Page 18 of Roark
“I’ll take you to the clubhouse. You can get some rest and make those calls first thing in the morning.”
She looked at him as if she were seeing him for the first time. “The clubhouse?”
“Yes. That’s where I’m staying at my family’s B&B.”
“I can’t stay with you.”
“Do you really want to stay alone in a hotel tonight?”
It took her less than a minute to reply, “No.”
“Then, you’re coming with me.”
Chapter 7
This wasn’t the way Tamika had envisioned things turning out. She hadn’t imagined being at the Donovan manor again, and she certainly never thought she’d be in this private clubhouse with Roark Donovan, preparing to spend the night.
“I called Geoff, the concierge from the hospital, and told him you’d need clothes.”
She walked closer to the bed while Roark talked.
“He’s been here twenty years, which means he must be really good at his job. He said he’d have everything in this room ready for you. But if you need anything, just let me know.”
She moved her fingers slowly over the three nightgowns laid out on the bed. The material was soft, silk no doubt. In bold colors—emerald green, fuchsia and royal blue. She spun around to face him again. “How’d you know I’d agree to come here?”
Because he was Roark Donovan, that was how. He didn’t say that, but the confident way in which he was standing with his legs slightly spread, arms folded across his broad chest, and chin tilted, spoke volumes. Yeah, he wasn’t the cockiest guy she’d ever met, but there was no doubt he knew all he’d had to do was ask. “I would’ve taken you anywhere you wanted to go.”
“Oh.” That was all she could come up with, and because his words contradicted what she’d thought about him and made her feel awkward, she clasped her hands behind her back and nodded. “Well, thanks. I’ll be out of your hair first thing in the morning.”
He let his arms fall to his sides. “We’ll talk first thing in the morning.”
“Is this what you do?”
“Excuse me?”
“Do you always just tell people what to do and they do it?”
A muscle twitched in his jaw as he stood there staring at her. Thinking. That was what he was doing, thinking and deciding what to say to her next. “I run a successful corporation. I’m good at leading.” His voice was stern, but the look on his face was that of mild confusion.
“But you’re not very good at being questioned. That’s why you seemed so agitated at our meeting this morning. You like to have all the answers, but I caught you off guard.” And now she was acting like being in this room, standing close to this bed, wasn’t throwing her off just a little.
He took a step closer to her, and she willed herself to remain still. Not because she was afraid of him or of being alone in this room with him, but more so because she was uncertain what was going to happen next. “I don’t like strangers approaching me with things I didn’t know about my family. That has nothing to do with being a leader, but more to do with a man who protects what’s his.” His voice was deep with an edge of danger, or was that passion?
She couldn’t tell; what she knew for certain was that she liked it. “I like finding the answers to questions. Which is why I became a fire investigator. I’m naturally curious, and I’ve been told I talk a lot.”
He tilted his head, and she thought the corner of his mouth lifted as if he wanted to laugh at that comment.
“I didn’t mean to offend you by asking about your mother. I just thought there was a connection,” she continued when he hadn’t responded.
“Get some sleep. We’ll talk about it in the morning.” He was about to turn and walk away, but he stopped and looked back at her. “We can talk about it in the morning, if you’re up to it.”
She smiled, not worried about what he may have thought by seeing her do so. “I like to talk over coffee.”
There was no movement from either of them for the next few seconds. She suspected he was trying to figure her out, while she was reassessing what she already knew about him. He was an intriguing man. A sexy-as-hell, brooding and possibly unhappy, but damn intriguing man.
“Good night.” He said those two words in a huff, and then he was gone.
She watched him walk through the sitting area and out the door he closed behind him with a quiet click. Then she continued to stand there for another five minutes while she digested everything that had happened.
