his forearm.

“Oh, my goodness! I’m so sorry.” The young woman pushing the cart snatched up the remaining carafes, trying to keep them from falling to the floor with the other two.

Donovan jerked his arm back and grimaced. “It’s okay.”

She rushed off and pushed through the door into what he assumed was the ladies’ room.

He turned to the woman in his embrace. “Are you all right?”

She nodded, but her trembling body told a different story. He instinctively pulled her closer. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.” She released a deep sigh and moved closer, burying her head in his chest. The way she clung to him stirred something deep inside him. I was just keeping her from being knocked down, he quickly told himself.

“I guess I wasn’t watching where I was going,” she finally said.

Adrenaline still pumped through his veins, his heart hadn’t returned to a normal pace and the pain in his arm was increasing. Yet none of it erased the strange feelings evoked by holding this woman in his arms.

Pushing them aside, he rationalized that they were probably due to the excitement of the evening—the birth of his first godchild—and pure exhaustion.

Nothing more.

Chapter 2

Simona tried to steady her emotions. She had been so deep in thought that she hadn’t even heard the cart approaching. The collision had nearly given her a heart attack. Slowly she wrapped her arms around the man’s waist. “Thank...thank you.”

He tightened his arms around her and caressed her back. “Anytime. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Her heart continued to race from being scared out of her wits and, even more alarming, from the overwhelming sense of security she gained from being in her rescuer’s arms.

She heard footsteps behind them and glanced around his shoulder to see the volunteer returning with a wad of paper towels and one of the hospital’s security officers close behind.

“Ms. Andrews, are you okay?” the security guard asked, narrowing his gaze at the man holding Simona.

She lifted her head and stepped out of the man’s embrace, rubbing her hip where the cart had hit her. “Yes. Thanks to him.” She glanced up to find her rescuer watching her intently, concern etched in his features. She immediately moved her hand away from her hip.

“What happened?”

Tearing her gaze away from his intense stare, she turned toward the guard. “Um...just a little accident. I wasn’t paying attention and didn’t see the cart.” Simona glanced down at the hospital volunteer trying to mop up the mess. “Maybe you should call maintenance to clean that up.”

“Yeah, probably,” the woman mumbled, clearly embarrassed.

The guard asked, “Are you hurt?”

Simona shook her head. “I’m okay.”

“Are you sure? There’s blood on your top.”

She looked down at her top, held it out and frowned. “I don’t know how...” She shifted her gaze to the man standing next to her. “Oh, my goodness! You’re bleeding.”

He tried to wave her off, but she moved in front of him, lifted his arm and examined the wound below his rolled-up shirtsleeve, which was stained with coffee. “I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. You’ve got a nasty cut and a burn. I need to get you inside to emergency.”

“Really. It’s just a little cut,” he protested, withdrawing his arm. “Nothing that requires a three-hour wait in emergency.”

Simona reached for his uninjured arm and pulled him in the direction of the emergency room, leaving the guard to deal with the cleanup.

As soon as they got to the entrance, his steps slowed. “You’re wearing scrubs. Are you a doctor?”

“No. An emergency room nurse.” She led him past a half-full waiting room to the back.

“Simona, what are you still doing here? I thought you were off,” a nurse said as they entered a treatment room.

“I am. Is there a doctor available? I think he’s going to need stitches.” Simona usually assisted the doctor with the minor procedure, but with the way her hands were shaking she’d probably do more harm than good.

“I’ll go find somebody.” The woman hurried off.

“Have a seat, and let’s see if I can get this bleeding to stop. Then I’ll clean it up and put something on this burn.”

He sat on the examination table. “I still don’t think you need to go through all this trouble.” He caught her hand as she took a step. “I’m more concerned about you. Are you sure you’re okay? Maybe we should have the doctor check you out. After all, you did almost lose your life to a coffee cart, and I noticed you rubbing your hip.”

She gasped softly. His gentle touch and soothing, deep voice sent a wave of heat through her body. Simona lifted her head and couldn’t stop staring at him. In the hall, she had been too distracted to focus on his features, but he was easily the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on. His clean-shaven walnut-colored face, close-cropped hair and light brown eyes nearly took her breath away, tempting her to reach up and run her hands across the smooth, defined planes. She shook off the dangerous thought, reminding herself to behave like a professional. “Really, I’m fine, Mister...um...I’m sorry, what’s your name?”

He held her eyes intently. “Donovan. Donovan Wright. And you?”

“Simona Andrews.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Simona.”

Her name flowed from his lips like a gentle caress, and her pulse skipped when his mouth inched up in a sexy smile, revealing a dimple in his left cheek. Focus, Simona! “I’m so sorry you got hurt, and...and look at your shirt. It’s ruined. I’ll replace it.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

He lifted his arm at the same time as she reached for his sleeve and their hands touched again, inflaming her senses once more. She withdrew quickly, turned and grabbed a pair of gloves from the box on the wall. The gloves might protect her from any potential diseases, but not from the awareness flowing between her and this man.

She inspected the burn. There was redness and swelling. Simona noticed the bleeding had slowed from the cut, but handed him some gauze to apply pressure to the wound and put an ice pack on the burn. She pulled the computer stand over to take a medical history. He was thirty-five years old, six feet two inches tall, and weighed one eighty-five. Recalling his agility and strength when he kept her from falling, and how his hard body felt pressed against hers, she could add that he was in excellent shape.

The doctor arrived shortly after, donned a pair of gloves and introduced himself as Dr. Cortez. “Mr. Wright, can you please remove your arm from the sleeve?” He examined the cut and determined that Donovan’s wound required stitches. Then he checked the burn. “I don’t think the burn is going to blister.”

Simona stood transfixed by the sculpted muscles in Donovan’s arm and chest. Their eyes met, and he smiled knowingly. Simona turned away and busied herself with assisting the doctor.

“What are you still doing here, Ms. Andrews?” Dr. Cortez asked as he applied a local anesthetic.

She told him what happened in the hallway.

“Were you hurt?”

“No. I’m fine, thanks to Mr. Wright.”

