Page 93 of Starting Over

“I boxed everything up. It’s in Colleen’s spare room.”

“Can you call her? I’d like to go through those things and see what I can find. Maybe I can figure out who killed him.”

Looking at Sal, I wondered if I should give him what he was asking for. I had no use for the things in Duane’s office. I just hadn’t thrown them out yet because they were a reminder of him.

“When are you going back?” I sighed.

Sal looked around the room again. I knew what he was thinking. He wanted to get to know his son. If he left now, he would never get the chance.

“I’m not sure.”

“When you get back, I’ll call her. I don’t want her going through them before you get back. I don’t want her digging into whatever he was doing.”

Sal nodded.

“I’m going home,” I told Declan.

“Let me come with you.”

“Declan—”

“Please, Reenie, we need to talk.”

“Ok,” I whispered, accepting that Declan O’Rourke had a way of getting me to give in with a simple look.

Pulling into my driveway, Declan was right behind me, reminding me that it had only been twenty-four hours since the last time. Looking through the windshield at my porch, I knew what he would see when we walked inside. Nothing had changed. I’d spent the entire day at the clubhouse, so I hadn’t made any further improvements in the house.

Trying to muster the strength to get through another conversation, I stepped out of my truck and walked to the house. I didn’t wait for Declan, just unlocked the door and walked in, leaving it partially open for him.

Walking through the empty rooms to the back of the house, I removed my coat and boots. Once the living room was done,I would have a place by the door. But for now, since the floors hadn’t been done out here, I placed everything in the mudroom.

Moving into my bedroom, I heard the front door close, and I waited. This was the only room with furniture, and the only room with heat that didn’t leak through the walls. This room was the only option.

That’s what I told myself.

I sat on the bed with my eyes closed and waited for him to find me. His footsteps scuffed across the floor as he made his way to me.

“Hey.”

The sound of his voice had me opening my eyes. There he stood, leaning against the doorway. His hands in the pockets of his coat, and his shoulder pressed to one side.

“Hey.”

“Can I come in?”

Swallowing down my refusal, I nodded. He walked to the side of the bed and sat down next to me.

“Reenie, you can’t live in this house.”

“We have been over this, Declan. This is my home. I knew what I was doing when I bought it. Tomorrow, I start working in the living room, first painting, then on to the floor. Then, I can order my furniture to be delivered. After that is the kitchen—”

“Where do you eat?” he asked, cutting me off.

“Well, yesterday, I had lunch at The Diner. Today, I ate at the clubhouse. King told me I was welcome anytime. And Hash, well, Hash asked me to marry him.” I grinned at the scowl that marred his face. “I’m considering it.”

“Like hell are you marrying anyone but me.”

“Declan...” He had to turn my silly joke into something serious. My life had always been filled with serious. Hell, the short time I had been in Nebraska was serious. I was ready for fun.

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