Page 20 of Returning to Everton

Logan looks up at that. “Huh?” he says, and we all laugh.

“The park. You go there often,” Declan repeats for his son.

“Oh, yea! I love that park.” He looks at Violet. “Did you see it on your way here? It's so much fun. I go every time I can talk my dad or one of my uncles into taking me,” he tells Violet.

“Yes! I saw it on the way here. My mommy said we can go tomorrow after the movers bring all of our stuff. Do you wanna come? We can play together,” Violet asks Logan.

Logan looks up at Declan. “Can we, Dad?” he asks his father.

“Well, we’ll have to see what time it is when they’re ready to go. But I see no problem with it. Rowen?”

I like that he asked me if it was okay and didn’t just agree because my daughter said they could come. “Yeah. It’s always more fun to play with a friend than with yourself,” I agree. Then I replay what I just said and facepalm at the double meaning. Quinn just chuckles because she loves it when I make stupid mistakes like that. Declan, on the other hand, has this heated look in his eyes and a sexy little smirk on his face. Oh, no.

“I wouldn’t really know. I've only had guy friends since my wife died. And we don’t exactly play together,” he says with that smirk still in place.

Oh, god, kill me now.

“Yes, you do,” Logan chimes in, “You guys play video games together all the time.” He shakes his head, and goes back to talking to Violet.

I cover my face with both hands to hide my laugh. Luckily, or not depending on how you look at it, we’re saved from any further conversation about Declan playing with his friends, by the server bringing our food. I lean back so she can put my plate down, then when she moves on to the next person, I lean forward and smell the most mouthwatering cheeseburger. After I make sure Violet is all set up with her much smaller, but no less delicious looking cheeseburger, I take a bite of mine. It tastes so good I can’t help but close my eyes and moan. When I open my eyes, they land on Declan’s. His pupils are blown, and I realize the noise I just made was probably one akin to the types of noises he hears in the bedroom. I want to be embarrassed, but with the way he is looking at me right now, it’s difficult.

He’s looking at me like he wants to eat me and make me moan like that for a whole different reason. I clear my throat and look around. Luckily everyone else is so engrossed in their food, no one noticed that little moment Declan and I just had. I take a sip of my milkshake and try to cool myself down. It just got really hot in here.

Declan just smirks at me again. “It’s good, right?” he asks.

“Sooooo good,” Violet replies. “I can’t believe I’ve never had fries dipped in my milkshake before. I agree with Logan, this is my new favorite place to eat,” Violet declares.

I laugh. “Well, I hope the rest of their food is as good as I remember. I don’t think I can handle eating a cheeseburger every time I let Violet talk me into coming here.”

“Oh, it is,” Quinn finally chimes in. I almost forgot she was here. “It’s the best place to eat in this town, hands down. Unless you’re looking for a romantic dinner, of course,” she winks at me, and I look down and shake my head while hiding my own grin. Maybe she didn’t miss how I’ve been checking out Declan after all.

“So,” I say to Declan. “When do you wanna meet at the house?” I ask.

“We can go after dinner if you want? Logan and I don’t have anywhere we need to be,” he says.

“I can watch the kids, and y’all can go look at the house and sign the lease papers,” Quinn volunteers.

I look at Declan and shrug my shoulders. “That’s fine with me. If you trust Quinn with Logan,” I laugh when Quinn gives me her best indignant look.

“Oh, yeah. Logan is actually pretty close to Quinn. I think he’ll be fine with her and Violet for a little bit,” he agrees.

I turn to tell Violet what the plan is for after dinner. When I turn back around to finish my burger, I notice Declan is gone. He returns a moment later, and I see him stuff a receipt and his wallet back in his pocket before he sits down and finishes his dinner as well. Hmmm, I guess he just wanted to make sure the checks were separated.

When we’re all done, I get up and go to the front counter. I ask the server for our check, but she tells me Declan already paid for everything. I tell her thank you and hand her a twenty-dollar tip. Then I walk back to meet everyone at the door.

“You didn’t have to pay for our dinner, Declan,” I tell him.

“Well, we did intrude on your quiet dinner. It was the least I could do,” he says.

“Well, thank you. That’s very sweet of you,” I smile at him as we all start walking toward home.

8

Rowen

When we get to Bright Avenue, I tell Violet to be good for Quinn, and Declan tells Logan the same as we turn onto the street. We walk a little way down before Declan points to a house up ahead on the right and says that’s it. We walk up the driveway, and I stop in my tracks.

I turn to Declan. “This house is just gorgeous!” I exclaim in awe.

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