Page 39 of Stealing Forever

If he can feel me watching him, he doesn’t say anything, but as he presses the side button on his phone and lowers it to his lap, I divert my attention to Sailor.

“Good morning!” a feminine voice singsongs, stepping closer to where we’re all seated. “My name is Lindsey, and I’ll be one of your flight attendants today. We’ll be ready for takeoff in about ten minutes, and once we start taxiing, we’ll go over the safety procedures. Is there anything I can get for any of you to drink in the meantime?”

“Water, for me please, and an apple juice for my girl,” Declan answers immediately.

Lindsey’s eyes meet mine, ready for my order. “Diet Coke, please.”

She nods, then looks at Gareth. “Water.”

“Water,” Austin repeats.

When she gets to Jensen, I watch her eyes sweep over him appreciatively.

“Same,” he grunts, then glances beyond her as another teammate makes his way onto the plane.

“I’ll be back shortly!” Lindsey smiles and goes to the back of the jet.

The guys start talking about baseball again so I reach into my backpack and pull out my headphones. Turning them on, I place them over my ears then pull up the audiobook I waslistening to. Typically audiobooks don’t hold my attention but I’m halfway throughThe NightmareKingby Kat Blackthorne and I’m absolutely obsessed—I can’t stop listening.

Closing my eyes, I let the book pull me into the story until I’m watching Lucy and Mare come to life in my imagination. And before I know it, we’re twenty-thousand feet in the air.

“Wow,” I gasp under my breath as Declan, Sailor, and I step inside of The Winslow Hotel, a fifty-story building centered in the heart of downtown Rosemoor.

Growing up in Southern California, we visited Rosemoor once or twice a year for beach vacations, but never spent much time downtown because it just wasn’t safe. I’m surprised to see such a luxurious hotel here now, but from what I could tell from the short drive from the airport, Rosemoor is trying to change their reputation.

Pristine, oversized white and silver tile floors complement the spectacular vaulted ceilings of the lobby. Everywhere you look is glittering from crystal chandeliers and silver accents shined to perfection. Plush, ruby red couches frame the seating area, facing the reception desks, but the showstopper is the three-tiered fountain in the middle.

Pulling out of Declan’s grasp, Sailor sprints to it, her tiny hand dunking in the water before either of us can react. Abandoning the suitcase he’s rolling, Declan jogs over and swoops her into his arms.

She hangs in his hold playfully, dipping her head back and giggling as he lightly tickles her stomach. “Daddy, I want to touch the water!”

“Maybe we can go swimming in the pool later. Not in the dirty fountain.” Placing her onto her feet, he grabs her hand again, then reaches for their shared suitcase.

I reach for it at the same time, and my fingers grip the handle first. “Let me get it. You take care of Sailor.”

“Absolutely not.” His response is immediate, and a jolt of electricity sparks through me when he clasps his fingers over mine. “I already feel guilty I don’t have a third arm to manage your bag, too. You’re not taking mine.”

The conviction in his eyes takes my breath away and I release the handle, but don’t move my hand. The little voice inside my head is screaming,‘Hold his hand, see what he does!’But I ignore her.

Still, every nerve ending in my body is sizzling with a heat I feel creeping onto my cheeks.

“We should check in,” he murmurs, his voice tight like he’s holding himself back from something.

My head nods on its own accord. “Yeah. Let’s get Sailor settled.”

“I want to swim,” Sailor whines, tugging on Declan’s hand.

“In a while,” he promises, then together they walk over to the reception desk.

“Welcome to The Winslow Hotel. Checking in?” We’re greeted by a man in a three-piece suit with an eyebrow piercing. Kail, his name tag reads, and I can’t help but hold in a laugh because even behind his uniform I know he fits the perfect hipster Southern California persona. I immediately want to be his best friend and introduce him to Hartley.

“Yes. Declan Lane.”

“Wonderful.” Kail types Declan’s name into the computer. “Perfect, here you are. King suite for three nights.”

“What? No. I booked the penthouse.”

Kail’s eyes dart from Declan to his computer screen. “Unfortunately, that’s not what I have here. Let me see…” his voice trails off as he concentrates, clicking his mouse furiously.

---