Chapter 67

Friday, August 14, 1987 - Evening

Julie had a little more trouble excusing herself from the party than she'd anticipated, keeping Donovan waiting outside her hotel suite for almost twenty minutes, before she exited the elevator.

"Sorry," she said, pulling her key out of her handbag.

Smiling down at her, Donovan drew her into a hug. "I missed you."

Julie motioned to the hotel room door. "Let's go in there."

She'd barely opened the door and stepped in the room when Donovan grabbed her and kissed her deeply and she let him for a minute before closing the door. She found herself grateful Steve's suite wasn't on the same floor as hers, and hoped she and Donovan wouldn't be disturbed.

He drew back from her and looked around the small living space. "Not a bad spot for an interview."

"Want some wine?" Julie padded over to the marble, mini-bar and lifted two champagne glasses by their stems.

"Planning on intoxicating ourselves again?" He placed his hands on her waist and spun her around for a hug, then kissed her again.

Julie moved away, slightly. "I thought we were going to… discuss some things."

"Oh, you're right. Forgive me." He scooped her off her feet, wine glasses and all. "Juliet Parrish, I love you and I want you to be my girlfriend."

She giggled, and pressed her head against his chest. "I love you too, Michael."

He walked over to the settee and sat, holding her on his lap. Julie placed the glasses on the coffee table.

She pulled away again. "I guess we don't want any wine tonight."

Donovan found her lips again and brushed them gently with his own.

"I need to tell you something," he said as Julie laced her hand in his, enjoying the warmth of his touch.

She hoped Shelly and Ross would let her fly back to L.A. on Monday, that she'd have time to work on her blossoming relationship with Donovan. Did he intend to stay with her tonight?

"I have a new position with KDHB," he said.

"Oh, yeah. What is it?" She pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I love you, Mike."

"I know, and I'm sorry I couldn't acknowledge that before," he said, shifting back against the settee. There was limited space for him to sit with her on his lap and she could tell he was uncomfortable.

"They fired Melissa Foxx. On Monday, I start as the morning news anchor," he said.

She considered it. "You won't be working the evening shift anymore?"

"No, which means –"

She interrupted him with a kiss on the lips. "I know what it means. You can spend more time with me… and Sean. Where is he, by the way?"

"At Cathy's."

"He's really doing better?" She ran her hand through his thick hair.

Gazing at her he nodded, and touched his lips to hers again. "How have you been?"

"Wonderful, now that you're here, of course." She smiled, tasting the sweetness of the soda he'd drank earlier. Donovan returned the gesture.

"Have you been to the doctor lately?" he asked.

Sex… he wants me. She giggled again. "No."

"No? Not since you left L.A.?"

"Mike, I've been surrounded by doctors. If anything would've happened to me, they'd have addressed it right away."

He caressed her fingers with his. "I guess what I wanted to know is if anything could happen to you. Are you physically well?"

She kissed him long and hard until he was squirming against her, and pushed her back.

"Okay, I get the idea. Your breathing is much improved, by the way… Wow."

"Think so, huh?" She grinned.

"Would Dr. Graham approve of your… overexerting activities?"

"No." She kissed his earlobe.

He drew back, wide-eyed. "Shouldn't we be concerned?"

"I'll let you know my limitations."

Grinning, he pulled her close. Julie felt as though there was barely enough room to sit on his lap without sliding off, but let him kiss and caress her and she thought about the times they'd made out on the couch in the Club Creole's basement, they'd never been as difficult as this.

After a few moments of necking, Donovan drew away breathlessly and muttered, "This thing is worse than the old couch at the HQ."

Julie snickered. "I know. But unlike there, I have a bed."

His expression turned serious. "I don't want to cause you any pain."

"I'm fine, Honey." She leaned close for another kiss, but he didn't offer it.

"On one condition," he said.

"Yeah?"

"I get to be the boss in there, and if I see any indication that you're… overexerted, I'll stop and just hold you all night long."

"The boss?"

"Mm hmm." Placing his hand under her chin, he kissed her again, then picked her up and carried her into the bedroom.

#

In a small bar on the hotel's main floor, Steve sat on a stool stirring a martini with a red straw, watching the olive spin round and round. After Julie had abruptly excused herself from the gala, claiming she was ill, Steve's mood turned sour. It angered him the way the press seemed more interested in talking to her than him. Yet he'd be the one sacrificing himself to continue the project in Seattle during the months ahead.

He picked up his glass and drank from it, though he would've preferred his favorite Sangria, this bar didn't offer any.

To his surprise, a few moments later, the young woman who'd been with Donovan earlier sat down a few stools away from Steve. He glanced over at her, as she waited for the bartender to address her order.

"Where's your partner?" Steve asked.

The brunette turned to him. "I'm sorry. Were you talking to me?"

Steve nodded, wondering if Donovan would join her momentarily. "You were with Mike Donovan, weren't you?"

"We're on assignment… Doctor… Maitland, is it?" She stared at him.

"You work with-?"

"-I'm an intern with KDHB. They call me Jaycee."

"And Donovan left you all alone to fend for yourself? Is he around?"

Jaycee shook her head. "No. He said he needed to prep for the interview with Dr. Parrish."

"Interview?" It was news to him. "Would that be with Dr. Parrish and myself?"

"Just with her… I think." She seemed troubled. "Maybe I wasn't supposed to say anything?"

"Is he with her now?"

The bartender placed another martini in front of Steve, and then went over to Jaycee. "What'll you have, Miss?"

"A fuzzy navel," she said.

"Three dollars."

Steve waited for the transaction to end before trying to speak with Jaycee again. "Do you know if Donovan is with Dr. Parrish?"

Jaycee didn't look at him as her expression fell. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. You seem upset or something."

"That you guys came up here to interview her and not me?" He brought his glass to his lips and took a swig. "Why should I be upset?"

"Fine then, what's eating you?" She looked at him.

"Nothing." Clearly, she wasn't going to give up any more information and there was only a slim chance he'd learn whether Julie had excused herself to spend time alone with Donovan.

He motioned to the bartender, asking, "May I borrow your phone?"

The tall man slid the black rotary over then Steve dialed Julie's room number. He let it ring a dozen times before hanging up.

Funny, she turned in early because she was ill, and she isn't available to answer her damned phone. She must be out on a date with that S.O.B.