“Mr. Wright, I’m very grateful you were here.”

“So am I,” Mr. Wright murmured, angling his head her way.

Pretending to be busy, she refused to meet his gaze directly.

Gathering his supplies, Dr. Cortez worked quickly. Once the wound was closed and covered with a large gauze bandage, the doctor applied an ointment to the burn then stripped off his gloves. “You’ll need to keep that dry for the next forty-eight hours and have the stitches removed in ten days. I’ll give you a prescription for the ointment. Apply it three times a day. When was your last tetanus shot?”

“I don’t remember. It’s been a while.”

“More than ten years?” When Donovan nodded, he said, “You’ll need to get one. I’ll call one of the nurses to take care of it.”

“I’ll do it,” Simona said.

The doctor nodded. “Mr. Wright, thank you again. Consider your bill paid in full.”

“Thanks, Dr. Cortez.”

After the doctor left, they stared at each other in silence. Simona was so busy gawking that it took her a moment to remember she was supposed to be giving him a tetanus shot. “I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”

As soon as she stepped out of the room, two nurses rushed over and asked about what happened. Apparently news traveled fast. After recounting the story two more times, she said, “I really need to get back to my patient.”

Before returning, she ducked into an empty room. Knowing she had only a minute, she pulled out her cell and dialed. “Hey, Eve.”

“Hi, Simona. What’s up? I thought you were getting off at eleven.”

“I was. I can’t go into it right now, but I’ll be home as soon as I can.”

“No problem. I’m just sitting here working on my essay. Are you okay?”

Simona blew out a long breath. “Yeah. How is she?”

“Sleeping peacefully. Everything is fine.”

“You’re a lifesaver, Eve. I’ll see you later.”

“Okay.”

Simona didn’t know how she would have managed over the past four weeks without her neighbor’s help. She didn’t easily trust, but Eve Thompson, with her direct speech and compassionate heart, had won Simona over almost immediately.

She disconnected, put the phone in her pocket and retraced her steps to where Donovan waited, stopping first at the cabinet where medications were stored and reminding herself to remain professional.

* * *

Donovan sat on the examination table thinking about Simona. Earlier, his concern had been for her safety. Now, in the light and with the threat removed, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was stunning. Braids swept up into a ponytail that gave him an unobstructed view of her coffee-with-cream complexion, wide dark brown eyes and bow-shaped lips, perfect for kissing.

He shook his head. Damn, I must be tired. No, if he were honest, fatigue had nothing to do with it. He was attracted to his nurse, plain and simple. He lifted his left arm, studied the dressing and shook his head. Donovan looked up when Simona entered the room with a syringe and sheet of paper on a tray.

She handed him the paper. “Here’s the prescription for the ointment.”

“Thanks.”

“It’s really late, so let’s finish up and get you out of here,” Simona said. “Which arm would you prefer? You might have some pain and stiffness for a couple of days, as well as some redness or swelling.”

“May as well do it in the left. No sense in having both arms messed up,” he said wryly.

Soft laughter escaped her lips.

The warm sound filled the room, and the shy smile curving her mouth did something to his insides. Despite her flustered state earlier, she was now poised and in control.

She swabbed the area with alcohol and injected him. “Okay. All done. You can put your shirt back on. Do you need some help?”

“Nah, I’m fine.” He carefully maneuvered his arm through the sleeve and buttoned the shirt. Coffee stained the left sleeve and down the front.

“So...um...you’re free to leave now,” she said, depositing the needle in a container affixed to the wall and removing her gloves.

“Aren’t you off?”

She turned back to face him. “Yes.”

He slid from the table. “Then, come on. I’ll walk you to your car.”

“You don’t have to do that. I’m sure the security guards are waiting to walk me out.”

A man rushed into the room before Donovan could reply. A doctor, he guessed, judging by the white coat and stethoscope hanging around his neck.

The man rushed over to Simona and placed his arm around her shoulder, which she promptly shrugged off. “Simona, I heard about what happened. Are you okay?”

“Fine, Dr. Harris. I was just leaving.”

“Great. I’ll walk you out.”

“I got it, doc. I’m sure you need to get back to your patients,” Donovan said, picking up on the obvious tension between the two. “You ready, Simona?”

“Yes. Thank you, Donovan. Good night, Dr. Harris.”

The doctor looked ready to explode, and Donovan chuckled inwardly. Placing a hand on the small of her back, he guided Simona out. “Have a good evening, doctor.”

Neither spoke as they made their way out of the building. A few steps outside, she slowed.

“Which way is your car?”

She gestured to the right. “I appreciate you walking me out.”

“Simona, there’s no way I’d let you walk out here alone. Do you normally get off work this late?” Donovan didn’t see a security guard, and it more than concerned him.

“No. I get off at seven. Tonight I was covering part of another nurse’s shift because she called in sick.”

“So, what’s the story on you and the doctor? Are you two dating or something?”

She angled her head to look up at him and paused before saying, “No, but not for lack of trying on his part.”

Donovan was secretly elated by that fact.

She stopped next to a Honda Accord sedan. “Well...um...this is my car. I don’t know how to thank you.”

“Hey. Don’t worry about it.”

“And you got hurt. I’m so sorry.”

“Simona, there is no reason to apologize. It was an accident.”

She nodded and unlocked the door.

He reached around and opened it for her. “Do you need me to follow you home?”

“No, I’ll be fine.” Simona came up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Donovan...for everything. If you ever need anything, let me know.” She lowered herself into the car.

The warmth of her lips against his cheek sent electricity through his body, and he fought the temptation to turn into the kiss. “Are you working tomorrow?”

“No. I’m off until Tuesday. Why?”

“Just concerned. Make sure someone walks out with you, okay?”

“It won’t be dark when I get off at seven, so there shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Simona, promise me you won’t come out alone. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”

She stared up at him with a strange expression, then nodded.

“Thank you. Good night and take care of yourself.”

She smiled. “I will. Good night.”

