Page 19 of Sanctuary

He let out a long breath, running a hand through his hair. “Mia, I—”

“Don’t,” I cut him off, holding up a hand. “Please don’t apologize again. I think I’m going to head to bed. Goodnight.” I turned away, willing him to grab me by the arms and kiss me senseless, but he didn’t, and I couldn’t run up the stairs fast enough.

I closed my bedroom door and leaned on it, catching my breath. Just being near him had my heart racing, why, why did I have to keep kissing this man knowing it was only going to complicate things. And why did I ever agree to marry him?

Chapter 10

Connor

I ran a hand through my hair as I watched her walk away. Every time we kissed, it had my lips buzzing and I can’t figure out why. She wasn’t drop dead gorgeous, but there was something about her that drew me in like a moth to a flame. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. This wasn’t the time for distractions, no matter how tempting.

I turned back to the kitchen counter, cleaning up the mess of our baking session. As I wiped down the marble surface, my mind raced. The kiss had been unexpected but not unwelcome. Footsteps had me looking up, hoping she had forgotten something. But it was only Declan.

“Hey man. Wanna give us a ride to the airport at seven am?”

I cringed. Seven in the morning? I felt bad for him and Wren, they had to postpone their honeymoon once again. But this time Declan vowed to her that nothing would stop them from going.

“Yeah.” I tossed the dishcloth into the sink, not looking at him.

“What’s wrong?” Declan stopped me with his hand on my arm.

“I haven’t learned a damn thing about her, and we keep kissing.”

Declan chuckled. “Okay. What’s wrong with that?”

“What’s wrong with that?! You told me to find out what I could about her.”

Declan’s eyebrows shot up, a mixture of amusement and exasperation crossing his face. “Yeah, but over time, like months. Christ, Connor, you can’t expect to unravel someone’s entire life story in a week.”

He leaned against the kitchen island, crossing his arms. “Look, I know you’re new to this whole captain thing, but part of leadership is knowing when to push and when to be patient. You can’t force trust, especially not with someone who’s clearly been through some shit.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I know, I know. It’s just... There’s so much at stake here. The clan, the estate, everything Tomas built...”

Declan’s expression softened. “I get it, believe me. But think about it from her perspective. She shows up here, running from God knows what, and suddenly she’s thrust into this whole new world. She’s probably scared shitless, even if she’s not showing it.”

He paused, his eyes taking on a faraway look. “You know, when I first became captain, I was a mess. Trying to figure everything out at once, making snap judgments, pushing people away because I thought I had to have all the answers.”

I nodded, remembering those turbulent early days. “Yeah, you were a right bastard for a while there.”

Declan chuckled. “Thanks for the reminder. But you know what changed things? Wren. She taught me that sometimes, the best way to lead is to slow down, to listen, to build connections.”

He placed a hand on my shoulder, his voice serious. “Connor, you’ve got good instincts. But this isn’t just about uncovering secrets or protecting the clan. It’s about building a life, a partnership. Even if it starts out as a fake engagement, these things have a way of becoming real if you’re not careful.”

I felt a warmth spread through my chest at his words, remembering the soft press of Mia’s lips against mine. “So what do I do?”

Declan grinned. “You do what any good leader does. You observe, you listen, and you wait for the right moment. Build trust, show her she’s safe here. The truth will come out in its own time.”

He glanced at his watch. “Now, about that ride to the airport...”

I nodded, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll be there. Seven AM sharp.”

As Declan turned to leave, he paused at the door. “Oh, and Connor? That mille-feuille smells amazing. Throw a piece for me in the freezer for when we get back, yeah?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “It will all be gone by morning.”

As he walked out of the kitchen, I found myself staring at the dessert, my mind drifting back to the moment her lips laid upon mine.

Mia

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