Accidental Lovers (The Accidental Series, Book 3) (8 page)

“Come sit down,” Jack suggested. Then he
told his wife to take the boys and walk around for a while to give
him and Shayla some privacy.

Shayla sat next to her father, looking at
him up close now – noticing the grayness of his hair with a few
strands of brown mixed in with it. He also had some facial hair,
crow’s feet at the corner of his eyes and hard lines on his
face.

Jack met her stares and said, “You turned
out to be such a beautiful woman, just like your mother.”

“Thanks,” Shayla responded, twiddling her
thumbs and interlocking the rest of her fingers.

“You remind me so much of her, you
know.”

“Why’d you leave my mom, Jack?”

Jack sighed, blew a breath. “I didn’t want
to leave her, baby girl. I was with her right up until just after
you were born.”

“You were at the hospital when I was
born?”

“Yes, I was there. I still remember it like
it was yesterday. Your mother had a difficult pregnancy and—”

“What do you mean?”

“When she was pregnant with you, she had
severe morning sickness. The doctors didn’t think she was going to
carry you past seven months, but she did. She stayed in the
hospital the last full month of the pregnancy. But at any rate, she
was in labor for hours and you finally came and you were so
beautiful. We were both in tears. And you for that matter.” Jack
hung his head as he reminisced. “After we took you home, though,
your mother was different. She wasn’t the same. The doctors said it
was postpartum depression, gave her some medication for it, but she
preferred alcohol instead. Then she started using street drugs
and…um…sorry. Give me a moment.”

“Okay,” Shayla said, feeling sorry for him,
of course, but she was anxious to hear the rest of this story.

“She started using drugs and I couldn’t take
it anymore. How was she going to raise you and take care of you
while she was strung out on drugs? So I made plans to move away, to
take you out of that environment, but her mother, your grandmother,
begged me not to take you. Said she wanted to raise you. So I left
you with her. I didn’t want to, Shayla, but I did.”

“Why didn’t you come back to visit me?”

“I did in the beginning, but you weren’t old
enough to remember me. After a while, though, driving and flying
back and forth was becoming too stressful and sometimes, your
mother was at your grandmother’s house when I would visit and I
hated seeing her in the condition she was in.” He took a moment and
said, “You look a lot like her, you know, before the drugs and
all.”

Shayla smiled. “I know.”

“You have her smile, too.”

“My grandmother used to tell me the same
thing. She showed me pictures of her. I used to have some, but I
don’t anymore.” Shayla stared out at the landscape, the water.
“What was she like when you met her?”

“Um, she was smart and boy was she
beautiful.”

“How’d you meet?”

“Well, I was working on a construction
project in Uptown Charlotte and she was going to school. She
studied culinary arts at Johnson and Wales.”

“Really?” Shayla asked. Why hadn’t she
remembered that?

“Yes. She was a good cook…worked as a chef
for years.”

“And you do construction? I think Donovan
mentioned something about you working on his house.”

“Yes, I’ve been in construction for
years…been running my own business for twelve years now. And
speaking of Donovan, are you two an item? He’s a good man…sent a
lot of referrals my way after I finished the renovation on his
house.”

“He is a good man, but he’s just a friend.
I’m married.”

“You’re married?”

Shayla nodded, then took a wallet size
picture of her wedding photo from her purse, handing it to him.
“His name is Carter.”

“Nice looking fellow.” Jack handed the
picture back.

“Thanks.” Shayla tucked it away in her
purse, then asked, “When I was older, a teenager, why didn’t you
come back for me? To visit me?”

“I…I…um…” he stuttered. “I should have,
Shayla. I have no excuse for that. And I could sit here and tell
you I was busy with the job, busy starting a new life but I’m not
going to. I’m guilty of not being there for you. I’m aware of that
and I’m truly sorry.”

Shayla reached for his left hand with her
right and clenched it. “We have a lot of time to make up for?”

He nodded. “The family hasn’t eaten if you
want to join us for dinner.”

“I would love too.”

“Okay. Let me call my wife and the boys back
over then we can go.”