Donovan closed her door and stepped back. He waited until she started the engine and drove off before heading across the lot to his own car. He unlocked the doors, climbed in and shut the door. Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes as a wave of fatigue hit him. It had been a long day and a crazy night. Sitting upright, he started the car, backed out and drove home.

Twenty-five minutes later, Donovan turned into his driveway and pulled into the garage. He dragged his weary body out of the car, entered the house through the side door and pressed a wall switch to close the garage door.

He tossed his keys onto the kitchen counter and reached into the refrigerator for a bottle of water. Unscrewing the cap, he took a long drink and wished it were something stronger. The mail sat piled up on one end of the island where his housekeeper placed it, but he was too tired to bother with it tonight. Instead, he trekked up the stairs to his bedroom, flipped on the nightstand lamp and dropped down on the side of the bed. Helluva night, he mused. He sat a moment longer, then went to shower.

It took some maneuvering, but he managed to shower, dry off and brush his teeth in a reasonable amount of time. Turning off the bathroom light and bedside lamp, he returned to his bedroom, pulled back the covers and crawled into bed. Donovan glanced over at the clock. It was nearly one in the morning, and he needed to be up and in his office by six thirty. Even though it was a Saturday, he had to take care of some tour logistics for Kaleidoscope’s concert tomorrow night on the East Coast. With any luck, he could take care of everything in less than two hours and be back home and in bed by nine thirty, ten at the latest.

He moved to a more comfortable position, making sure to keep his left arm free, and closed his eyes. Donovan made a mental note to call his doctor to schedule a follow-up appointment. He was beyond exhausted, but his mind continued to race with thoughts of Simona. True, she was beautiful, but something more appealed to him—her strength and compassion, maybe. Why hadn’t he asked her for her phone number?

Next time, he thought with a smile.

Chapter 3

Two seconds after Simona entered the house, Eve rushed across the room and grabbed her in a hug.

“Girl, I was worried out of my mind. It’s going on one o’clock. I was about to call you again. What happened?” Eve released her and frowned.

Simona walked over to the couch and lowered her weary body down. “I was basically run over by one of the hospital volunteers pushing a coffee cart.”

“Are you all right?”

“I’m okay. Just a little shaken, and bruised where the cart hit my hip.”

Eve sat next to Simona. “If that’s all, what took you so long to get home?”

“I had to help Donovan. He got hurt.”

Eve lifted an eyebrow. “Donovan?”

“Yeah. He’s the guy who came to my rescue. I feel so bad because he got cut and burned in the process.”

Eve grasped her hand. “Is he hurt bad?”

Simona shook her head. “He had about a three-inch gash on his forearm that had to be stitched up, and the burn doesn’t look like it’ll be too bad, so he’s okay, thank God. I don’t know what I would’ve done if he’d been hurt seriously. The crazy thing is, even though he was still bleeding and in obvious pain, he was more concerned about having a doctor check me out.”

“Sounds like a real-life knight in shining armor.”

“He was—though I really wish he’d had the armor on,” she said absently. Memories of being held in his strong arms replayed in her mind. She should have at least gotten his phone number...to make good on her offer to replace his shirt, of course. His information was in the system, so she could get it that way. But...

A touch on her hand broke into her musings.

“Simona,” Eve called.

“I’m sorry. Did you say something?”

Eve smiled. “Mmm-hmm. I was asking about your knight, and you drifted off into fairy tale land. He must have been something.”

Fine as all get out, rock hard body, and seemingly an all-around good guy—yep, he was something.

Eve laughed.

“What?”

“You’re daydreaming again. What does he look like?”

“A little over six feet, handsome, muscles—”

“In other words, fine as hell.”

Simona smiled and nodded. “Yes, he is.” She pushed to her feet. “I’m wiped out. I need to hit the shower and go to bed. Did you have any problems tonight?”

Eve stood. “Not a one. She’s an angel. Woke up an hour ago for a few minutes but went right back to sleep.” She went over to the dining room table and gathered up her belongings. “I’ll see you later.”

Simona walked her neighbor to the door and waited until Eve went inside her house before closing her own door. Simona picked up the monitor off the table, turned off the lights and went down the short hallway to the first bedroom. A nightlight illuminated the baby lying in her crib. Simona stood staring at her niece’s small form for several minutes, the covers rising and falling in rhythm as she slept.

Yasmine had been born two months prematurely to Simona’s twenty-two-year-old younger sister—her namesake—who had died in childbirth as a result of injuries she’d sustained in a car accident. Although they were able to save the baby, her sister and her sister’s fiancé hadn’t been as fortunate. Simona still couldn’t believe that her sister was gone, but her niece reminded her of that fact daily. Yasmine had spent six weeks in the NICU after birth and was on a ventilator for the first two. So far, there hadn’t been any more problems, but Simona kept a close watch on her.

Simona’s grandmother had wanted to raise Yasmine, but taking care of a small baby was too much for Nana, so Simona had driven to Oakland two months ago and brought the baby back to LA. Fortunately, after Simona explained her dilemma, Mrs. Battle, the charge nurse, allowed her to change her schedule to four eight-hour days a week.

Simona stood a few minutes longer, smiling at the miniature version of her sister as sadness rose up once again. Seven years Yasmine’s senior, Simona had been close with her baby sister, and she missed Yasmine’s infectious laughter and zeal for life. Looking down at her sleeping niece, Simona vowed to raise the little girl with all the love in her heart, just as Yasmine would have done. She leaned down and brushed a soft kiss on her eleven-month-old niece’s forehead, checked the baby monitor to make sure it was on and continued to her bedroom.

Thirty minutes later, freshly showered, Simona pulled back the bed covers, laid her worn-out body down and groaned. She was exhausted, and with any luck, she’d be able to get a few hours of sleep before Yasmine woke up.

Automatically, her mind went back to Donovan. His hands on her had created sensations she hadn’t felt in a long time, and she wished she could have stayed in his arms all night. Her eyes snapped open. Where had that thought come from? She’d spent the past year purposely staying away from men, and now she lay fantasizing about one.

