His to Protect: A Fireside Novel(32)

“Sounds like you’re starting your own business.” Declan’s voice behind me made me jump. I spun on my heels until I was facing him.

“How much of that did you hear?”

He shrugged and slid his hands into his pockets. I watched the movement, unable to look away.

If I wasn’t touching him, or he wasn’t touching me, I wanted it to be happening.

I almost pouted when his fingers slid into his pockets and not to my waist.

His chuckle told me he knew what I was thinking, and he leaned in, bending down until his lips were at my ear. “You just had my hands all over you this morning, and you already want more?”

A week ago, I would have blushed furiously at the suggestion.

But I’d learned a lot in a week. Mostly that Declan seemed to like me however I came. I was also learning to shed my skin of insecurity.

“I can’t help it,” I whispered, taking a step toward him and setting my hand on his hip. “I like the way you touch me.”

He growled into my ear and pulled me to him, giving me exactly what I wanted.

“What’d that woman really want?”

“I thought you heard everything.”

“Enough to get the idea. Not enough to know who she is.”

His eyes lifted and he watched Kate as she walked away. We hadn’t heard anything more from Kevin in the last week, and Tyson had been calling in favors as much as he could. But considering who Kevin was, and who his dad was, Tyson had to be particularly careful not to arouse any more suspicion than necessary. However, the fact that Kevin hadn’t shown up made me hope that he couldn’t find me. I also hoped he wouldn’t be able to find me before I filed divorce papers, which I was planning on doing early next week.

It was time to stop hiding and start moving on with my life.

“She’s opening a bakery next month and has had some problems with the people currently doing her marketing. She wants to talk to me about ideas. Chelsea talked to her earlier today.”

“Sounds like a great opportunity.”

I shrugged in his embrace. “It could be fun, but I’m not looking to do anything. It’s not like I really can right now, anyway.”

“Maybe not now.” He pulled back and ran his hand through my hair, pushing it off my shoulder and down my back. “But maybe like Jorge with his photography, it could be a good way for you to get some clients if you do decide to go that route once you’re settled.”

A frown twisted my lips. I liked working with Declan in the office and on the floor when I was needed.

I liked waking up with him, spending my day with him, and then going to bed next to him. But maybe he didn’t feel the same. Maybe he wanted some distance between us. Which made sense.

Just over a month ago, we were strangers. Now we were together practically every hour of every day.

“Maybe,” I muttered, feeling a bit deflated as I considered this possibility.

Declan reached out and cupped my cheeks with his palms, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Why are you frowning?”

I opted for honesty. Declan liked it when I was upfront with what I wantedin bed and out of it. “I’ve been having fun being here with you and helping you.”

A puff of breath left his lips and he gripped me more firmly before pressing his lips to mine. “How is it possible,” he said when he pulled back, “that you keep getting more perfect for me, every single day?”

I smiled before I realize I was doing it. Those flutters that tended to hit my stomach when Declan was around were alive and strong.

“I want you to do what you want, honey, regardless of what that is. You want to stay at Fireside, build this with me, I want that. You want to spread your wings and do your own thing. I’ve got your back one hundred percent. This is your time to figure out you…we’ll figure out us together.”

I was left breathless, but not incapable of moving, so I rolled to my toes and kissed him, showing Declan how much I appreciated not only his faith in me, but in whatever we were building. “Same goes for you, Declan. I’ve got your back, always.”

“Good.” He pulled back and wrapped his hand around mine and pulled me inside. “Now let’s get you inside and away from all these men who have been drooling over you all morning long. They stick around here much longer and I might end up on the front page of the news in a way that wouldn’t be good publicity for Fireside.”

I snickered at his deep, irritated voice and followed him inside.



A breath escaped me as I walked into Fireside Grill with Declan behind me.

A warmth I had never felt before permeated me, spreading throughout my body as I looked at the small crowd of people at the bar, all welcoming me with warm, friendly smiles.

