Page 69 of The Ex Next Door
“I always think honesty is best, but it has to be age-appropriate.”
“But not too age-appropriate because ‘friend’ didn’t work.”
“No, it didn’t.” She sighed. “That was a big fail.”
Declan set his stirring spoon down and met her eyes. “Can we tell them I’m in love with their mother?”
He watched as Amy’s eyes glimmered, shifted and softened.
This time, he’d fallen first. This time, he understood whathe had with Amy and how that was not something to be casually dismissed. Like the risk taker he’d always been, he gave her his heart, just set it at her feet. He did not give his heart lightly or easily, but it was not so much giving it to her as acknowledging that she’d always owned it.
He stepped toward her when she slid off the stool, closing the distance.
“Nothing like coming right out with the truth. You know me, Amy, better than almost anyone in my life. You know I don’t lie. I don’t cheat. I don’t take shortcuts. I work hard and I never give up on the people I love.”
Her eyes were shiny and wet. She reached for him, holding on to the straps of his apron. “Oh, Declan.”
“Sorry to spring it on you like this. I love you, Amy. That’s it. That’s all.” He pressed his forehead to hers.
“That’s everything.”
She kissed him, kissed him some more and then she took him to bed, where even if she didn’t actually say the words, Declan could feel them. It was Amy and Declan all over again, the 2.0 version. The grown-up one, where two people always meant for each other finally met the right timeline.
This version would last.
* * *
Amy Holloway was flying high.
Instead of going back to the kitchen and through all the trouble of getting dressed again, Declan carried the pan of tossed pasta in a creamy tomato sauce into bed with them.
“This is perfect,” she said, taking another bite out of the skillet that he placed between them.
“You sure? I feel like it could use a little more…something. Is there anything missing?” he asked, taking a bite, and slowly chewing as if judging his own work.
Nothing at all.She had everything she needed right here.
“It’s delicious.”
Still, it was not as delicious as the man himself. His incredible body was muscular, with powerful thighs and flat abs. He’d put her at ease immediately, worshipping her body, kissing every inch of flesh until she was a puddle of pure longing. When he said he loved her, he couldn’t wipe away all the pain she’d been through in the past year, though he came very close.
She would have never guessed all those years ago that they’d someday wind up back together again. Certainly not like this. For a short while, she’d fantasized Declan followed her out to her college, declaring he’d changed his mind. He’d then go down on bended knee in front of the sorority she’d just pledged and beg her to marry him. All the girls would faint dead away at her handsome fiancé and realize she was clearly the coolest girl at the sorority house if not the entire college. Those were the dreams of a self-centered young adult who wanted everything in her life to happen immediately. Marriage. Children.Hurry up, life, give me everything I want. Now.She had zero patience.
Now, she wondered why she’d been in such a rush. Now, her children were growing up, her mother was aging, and so was Amy. Now, she found herself wishing time would occasionally stand still. Like this moment, here, in bed with the single-most-desirable man in all of Charming, Texas. Okay, so maybe she was a bit biased.
She leaned against Declan. “I’ve got to go home, but I don’t want to.”
“And I don’t want you to.”
“Do I really have to be a grown-up?” she groaned.
“Afraid so, babe. We both do. Or at least fake it till we make it.”
She loved her children, but she’d forgotten whatthiswaslike. This complete unraveling of her soul and swimming in a passion like she’d never had before. A whole carnal side of her she’d been ignoring for too long while throwing herself into raising her kids and running a household.
“Okay, I’ll be a grown-up if you will.”
Taking the lead, Declan grabbed the empty pan and rose from the bed, carrying it into the kitchen. He was already halfway dressed in his boxer briefs. When he returned, she remained in bed, pouting. He offered his hand to her and guided her toward the bathroom. They took a shower together, which was sensual even if it couldn’t end in seduction. She towel-dried her hair and they dressed together, going through the motions as if it were the start of their day and not a Sunday night.
