Page 17 of Declan
“Are you enjoying your dinner?” Stephen inquired, cutting into his golden-battered fried fish, the aroma mingling with the subtle scent of lemon and herbs.
“Yes, it’s very good,” Elise replied, her voice steady as she forced a smile.
“Would you like to go to a movie again after we’re done here?” he suggested, his eyes hopeful.
“No, thank you. I’ve had a long week and I’m looking forward to relaxing the rest of tonight and tomorrow,” she replied, her tone polite but firm.
“Oh, okay. Maybe another time.” He shrugged, as he raised his hand for a server and requested another whiskey, but didn’t ask her if she wanted anything. The server asked her, but she declined.
Elise remained silent, though inside she was screaming that there would not be another time. Her mind was a whirlwind, and all she wanted was to escape the clutches of this man who seemed to revel in spreading rumors.
“How did your wife die?” she asked, her gaze steady as she noted the flicker of surprise that crossed his face. “What? Is it a secret?” she added, her voice dripping with sarcasm, barely concealing her disdain.
“She died in a car accident,” Stephen replied with a shrug.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Jenny was too young to lose her mother,” Elise said, her tone more appeasing, thinking of the little girl who had been left behind.
“Yes, but as I said, she doesn’t remember much about her. She was only two at the time,” Stephen explained.
“Well, a day could come when you get married again. In my opinion, all little girls need a good mother in their lives. I can’t imagine what I would do without mine,” Elise said.
“Maybe.” Stephen shrugged again, a noncommittal gesture, as if brushing away the weight of the conversation, leaving the air heavy with unspoken words.
Elise couldn’t wait to escape this place, yet she didn’t want to rush through such a delectable meal. The company could have been far more pleasant, but the food was amazing. She glanced around the warmly lit restaurant, her eyes landing on Declan, who was watching her intently. She offered him a polite smile, but his gaze shifted to Stephen, and even from across the bustling room, she could see the tension in his clenched jaw. What on earth had transpired between these two men to cause such animosity? She reached for her glass of wine, took a slow sip, and set it back down.
A server appeared beside their table, inquiring if they wanted dessert, but they both declined. Elise was eager to leave, and she had to restrain herself from bolting out the door. The server flashed a courteous smile and assured them she’d return shortly with the check.
Elise picked up her cloth napkin, dabbing it gently against her lips, but her gaze kept drifting back to Declan, now seemingly engrossed in conversation with his date.Lucky bitch. A small, ironic laugh escaped her lips.Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Elizabeth!
“What’s funny?” Stephen asked, placing his credit card into the leather check booklet.
“Oh, I was just reflecting on how well the classes are going and how cute the little girls are in their tutus,” she replied, a hint of amusement still in her voice.
“Is that what you’re going with?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder toward Declan with a raised eyebrow.
“I’m not sure what you’re implying, but I’d like to go home now,” she responded, her voice steady.
Stephen rose from his seat and extended his hand toward her. She hesitated for a moment but then slipped her hand into his, but when he tried to keep a hold of her hand, she pulled away from him. As she glanced back at Declan’s table, she found his eyes locked onto her.
“He’s such a prick,” Stephen muttered under his breath.
“Maybe he thinks the same about you. I don’t know what happened between you two, but I’d rather not hear any more comments about him,” she said firmly.
“Because you like him?” Stephen retorted sharply.
“Because it’s rude. Please, just take me home.” She pulled on her sweater and walked toward the restaurant’s entrance, leaving the tension behind.
As Stephen navigated the winding roads to drive her home, she sat in silence, her gaze fixed out the window at the passing scenery. There was heavy tension in the car, a palpable barrier of unspoken words she had no desire to break. Stephen was not the man he had seemed to be when they first met; the charming facade had crumbled to reveal something darker. His intense disdain for Declan filled the air like a storm cloud, and she was weary of hearing his relentless tirades against him. She knew Declan harbored a reciprocal dislike, but she was resolute in her decision not to discuss him with Stephen again. No matter how much Stephen spoke, his fixation on Declan was unsettling and obsessive.
She gasped and grabbed the handle above the door when he drove off the road onto the berm but quickly jerked it back and never said a word.
As the car pulled up to her building, a wave of relief washed over her, and she exhaled deeply. Her hand moved instinctively toward the door handle.
“I’ll walk you up,” Stephen offered, beginning to open his door.
“No, it’s fine. Thank you for dinner,” she replied curtly, stepping out swiftly. After closing the door, she ascended the steps to her apartment, eager to put distance between them. Once inside, she locked the door behind her with a decisive click, ensuring her sanctuary was secure. She doubted he would follow her, but she wasn’t willing to take any chances. The resolution formed in her mind that she would never see him socially again. She flipped off the outside light, hoping that would discourage him if he had thoughts of following her up.
The thought of encountering him when he came to drop off his daughter for classes filled her with dread, yet she resolved to remain civil and firmly decline any future invitations. She pondered the hostility between Stephen and Declan, animosity so intense that it seemed rooted in something significant. Curiosity flickered within her about Declan, but she resigned herself to the likelihood that any chance with him had been dashed by her association with Stephen.
