Page 72 of Taking A Chance

Declan’s face softens, a small, understanding smile playing on his lips. “Yeah, love. So am I. But that doesn’t make it any less true.”

A welling in my chest propels me forward, my arms wrapping around his neck as I kiss his lips through sobs. “I love you too,” I say, between kisses. “You know that, don’t you? I’m so sorry.”

He kisses me hard, his arms wrapping me up into him, his hands exploring me like he’s searching for something. “I hoped,” he exhales. “God, how I hoped.”

Another wave of sobs hits me and I can’t tell if they’re happy or sad or a little of both. This man has my heart and he didn’t even know it because I was too stubborn to tell him, to show him.

“What do we do now?” I ask, wiping at the mascara stains all over my cheeks.

Declan lets out a soft sigh, his head slightly bent as he leans into my hair and inhales. His hands grip me, still clinging to me like I might float away.

“Well,” he says, “we’re going to leave the closet and talk to people about all these paintings of you.”

“Okay,” I say.

“Then, I want to take you home,” he says. “And make love to you.” He presses his lips against my earlobe, kissing then nibbling.

“That sounds good.” I giggle, still wiping at the makeup under my eyes.

“I just have one question,” he whispers softly, sending goosebumps down the back of my neck.

I lean in, humming, anticipating what he’s about to ask.

“My place or yours?” he asks, his breath hitting my ear, the warmth spreading down my neck.

“I don’t care,” I say. “As long as I’m with you.” I press my forehead against his, inhaling him.

I’m in love with Declan Walsh, the artist who lives across the hall, the man I spent three years hating for no good reason.

This is all I’ve wanted for so long, and I almost let it slip away. But I won’t do that again.

Taking a chance with my heart scares the shit out of me. But come what may, I’m ready for it, with him by my side.

Epilogue

DECLAN

“Hurry up,”she cries, climbing the front steps of the hospital. “We’re going to miss it.”

All I can do is trail after her at this point. I don’t exactly have a warp speed button or a NOS can hidden anywhere. This is the fastest I’ve ever seen Cora move, even when there was bread on the line. Not that I blame her. It’s not every day your nephew is born.

“It’s all right, love,” I call up to her, but she isn’t hearing me today.

“Declan, I swear if we miss it, I’m punching you for driving like an old man,” she yells back.

What did she expect? We drove eighty through the night all the way here as soon as Jensen called with news of Harper going into labor. He assured us it would be a while, but they were heading to the hospital just in case.

I suggested flying but there were no flights direct to Raleigh last night. So instead, we’ve been in a car for twelve hours.Twelve. Hours.I wish I could say we did the smart thing and slept while the other drove, but that didn’t happen. The excitement kept Cora up while I drove and Cora kept me up while she drove.

We run straight into the elevator and press the button for the fifth floor, the maternity ward. I had enough sense in all the excitement to tell Cora to call ahead and find out exactly where to go so there were no delays once we made it.

We hit the floor and round the corner, heading straight for the nurses’ station. They hand us visitor stickers to adhere to our chests and then point us in the direction of a small alcove lined with chairs down the hallway.

“Oh my god,” Cora says. “Lyla!”

She runs up to a woman standing in the area and embraces her. A man seated next to her stands, hugging Cora next. I’ve heard a lot about Lyla and Gentry, even seen a few photos from their wedding. But this is the first time I’ve met them and I’m strangely nervous. I know how important they are to Cora. And that makes them important to me.

“Hey, man,” Gentry says, sticking out his hand. “Good to meet you.”

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