“You’re just exhausted, Simona,” she mumbled to herself. Given the circumstances, it was natural to have these types of feelings, she assured herself. She closed her eyes again, but Donovan’s handsome face wouldn’t leave her. It took a while, but she finally drifted off.

* * *

Time seemed to accelerate, and before she knew it, Simona was walking across the hospital parking lot Tuesday to start her shift. Dealing with the fast pace of an emergency room at only twenty-nine, Simona thought she had good endurance. But adjusting to Yasmine’s routine and working four days a week was proving to be more of a challenge than she’d envisioned.

The first few hours went by in a blur, and she was more than ready to sit for a minute when her lunch break came around. Yet no matter how tired she felt, somehow Donovan always worked his way into her psyche. Would she ever see him again? She told herself she only wanted to see him to make sure he was okay, but knew she lied. His concern for her well-being had gone far beyond the call of duty and was truly touching. While eating, her thoughts strayed to Donovan. Again. As much as she wanted to call him, she didn’t feel right about getting his information from the hospital records. So she would have to be content with the memory of her knight.

* * *

“Thanks. I’ll have the contract out to you by the beginning of next week.” Donovan hung up, finished making notes on the contract sheet and called in his secretary. It was only Tuesday, and the week promised to be a long one.

“Yes, Donovan.”

He glanced up from the papers. “Monique, I just confirmed the two dates for Monte at the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival in October and the Nokia Theater in November.” He handed her the papers. “Can you type up the contracts and have them ready for Brad by tomorrow?”

She accepted the sheets and handed him a telephone message. “Sure. Mrs. Lake from the Artistic Inspirations Foundation called again. She wanted to confirm whether Monte would still be conducting the vocal and piano workshops at the upcoming art camp. I told her we’d call her back because I didn’t know if he’d be available since the baby came early.”

The nonprofit foundation worked tirelessly to promote the importance of music and the arts in schools and the community. Thanks to generous donations, every summer they hosted a two-week day camp for students in grades four through twelve to experience the arts. At the end of the two weeks, the foundation put on an art show and concert.

“Okay. I’ll check with him and call her back. Thanks.”

“If you don’t need anything else, I’m going to head out.”

He glanced up at the wall clock to see it was already past five. “No. Have a good evening.”

“You, too. See you in the morning.”

Donovan followed her out to the hallway but went in the opposite direction, toward Terrence’s office. He found Terrence’s secretary standing at the file cabinet. “Hey, Mrs. Lewis. I’m sorry I didn’t get over here sooner.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it. I know you’ve got your hands full. Have you talked to Monte today?”

“No. I haven’t talked to him since last Friday at the hospital.” He’d hit the ground running yesterday and barely had time to show her the pictures of Nadia.

“Well, I know you’ll be dropping by his home sometime this week, so can you take this with you?” She rounded her desk, pulled an envelope from a drawer and handed it to him. “Tell him and Janae I said congratulations.”

“Okay. Is there anything I need to know or anything that has come up?”

“Audrey stopped by earlier and took care of a few things, but other than that, no.”

He nodded. “I won’t keep you, then. See you—”

“What happened to your arm?” she asked, cutting him off.

Donovan followed her gaze to his left arm. He had forgotten that he’d rolled his sleeves up. “Oh, it’s nothing.”

She frowned. “Donovan Wright, nothing wouldn’t require stitches.” She planted her hands on her hips and glared at him, waiting.

Her tone, as well as the accompanying look, had him spilling his guts about the incident in the hospital hallway.

“Oh, my word! You were lucky. Burns can be nasty. Is the young lady all right?”

“I noticed her rubbing her hip where the cart hit her, but she said she was fine.”

“Thank goodness. I know she’s grateful you were there. Have you checked on her since then?”

He hadn’t and wanted to kick himself for not getting her phone number. “No, but I will. I know it’s quitting time for you. I’ll walk you out,” he said, changing the subject.

She smiled. “Your parents raised such a nice young man. I know they’re proud of you.”

He chuckled. “Thanks. I’ll remind them of that the next time I talk to them. They’ll be glad to know all their hard work didn’t go to waste.”

Donovan walked Mrs. Lewis to her car, then came back upstairs to call Terrence.

“What’s up, D?” Terrence said when he answered.

“Hey. How’s the family?”

“My girls are good. Sometimes I still can’t believe it. I just want to hold Nadia all day, but Janae makes me put her down,” he grumbled.

He chuckled. “I take it she’s spoiled already.”

“I can’t help it. She grabbed my heart the moment she was born.”

A flash of memories crossed Donovan’s mind. “Mine, too,” he murmured. “Anyway, the reason I’m calling is Mrs. Lake wants to know if you’re still going to donate your time to the foundation’s art camp this year. It’s the first two weeks in August, three weeks away.”

“Definitely. I love doing the camp. Janae’s parents will be here, and Karen and Damian are planning to come down, as well. We’ll probably do a little barbecue or something the first weekend in August, so don’t plan anything. There’s nothing on the calendar, is there?”

“Other than Sheila’s concert in two weeks, no. August will be a little less busy, and I’m having Joy and Nigel travel with Kaleidoscope.”

“Good. By the way, you should bring a date to the barbecue. My grandmother mentioned trying to fix you up with the niece of one of her yoga classmates.”

Donovan groaned. “Aw, man. I know. She’s worse than my mom.”

Terrence laughed. “I tried to warn you about calling her Grandma, but you wouldn’t listen. So should I invite the woman?”

“Hell, no. I can get my own date. Besides, you’re the last person who needs to be giving anybody dating advice. If I recall correctly, I’m the one who helped you when you almost lost Janae.”

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “I owe you, man. Janae is my life.”

“I know. Tell Janae hello, and kiss my goddaughter for me. I’ll be by tomorrow or the next day.”

“I will. Later.”

Donovan disconnected and leaned back in his chair. Once again, memories of his failed relationship filled his head. He’d immersed himself in work to bury the hurt. But seeing how happy Terrence was had him contemplating trying again. Simona’s face floated through his mind. He glanced up at the clock and made the decision to be there when she got off work in forty-five minutes. He stood, packed up and headed to the parking garage.

