Page 35 of Declan
“What are you doing?”.
He looked at her. “What does it look like I’m doing?”
“Don’t be a smartass, Deputy,” she shot back, smiling. “I can do them.”
“You cooked. I’m not helpless in the kitchen just because I’m a man,” he countered. “I know my way around a sink.”
Elise removed a towel from a drawer. “Fine. Then I’ll dry.”
He scrubbed a plate, rinsed it, then passed it to her. She dried it and stowed it in the cabinet. They worked in companionable silence, with the clink of porcelain, and the swish of water the only sounds.
When they finished, Elise hung the towel. Declan patted his hands dry with a paper towel, then leaned against the granite countertop and watched her. A slow, teasing smile curved his lips when he saw her cheeks bloom pink.
“Why are you blushing?” he murmured, stepping closer.
“I’m not,” she insisted.
He reached out, cupping her cheek. The warmth of her skin sending a shock through him. “Yes, you are.”
Elise drew a steadying breath, meeting his eyes. “Declan, I really want this to be something special. I don’t want to get my heart broken, but I’m willing to see where this goes… if you are.”
He sighed. “Of course, I am. Elise, this is rare for me. I’m forty-two and never been in love. Well, not a deep love. I fell in love when I was twenty, and we were together a year, but when she found out I wanted to go into law enforcement, she broke it off. Her father had been a policeman and was killed in the line of duty. What I do is dangerous. Any type of law enforcement is.Hell, three years ago, one of the agents at the Clifton office of the Montana Department of Livestock, was killed on the job. I have to constantly be alert. You never know what’s around the corner. So, if that’s something you can’t deal with, tell me now before this goes any further.” He held her gaze, the quiet of the night wrapping them in a fragile promise of what might come.
****
Elise sighed. “I want to handle it. I know I’ll be worried about you, but I believe there is something between us, and I want to see where it goes—”
Declan silenced her gently by pressing his lips against hers, a soft yet fervent touch that spoke volumes. His arms encircled her waist, drawing her closer until there was no space left between them. A soft moan escaped her lips as she slid her arms up around his neck, feeling the warmth of his skin, and pressed her body firmly against his. He slowly pulled back, his gaze locking onto hers with a look that was both intense and tender.
“You taste like lasagna,” he murmured, a playful smile dancing on his lips.
“Good thing you do too,” she whispered back with a teasing grin, before she leaned in to capture his lips again in a gentle kiss.
“I want you so much, Elise, but I’m not going to pressure you, at least not tonight,” he said, a mischievous grin lifting his lips.
“How about we watch a movie and just be together?” Her suggestion was soft, inviting a shared intimacy that was comforting.
“Sounds good.” With a reassuring squeeze of her hand, he led her to the living room. The soft glow of the evening lamp cast a warm hue over them as he gestured for her to sit. He settled down beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Her cheek rested gently on his shoulder as she scrolled through themovie options, searching for something they could both enjoy, the anticipation of the evening ahead settling into a calm, shared contentment.
When Declan sighed, Elise sat up and looked at him. “What’s wrong?”
“I pulled Johnston over for running a stop sign a while back.”
“Did you give him a ticket?”
“I did. He told me he was going to ask you out again since you only had a disagreement and he knows you like him.” Declan shook his head.
“I don’t. Not ever again.”
“He doesn’t want to see you because he’s genuinely interested.” Declan shook his head in frustration; his brow furrowed with concern. “I’m sorry, that didn’t come out the way I intended,” he added hastily, his voice softening.
Elise’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of hurt flashing across her face. “I should hope not,” she replied, her voice tinged with disappointment.
Declan took a deep breath, trying to choose his words carefully. “He asked you out because he knew I was interested in you.”
A look of disbelief washed over Elise. “Wait. You think he only asked me out because you wanted to? Thanks a lot, Deputy,” she retorted, crossing her arms defensively.
“Elise, I’m just trying to be honest with you here,” Declan insisted, his tone earnest. “He is not a good person. If your dates didn’t show you that, what will? He’s doing it out of spite.”
