Page 52 of Declan
“Yes. This is my home now and besides, you’re here.”
“Elise, I don’t want to be the one to hold you back.”
“You’re not holding me back from anything. I want to stay here. With you.”
Declan stared at her then nodded. “Alright. What do you want to do this weekend?”
“How about we just stay in and watch some movies and fool around?”
He laughed. “I like that part. My place or yours?”
“Yours. I love sitting in your living room, watching the flames in the fireplace.”
“Alright, sweetheart. I’ll pick you up Saturday around one. We can spend the rest of the day together and Sunday too.”
“Sounds perfect.” She kissed his lips.
“Let’s go to lunch, then I’ll walk you back.” He kissed her, then they walked out the door.
“Where’s Tank?”
“In my office. After lunch, I’ll get him, and we’ll make our rounds.”
“I bet he doesn’t like being away from you. Like me.” She laughed.
“At this time of the year, he’s happy to be out of the cold.” Declan kissed her lips. “I don’t like being away from you either.”
At the diner, he opened the door, nodded for her to go inside, then followed her. They smiled at the people calling out or waving at them as they made their way to a booth.
Chapter Eight
After Declan walked her back to the studio, she kissed his lips, then watched as he strolled along the sidewalk to the sheriff’s office. As she entered the studio, she went to pull the door shut, but someone pulled at it and she turned to see Stephen.
“I thought we agreed you’d wait outside for Jenny,” Elise said.
“Come on, Elise. It’s damn cold out here. Just get her and I’ll be on my way.”
Elise sighed. “Alright, but only because it’s so cold.”
“Thank you.” He stepped inside and leaned against the counter.
“Erica, would you get Jenny please?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Elise stared at Stephen as he narrowed his eyes at her. She raised her eyebrows.
Stephen stared at her intently, a smirk curling up one corner of his lips. “I thought you were smarter than that, Elise,” he said, his voice dripping with condescension.
“Smarter than what?” Elise responded, her brow furrowing in confusion.
“You have to know that Cavanaugh is only taking you out because you went out with me. It’s payback for me taking someone from him,” Stephen explained, his tone laced with a knowing arrogance.
“Oh, you mean, Dawn?” she replied, feeling a surge of satisfaction as she noticed the flicker of surprise on his face before he let out a laugh.
“So, he told you. No matter what he’s told you, they were having an affair,” Stephen asserted, his voice lowering conspiratorially. “I saw him leaving the house one day when I came home early. He didn’t see me because I stayed back,watching as Dawn stood at the door... in her robe, waving at him as he got into his cruiser. He had no reason to be there, Elise. Absolutely none.”
“Did you ask your wife why he was there?” Elise challenged, her arms crossing over her chest defensively.
