Roark chuckled. “I’ll call you after dinner, okay?”
Suri sighed. “You’d better, or I’m coming to Painswick and knocking both you and Tamika’s heads together until you come to your senses.”
“Ah, that sounds painful. Bye, Suri.”
“Bye-bye!” she said cheerfully.
With a smile on his face, Roark drove the last ten minutes to the cottage in Painswick. He parked his car and stepped out but didn’t immediately go to the door.
He didn’t know what to expect by walking in there. Truth be told, he’d hoped it was more than “just dinner” too. He’d dreamed of her every night, especially since he hadn’t been able to sleep a solid eight hours since they’d stopped sleeping together. But he’d promised himself he wasn’t going to push. And come hell or high water, he was going to abide by that promise.
“Thanks for coming,” Tamika said after they’d finished eating the glazed ham, roasted potatoes and asparagus Tuppence had prepared for them. They were outside now, walking along one of the many pathways she’d discovered in the past two months.
“Of course,” he said. “I wanted to see how you and your mum were doing, and Tuppence. It’s great to hear you’re all doing well.” He was making a concerted effort to steer clear of any serious talk. He’d been doing that all night, and she appreciated it, but now it was time.
“I didn’t go back to the States once my leg healed,” she said.
The look on his face said he was shocked to hear that. “I thought you wanted to get back to your life, to look for work and see your friends.”
They walked a few more steps before she answered. “I did want all of that. And it made perfect sense to want it at the time I said it.”
“It made very good sense, and I’m sorry I didn’t realize it before I made my proposal.”
That proposal, the one she’d turned down and then kicked herself for weeks later because she’d turned it down. Even her mother had given her the side eye when she’d told her what had happened. Tamika had been more than angry with herself but still prideful about taking a stand until later that night when her mother had come into her room and sat on the edge of her bed. “Always follow your heart, MiMi, because your brain thinks it knows too much.”
Those words had replayed in Tamika’s mind for weeks after that.
“I got a job,” she blurted out when it seemed they’d been silent too long. “At an international insurance company. I’ll be supervising their arson investigation unit.”
“That’s wonderful,” Roark said. “Is that what this is? A goodbye dinner? When do you leave?” He’d stopped walking now, just as they came under a gray stone bridge. A few feet behind him there was a stone wall and below that was the creek, the sound of the rustling water soothing.
She cleared her throat and looked up at him. “I’m not leaving. The company’s main office is in London.”
For a moment, Roark appeared to be speechless and then he looked hopeful. Then his features returned to the stoic and brooding guy she remembered from that first day in the dining room at the manor. “What does that mean?”
“Now, who’s being blunt?” she joked, again recalling one of their early conversations.
“I just want to know whether or not I can release this breath I’ve been holding since walking into that cottage.” He gave her a half smile, and it was the sexiest half smile she’d ever seen.
“I’m in love with you, Roark. And if you’re not going to say you’re still in love with me too, then you can just hold that breath all the way back to your car and drive away from here.” There, she’d said it. Sort of.
That wasn’t the way she’d rehearsed asking him to take her back. Then again, she wasn’t totally sure they’d ever really been together, so she probably didn’t need to ask anyway. And she was stalling again instead of getting on with the very important conversation.
“I didn’t want you to put me up in a flat, as you call it. If I need a place to live, I’ll pay my own rent. At least until we decide to move in together. Then, I’m more than happy to allow you to pay the bulk of the bills. And I didn’t want to feel as if you were arranging my life, making decisions only I should make for myself.” She paused and took a deep breath. “But I realized none of that stopped me from loving you. Actually, it was the fact that I knew you were a caring and compassionate provider for everyone you loved that made me fall for you in the first place. I know it’s in your nature to take care of people, but it’s in my nature to stand on my own.”
He stepped toward her then, touching a finger to her lips. “Be quiet,” he said and gave her that smile again. “Whatever you want, I’ll do. However this arrangement plays out in your mind, I’m okay with it. Just so long as you’re happy and in my arms.”
