Tired, Victoria stood to leave her home office. As she turned out the light, she caught a glance of her pros/cons list and remembered what John said in the stacks. If you’re interested in something remotely impulsive... Having interest was very different from actually doing. Fantasies were great and all, but acting on them was risky. Victoria didn’t do risky. She sighed as she flicked the light off. While she wasn’t normally an adventurous person, her body had definitely informed her that she was ready to take a chance. Victoria wanted to do him.

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Jessi’s laughter rang loudly in John’s ear. “I can’t even picture how you and Chris managed,” she said. “Two hulking dude-bros wringing their hands over maxi pads.”

“We weren’t wringing our hands,” John insisted while looking through the mess on his desk. He was searching for a titles acquisitions list before his sister video called. Martha waited in the doorway tapping her toe.

“You got it?” she asked in a loud voice. When is she going to get that hearing aid looked at?

“Jess, hold on. Martha, give me a few minutes, will ya?”

“Mr. Wegman needs the Children’s acquisitions by the end of the day.”

“Yes, yes, I know. Budgets are due. Give me thirty minutes and I’ll find them for you.”

The old woman shrugged before hobbling away. “Sure thing, Donovan.”

“You know damn well you can’t multitask,” Jessi chided him. “Let’s talk when you get home.”

John continued to search the papers on his desk. “No, no. I want to talk to you now. Did Becca get a chance to call you during her lunch period?”

“She could only talk for a few minutes, but oh god,” Jessi sighed, “I miss my little pumpkin. She sounded so pitiful. I shouldn’t have come out here.”

“Jess, she’s fine. She’s just a little mixed-up right now.”

“And I’m probably to blame for that. Still no word from Allen?”

John rubbed the side of his face. “No word.”

“You know, when we last talked, I forgot to mention how the events of this summer might be affecting how he regards you.”

“Just because I’m keeping his daughter doesn’t mean he can’t call her. Really, Jess. One punch at a church cookout and I’m the monster?”

His sister bit back her smile. “Not a monster...”

“You should be proud of my restraint. He knows he got off easy,” John said, pulling a face. “If Becca knew what kind of asshole her father was...”

“I need you to keep him and his mistresses to yourself,” Jessi said in a steely voice. “Becca doesn’t need to hear it.”

“Of course.”