I shivered from the sudden heat in my body.

“You okay?” Declan asked, his hand firm on my lower back.

I peeled my eyes off the people at the bar and looked up at Declan while he guided me forward, a deep line between his brows. Then I looked back at everyone who’d been around for most of the day.

Tyson and Blue were standing in the center. To Tyson’s left, I saw Aidan and Derrick, and to Blue’s right, a small circle of womenChelsea and Camden, along with Paige. Suzanne had to spend the afternoon with her husband’s family celebrating his parents’ fortieth wedding anniversary, but even without really knowing Suzanne, I knew that had she been able to make it, she would have been here completing my new group of friends.

Unshed tears glistened in my eyes as I inhaled a shaky breath before expelling it slowly.

I’d never had this.

I’d never had friends who would spend an entire day doing nothing but hanging out and being supportive. And, yeah, I knew Paige was here for the man candy, Camden probably because they dragged her along, and Chelsea because she was super sweet and kind. And the men were here for Declan, their friend for several years, but the other reasons didn’t matter.

What mattered was that they were here. Supporting him. Supporting me.

I’d never felt anything so beautiful.

My feet paused and I faced Declan again, allowing thankfulness to shine in my enamored expression. “Thank you,” I whispered with a choked voice. “I’ve never had this. Never had friends and this kind of life. Thank you for giving that to me.”

Declan’s gaze went to his friendsour friendsand then returned to mine. That line between his eyes disappeared and several more appeared at the edges of his eyes as they crinkled. He laughed softly and pulled me to him, brushing his lips across my forehead and then down to my ear. “They’re not here for me, honey. They’re here for you, because you’re you.”

A full body tremble rolled through me. I took a moment to let that soak in.

Was it possible these people were all there because of something good I’d given themafter only a few meetings, at most?

My chin quivered and I pressed my forehead to his chest, allowing him to wrap his arms around me.

“Come on.” He curled his hands around my shoulders and pushed me away from him, reaching out to tip my chin up. “Let’s go celebrate a good day and pray like hell this brings in some money.”

I looked around the restaurant and saw the tables packed with customers, mostly women, and laughed. “I think it’s working already.”

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and spun me toward our crowd of waiting friends. “Let’s fucking hope so.”

“That’s another dollar.”

“I don’t give a shit.” I looked up to see him grinning. He flashed me a wink before he led me toward the bar and had Charlie hand me a glass of white wine.

I sipped it slowly while the girls came and congratulated me on what appeared to have been a successful day for the restaurant. I got sucked into conversation with everyone, and didn’t think anything of it when I saw Tyson pull Declan off to the side and begin speaking to him in a hushed voice no one else could hear.

I was sure it had something to do with me.

Possibly Kevin. But I didn’t want to think about him today, refused to allow him to spoil a good afternoon spent with even better people, so I turned away and found myself face-to-face with Aidan and Derrick.

They were almost mirror images of each other, with their square jaws and tall frames. Though he was only thirteen, I could already tell that Derrick was going to grow up to be just as tall, if not taller, than Aidan, who was clearly over six feet. Their black hair was exactly the same, as was the friendly sparkle in their rich-brown eyes.

“Hi,” I said, jumping slightly. I hadn’t realized how close they were to me until I almost smacked Aidan in the chest with my wine glass.

His gaze moved from somewhere over my shoulder to meet mine. “Looks like you had a good day today.”

I shrugged, still unfamiliar with having this many compliments tossed in my direction. “We’ll see if it brings repeat business, I guess, but it was fun.”

He nodded as if he understood, and his eyes returned to someone behind me. I didn’t have to look to know who he was looking at.

I sipped my wine and tilted my head to the side. “Been on any more dates lately?”

He coughed and shook his head. One hand scrubbed the back of his neck. “Ah, no.” He blinked and dipped his chin. “That’s not a frequent thing for me, Trina. I want you to know that.”