The normally thirty-minute drive took almost an hour due to traffic, and by the time he parked and strode across the hospital lot he was hoping he hadn’t missed her.

A woman looked up as he approached the emergency room front desk. “Hello.” She held out a clipboard. “Just fill out the information and bring it up when you’re finished. We’ll get you back as soon as we can.”

“I’m not here to be seen. I was looking for Simona Andrews.”

Her brow lifted. “Simona?”

“Yes. She’s a nurse. Is she still here?”

The woman gave him the once-over then picked up the phone. She spoke quietly into the headset, nodded and hung up. “She’s still here. Have a seat, and she’ll be out shortly.”

“Thank you.” Donovan took a chair across the room. There were only a few people in the waiting area—a mother pacing while holding a small baby, an elderly couple and a man holding an ice pack against his face. He picked up a sports magazine off the table and flipped through it.

Some time later, the doors swung open and he saw Simona searching the room. Their eyes locked, and hers widened for a second before her brows knit in confusion. He tossed the magazine on the table, stood and walked to meet her halfway.

“Donovan,” she said with surprise. “Are you okay? Is something wrong with your arm?”

“No, there’s nothing wrong, Simona. It’s healing nicely.”

“Oh. Then why are you here?”

“I wanted to check on you, to make sure you were okay.”

“That’s really sweet of you, but I’m fine.”

“Good. Are you still getting off now?”

“Yes.”

“Would you like to go out to dinner?”

“Dinner?”

“Yeah. You know, that meal that usually follows lunch.”

She smiled. “I know what dinner is, Mr. Wright.”

“So...yes, no?”

“Well, I...um...I...”

He leaned closer. “You did say to let you know if I needed anything, remember?”

“I remember, but this sounds a bit like blackmail,” Simona said with a laugh.

Donovan shrugged. “Hey, a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do sometimes. And if it gets you to say yes to dinner, then it’s all good. Well...” he hedged.

She seemed to consider his offer for a moment, then nodded. “All right, but we can’t go anywhere fancy. I don’t have anything except these scrubs.”

“No problem. You can choose the place.” He was just glad she had agreed.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She turned and went back through the doors.

“Take your time.” He stared after her and couldn’t stop the smile curving his mouth. Although she was cautious, he sensed a spark there.

Donovan planned to discover everything he could about Simona Andrews, and if he had anything to say about it, tonight’s date would be the first of many.

Chapter 4

Simona paced the staff break room, not sure she had done the right thing by accepting Donovan’s dinner offer. Sure, she told herself, she wanted to see him again, but it wasn’t something she was ready for tonight. Hadn’t she promised herself not to get caught up with another man who could disrupt her quiet life?

She also had Yasmine to think about now and had no intention of bringing a string of men around her young niece. Besides, most men would run screaming at the mention of a child. But Donovan’s smile and easygoing manner made it hard to say no. And, as much as she didn’t want to admit it, she was glad to see him. Sighing, she pulled out her cell.

“Hey, Eve,” Simona said when Eve answered.

“Hey, girl. You have to work late again?”

“No. Donovan showed up and invited me to dinner. But if you have to leave, I’ll just tell him no,” she quickly added.

Eve chuckled. “So, your knight is back, huh? Go, girl! Yasmine and I are just fine. It’s about time for you to get your groove back.”

“Look who’s talking. I don’t see you going out with any guys.”

“That’s because I’m still basking in my singleness. After giving seven years to my jerk of an ex-husband, I need time to do all those things the cheating bastard was doing with his mistress. His money and my classes keep me quite busy.”

Simona laughed.

“But you don’t have an excuse, so have a great time at dinner. Let your hair down and have some fun. Bye.” She hung up before Simona could respond.

Smiling, she shook her head and pocketed the phone. Walking over to the mirror, she released her long braids from the elastic band and redid them in a neat bun. She glanced down at the scrubs, smoothed a hand over her top and wished she were dressed a little better. She got her purse and went out to meet Donovan.

He was seated reading a magazine, but tossed it aside and stood when she approached. “Ready?”

Something told her she’d never be ready for a man like him, but she nodded. “Yes.”

He placed a hand on the small of her back and guided her toward the exit, the subtle pressure conjuring up memories of how much his touch affected her. And why did he have to look so good?

“So where would you like to go?” Donovan asked, breaking into her thoughts.

“There’s a bar and grill not too far from here.” She told him the name and street address.

“I know where that is.”

“Okay. I’ll meet you there.” She started in the direction of her car, and he caught her hand.

“Ah, I don’t think so.” He shook his head. “A gentleman wouldn’t let his lady drive to a date, especially a first date.”

His lady? First date...as in, there would be more? “Oh. I was just thinking it might be easier. Then you wouldn’t have to drive back over to drop me off.”

He unleashed that captivating smile on her. “Believe me, it’s no problem, Simona. Shall we?”

Simona nodded. He continued to hold her hand as they walked across the lot to his car. Donovan stopped next to a late-model black BMW and held the door open. She melted into the butter-soft leather seat as he closed the door.

Donovan got in on the driver’s side and started the engine. “It’ll be cool in a minute,” he said as he turned the air on full blast.

“No problem. Nice car. It still has that new car smell.” He must be pretty well-off to afford this type of car. It made her speculate on just what type of job he had.

“Thanks. I’ve only had it about four months. I figured after eight years it was time for a new one.”

She hadn’t been on a date in a while and always hated that first date awkwardness. She searched her mind for something to say. “So, you said your arm is okay? Did you see your doctor?”

“Arm’s fine. I have an appointment on Thursday. How’s your hip?”

“It was sore for a couple of days, but I’m good as new now.”

He came to a red light and turned his head in her direction. “Is that right?” His heated gaze roamed lazily over her, lingered at her hip, then moved back up to her face. “That’s good to hear,” he murmured, focusing his attention back on the road and pulling away.

