Defensive Heart: The Donnolleys, Book 2 (9 page)

Chapter Fourteen

The next morning, Sonja stood at the kitchen counter, nursing a hangover and a cup of coffee. Casey had finally replied with a text message stating that she was on her way home. Sonja had been furious last night and remained so this morning. In spite of the mammoth headache she had.

After finishing her coffee, Sonja emerged from the kitchen…and spotted her daughter, clearly trying to sneak into her bedroom without getting caught. “
Casey
!”

She glanced at Sonja, said nothing and disappeared into her bedroom.

Sonja waited, hands on her hips—pissed as hell—for her daughter to emerge. When she finally did, Casey had an impassive look on her face, which only invited more of Sonja’s anger. “Get in my study. Now.”

Sonja stormed in that direction and Casey followed. “Where’s Daddy?”

“Never mind him. Where in the
hell
were you?”

“I was at Trina’s. What’s the big deal?”

Sonja closed the door and pointed to the high-back chairs. “Sit.”

“Fine.”

Well aware Casey was going to toss her a great deal of attitude, Sonja took the seat beside Casey and braced herself. “You did not have my permission to leave this house. You were still grounded. That’s what the big deal is.”

“Daddy said I—”

“I don’t give a damn what your father said.
I
did not say you could go.
I
did not let you off punishment. In case you fail to remember, Casey,
I
am the one who makes the rules.” Sonja gritted her teeth and felt her neck and face flush with heat. To hell with “
Daddy
”! She was more furious with her daughter in that moment than she’d ever been in her child’s fifteen years of life. Truthfully, Sonja tried to never raise her voice, no matter how angry she got, only slipping on occasion, but she’d definitely never lost her calm, cool demeanor like she was now. Sonja cringed and reached for some calm.

Casey stood, hands on her hips. “I was grounded all week. I wanted to see my friends. You never let me do anything and you treat me like I’m a baby. I’m not a damn baby!”

“Sit your bottom down, little girl, before I bend you over my knee and spank it. Don’t think I won’t do it either. I’ve had it with your attitude. You think you can come and go as you please, huh? I got news for you, you can’t, and if I have to restrict you to this house for the rest of the damn year, I’ll do it. Don’t push me, Casey!” So much for finding calm.

The study door opened and Thomas rushed in. “Just what the hell do you think you’re doing, Sonja?”

“Get out!” Sonja stormed to him. “You have no part of this discussion. I believe you have a flight to catch.”

“She’s my daughter too, and I will not be ordered out of my home.”

Sonja clenched her fists at her sides and swallowed down the bitter taste in her mouth. He was beyond arrogant and Sonja had had about as much as she could take. “Your home?
Your
home? This is not your home, Thomas. It never was.”

Thomas peered around Sonja. “Casey, where were you last night, honey?”

“I was at my friend Trina’s house.”

“She’s lying.” Sonja pinned Casey with a glare over her shoulder. “I tried to reach Trina several times, just like I tried to reach you. I’m quite certain your little friend would lie for you anyway. You were with Drake, weren’t you? Did you spend the night at his house?”

“Sonja, back off.” He stepped around her.

Blind with fury, Sonja whirled around. “Get. Out. Now, Thomas.”

“I’ll leave when I’m damn good and ready.” He walked over to Casey. “Tell me the truth, kitten. Where were you?” His tone was packed full of softness.

“I was with Trina. We fell asleep and woke up late.” Casey looked up at her father and didn’t bat an eye while she recited the lie. Sonja would never have believed her daughter was capable of being so deceptive, but there it was, right in front of her.

“Did you see this boy your mother keeps going on about?”

“No, Daddy. I didn’t. I swear.”

Thomas turned and faced Sonja. She crossed her arms and once again felt her face flush with heat as rage pumped through her veins. He kissed Casey on the top of her head and then brushed past Sonja to the doorway. “She’s telling the truth. Enough already. There’s no reason to ground her further.”

“Go back to Florida and play with your toys. I am quite tired of you thinking you can come in here and tell me how things are going to be. You have no say in this.”

“She’s not grounded, and that’s final. You’ll do as I say.” He walked out of the room.

Losing whatever control she had left, Sonja followed after him, yelling
and
cursing.

“Keep running your mouth and I’ll have your ass back in court so fast your little blonde head will spin.”

Once again he tossed his favorite threat at her. “Ha! Take
me
back to court? Go ahead and try, Thomas. You and your arrogance should’ve thought better before you gave me sole custody to begin with. You’ll never win. You don’t have the resources, or the energy. I’ll do as I see fit with my daughter and there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it.” Sonja looked over and saw Casey, only then realizing she’d followed them from the study.

“
Our
daughter!” Her ex’s voice echoed through the foyer of the apartment.

Casey took a step back, eyes wide as tears ran down her cheeks. Casey swiped away the wetness and ran into her father’s arms. “Stop it. Daddy, don’t go.”

He stroked her hair. “It’s okay, kitten. I’ll call you later. It’s all going to be fine.” He kissed the top of her head again. “I promise.”