She tilted her head and made a sound that resembled “awwww.” “So we’re doing this?” Her words were mumbled over his finger.
Roark chuckled and eased his hand to her cheek. “We’re doing this because I can’t stop loving you, Tamika Rayder.”
She eased her arms around his waist and pulled him closer. “That works for me, because I can’t stop loving you either, Roark Donovan.”
The Donovan Family Tree
Download the Donovan Family Tree:
http://www.acarthur.net/download/3056/
1st Generation
Elias (d) & Gertrude Donovan (d) – Children: Rowan (m. Adeline) and Charleston (m. Cora)
Rowan (d) & Adeline Donovan (d) – Children: Isaiah (m. Dorethea), Aaron [d] (m. Sondra), Abraham (never married) and Bridgette a.k.a. Birdie (never married)
Charleston (d) & Cora Donovan (d) – Children: Cephus (m. MingLee), Joanna (m. Johnathan Bowers), Katherine (d) (m. Myles Denton), Della (m. Robert Sats)
2nd Generation
Isaiah “Ike” (d) & Dorethea “Dot” Donovan (d) – Children: Albert (m. Darla[d]), Henry (m. Beverly), Bernard (m. Jocelyn), Everette (m. Alma), Reginald (m. Carolyn) and Bruce (m. Janean)
Aaron [d] & Sondra – Child: Gabriel (m. Maxine)
Abraham “Abe” Donovan – Child: Margo (m. Klevon Whitfield)
Bridgette “Birdie” Donovan – No Children
* * *
Cephus & Ming Lee – Children: Charles (m. Brenda), Wen (m. Hugo Norton)
Joanna & Johnathan Bowers – Children: (twins) Loretta (m. Billy Ringgold), Lorraine (m. Jerry Seavers)
Katherine “Kay” (d) & Myles Denton (d) – Children: Myles, Jr. (m. Alice)
Della & Robert – No Children
3rd Generation
Albert & Darla – Children: Brock (m. Noelle), Brandon (m. Amber) and Bailey
Henry & Beverly – Children: Lincoln (m. Jade), Trenton (m. Tia) and Adam (m. Camille)
Bernard & Mary Lee (x) – Child: Keysa (m. Ian)
Bernard & Jocelyn – Child: Brynne
Everette & Alma – Children: Maxwell (m. Deena) and Benjamin (m. Victoria)
Reginald & Carolyn – Children: Savian (m. Jenise), Parker (x Jaydon (d)) (Adriana), and Regan (Gavin)
Bruce & Janean – Children: Dion (m. Lyra) and Sean (m. Tate)
Gabriel & Maxine – Children: Roark, Ridgely and Suri
Margo & Klevon – Children: (triplets) Alexis, Adonna and Amelia
Charles & Brenda – Children: Cadence “Cade”, Dakota
Wen & Hugo – Child: Xia
Loretta & Billy – Children: Maria, Morganna & Hannah
Lorraine & Jerry – Children: Kendra & Cecile “CeeCee”
Myles Jr. & Alice – Child: Myles, III
4th Generation
Brock & Noelle
Brandon & Amber – Child: Serene
Bailey & Devlin
Lincoln & Jade – Children: Torian & Tamala
Trenton & Tia – Child: Trevor
Adam & Camille – Children: Josiah, Jordan
Dane & Zera
Keysa & Ian – Child: Madison Lee
Brynne & Wade
Maxwell & Deena – Child: Sophia
Benjamin & Victoria – Child: Aria
Savian & Jenise
Parker & Adriana
Regan & Gavin – Child: Raleigh
Dion & Lyra – Child: Ilyssa
Sean & Tate – Child: Briana
* * *