Simona’s pulse spiked. She pulled in a deep breath and stared out the window. His comments were innocent enough, but the accompanying look and sensual undertone warmed her in places she’d forgotten about and reminded her of just what she’d been missing. They lapsed into a companionable silence.

At length Donovan asked, “Is the temperature too cold for you?”

“No. It’s fine.”

He pressed a button, and a midtempo R & B groove poured from the speakers. The woman singing had an incredible voice, and Simona couldn’t resist tapping her fingers to the beat. She was just getting into the song when the car stopped. Donovan helped her out of the car and led her inside the restaurant. Luckily it wasn’t too crowded, and they were seated immediately.

After ordering, Donovan leaned back in his chair. “How was your day? I imagine working in the emergency room can be exhausting.”

Simona sat, momentarily stunned. She’d just met this man, and he asked about her day. Her ex had never asked about her day—not once in the six months they’d dated. “It’s definitely a challenge and exhausting,” she answered with a chuckle. “Today wasn’t too bad, though.”

“How long have you been in nursing?”

“Eight years.” She took a sip of her water.

“What made you decide to go into that field?”

“I’ve always wanted to help people. Growing up, I toyed with becoming a doctor and did some hospital volunteer work in the summers. When I saw how little free time they had—not to mention how long I’d be in school—I changed my mind. I wanted to go into the medical field but still have a life. Nursing is the perfect balance for me.”

He leaned forward and rested his arm on the table, as if he was hanging on to her every word. “I think you made the right decision.”

“Really? You don’t even know me.”

“True, but the way you took care of me last Friday says that you’re intelligent and compassionate. And as far as not knowing you...” He reached for her hand and placed a soft kiss on the back. “I plan to change that. I want to know everything there is to know about you, Ms. Simona Andrews.”

Simona barely stifled a moan. This man is too smooth. Fortunately the server returned with their food because she needed a moment to gather herself. The warmth of his lips against her skin had her fantasizing about how they would feel against other parts of her body.

* * *

Donovan stared intently at Simona as she spoke, enjoying the soft melodic sound of her voice, and just being there with her. He reluctantly pulled his gaze away and focused on the food that the server placed in front of him.

During the meal Simona asked, “What about you? What do you do?”

Donovan hesitated briefly. Whenever he disclosed his occupation, most of the women he went out with saw it as an opportunity to score free concert tickets or get closer to the artists. A few had even come right out and asked whether they’d be able to accompany him when he went on tour with Monte and acted offended when he said no. “I’m in music management.”

“Music...as in, out in the public? You’re a musician?”

He laughed at her reaction. “Hardly. More like sitting in an office with a mound of paperwork this high.” He gestured to the top of his head.

“But you work with musicians?”

He studied her. The way she asked the questions gave him pause. Her tone was almost accusatory. “I oversee contracts and a few other things and, yes, I interact with musicians. Does that bother you?”

“No,” she answered a little too quickly. “Why music?”

“I love music. My degree is in business economics, and I had intended to go to law school. But when a buddy of mine asked me to help him out in his business, I saw it as a win-win situation. You must see some crazy stuff in the ER,” he said, smoothly changing the subject.

Simona laughed. “Stuff like you wouldn’t believe.”

While they ate, she regaled him with tales of the emergency room. Donovan couldn’t stop laughing at some of the stories she shared, including glued body parts and removal of items from places where objects should never go. When he finally calmed down, he realized it had been a long time since he had actually laughed with a woman. He glanced down at their empty plates and then at his watch. Although he wasn’t ready to end the evening, he knew Simona was probably tired. “Would you like anything else? Dessert?”

“No, thank you.”

“It’s getting late, and I’m sure you need some rest.” Donovan paid the bill and escorted Simona back to the car.

On the drive back, she asked, “Who is this singing? Her voice is beautiful.”

“Her name is Sheila Martin. She’s a relatively new artist.”

“I think I’m going to buy some of her music.”

This gave him a perfect opening. “Actually, she’s performing here a week from Saturday. Would you like to go...that is, if you’re not working?”

“Um... I don’t know. Wouldn’t it be hard to get tickets by now?”

“Tickets aren’t a problem. What? You don’t like my company?” he teased. “And I’ve been on my best behavior.”

Simona chuckled. “That’s not it.”

“So, you do like my company?”

“A little conceited, aren’t you?”

“Nope,” he said, slanting her a quick glance. “And you didn’t answer the question.”

“Yes, I like your company.”

“I’m glad. And I’m really enjoying your company, Simona,” Donovan added softly. In fact, he enjoyed their time together more than he anticipated, and couldn’t wait to do it again.

“Can I check my schedule and let you know about the concert?”

“Absolutely.” When they reached the hospital parking lot she directed him to her car, and he helped her out of his and into hers. He dug his phone out of his pocket and extended it to her through her open window. “Can you please put your phone number in?”

She programmed her number and handed it back. “I had a good time tonight, Donovan. Thanks for dinner.”

“Anytime. Maybe we can do it again soon.”

She smiled and started her car. “I’d like that.”

Donovan watched as Simona backed out of the space and cursed under his breath. He’d let her get away twice without kissing her. Making a decision, he jumped into his car and followed her.

One, he wanted to make sure she got home safely, and two, he needed that kiss.

* * *

Simona smiled and hummed as she drove, thinking about how much fun she’d had with Donovan tonight. Glancing in her rearview mirror, she let out a startled gasp. Was Donovan following her home? A wave of panic came over her. What was he doing? What if he wanted to come inside? She wasn’t ready to tell him about Yasmine.

She spent the entire drive trying to come up with a plan to get him to leave. By the time she pulled up in her driveway, Simona still had no clue what she would tell him. Taking a deep breath, she shut off the engine and climbed out of the car. Donovan exited his car at the same time.

“I’m not stalking you, if that’s what you’re thinking,” he said, coming toward her with that charming smile.

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, that’s a good thing because—”

He cut her off before she could finish her sentence and her thought. “I just wanted to make sure you got home safely, and...”

“And what?” she asked as he trailed off.

He moved closer and wrapped his arms around her waist. “And I wanted to kiss you good-night.”

