Thank you to all those sent me condolences for the loss of my mother. I am very touched at your thoughts and prayers and hugs. Here's my update and hope you enjoy it! :=) P.S. Thank you for correction a few chapters back on my color mixing. I can be a painter with words as I am a singer, but not on paper - Carebearmaxi.

Donna Meets Lilly

Chapter 8

Harvey swung MaryBeth out and then back. They were dancing a little bit of a ballroom jive but of their own creation. Harvey had always been a good dancer and had been partnered with MaryBeth at many family affairs when they were younger in which Harvey's dad would play his sax.

"So who's the redhead you're so fond of?" MaryBeth asked her cousin as he swung her out again.

When she rolled back to him, he said, "She's my assistant...well she's more than that. She's very special to me," Harvey said looking seriously into MaryBeth's big blue eyes.

"That's Donna, isn't it?"

"How do you know about Donna?" Harvey asked screwing his face at his cousin.

"Let's just say a large bird named Marcus tweeted it at me when I asked who was on the guest list. He wanted to make sure that I knew about her."

"So?" Harvey asked. The music had ceased which led to them standing still as the slower music began.

"I think he was looking for my approval," MaryBeth said to Harvey and then grabbing his jacket persuaded him off the dance floor.

"Approval? Why?" Harvey asked although down deep he knew why.

"Because your mother has convinced your brother that you are thinking of settling down. I have to say Harvey. It's about time!" MaryBeth exclaimed kissing her cousin on his cheek.

"Well, as fond as I am of Donna, I don't think either of us are ready for marriage," Harvey said putting his arm around his cousin and leading her to the bar. He badly needed a drink. He had not realized what a trap had been set for him.

"I approve of her. From what I know of her and you, you belong together. As a happily married woman I recommend the marriage state entirely," MaryBeth said as her husband swept by to claim her for the first slow dance before dinner.

Harvey greeted his cousin-in-law with a manly hug and then joked around about how he had envied what he and MaryBeth had in their relationship.

"Harvey," MaryBeth said in his ear before abandoning him for her husband. "It's there for you, too. All you have to do is tell her."

Harvey semi-smiled and said quietly in MaryBeth's ear, "Maybe."

Meanwhile in the Ladies Lounge, Donna felt a tad cornered by the matriarch. There were very few people that could intimidate Donna, and it seemed Lilly was one of those people.

"Ok, Lilly, it's been ten minutes. I've finished my cocktail and we've exchanged pleasantries, so tell me the real reason why you are depriving me of Giles' company," Donna asked a little defensively.

Lilly had been pacing around the room. Luckily they were and had been alone for quite some time.

"Oh, you met, Giles, huh?"

"Yes, I must say he's quite a hunk," Donna said smiling wondering what exactly she saw in Giles to submit herself to him. Donna judged but, perhaps, it had been a long time ago and both people were quite different.

"You mean hulk, right?" Lilly said laughingly.

Donna nodded laughing along with her and then stopped after she heard Lilly's next remark.

"You are so right for him. You do know that, don't you?" Lilly inquired taking in Donna's perfect fashion sense and perfectly coiffed hair.

"Harvey. Of course, I've known it a long longer than you have. He does, too. He's just oblivious and very afraid of commitment."

"Has he told you he loves you?"

Donna sniffed a regretful laugh and took a seat on the arm of a well overstuffed chair.

"Yes, he has.."

"Well, I guess.."

"Look, Lilly, I appreciate that you want to play matchmaker with Harvey and me. Harvey would not appreciate it and it would only open old wounds that are still trying to scab," Donna said as she took a sip of her drink.

Lilly walked to Donna from her trek around the room and placed a comforting hand on Donna's crossed arms.

"Do you not love him?"

How to answer? Donna looked up at the woman who inadvertently caused Donna's heart so much pain for so many years. No matter how many or what type of man she may have dated, Donna's heart was always bound to Harvey. This devotion or obsession, each with the other, achieved no satisfaction for either herself or Harvey. How to answer that question without revealing so much more.

"Lilly, I am trying my best not to tell you to mind your own business but Harvey and I have been dancing around this subject for so long and I have got to tell you. It is getting old. So as much as I know you want to help us, I am pretty sure that Harvey would not appreciate it."

