Page 15 of The One for Me
I smile at her. “It wasn’t about the kiss?”
Devney releases a long sigh. “No, Sean, it wasn’t. We’re both in agreement that it was a mistake and we weren’t going to talk about it.”
I guess that I’m the liar now. Still, I need to play it cool. “Right. We did.”
“Why are you here early?”
“I needed to see you.” The words slip from my mouth so easily. There’s a new tension in her body that makes me wish I had thought before I spoke. “The last time we were together, things got messy. I don’t want messy with you, Dev.”
She gets to her feet, brushing the grass from her jeans. “Nothing is messy. We’re fine. We were drunk. I’ll just put that on the long list of things that we need to atone for.”
There are a lot more things that I’d like to add to the list. Like taking her in my arms and kissing her until she can’t think. I’d lay her in the grass, feeling every contour of her body, using my hands, lips, tongue—
“Sean?” Devney waves her hands in front of my eyes. “You there?”
“Yeah, sorry . . . I’m tired from the early flight.”
Devney extends her hand, and I clasp it, fighting back the pulse of electricity that happens at her touch. I rise, towering over her and can’t stop myself from pulling her close, needing to have the connection we’ve always shared.
Her arms wrap around my middle, head tucked under my chin. “There are only two things that will make these six months bearable.”
“What are they?” she asks, peering up into my eyes. Her soft smile makes me believe we’ll be okay.
“You and spending time with my two brothers. But you’re number one, Dev. You’re always my number one.”
She looks away and then steps back. “You’ve got me, right?” It’s the phrase we’ve used since we were kids.
“Always.”
I just pray I don’t let her down.
Chapter Five
Devney
“He’s absolutely perfect,” I say, holding Deacon James Arrowood—also known as DJ—in my arms.
“I love him so much already.” Sydney smiles, lying in the bed after the easiest birth in history.
I swear, it was as if she commanded him to obey, and he did. Instead of laboring for hours, Sydney woke up, told Declan it was time, they went to the hospital and five hours later, he was here. After how rocky her pregnancy was, I think this was a welcome revelation.
“Of course you do. He’s beautiful.” I sway slightly, loving how innocent and sweet he looks. “Where’s Declan?” I ask.
“He went with his brothers to the burial site.”
Some might not understand the importance of that, but Sydney and I do. Their mother was a formidable woman who they loved, as we did as well. When she died, nothing could illuminate the darkness that seeped into that house.
“I’m glad they’re together again. Well, almost.”
Syd nods. “It’s been hard on them, and even though I think their father was a bastard, him forcing this has been a good thing.”
“Well,” I say softly, bouncing Deacon, “I know of at least two good things that have come from them returning.”
“Ellie is desperate to have the baby already.”
“I can imagine. She was uncomfortable when I saw her last week.”
Sydney yawns and then winces. “I’m so sore, and it’s so . . . weird, not having the pressure anymore.”