******Key: m = married; [d] = deceased; x = divorced
The Donovan Series
The Seniors are listed in order by birth and their children are listed below them (also in order by birth)
* * *
Senior – Albert Donovan
Brock & Noelle — Book 4: FULL HOUSE SEDUCTION
Brandon & Amber — Book 13: IN THE ARMS OF A DONOVAN
Bailey & Devlin — Book 14: FALLING FOR A DONOVAN
* * *
Senior - Henry & Beverly Donovan
Lincoln & Jade (Children: Twin daughters, Torian & Tamala) — Book 1: LOVE ME LIKE NO OTHER
Trenton & Tia (Child: Son, Trevor) — Book 3: DEFYING DESIRE
Adam & Camille (Children: Sons, Josiah and Jordan) — Book 2: A CINDERELLA AFFAIR
* * *
Senior – Bernard & Jocelyn Donovan
Keysa & Ian — Book 6: HOLIDAY HEARTS
Brynne & Wade — Book 15: DESTINY OF A DONOVAN
* * *
Senior – Everette & Alma Donovan
Maxwell & Deena (Child: Daughter, Sophia) — Book 5: TOUCH OF FATE
Benjamin & Victoria (Child: Daughter, Aria) — Book 9: PLEASURED BY A DONOVAN
* * *
Senior – Reginald & Carolyn Donovan
Parker & Adriana — Book 11: EMBRACED BY A DONOVAN
Savian & Jenise — Book 12: WRAPPED IN A DONOVAN
Regan & Gavin (Child: Son, Raleigh) — Book 10: HEART OF A DONOVAN
* * *
Senior - Bruce & Janean Donovan
Dion & Lyra (Child: Daughter, Ilyssa) — Book 7: DESIRE A DONOVAN
Sean & Tate (Child: Daughter, Briana) — Book 8: SURRENDER TO A DONOVAN
The Donovan Friends
The Desdunes
Lucien & Marie Desdune
Lynette & Brice (Child: Son, Jeremy) — A CHRISTMAS WISH, part of the Under The Mistletoe Anthology
Cole & Loren — ALWAYS MY VALENTINE
Samuel & Karena (Child: Son, Elijah) — SUMMER HEAT
Sabrina & Lorenzo (Children: Daughters, Delia & Desirae, Son, Daniel) — GUARDING HIS BODY
* * *
The Bennetts
Marvin & Beatriz Bennett
Alexander & Monica — WINTER KISSES
Ricardo & Eva — ALWAYS IN MY HEART
Lorenzo & Sabrina (Children: Daughters, Delia & Desirae, Son, Daniel) — GUARDING HIS BODY
Adriana & Parker — Book 11: EMBRACED BY A DONOVAN
Gabriella & Tyler — FOR ALWAYS
* * *
The Lakefields
Paul & Noreen Lakefield
Monica & Alexander — WINTER KISSES
Karena & Samuel (Child: Son, Elijah) — SUMMER HEAT
Deena & Maxwell (Child: Daughter, Sophia) — Book 5: TOUCH OF FATE
The Donovan Series & The Donovan Friends books in reading order:
Book 1: LOVE ME LIKE NO OTHER
(Lincoln Donovan & Jade Vincent)
* * *
Book 2: A CINDERELLA AFFAIR
(Adam Donovan & Camille Davis)
* * *
Donovan Friends #1:
GUARDING HIS BODY
(Lorenzo Bennett & Sabrina Desdune)
* * *
Book 3: DEFYING DESIRE
(Trent Donovan & Tia St. Claire)
* * *
Book 4: FULL HOUSE SEDUCTION
(Brock Remington & Noelle Vincent)
* * *
Book 5: TOUCH OF FATE
(Maxwell Donovan & Deena Lakefield)
* * *
Donovan Friends #2:
SUMMER HEAT
(Samuel Desdune & Karena Lakefield)
* * *
Donovan Friends #3:
WINTER KISSES
(Alexander Bennett & Monica Lakefield)
* * *
Book 6: HOLIDAY HEARTS
(Ian Sanchez & Keysa Donovan)
* * *
