Page 56 of Resting Beach Face
No. No, I really wasn’t. I think I swallowed my tongue.
Declan turned, pulling out an ear bud. “I didn’t hear you come up. Sorry. Am I in the way?” He stepped to the side, making room for us to pass, and tossed the machete into the grass. “I hoped to be done before you got here, but these weeds were…”
“A bitch?” Gray supplied with a smirk, his gaze skimming over Declan’s glistening chest.
Declan smiled. He fucking smiled for Gray. “Yeah, you could say that.”
“Come on.” I gave the toolbox a shove, forcing Gray to stop ogling my— Well, myfriend,I guess.
Declan didn’t seem to mind Gray looking, which was odd. He’d told me he wasn’t into dating or relationships, but?—
I squashed the stupid jealous thoughts trying to surface. Declan was just being nice to a guy who was going to help remodel his property. I needed to be nice, too.
We rolled the toolbox past Declan and through the front door of the house. As soon as we made it inside, Gray busted out laughing.
“Damn, your face, man,” he said. “You’d think I was swooping in to steal your man.”
“Shut up,” I grumbled. “Did you have to stare? Some people don’t like to be ogled like a sex object, you know.”
This only made Gray laugh harder. “I was not ogling him. Jesus. You’ve got it bad.”
I flipped him the bird, but just then Declan stepped inside. He’d put on his shirt but left it unbuttoned, giving tantalizing glimpses of his chest and stomach. Somehow, that was worse.
“I’m going to serve breakfast to the guests in about half an hour. Do you two want me to bring you something?”
“That would be real nice,” Gray said, stepping forward to extend a hand to shake. “Hi, Declan. I’m Gray. I think Cash is too flustered to make introductions.”
Declan glanced my way, brow slightly furrowed. “Flustered?”
“Ignore him,” I said. “You know I never get flustered.”
Declan chuckled. “That’s true. You’re the most unflappable person I know.”
“Really?” Gray murmured. “Interesting.”
I shot him a warning glare, and he raised his hands with a shit-eating grin. “I believe I’ll have a look around and give you two a minute.”
Once he was out of sight, Declan said, “What was that about?”
“Nothing,” I said quickly. “Gray has experience with remodeling work. He knows what he’s doing so you won’t have to worry I’m going to screw this up.”
Declan frowned. “I wasn’t worried about that. I trust you, Cash.”
My heart squeezed. “Really? Because you once said I didn’t take anything seriously, and I just wanted you to know that I takethis—I takeyou—very seriously.”
Declan stepped close enough I could smell the grass and sweat clinging to him. “I never should have said that to you. It was wrong.”
“I know why you would think?—”
“I was wrong,” he cut in, his eyes holding mine captive. They were more compelling even than his naked chest had been. Because in them, I could see so much emotion. “I’m sorry.”
My breath hitched. Jesus. What was wrong with me? It wasn’tthatbig of a deal. Yes, I wanted Declan to believe in me. To trust me. But I was used to people underestimating me. Usedto being seen as the one-dimensional party boy, the flirt, the fuckboy around town.
Declan hesitantly cupped my shoulders. “I want to hug you, but I’m all sweaty and?—”
I pushed into his arms, hooking my arms around his back. “I don’t care about that.”
“Okay,” he said softly, one hand stroking down my back. “Thanks for doing this for me, even though I didn’t always treat you right.”
