Page 133 of Holding You
“I’d hear you out, then probably punch you on account of the fact she is my sister” is Luca’s answer. “Also, you’re welcome.”
“You’re welcome?” I repeat. “For what?”
“For so many things. Not being able to move up the date on his house, putting the idea of living with you in his head atbasketball, and mostly for putting you in the same room in Vegas.”
“You planned that?” I ask, shocked.
“Well, not really,”—he grins—“but I’m not mad they happened. Fate and all that.”
“Fate and all that.” Declan chuckles. “What if she still hated me? Then what would you say?”
Luca shrugs. “I tried.”
The table erupts into laughter.
“For the record, I was into Ruby the moment she walked out that door last summer after Susie put a hole in the fence.”
“What?” I lean back to look at him. “Really?”
“Yeah, you walked out, and like a lovesick fool, I swear my heart skipped a beat. But then you found out who I was and basically declared war, so I never did anything about it. I had no idea our kids would become best friends and that I’d spend the next year getting to know you.”
“But I was mean to you.”
“And I was oddly into it.”
I gape at him. He’s never told me this.
“I can see your wheels turning. I thought you were hot and you were fun to be around, even if you were snappy.”
I shake my head, but can’t stop the smile from forming on my lips.
“You sure are something.”
He shrugs.
“I’m whatever you need me to be, baby.”
“Oh no. I’ll stop you right there. None of that.” Miles groans.
I point a finger at my brothers. “I sat here and watched all of you love your ladies this last year. Deal with it.”
“Here, here,” my dad says and holds up his water.
“Dad, what?” Hudson says with a laugh, and the others join in.
When their conversation falls back to Hudson’s upcoming hockey season, I glance up to Declan.
“That wasn’t so bad.”
“No, it wasn’t, but I’m sure glad it’s over.”
“Why? Scared?”
“No, because now I can do this anytime I want.”
He hooks an arm around me and kisses me right there in front of everyone.
“Told ya!” Max says, and Declan and I pull apart to look at him and Susie.