Unable to bear any more of this, Sonja tugged on Casey’s arm, pulling her away from her father. He needed to go now. “Get out, Thomas. I can’t stand to look at you anymore.”

Thomas glared at Sonja, looking up and down her body like the sight of her disgusted him too, before turning and walking out of the apartment. Sonja slammed the front door. “Son of a bitch!”

“I hate you! I hate you for making him leave, and I hate you for never believing me!” Casey yelled between sobs. “I hate you for everything. It’s all your fault.” She spun and ran toward her bedroom.

“Good. Go to your room. You can spend the rest of the night in there. I don’t want to see your face either.”

Sonja stormed down the hall to the kitchen in search of a glass of wine. She wasn’t proud of herself for losing her temper, but she’d finally stood up to Thomas—in a way she hadn’t managed to do since the divorce, and that counted for a lot. Her daughter was out of control, not unlike her ex, and Sonja had no intention of accepting either of their tantrums any longer.

Chapter Fifteen

Jimmy checked his phone for the tenth time in fifteen minutes. Tension filled his limbs, thrumming in time with his pulse while he stood in front of the theatre waiting for Sonja to arrive. She was late. Or not coming—
she’s coming. She has to be.
He blew out an impatient breath and tugged down on the sleeves of his shirt beneath his tuxedo jacket.

Black car after black car pulled up and unloaded couples dressed to the nines for the auction—checkbooks in hand—all in the name of helping out a city of recent hurricane victims. Jimmy paced back and forth in front of the doors while staring at the screen on his phone. The auction was starting in less than twenty minutes. Running his fingers through his hair, he turned and scanned the street again.

And then, she was there.

He froze, feet rooted in place like they’d been bolted to the concrete beneath them. Seeing her was a punch in the gut and he lost all his breath.
God, she’s glowing.
Fear and excitement stole his sanity and he was no longer sure of…anything.

The silver Towne Car behind her pulled away and Sonja’s pale-blue gown fluttered in the slight breeze. She’d worn her hair down, and it also moved from the slight wind as she took one single step toward him. Jimmy had never seen her hair down and the long blonde locks draping over her bare shoulders, even at this distance, mesmerized him.

With a mental kick in the ass, he managed to get his feet in gear to approach her.
Is this it? Is she the one?
He never figured there could or would
ever
be another for him. Not after what he
had
and lost so many years ago. The thought terrified him, but nothing could’ve kept him from moving toward her. Jimmy stopped a few feet away and they regarded each other.

She held tight to the small clutch in her hand. “Are you going to say something or just stand there and stare?”

Jimmy slid his hands into his pants pockets. “I told you, get used to it. You’re so goddamn beautiful, staring at you has become my favorite thing to do.”

Sonja’s chin dipped and a demure smile graced her lips before she looked back up at him. “Thank you. You look quite beautiful yourself.”

He smiled and nodded his thanks for the compliment. “Are you ready to go inside?”

“Yes. No…” She shook her head and blew out a breath. “I suppose.”

“I think I could spend the next twenty years trying to anticipate what might come out of your mouth next, and I’d fail every time.” Closing the distance between them, he held out his arm to her.

“That’s a scary thought, you know. In twenty years, I’ll be sixty-one.”

“And you’ll be as beautiful as you are today.”

Sonja looped her arm inside his. “You think flattery will earn you points tonight?”

He led her to the entry doors. “God, I hope so. Either way, my flattery is sincere. You take my breath away, Sonja-the-lawyer.”

“If you say you’ll need mouth to mouth, I may slap you.”

Holding the door open, Jimmy chuckled and ushered her inside the lobby. A server rushed past them with a tray of champagne flutes and Jimmy snagged two glasses before the guy got away and handed one to Sonja. He winked. “No slapping. You could ruin my devilish good looks.”

“As if anything could ruin those.” Sonja sipped the champagne and closed her eyes with a moan. “Thank you. This is just what I needed.”

“You’re welcome. I always know what you need. And…was that another compliment, Sonja?”

She smiled. “Maybe.”

“Two in one night? Better pace yourself.”

She rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling. A chill ran down Jimmy’s spine and his skin prickled with goose bumps. Her pale-blue dress matched the color of her eyes, making them sparkle and shine brighter than he’d seen before. They were utterly captivating. The chill he felt only moments ago turned into a stream of flowing heat, warming his skin, and Jimmy couldn’t seem to drag his gaze away from hers. To his surprise, her smile reached deep into his soul and woke something inside him that’d been lying dormant since college. Shaking his head, he pulled himself from his thoughts. “What would you like to see first? There’s all kinds of art here for auction.”

Sonja looked around the large lobby set up as a gallery and then back to him. “I don’t know. You’re the expert. Surprise me.”

“You don’t strike me as the type of woman who likes surprises.”

“Perhaps. Yet since I met you, you’ve consistently surprised me. Maybe I’m getting used to it.”

“Point for me!” Jimmy chuckled and moved them to the fine art photography section.

“Oh, this is beautiful. The lighting the photographer captured is amazing—almost mesmerizing.” Sonja stepped closer to the five-by-five-foot piece. “Was it taken locally?”