Simona’s pulse spiked. Without waiting for a response, he bent and covered her lips with his. The moment their mouths met, heat flared out in every part of her body. He tangled his tongue with hers unhurriedly, as if he had all night. Her body trembled, and she moaned softly. At length, he lifted his head.

He pressed his lips to hers once more and then whispered, “Good night, Simona.” Releasing her, he turned and sauntered back down the driveway.

Simona slumped against her car, heart pounding and legs shaking. She closed her eyes and tried to steady her breathing. When she opened them, he was leaning against his car. “Donovan?”

“I’m just waiting for you to go inside.”

Such a gentleman. This man was breaking down her resolve. She walked to her front door and stuck the key into the lock. Before she could open the door, her cell rang. Frowning, she pulled it out and answered it quickly.

“I didn’t want you to worry whether I would call or not.”

She whirled around to see Donovan standing there with his phone against his ear. “Donovan?”

“Yep. I also realized you need my number so you can let me know whether you’ll attend the concert. Will it work in my favor if I throw in dinner before the show?”

Simona laughed. “Good night, Donovan. I’ll let you know.”

His deep chuckle rumbled through the line. “Talk to you soon.”

She disconnected, waved and went inside. Still smiling, she met Eve coming down the hall holding Yasmine. “Hey, Eve. Hi, Yasmine,” she said, reaching for the eager baby. She kissed her niece on the cheek. “Were you waiting for me, little one?”

Simona tried to make sure she kept Yasmine to her scheduled eight-thirty bedtime. It was only twenty minutes past that time, and she figured her niece was waiting for their usual bedtime ritual of reading, singing, back rub and kissing the two small stuffed animals that slept in the corner of the crib.

“Let me put her to bed, and I’ll be right back,” she said to Eve.

“Take your time. I’ll be waiting to hear all about that dinner date.”

Simona shook her head and continued down the hall to Yasmine’s bedroom. She placed her purse on the dresser and sat in the rocking chair. Yasmine immediately lifted her arms. “Okay. I know you want to sing ‘Itsy Bitsy Spider.’” She sang a jazzed-up version of the tune, plus “Jesus Loves Me” before rising to place the baby in her crib.

They played the kissing game. Yasmine giggled and babbled, “Mamamama,” warming Simona’s heart. The little girl was asleep within minutes of the back rub.

Simona made sure the monitor was turned on and left silently. Eve was sitting at the dining room table with a book open, scribbling furiously. She sat across from her. “How’re classes going?”

Eve put the pen down and removed her glasses. “Girl, somebody should have warned me that brain cells die after thirty. I was always a good student, but this thirty-four-year-old brain ain’t what it used to be. This master’s program in psychology is no joke. If I ever get the notion to go back for a doctorate, please smack me upside the head.” They both laughed. “Enough of that.” She leaned forward with her head propped in her elbows. “I want to hear about your dinner with Donovan.”

“There’s not much to tell. We just went to a bar and grill.”

“What kind of car does he drive, and what does he do?”

“He drives a BMW and works in music management. He says he works in the office, but knows some musicians.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. He’s a really nice guy, but I don’t want a repeat of what happened before.”

“You can’t compare Donovan to Travis.”

Simona cringed at the mention of her ex. She had met the up-and-coming actor at a local theater in San Francisco where a friend was also performing. Her friend had invited Simona to hang out with the cast after the show. Travis Jacobs had been pleasant and likeable, and before she knew it, they were a couple. Initially, things had been great. But as the months rolled by it became less about them and more about him, and his true egotistical nature was on display for the world to see. Every date became a photo op, and after six months she called it quits.

Rather than let it go, Travis spun it to insinuate that he’d initiated their breakup and used it as an opportunity to further his career, making it sound as if he was devastated by the breakup—he had the nerve to shed a tear during an interview—and accused her of being jealous of his fame.

After several months of dodging the cameras, she’d quit the job she loved and relocated to LA. It didn’t help that Simona was dealing with her sister’s death and concerned about her niece.

“Simona?” Eve gently prodded.

“I know. But I can’t do that again. Travis made my life a living hell. I couldn’t go anywhere without a camera in my face. And now I have Yasmine.”

“Did you tell Donovan about her?”

“No. We barely know each other, and I don’t want to start bringing all kinds of men around. Besides, most men don’t want to be saddled with a woman who has a child.”

“I can see your point about not wanting to bring lots of men around her, but what if Donovan wants to continue seeing you? How long are you going to hide her from him?”

“I don’t know what I’ll do. He asked me to go to a concert next weekend.”

Eve stood. “Well, if you decide to go to the concert, I’ll be happy to babysit. But don’t wait too long to tell him.” She gathered up her book and papers and put them into a tote. “Oh, your grandmother called.”

“Okay. Thanks. I’ll call her tomorrow.”

She saw Eve to the door, then came back and collapsed on the sofa. “And this is why I don’t date,” she muttered, rubbing her temples.

Leaning back, Simona replayed every detail of the evening in her head. She laughed, remembering Donovan’s phone call outside. Her smile faded and she groaned. He hadn’t said a lot about his job, just that he worked in an office. But what did he really do?

As much as she had enjoyed her time with Donovan tonight, she needed to put the brakes on whatever was going on between them. She wasn’t ready to put herself out there again, especially with someone who possibly lived in the public eye.

Chapter 5

Donovan’s thumb hovered over the telephone number on his screen for several seconds before he pressed the home button and tossed the phone on his desk. It had been three days since he had seen or spoken to Simona and exactly one week since they met. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her or the kiss. He’d known instinctively he would enjoy kissing her but never expected the onslaught of emotions that accompanied the act. They were the same feelings he’d had at the hospital last week. And, for the first time in over two years, he felt the stirrings of something more than a passing fling. She made him laugh and he chuckled, recalling some of the stories she’d told him.

