Slowly, I made my way over. Peering through the curtain that hung over the window beside the door, I shook my head at the man standing there.
“Tucker, friend.” He immediately sat. His growl became a whine, and I knew he was still alert. I couldn’t thank Banshee enough for bringing him to me.
The first few nights alone in the house were hard. I heard every sound and sleep didn’t come easy. Now though, I slept peacefully with Tucker by my side.
Opening the door, I crossed my arms over my chest.
“What are you doing here?”
“I thought we could talk.”
“It’s pretty late.”
Declan looked at his watch. “It’s only 8:30.”
“Fine,” I conceded. I opened the door wide so he could come in, and that was when I noticed the bag in his hand.
“What’s that?”
“Dessert,” he said, holding up the bag. “I stopped by The Diner for some pie.”
“What kind?” I tried to peek in the bag, but he held it away from me.
“What’s your favorite?”
“How can I answer that when I don’t know what you have in there?”
He held the bag behind his back. “I don’t want to know your favorite of what I have. I want to know your favorite.”
“Why? If you don’t have it, you’re just gonna feel bad.”
I grinned at the look on his face. I don’t think he had thought of that. He shook his head, as though he were clearing his thoughts.
“Doesn’t matter. I still wanna know.”
“Blueberry.”
“Ha! You’re in luck.” He reached into the bag and pulled out a to-go container and a plastic fork. Handing them both to me, he walked to the couch and stopped so quickly I bumped into his back.
“Um, is he planning on staying there?”
I laughed at the tremor in his voice. You would think after they all saw what a sweetheart he was with the girls, they wouldn’t be afraid.
“Tucker, chair.”
Tucker jumped off the couch and moseyed over to the chair. Climbing into it lazily, he spun a few times then curled himself up, closing his eyes.
“How long have you had him?”
“I think you know exactly when I got him. Seeing as you were sitting up the street, watching us.”
He had the courtesy to look sheepish.
“You could have just knocked on my door.”
Placing his pie on the coffee table, he leaned his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped together between them.
“That was the plan. When I got here, I saw a truck in your driveway and didn’t know who it was at first. Then, I saw you kiss him.”