Jack took out his cell, dialed his wife’s
number and told them to meet him at the car.

Shayla took out her cell and sent Donovan a
text, telling him she was going to dinner with Jack and his
family.

Donovan called as soon as he read it.

“Hey,” she answered.

“Where are you guys going for dinner?” he
inquired.

“I don’t know yet, but I’ll text you when I
find out.”

“Is everything okay? Do you feel
comfortable?”

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

“Cool. Call me if you need me.”

“Okay.”

“And don’t forget to text me.”

“Will do. Thanks, Donovan.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”

At dinner, Shayla found out more about the
family. Her father was eight years older than her mother. He was
very happy and settled in his current life. His wife was sweet and
her half brothers were well-mannered, respectful young men.

She told them about Carter and Jack said she
wanted to plan a trip to Charlotte soon to meet Carter in person.
Said he wanted to work right away on making up for lost time with
Shayla. Towards the end of dinner and conversation, Shayla called
Donovan, seeing that he had texted her three times to find out
where she was and it dawned on her she’d forgotten to text him the
name of the restaurant.

“Hey, how’s it going?” Donovan asked after
answering the phone on the first ring.

“It’s going good. I completely forgot to
text you my location, but it’s all good. Jack has offered to drop
me off at the hotel so you don’t need to meet me.”

“I’m already here.”

Shayla frowned. “You where?”

“Outside of the restaurant…been here since
ten.”

“How’d you know where I was?”

“I followed you.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot…you’re good at that.”

Donovan chuckled a bit and said, “Just
wanted to make sure you were safe. Jack might be your father and
all, but I don’t know him that well and neither do you.”

“Well I can assure you…all is well. Now go
ahead and go home and spend some time with your little boy. You
don’t have to wait for me.”

“Are you kidding? I want to know what
happened. Tell Jack you’re riding with me.”

“You sure?”

“Of course.”

“Okay. See you in a minute.”

She went ahead and told Jack that Donovan
was taking her back to the hotel. Walking out of the restaurant
together, Shayla embraced Jack, his wife and the boys.

Donovan watched her – saw her wipe tears
from her eyes as she said goodbye to her father. When he saw her
heading for his car, he got out, opened the passenger door for her
then quickly walking around the car to get in himself, starting the
engine.

“You all right?” he asked her.

“Yes.”

“Why are you crying?”

“Because I can’t believe that just
happened,” she said, her trembling hands covering her face.

“Breathe, sweetie.”

“I’m trying. It’s been a whirlwind day.”

Donovan started the car, beginning the drive
to the hotel where Shayla was staying.

“So are you glad you went through with it?”
he asked, checking the mirrors and changing lanes.

“Yeah, I am. Jack seems to be a pretty
decent, straightforward guy. He wants to come to Charlotte in a few
weeks…said he wanted to meet Carter.”

Donovan nodded.
So she talked about
Carter
.

“He said he was in love with my mom.”

“You believe him?”

“I don’t know. I mean, I want to believe
everything he said, but I can’t trust him from one meet-and-greet
all these years later.”

“Right.”

“We gotta get to know each other again, you
know. I have to learn him, then maybe trust will come later.”

“Yep,” Donovan agreed, then found a parking
stall at the hotel, shifting the car in park and shutting it
off.

“Donovan, what are you doing? You don’t have
to walk me to the room. I got it.”

“I’m sure you do, but I’m going to walk with
you anyway.”

A smile touched her lips. “Of course you
are.”

When they arrived to her room, she dug
around in her purse, found the keycard, swiped it to unlock the
door then walked in, dropping her purse on the bed. She turned
around and saw him standing there, near the door. Had he planned on
staying for a while?

“Well, I guess this is it,” she told
him.

“Yeah. Looks that way,” Donovan said,
sauntering over to where she was standing, next to the bed. He
softly touched her face. “I don’t want you to leave, Shayla.”

“Donovan…”

“I don’t. I’m being honest,” he said.

“Well, I have to leave, so…”

“You don’t have to,” he said, licking his
lips, leaning forward.

