Page 45 of The Ex Next Door
“I also feel safe with you,” she said. “And I always have.”
Declan held her in the circle of his arms, his hands settled low on her waist. This moment was about a lot more than safety and trust for him. It was about new beginnings, and finding that some roads were circular and led you right back to where you started.
* * *
Amy was in Declan’s arms and she didn’t want to move. This moment should last a thousand years or more just so she could get reacclimated to the sensation of his warm hands on her body again. He’d touched her and it was genuine and filled with raw emotion. She’d missed this. It wasn’t just the human touch, or one of a man appreciating her as a woman. This wasDeclanand he obviously still owned some part of her soul. She would have at one time called it the part of her soul that carried with it her youth. Declan owned that part of her because he’d starred in it.
But now he was her present, too, slipping into the role of partner so easily it scared her. He’d carried her children in and set them down in their beds the way she and Rob had done so many nights. It should have been jarring to see another man in his place but somehow it wasn’t, not after the initial surprise.
Tonight had been spent partially reimagining what could have been. Mr. and Mrs. Sheridan would have been ideal grandparents. Finn played his part as the playful uncle, and Michelle the sophisticated aunt who would advise them on the best universities. Amy went a little “rogue” giving everyone their roles, until she realized those scenarios meant she and Declan would be husband and wife. It was a metaphorical splash of ice water in her face because, yes, maybe she wanted that. Still.
Now, she pulled back and found Declan studying hermouth. Then he lowered his lips to hers and kissed her, which felt like the single most natural movement. His kiss was tentative, and soft and exploring until she returned it. She fisted his shirt and leaned into the kiss, taking it deeper. But they were against the door to David’s bedroom, so she pulled back, took his hand and led him to the couch.
He pulled her into his lap and there was no more talking then, just desperate and feverish kissing. She took it up a notch, daring to reach under his shirt, touching warm, bare skin and then… Amy heard something but…
“Mommy?”
Naomi’s voice. Then the sound of the door creaking, that damn squeaky door, but thank God Lou hadn’t oiled the hinges. Amy jumped off Declan’s lap and smoothed her hair into place.
Before long, as suspected, Naomi joined them, staring at both of them from the hallway.
Naomi rubbed her eyes. “I’m thirsty.”
“Of course, honey. Let me get you some water.” Amy headed to the kitchen, throwing an apologetic look at the rumpled, tousled-haired, incredibly sexy Declan.
“Good night, you two.”
Then he was out the door.
“Why was our neighbor here?” Naomi asked after taking a large gulp of water.
“Well, Declan drove us home, remember? And we were talking. I was thanking him because he carried you and David inside when you fell asleep.”
“Oh.” Naomi seemed to consider this. She set the glass down and headed back to her bedroom.
Amy followed, handed her a pair of jammies, waited for her to change and tucked her back into bed.
“Good night, sweetheart. Thank you for being such a beautiful, intelligent and sweet daughter.”
“You’re welcome.” Naomi yawned, but stopped Amy on the way to the door. “Mommy?”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
“I love you more.” This time Amy didn’t close the door all the way but left it cracked a few inches.
She then quickly found her phone and textedDeclan:
I’m sorry about the interruption.
She waited, watching as dots filled her screen while he typed his reply.
Takes me back. Instead of parents interrupting us, now it’s children. Damn, I think we’re old.
He sent an emoji of a man walking with a cane. Amy smiled, shook her head and replied:
Is that a hockey stick or an old man with a cane? Either way, we’re not old. We’re just grown-up.
