Page 48 of Surrender

The proud smile he gives me makes the crow’s feet near his eyes deepen, and I revel in the feeling of pride. I'm forced to look away. When my normally grumpy, brooding Declan looks at me with that devastatingly gorgeous smile, it makes me want to bow at his feet and give him everything. His praise, his compliments, his touch are devastating to someone as damaged as I am and I'm afraid of what it's doing to my heart.

Then his eyes cut to behind me and I turn again.

A small army of men are unloading a box truck I didn't notice double parked on the side of the road, carrying already assembled bookshelves.

"What is this?" I ask Declan.

He's effortlessly cool when he replies, "I figured we'd turn the Blue Room into a library for you, since you've bought so many books. You need a place to keep them."

I blush. My romance books have been the one thing I've splurged on money-wise, now that I can afford to buy them, instead of just borrowing them from the library one at a time. I've been keeping them in neat stacks on the floor of my bedroom, thinking he wouldn't notice or mind.

His thoughtful desire to make me feel at home hits me in the chest. They were just hollow words. Even if I hadn't planned on doing much more than planting some roses, he was doing it for me. I never would have imposed so much as to take over an entire room in his house. And he knew that. So, he went ahead and did it for me.

I stare at the roses, my chest impossibly full, and my heart overwhelmed with an emotion I've never felt before and am afraid to name.

Chapter twenty-seven

Declan

"Igot in!" Serenity shouts before launching herself into my arms.

I hold her flush against my body a second longer than appropriate. My body wars with my mind. My body wants to hold her, keep her close, touch her some more where my mind recognizes I need to keep my space, so she doesn't develop feelings.

"What?" It registers that I have no idea what she's talking about.

She steps back, looking sheepish and shy. "Into Georgetown business school."

Oh. Oh!

"I didn't know you'd applied. I know we talked about it, but I was going to help you with your applications."

She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "I know. I wanted to surprise you."

Pride swells my chest.

"Congratulations. We must do something to celebrate."

She's still not looking at me when her cheeks flush and I catch a naughty edge to her smile.

I swallow my chuckle.

Of course, my first thought is a romantic dinner and an orgasm or two, but I remind myself we're not doing feelings. We can't do anything that would remotely look like a date.

"How about I arrange a girls' night out? You're friends with Miss Caldwell, right?"

I can see the disappointment she's trying to cover up, but it's better to put some distance between us.

She nods. "Anyone else?"

I'm already texting Cas for Miss Caldwell's phone number

"Um... Nina? From the Red Side? And Benji?"

I nod, asking for Nina and Benji's numbers too, and texting Joseph, asking if he can escort the girls. After her attack a few months ago, I'm not letting her go anywhere without protection.

I text Cooper too, to reserve a table at The Hamilton. She stands there silently, hands clasped together, and within a few minutes I have reservations and confirmations from everyone.

"Alright, I have Joseph picking up you and your friends tonight at six for dinner at The Hamilton and then The Vault after. You still have my card?"

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