"What about you?"

"Lilly, just leave it alone." Donna said rising and taking her drink with her striding toward the door.

"No, I won't." Lilly's voice held a tone of rebellion like she would not lie down and let her efforts be futile. Not if she could help two people who obviously want to be together but were too stupid or dumb not to let that happen.

Donna stopped dead in her tracks. Donna turned around and was barely holding herself together. She was shaking. She walked up to Lilly and stared her down as Donna was a tad taller.

"Excuse me?" Donna said raising the timbre of her voice at the end.

"I want to make it up to my son. I know his commitment issues are directly due to what I did to him. However, I want him to know he was not to blame for my mistakes. That what I did when I was married would not necessarily be his fate. He must know he is worthy of a woman's faithfulness and love. I want him to be happy."

Donna smiled. A kindred spirit who knew the real Harvey like herself. Not the facade he liked to show the world. Underneath the handsome confident demeanor dressed in expensive suits and a fancy hairdo beat the heart of a kind and gentle man who was scared of committing himself to one woman for fear of being hurt thereby hurting no one but himself and those who really loved him-like Donna did. Harvey who had emotionally grown so much from Donna's viewpoint was still evolving, but he was evolving into a man whom any woman would love and protect if only he would let one.

Before turning back to the door, Donna said, "Well, Lilly, I'm happy that you want to do something for your son. However, Harvey is stubborn, complicated, and all I can say is Good Luck in trying to get the real Harvey to commit. I have wanted nothing but his happiness since I can remember. Even if he was not looking for happiness with me. However, he is so scared that he would rather sit behind a wall of conceit, selfishness, and cunning than let any one see how good a man he really is."

Lilly remained quiet as she watched Donna walk back to the couch.

"You really do love him, don't you?"

Donna sighed heavily. "Yes, I do, unfortunately."

" You've sacrificed your own desires and needs for his. That's real love, Donna," Lilly said. "I admire that. I only wish I had known what that meant when I was married to Gordon. I loved him and tried to tell Harvey that, but he never understood. I think that's why he is afraid to make another move. He doesn't want to lose you again."

Donna took another swig of her wine tasting only remaining drops of the wine. Donna wished she had a glass of Scotch and feeling the burn instead of the dryness of the remaining Chardonnay.

" I don't know why I am telling you these things. However, I came here this weekend determined to have Harvey make a decision about "us". I have a rule that I don't sleep with men I work with. Harvey has kept his record perfect in the last 13 years since that other time. However, in the last couple of years, we have become close to becoming more than that. I know I am tired of not getting satisfaction. He has spoiled me for just about every other man I ever came close to loving. Just to let you know that I will either come away this weekend with some type of personal commitment from him or I am looking for employment elsewhere and I will leave him."

Lilly looked at Donna and knew Donna's heart was more fragile in regard to Harvey than she ever confided in anyone.

Lilly walked the short distance to Donna and hugged her.

"I am so sorry for hurting you."

Donna held tight to Lilly and was sad that Lilly had also grown so much in her mother's love for her lost child that she had decided that Harvey's own arrogance was due to her own behavior when he was a child.

"The way he is doesn't all come from you," Donna said. "There's a lot of Harvey's and mine own attitudes wrapped up in this convoluted affair."

Lilly released Donna and said, "Tell you what? How about I try to help Harvey's decision?"

Donna smiled and rubbed Lilly's arm up and down. "That's ok. If there's one thing I know that is all Harvey's own, it is stubbornness and total lack of emotional awareness or confusion. This has to be our own decision whether we are together or not. However, I do appreciate the thought."

"Thank you, Donna, for accepting me a lot quicker than Harvey has."

"It's part of my job description to protect Harvey from being his own worst enemy. It all stems out of my love for him. This weekend the only person he will need protection from-is me."

Donna then swiftly walked out of the door taking her empty wineglass with her.

Harvey met Donna at the door of the Ladies Lounge.

"Where were you?"

"I was privately wishing the birthday girl a happy birthday. Did you enjoy dancing with your cousin?" Donna asked.