Book 7: DESIRE A DONOVAN
(Dion Donovan & Lyra Anderson)
* * *
Book 8: SURRENDER TO A DONOVAN
(Sean Donovan & Tate Dennison)
* * *
Book 9: PLEASURED BY A DONOVAN
(Benjamin Donovan & Victoria Lashley)
* * *
Book 10: HEART OF A DONOVAN
(Regan Donovan & Gavin Lucas)
* * *
Donovan Friends #4:
A CHRISTMAS WISH
(Brice Wellington & Lynn Desdune),
part of the Under The Mistletoe Anthology
* * *
Donovan Friends #5:
ALWAYS MY VALENTINE
(Cole Desdune and Loren Knox)
* * *
Book 11: EMBRACED BY A DONOVAN
(Parker Donovan & Adriana Bennett)
* * *
Book 12: WRAPPED IN A DONOVAN
(Savian Donovan & Jenise Langley)
* * *
Donovan Friends #6:
ALWAYS IN MY HEART
(Ricardo “Rico” Bennett & Eva Romaine)
* * *
Book 13: IN THE ARMS OF A DONOVAN
(Brandon Donovan & Amber McNair)
* * *
Book 14: FALLING FOR A DONOVAN
(Bailey Donovan & Devlin Bonner)
* * *
Book 15: DESTINY OF A DONOVAN
(Brynne Donovan & Wade Banks)
* * *
Donovan Friends #7:
FOR ALWAYS
(Tyler West & Gabriella Bennett)
* * *
Donovan Friends #8:
THE WINTER WEDDING
(Cheyna Dansfield & Logan Williams)
* * *
The Donovan Dynasty
Book 1: DANE
Book 2: ROARK
Also by AC Arthur
Other Contemporary Romance
After Hours Trilogy
Book 1: OFFICE POLICY
Book 2: CORPORATE SEDUCTION
Book 3: LAWS OF ATTRACTION
Bundle: AFTER HOURS TRILOGY
* * *
The Indecent Series
Book 1: INDECENT PROPOSAL
Book 2: INDECENT EXPOSURE
* * *
Rules of the Game Trilogy
Book 1: RULES OF THE GAME
Book 2: REVELATIONS
Book 3: REDEMPTION
* * *
The Carrington Chronicles
Book 1: WANTING YOU - Part One
Book 2: WANTING YOU - Part Two
Book 3: NEEDING YOU
Book 4: HAVING YOU
* * *
The Rumors Series
Book 1: RUMORS
Book 2: REVEALED
* * *
The Royal Weddings
Book 1: TO MARRY A PRINCE
Book 2: LOVING THE PRINCESS
Book 3: PRINCE EVER AFTER
Book 4: TAMING THE PRINCE
* * *
The Temptation Series
Book 1: ONE MISTLETOE WISH
Book 2: ONE UNFORGETTABLE KISS
Book 3: ONE PERFECT MOMENT
Book 4: ONE CHRISTMAS SONG
* * *
Fashion & Passion
Book 1: A PRIVATE AFFAIR
Book 2: AT YOUR SERVICE
* * *
OBJECT OF HIS DESIRE
UNCONDITIONAL
LOVE ME CAREFULLY
HEART OF THE PHOENIX
SECOND CHANCE, BABY
SING YOUR PLEASURE
DECADENT DREAMS
EVE OF PASSION
Paranormal Romance
The Shadow Shifters
Book 1: TEMPTATION RISING
Book 2: SEDUCTION’S SHIFT
Book 3: PASSI
ON’S PREY
Book 4: SHIFTER’S CLAIM
Book 5: HUNGER’S MATE
Book 6: PRIMAL HEAT
Book 7: A LION’S HEART
* * *
The Damaged Hearts Series
(Shadow Shifters Spinoff)
Book 1: MINE TO CLAIM
Book 2: PART OF ME
Book 3: HUNGER FOR YOU
Book 1-3: DAMAGED HEARTS BOX SET
* * *
The Wolf Mates
The Alpha’s Woman (Available as part of the GROWL Anthology and CLAIMED BY THE MATE VOL.1 Duology)
Her Perfect Mates (Available as part of the WILD Anthology and CLAIMED BY THE MATE VOL.2 Duology)
Bound to the Wolf (Available as part of the HUNGER Anthology and CLAIMED BY THE MATE VOL.3 Duology)