Page 22 of Desired

“Please don’t make this more difficult than it needs to be, okay?”

“Just...give me my watch back, Krystal, and quit wasting my time. I don’t know what sort of shit you’re trying to pull here, but I’m not impressed.”

Suddenly her face changes. She grimaces. And then the waterworks come.

“Fuck.” I growl under my breath.

A gasp. “Declan, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for all that I did to you. I never meant to hurt you. I...I just wanted to tell you that, before I got married.”

I’m confused...and irritated. “Why? Why, after such a long time? And why before you get married? Why does your fiancé fucking care?”

She sobs. “He doesn’t. I do. I just...I wanted to make sure that you’ve forgiven me. And I wanted to see if there was any spark still there, Declan. I never stopped loving you, and I don’t want to walk down the aisle unless I know that there is nothing left between us.”

I slam my fist on the table. “Is that what this is all about? That you’re carrying a fucking torch for me? You’re a sick fucking freak, Krystal! You always were, I was just too goddamn blinded because I thought that I was in love with you, but it wasn’t the real thing. No, lass, it wasn’t. You were only into me for the seven figures I had in the bank. And, clearly, you haven’t changed, since it appears that you’re marrying for money; exactly what you wanted.” I seethe, glaring at her, giving off as much hate in my eyes as I can muster.

The tears roll down her cheeks. She was always a great actress. Crocodile tears were her best performance. “I miss you, Declan.”

I laugh mirthlessly. “What’s the matter, Krystal? Your future hubby can’t get it up? Has he got a cock the size of a fucking gherkin? Ha! Looks good on you.” I toss a five on the table. “Keep the fucking watch.” I rise. “You can shove it up your fucking ass for all I care.”

I stomp out of there, blood boiling, chest heaving. I can’t believe I fell for that garbage, and after all this time, too. Clearly, I never learned my lesson, and that there was a necessary reminder. It’s late and I’m not feeling like I’m going to sleep at all tonight. So I head over to da’s. Why, I don’t know. I guess I’m a glutton for punishment. With the way he is I won’t know until I arrive if he’s home. He’s been known to skip town on a jet and go wherever life takes him on a moment’s notice. He could have even packed up and gone to Scotland again for all I know.

Turns out he’s home. In the living room, sipping scotch. “Declan. This is a surprise.” He says kindly. I feel like I’ve caught him at a good time…for once. It almost calms me to see him so relaxed. “Want some scotch, son?” He offers.

“No. Thanks.” I say, sitting down with a soft thud on the couch next to him.

“You’re upset.”

“I am.” I sigh. “I did something stupid tonight.”

He looks at the brown liquid in his glass. “Why don’t you run it by me. I can tell you how stupid it was.”

“I’m sure you can.”

He chuckles. “It can’t be all that bad, Declan. I didn’t get a call to bail you out of jail.”

“You might have if I hadn’t kept my cool.”

“Ah. All my boys are hot-tempered. Just like me and your mama.”

I decide to just break it to him. “I went to see Krystal.”

He winces, staring into his glass, as though it might have all the answers. “What for? I thought you were after Moira McTavish.”

I disregard his comment. “She created a fake social media account so she could reach out to me.”

“I’m surprised you fell for that, my boy.”

“She dangled a carrot in my face and I was foolish enough to believe it.”

“I know she didn’t offer you tail, son. So what was it?” I try to disregard that comment, and ignore the thought in my head, of sleeping with Krystal. It turns my stomach. He moves on, I’m guessing that he senses my discomfort. “What did she have to say, Declan?”

“She’s getting married, but she wanted to bury the hatchet, so to speak.”

He nods once, following along. “She wanted one last fuck?”

I shudder. “God, I don’t know, but the ring on her finger sure didn’t seem to matter. I dodged a fucking land mine with that one.”

“Krystal was always about dicks and dollars, lad. And you have both. That’s one thing that makes things more challenging for my boys. But Caleb, Maverick and Ethan seem to have found the right ones. I’m sure you’ll be no different.” He changes the subject. “I hear Rush is having a similar problem with a lass.”

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