"How did you know that was my cousin?" Harvey asked. "Why couldn't've been some fantastic looking brunette to make you jealous?" Harvey had a sly smile on his face to gauge Donna's reaction.

"I'm Donna. I don't get jealous," she lied. She had been jealous every time he had known he had gotten "lucky" or especially when he had decided to be committed with Scottie. Donna knew she could have remedied the problem all by herself by making herself available, but that would have only culminated in them both never connecting again. Harvey would have tired of her or only kept her around because she was convenient not because he truly valued the woman she was and the job she did as his assistant. Donna would have tired of waiting for Harvey to take the next step and be so preoccupied that she would have lost her job as his assistant and thereby lost him. It would not have been a good situation no matter what.

" I know that's your cousin. Thanks to the gentlemen I was speaking with before your mother cornered me."

After a beat where they both hung their heads almost embarrassed at their jibing one another.

"Do you still want to dance?" Harvey said quietly taking her hand in his. A little doubt showed in his dark eyes.

"It's a slow dance, Harvey," Donna said almost fearfully. She felt so vulnerable right now. Her legs always turned to jelly whenever he smiled, but the way he was looking at her right now was so intense that she felt she could melt right into him if he held her too close.

"So? I want to dance a slow dance with you. I can be a perfect gentlemen when I want to be," Harvey countered.

"Don't I know that…" Donna mumbled to herself.

Harvey raised her hand and kissing it led her to the dance floor.

Harvey and Donna swayed in their own little box. The tune was an old one in three-quarter time which made it easy to waltz. Neither one knew really how to waltz but they kept up a fair pattern until Harvey accidentally moved his hand from between Donna's shoulder blades to lower down in the small of her back. Harvey moved his head a little to see her expression expecting to see a raised eyebrow silently questioning his move. Instead her eyes were down and when she raised her head she seriously stared into his eyes with a question but not a sarcastic one.

"What are you doing, Harvey? I'm not one of your one-night stands,.." Donna said wanting to know if he really thought she was just going to sleep with him again without thinking of ramifications or even, dare she say it?-commitment.

"I'm sorry. It won't happen again," Harvey said placing his hand back higher where it had been.

Donna decided not to say anything and just let things happen. She was praying that Harvey, if he felt comfortable enough again to make a move, would tell her what he really wanted. Accidentally she found herself moving closer to him, her hand on his shoulder caressed his neck in a soft sweeping motion and she moved close enough to whisper in his ear. His own clean washed scent drowing in his Aramis cologne made Donna swoon effortlessly. That's when she felt him hold her closer. She told herself he had done this because he felt her almost fall; however, she liked to think because he knew he really wanted her-in that way.

Harvey was confused. Does she or does she not want me? I am so trying to figure this woman out. I love her. I dream of kissing her, loving her, and, definitely, not wanting her to leave me. I have always been confused by women and she is so complicated herself that I am doubly confused. God, woman, what do you want? Harvey's thoughts were scrambled.

He felt her falter for just a moment and he held her closer. Her touch excited him. The chills that emanated from her touch burned him leaving him to want more. That's why he held her close. Donna was always so confident he felt she would never swoon over a momentary out-of- place touch especially from him.

They slightly moved their heads to gaze at one another. Just once Harvey detected Donna's real desire in her eyes. Donna could see Harvey's want in his eyes. The heat between them was chilling in its affect. Donna shivered. Harvey could feel goosebumps on her bareback. Her dress was sexy and she was absolutely stunning but the dress did little to keep exposed skin warm.

"Are you cold?" Harvey asked breaking the silence. "Do you have a wrap to go with this?"

"Yes, I am cold," Donna said. She wanted to say "Not when you hold me." Then deciding that that sounded too adolescent she went with the truth.

The dance had come to an end and dinner was shortly to be served. Silently they separated and Harvey walked her back to her table so she could retrieve her matching wrap.

"Thank you, Harvey," Donna said as he placed the wrap around her shoulders.

"Well, I'm only over here if you need anything," Harvey said but as he moved away his fingers remained on her shoulders a little longer than usual.

Donna's eyes followed Harvey's back all the way to his seat. Turning back she smiled to herself. Things were becoming interesting.