Page 83 of Sins and Salvation

He kisses me. "Welcome home, Maeve Brennan."

The name sounds strange after months of being Emma Murphy. But good.Right.

"Does Conor have to go back to his old school?" I ask.

"If you want. Or we can find a new one closer to here."

"New one," I decide. "Fresh start for all of us."

He nods. "I talked to the clinic where you worked. They'd take you back if you want."

I stare at him, surprised. "You did that?"

"Figured you'd want your job back. If not there, we'll find something else."

"And you? What will you do?"

He grins. "I'm thinking of opening a gym. Boxing, training, that kind of thing. Legit business."

I laugh. "Declan Donovan, respectable business owner. Who'd have thought?"

"Not my father, that's for sure." His smile fades slightly. "Cormac wants to come by next week. Just to check in."

I tense. "Just him?"

"Just him. No other Donovan’s." He touches my face. "We can say no."

Part of me wants to keep Conor as far from the Donovan family as possible. But they're his blood too. And if we're really starting fresh…

"One visit," I say. "We'll see how it goes."

"Thank you."

Conor thunders back down the stairs. "Mom! Dad! I found my room! It has a window seat!"

We follow him up to see his choice—the second largest bedroom with bay windows overlooking the garden. He bounces on the bare mattress, face lit with excitement.

"Can I paint it blue? Like the ocean in Spain?"

"Sure," Declan says, ruffling his hair. "Whatever you want."

Later, after Conor falls asleep in his new room, Declan and I stand in the master bedroom. Moonlight pours through the windows.

"Are you happy?" he asks, pulling me against him.

"I think I will be." I look up. "Are you?"

"More than I deserve."

I hit his arm. "Don't start that shit again."

He laughs and kisses me. "Yes, ma'am."

His mouth covers mine, the kiss turning desperate in seconds. He backs me against the wall, hands rough as they push under my shirt.

"Need you," he says against my neck. "Right now."

I pull at his shirt. "Then take me."

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