Page 36 of Declan
“Why can’t you tell me?” Elise demanded.
“I will, but not yet. I think you need to realize on your own what kind of person he truly is,” Declan said with a resigned shrug.
“I already told you that I’m not seeing him again. Are you jealous of him?” Elise inquired, her voice probing.
Declan’s mouth fell open in surprise, then he quickly closed it, shaking his head with a laugh. “Hell, no. Do you think I should be jealous of him? In what way? His slick appearance? His so-called manners? What exactly?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“He doesn’t seem to have any manners,” Elise admitted, her voice softening with uncertainty.
“Well, I do,” Declan replied firmly. “I am, in no way, jealous of him.”
“Something happened between you to cause such animosity.”
“Yes, it did,” Declan acknowledged, his tone somber. “But I’ll let you make up your own mind. If you want to see him, I’ll step back. No matter what he tells you, don’t believe it.”
“I don’t want to see him, Declan. Maybe you should heed your own words. Don’t believe what he tells you. I haven’t heard from him since the second date. Well, wait. I did when he called to ask me out again, but I turned him down several times. I have no desire whatsoever to see him on a social basis. I see him when he drops Jenny off, which he does from outside, and that’s it. I’m being honest with you.”
Declan nodded. “Okay. Nothing would make him happier than to have you stop seeing me and start seeing him.”
“You’re going to tell me what happened and you’re going to tell me soon.”
He picked up her hand, kissed the palm, and looked into her eyes. “I will, soon. I promise.”
Elise nodded. She believed him, but she wasn’t going to keep quiet about it until he told her what exactly had happened between the two men.
Chapter Six
Saturday evening, Elise anxiously awaited Declan’s arrival, her excitement was almost physical, as she prepared for their dinner date. She had slipped into a sleek, skintight dress of deep blue, accented with white trim. On her feet were pristine white stilettos.
“He better appreciate these,” she muttered to herself, recalling Stephen’s unsolicited advice against wearing them. “Prick,” she added under her breath.
The sudden knock at the door made her heart leap, her nerves tingling with anticipation. Inhaling deeply to steady herself, she walked to the door, peering out the peephole to see Declan standing there, holding a delicate pink rose, its petals vibrant against the evening’s dim light.
“Open the door, it’s cold out here,” he called, a teasing warmth in his voice that made her laugh.
She swung the door open, gesturing for him to enter. He removed his hat, wiped his feet on the welcome mat, and leaned in to plant a gentle kiss on her lips, then stepped inside the warmth of the apartment.
“How did you know I was watching?” she asked, tilting her head.
“I just had a feeling,” he replied with a playful smirk, offering her the rose. “Here, this is for you.”
“Thank you,” she said, her smile genuine. “Let me put this in water.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he responded, closing the door behind him. “Damn,” he murmured.
She turned to face him. “What?”
“You look absolutely beautiful,” he admitted, his eyes tracing her silhouette before dropping to her feet. His gaze lingered onthe stilettos, and he groaned softly before meeting her eyes once more. “That dress, those shoes,” he said, shaking his head in admiration.
“You like them?” she asked, a playful lilt in her voice.
“I think like is an understatement. I’m just glad I didn’t say what I wanted to,” he said.
“I could probably get it out of you,” she said.
Declan chuckled. “No doubt there.”
Smiling, she cupped his cheek with her hand. “You look very handsome.”
