Page 68 of The Ex Next Door
“You’re going tocookfor me?”
“Why not?”
“I didn’t know you could. Are you any good? You make a mean Mojito, but you can cook, too? Where have you been hiding all my life?”
The words were said so sweetly he almost missed the cataclysmic effect they had.
There was a quiet pause when they both smiled at each other. The unspoken message was that, of course, he hadn’tbeen far almost the entire time she was married to someone else.
“I’ve been right next door.”
Chapter Twenty
Later, Declan chopped carrots for the salad while Amy rested on his couch with her laptop. She was taking an online practice test, and he was doing his best not to distract her. He’d already donned his grilling apron because Amy said watching him cook shirtless, wearing only his jeans, was not only seriously distracting but also dangerous.
“Dangerous to whom?” he’d said with a wink.
“You. I don’t want you to get burned.”
“Okay, good point. I’ll put on an apron. I don’t want you to jump me while I’m cooking. You’re right, that could be dangerous.” He’d flashed his chef’s knife, the best part of cooking.
All the cool cutlery.
Man, he could get used to this cozy kind of setting. It wasn’t the sexiest thing to announce but deep down he was a homebody. He remembered he and Amy had always had a quiet and steady relationship. They’d rarely argued, unusual enough for teenagers that friends used to say they were like an old married couple. And true, they spent nights together watching TV or playing board games. Neither one of them was a party animal and, of course, Declan was forever training for something or the other.
He had to remind himself, though, that it wouldn’t alwaysbe Amy and him in their domestic bliss. For at least half the time, David and Naomi would be here, too. Lucky thing he liked kids and especially those two. They were difficult not to like. He and David were especially simpatico, which, of course, made sense. Maybe since David was mad at his father, Declan could now be a sounding board. He certainly understood what it was like to have a less-than-understanding father. What he really could not help David with was an under-involved father. But he could take up the slack there if nothing else.
He chopped and minced, and eventually the smells of garlic and onion permeated the air as he stirred them in olive oil.
“That smells delicious.” Amy came up behind him, curling her arms around his waist, then lightly kissed his back.
The move sent a sting of desire slicing through his body. “No distracting the chef.”
“I’m taking a break.” She came around the other side of the counter to sit on a stool. “And anyway, we should really talk about something kind of serious.”
While he didn’t like the sound of that, his ears perked up. “What is it?”
“I’ve been thinking about this a lot and, well… I think and hope you will agree.”
This was probably the moment where she reminded him that they needed to take things slow since there were children involved. He recalled her saying something like that right after he’d kissed her for the first time, and he’d understood. But he hoped, and maybe he was pushing his luck here, that after last night something had changed. It certainly had for him. This was what he wanted more than anything, a family with Amy. There was just no one else in the world like her for him. He was already half in love with her but if shewanted to slow down, he’d understand and accept it. Timing was everything. He could be a grown-up about this.
“I know what you’re going to say.” He held up a hand. “Because of the kids, we should keep this thing between us a secret for now.”
She frowned. “Is that whatyouwant?”
“What? No, I thought it was what you wanted.”
She shook her head and wrapped her arms around her waist. “Actually, I was thinking that we need to tell the kids about us.”
Whew. Talking to Amy. Always so easy. Why couldn’t it be this easy with anyone else? Cut to the chase. They were always honest with each other, and always spoke up.
He was so flattered, however, it took him a moment to formulate his response. “Yeah. Sure, I agree.”
“What do you think we should tell them?”
So, she was going to let him do this. No, she probably only wanted his input. The truth was he figured Amy would knowexactlywhat to say to her children. Apparently, calling someone Daddy’s “friend” had backfired, so he hoped that she’d learned something there.
He stirred, considering his response. “Can we tell them the truth?”