Shayla frowned, placed her hands on his
forearms to push him away, but Donovan had other plans.

He pulled her closer to him, held her head
between his hands and took a kiss from her.

Shayla cringed and tried to push him away
again. “Donovan, stop.”

Did he hear her? Probably not as evident by
him lifting her from the floor and placing her on the bed.

“Donovan, please stop,” she said in tears
now, feeling his lips against her neck. “Please Donovan. I love my
husband. I love Carter.”

He stopped kissing her, wiped the tears away
from her eyes and said, “Well, that’s a problem because I love
you.”

She looked at him, clearly in shock. “I
can’t be with you.”

“I love you, Shayla.”

“Donovan?” she said, because she was at a
lost for words.

“I feel a strong connection between us,
Shayla. I know you feel it, too.”

“Donovan, don’t get me wrong…I like you as a
person, as a friend. But even though Carter and I are going through
some issues right now, I would never do anything to betray him. A
friendship is as far as I can go with you. I do appreciate what
you’ve done for me.”

Donovan stood up, walked away from the bed
with his back towards her and placed both hands on his head out of
frustration. Then he turned around and said, “I haven’t felt this
way about a woman since my wife passed. I feel things for you and
you’re asking me to completely avoid what my heart is telling me is
true?”

“Donovan, I haven’t done anything to lead
you on.”

“Honestly, Shayla, I love your smiles, your
eyes, your face…” Donovan sighed, walked away from her again. “You
remember how you told me no one wanted you…well I want you,
Shayla.”

“Donovan…”

“But I can’t have you because you’re in love
with someone else.” He turned around and looked at her, sitting on
the bed. “I overstayed my welcome, so I’m going to go. I hope one
day, Carter Williams makes you happy, because when you speak of
him, all I see in your eyes is sadness. You’re happiest with me,
not him.”

“Donovan…”

He headed for the door and she stood up from
the bed to see him out. Before turning the knob, he asked, “Can I
at least have a hug?”

She nodded.

He wrapped his arms around her frame,
squeezing for an extended period of time, not wanting to let her
go. When he finally did, he stared at her again. “Goodbye,
Shayla.”

“Goodbye, Donovan.”

Shayla closed the door when he left, feeling
scared and nervous but mostly hurt at the thought she’d broke
Donovan’s heart, and hurt that she would eventually have to face
Carter with this on her heart. Would she tell him what happened
here?

Chapter 14

Her flight arrived back to Charlotte a
little after one, and once off the plane Shayla took her bag and
threw it in the back seat of her car, quickly heading for home, her
mind flooded with the weekend’s events. She met her father and
found out that Donovan was in love with her. She couldn’t wait to
get home so she could finally relax, but when she noticed Carter’s
Escalade in the driveway, she knew there would be no relaxation
today. Out of all the days he could’ve shown up out of the blue,
why today?

Parking her car next to his, she could see
him sitting on the front step, his head hanging low like he was in
a praying position. She felt her stomach tighten into so many
knots, she barely had enough strength to move her legs to get out
of the car. But she did eventually, walking slowly as she took deep
breaths, heading straight for the door, telling herself she wasn’t
ready for a confrontation now. After a long,
eventful
weekend, she had nothing left in her to argue with Carter.

She nervously took steps towards him, her
keys clanking, but the noise was not louder than her heartbeat.
Boom, boom…boom, boom…she heard it getting louder as she got closer
to him. And she was finding it hard to breathe, on the verge of an
anxiety attack because she could see the anger in his eyes.

Instead of acknowledging him, she stepped
around him, feeling a wave of tension envelop her, like being
smothered by a thick cloud of smoke.

“You’re going to walk around me like you
don’t see me sitting here?” Carter asked her as he stood.

Shayla kept on to the door, turning the knob
with her shaky, nervous hand, then after having successfully done
it, she stepped in the foyer.

So did he, right on her heels.

“Where have you been?” Carter asked as
calmly as he could, his breathing quickening, heart thudding. “You
haven’t been here all night?”