The picture showcased a cherry blossom tree in full bloom. The sun was setting to the left of it, casting a glow over the side of the tree and its pink flowers. “Yes, actually in Central Park, I believe. A friend of mine, Thad, took it. He’s around here somewhere. I’ll introduce you.”

“And this is up for auction?”

“Everything you see here tonight has been donated by local artists and is up for auction.”

She looked back at the piece. “It makes me feel…”

Following his gut instinct, Jimmy stepped behind her, put his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder, bringing them cheek-to-cheek. Taking a breath, he inhaled her scent. The light fragrance of her perfume mixed with her shampoo made him think of the beach and the sun. “What does it make you feel?”

“Peace.” She sighed and her head fell back against his shoulder. “It makes me feel peace.”

“That’s rare, isn’t it?”

“Yes, especially lately.” She pressed her cheek against his. “Show me your pieces,” she whispered.

“All right. But I’m betting my stuff won’t make you feel peace.”

She let out a sigh. “That’s okay.”

Jimmy brought her to the section featuring the three pieces he’d donated. Two of them were rough-edge pieces with paint on canvas and large metal objects welded together into various shapes. One was a metal sculpture welded using old auto parts. She commented on them, asked him questions, but didn’t have the same reaction to his stuff as she had to Thad’s photograph.

A flicker of jealousy flew through his veins before he caught it, squashing it. Sonja was delicate and it made sense the more delicate art would appeal to her. Jimmy’s art was anything but delicate. There was no reason for him to be jealous over that. For whatever reason gaining her approval, or praise, had become important to him and he wanted her to feel something when she looked at his art too.

Many people loved his art. Praised him
and
paid him for it. Yet, he craved that validation from her. Deep down, he believed if he earned her admiration, then he’d know she truly
did
recognize him as more than some irresponsible artist. It shouldn’t matter so much, but it did.

They took a seat for the auction. The long gown draped over her slender legs, but the slit down the side allowed a glimpse of her creamy skin. He hadn’t forgotten how soft her legs were. The memory of when he’d had his hands on her upper thigh in his studio slammed into him and ran straight to his dick. Jimmy cleared his throat, smoothed his hand over the back of his neck and blew out a breath.

She caught his gaze, concern evident in her eyes. “Everything okay, James?”

“Yes.” He smiled and took her hand in his. “Thanks for coming with me tonight.”

“Thank you for inviting me.”

Jimmy ran the fingertips of his free hand down her cheek. She froze, closing her eyes, but then leaned into his touch. He wanted her. In his bed, yes. But, more than that. The idea of “more” scared the shit out of him, but ever since he’d met Sonja, Jimmy knew he wanted her.

Sonja was an enigma, but he wanted more than just to solve the puzzle. Jimmy moved his hand to the back of her neck, running his fingers through her soft hair, and pulled her closer. He kissed her. Soft and gentle, a mere brush of his lips over hers.

A soft puff of breath feathered over his mouth from hers and he kissed her again. She tasted of champagne. Sweet and heavenly. Had she realized the spell she cast over him those short weeks ago in Vegas? Did she realize, even now, the spell was still in full force? “I want you,” he whispered against her lips.

She moaned a quiet little whimper and kissed him again. She gripped his jacket sleeve in her slender hand as she pulled away and then pressed her forehead to his. Her breath rushed out in short bursts. “Why? Why do you want me, James?”

“I have no answer for you, Sonja. And at the same time I have a thousand reasons why.” He gazed into her eyes and ran his fingers through her hair again. “I know I’m not what you want, but I can be if you let me try. Will you let me try?”

The auctioneer’s voice over the sound system broke their intense moment, keeping her from answering his question. Damn. She smiled a nervous smile at him with lips swollen from his kiss, before facing the stage. Jimmy would’ve paid any price to know what was in her mind right then. What was her answer? Would she let him try?

The auction ended and all pieces had been successfully sold at many high bids. Sonja purchased Thad’s cherry blossom photo. She planned to hang it in her bedroom. And once again that twinge of jealousy stirred in his gut. He wanted
his
art in her bedroom, not anyone else’s. The possessive nature of the thought shocked him.

The night had been stuffed full of shocking thoughts. What the fuck was he going to do if he actually had the chance to make love to her? He’d barely kissed her more than a few times and already he was lost in her cornflower-blue eyes and sharp-witted comments. What would he do if she was the whole package and the sex was really good? Which—judging by how they fought with each other—would be an understatement.

What if, right? What if it was bad? What if it was amazing? As it was, he couldn’t keep her out of his mind for long. If their chemistry exploded in bed, he’d be lost to her for sure. A forty-one-year-old, divorced, full-time mother had captured his mind—
Wait. Who am I kidding?
She’d gotten a damn good grip on his heart too.

And none of it made a fucking bit of sense. For fuck’s sake, he was in the deep end of the pool. Jimmy hadn’t been in the pool in a very long time and he’d forgotten how to swim. What does someone do when they’re in the deep end and panic takes over? They tread water like their fucking life depends on it.

Jimmy was doing exactly that. Treading water.