Simona still hadn’t called to let him know if she would accompany him to Sheila’s concert. He was anxious to call her, but didn’t want to come on too strong. From the questions she asked about his job, he sensed some hesitancy on her part and wondered why. Donovan glanced over at the wall clock—four thirty. He still had work to do, and he wanted to leave at a reasonable time so he could stop by Terrence and Janae’s to see his little goddaughter. He reined in his thoughts and refocused on the papers in front of him. By the time he looked up again, over an hour had passed. He stood, stretched and went to the outer office where his secretary sat clicking away on the computer.

“You about ready to wrap it up, Monique?”

She paused. “Yes. I just want to print this last contract for Brad. He said he’d be by to pick it up in a few minutes.”

On the heels of her statement, Brad, who headed up the label’s legal department, entered with his wife, Audrey, director of Human Resources. Both were friends from college.

“Your ears must have been burning,” Donovan said.

“What? You’re talking about me again?” Brad asked with a laugh. He turned to his wife. “See, babe, I told you I’m the man.”

Audrey rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Just get what you came for so we can go. You have two hours to finish that stuff. We are not taking any work this weekend.”

Donovan laughed. “Finally getting that trip to San Francisco in, huh? Brad, make sure you take her on the sunset cruise,” he added with a wink.

“We’re doing that and more,” she said with a sly smile.

Brad leaned down and gave her a quick kiss.

Donovan held up his hands. “TMI, T-M-I! Monique, hurry up and give Brad those papers before they burn my office down.” He was glad to see that they were still so much in love after being together for more than a decade. He felt a pang of jealousy.

“Are you going to be here much longer, Donovan?” Brad asked as he collected the papers from Monique.

“No. I’m going to see my beautiful goddaughter.”

“We went by for a few minutes last night,” Audrey said excitedly. “And you’re right, she’s a cutie. But we’d better get going.”

“Have fun.”

“We will.” Brad and Audrey said their goodbyes, with Monique close behind.

Donovan left a few minutes later, and it took him almost an hour to get to Terrence’s with rush-hour traffic.

“What’s up, D? Come on in,” Terrence said, bringing Donovan in for their customary hug.

“Hey.” He followed Terrence to the family room and stretched out on the sofa.

“You look exhausted. Is everything going okay?”

“Yeah, fine. I was thinking we might need to hire someone else to help out, especially since I figure you’ll be spending less time at the office. And you’ll be touring again soon.”

Terrence sighed. “I’ve been thinking about that, too. But I don’t want to bring in someone at the executive level who starts trying to tell me my business.”

“I know. I have an idea I want to run by you.” He sat up. “Monique has been doing a great job fielding calls, making sure things run smoothly with the clients and generally helping me out with the departments. She just graduated in May with her degree in business, and I think she’d make a helluva manager.”

“I like it, but what about the secretarial stuff? That leaves only one person to handle that.”

“We can either move someone from another department or hire from outside. I can talk to Audrey about it next week if you’re cool with it.”

Terrence sat quietly, mulling over the proposition, then slowly nodded. “Okay.”

“Good. Now that we’re done with work, where’s Janae and Nadia?”

“Janae was feeding her when I came down. Let me see if she’s done.” He got to his feet and went upstairs.

While he was gone, Donovan leaned back and closed his eyes. Thoughts of Simona drifted through his mind. It was after seven, so he assumed she was off work, unless she was working overtime as she had last Friday. How did she spend her weekends? What kinds of things did she like to do? He thought about how her beautiful smile and soft laughter made his heart beat a little faster. It had been a long while since a woman affected him in this way, and it surprised him just how much he wanted to see her again.

Donovan blew out a long breath. Maybe it was time for him to let his guard down some. For two long years he had resisted allowing a woman into his heart—he didn’t want to feel the pain of betrayal again. Back when Terrence was fighting his attraction to Janae, Donovan had accused his friend of punishing all women for the actions of one. But he was no better. He talked a good game, but this time his heart was on the line.

“Hi, Donovan.”

He opened his eyes and stood at the sound of Janae’s voice. “Hey, Janae. How’re you feeling?” he asked, kissing her cheek.

“Tired, of course,” she said with a laugh, “but I’m enjoying it. You look exhausted.”

“It’s been a hectic couple of weeks.”

“I can imagine. Well, I know you’re anxious to hold Nadia. I’m going to head back upstairs. I know you and Terrence have a lot to catch up on.” She carefully transferred the baby.

“I’ll walk you up, sweetheart,” Terrence said, placing his arm around her shoulders. “Will you be okay alone for a minute, Donovan?”

Donovan shot him a look. “Of course. Nadia and I need time to get acquainted, so don’t hurry back.”

Janae laughed as she and Terrence left the room.

Donovan cradled Nadia close to his heart and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Just like the first time he held her, a rush of emotions flooded him, along with a flashback of what should have been. Had his little one survived, he or she would be a year and a half now. He pushed down the painful memories and stared at the baby who had her eyes fixed on him.

“Hey, Nadia. I think you’ve gotten more beautiful since the last time I saw you. How are you liking this world so far?” She stretched and yawned. “That well, huh?” he said with a chuckle. “I know you’ve got great parents, but if you ever need anything, you can call me and Uncle Donovan will be right there, okay?” He sang quietly and rocked her slowly. After a moment, she closed her eyes. Donovan kept up the rocking motion while singing.

“I see you still got it,” Terrence said, coming up behind him. “I could use another session singer for the new project I’m working on.”

Donovan turned and snorted. “I don’t think so. I only did those background lyrics for the first two CDs because you were just starting out, and we were trying to save money. But since you’re all rich and famous now, you can hire somebody. I like my job just fine.” He cocked his head to the side. “You know, I don’t think I was ever paid for my services.”

Terrence laughed softly. “Whatever. Boy, you’ve been paid that and more.” He gestured to Donovan’s arm. “What happened?”

Donovan glanced down at his arm. He had an appointment to remove the stitches on Monday, and he couldn’t wait. The itching was driving him crazy. The burn was healing nicely and barely noticeable. “I got it caught on a coffee cart at the hospital while trying to keep it from falling last Friday night after I left you.” He gave Terrence the details about what happened.

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