Page 66 of Wild Ever After
“I already ate,” I say wriggling, so he’ll put me down.
“Oh no.” He tightens his grip. “You’re coming with me. I haven’t seen you all day.”
“You want me to watch you eat?” I quirk a brow. “That sounds entertaining for me.”
He sets me on the floor as we get into the kitchen, then dips his head to claim my mouth. He smells like sunscreen and chlorine and his skin is wet but warm from the sun. And man, can he kiss.
When he pulls back, I feel a little dazed. He’s made a plate with a hot dog and chips before I fully find my bearings again. Leaning one hip against the counter, he stares at me. “Having fun?”
“You’re shirtless and kicking the other guys’ asses at every game you play, of course, I am.”
He lets out a hearty laugh. “I guess I better not start losing then.”
“As long as you do it shirtless,” I say, and steal a chip from his plate.
He holds the plate out to me, and I take a few more.
When he’s done, we head back outside. He grabs my hand as we approach a group of his teammates. Jack opens the circle to let us in. A few guys I’ve met, but several others, I haven’t, and they eye Declan and me carefully.
“This your girlfriend?” one of them asks.
“My wife,” Declan corrects him, and a thrill shoots through me at the hint of pride in his voice. Or maybe I’m imagining it.
Declan introduces me to each guy, never letting go of my hand. They’re talking hockey, camp stories mostly, but even when Declan’s not speaking directly to me, he makes sure to let me know he remembers I’m here by the little circles he traces on the inside of my wrist and the small, quick smiles.
I consider leaving him alone to talk sports, but then he uses our joined hands to pull me in front of him and wraps both arms around me, so anyone talking to him has to literally speak over me. I lean back into his strong chest and he rests his chin on the top of my head. I have never felt like a more ridiculous couple. Or more wanted.
At that thought, unease settles in the pit of my stomach. It only feels like we’re a serious couple because of our fake marriage. Our actual relationship is new, and I need to pump the brakes on my feelings before they get away from me.
I pull away, missing his touch immediately.
“Need something?” he asks, searching my gaze. “Want to go?”
“No.” I force a small laugh. It sounds brittle, even to my own ears. “I am gonna hang with the girls. All this hockey talk is making me sleepy.”
A flash of hurt in his eyes makes me regret the words, but I walk away anyway.
24
PLEASE DON’T STAY QUIET
JADE
The party continues wellinto the night, with more people trickling in the later it gets.
“It looks like Jack called in every hot woman he knows,” Scarlett says.
“He’s trying to show the rookies a good time.” Dakota takes a drink from her cup. “But I swear if that chick takes one step closer to Johnny, she’s going to find herself in the pool.”
Piper and Scarlett laugh. I attempt a smile, but my jealousy burns just as bright. Declan steps away from a girl that leans a little closer, and I feel so unworthy of his loyalty. It’d serve me right if Declan decided hooking up with a random chick was far easier than me running hot and cold on him.
I look away and turn the conversation to Scarlett. “Didn’t you say there’s a lake at the back of the property somewhere?”
“Yeah,” she says the word slowly. “You want to see it?”
I stand, eager to get away. “Yes, definitely.”
“Let me just tell Leo.”
