Page 18 of Declan
“Such a shame,” she murmured softly, her voice carrying a hint of regret as she moved toward her bedroom.
Once inside, she found herself drawn to the window. She parted the curtains just enough to glimpse Stephen still parked by the stairs, his presence unsettling in the dim light of the streetlamps. As she stood there, his gaze lifted, meeting hers for a fleeting moment before he finally started the car and drove away. Relief once again washed over her. He was undeniably creepy, and she was grateful to have uncovered his true nature before becoming more entangled.
Taking a deep breath, she headed to the bathroom. The cool water on her face was refreshing, a welcome reprieve from the evening’s discomfort. She changed into her cozy lounge pants and a soft T-shirt, still too tense to consider sleep. Crawling intobed, she picked up the remote and turned on the TV, hoping to find something soothing to calm her frayed nerves and ease her into the night.
****
Declan sighed heavily, his eyes following Elise as she exited the softly lit restaurant with Johnston by her side. His jaw tensed involuntarily, a clear display of his growing frustration.
“Where are you, Declan?” Denise’s voice cut through his thoughts, bringing him back to the present.
He turned to her, offering a faint smile. “I’m sorry. It’s been a long day.”
“You were off today, weren’t you?” Denise raised her brow slightly, furrowed in concern.
“Yeah, but I still had work to do around the barn. The horses have to be tended to, and the stalls have to be mucked out,” he replied, a hint of weariness in his voice.
Denise leaned forward, resting her elbows on the elegant tablecloth, and clasped her hands together. She shook her head gently, her expression softening.
“It’s something else, isn’t it?” she said, reaching across the table to touch his hand lightly. “You know you can tell me.”
“Maybe some other time,” Declan murmured, trying to push his concerns aside. “Let’s just enjoy dinner.”
“Alright,” Denise agreed, though her eyes lingered on him, still full of unspoken questions.
Declan exhaled deeply, attempting to focus on the meal before him. Yet, his mind kept drifting back to the puzzling scene he had just witnessed. Why would Elise choose to go out with Johnston, of all people?
“Because she really doesn’t know him,” he muttered under his breath, the words barely audible. He glanced up to find Denise watching him intently from across the table.
“Who are you muttering about?” she asked, curiously.
Declan set his fork down, picked up his napkin, and dabbed at his mouth. “Elise Ramsey,” he admitted.
“I’m not familiar with her,” Denise replied, tilting her head slightly.
A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. “You wouldn’t be unless you were taking ballet classes.”
“Declan, you’re not making any sense. What do ballet classes have to do with it?” Denise asked, her confusion evident.
Drawing in a deep breath, Declan began to explain the situation with Elise and Johnston. “I just don’t get why she’d go out with him.”
“You mentioned she was new in town, right? Maybe she hasn’t realized what he’s really like yet,” Denise suggested, offering a plausible explanation.
“Yeah, that’s true, but the thought of her with him, especially with him driving, makes me uneasy,” Declan confessed, his concern evident.
“Maybe you should tell her,” Denise said with genuine sympathy.
“I don’t know. She might just think I’m being jealous or something,” Declan admitted, uncertainty creeping into his voice.
“Are you?” Denise asked with a teasing smile.
Declan shrugged, a sheepish expression crossing his face. “Maybe a little, but he asked her out first.”
“Just be patient. If he’s as bad as you say, she’ll see it eventually,” Denise reassured him, her tone filled with warmth and encouragement. “If for no other reason, maybe you should tell her about him and what he did.”
“Maybe. We’ll see. She didn’t look so happy with him when they left.” Declan sighed.
“Then she might have already figured him out.”
