Page 49 of Holding You
I finish cleaning the kitchen, a much shorter argument between Declan and I this time, and then I settle in the living room upstairs to wait for him. The creak in the stairs is my only hint that Declan is on his way.
As soon as he reaches the top step, my heart begins to race.
Oh-kay.
Gray sweatpants. Black T-shirt. Backward ball cap. Black rimmed glasses.
It seems Susie wasn’t the only one who went downstairs to change into their sleepwear.
This man needs to go right back down those stairs and change every single thing he has going on.
But of course, I can’t tell him that.
I just need to take a deep breath and pretend like it doesn't bother me.
“I brought a notebook just in case you wanted me to write this down.”
Damn him.
His ability to read me shouldn’t turn me on.
“Thank you,” I say and then sit down on the chair across from him, tucking my legs to sit crisscross applesauce. “Where should we start?”
He tilts his head, his brows rising for a split second. “I’m good with wherever you pick.”
“Okay, well, let’s just start from the beginning of the day. You obviously have bathrooms in the basement to get ready, so we can cross that off.”
“Bathrooms crossed off, check,” he says, never taking his eyes off me.
I narrow my gaze, “Breakfast is … pretty much anytime Max wakes up. I work from home, so we aren’t rushed to be ready by a certain time during the summer.”
“Same with me and Susie.”
My gaze snaps to his.
“So, wait, we’re just here all day every day … together?”
I knew Declan still worked and obviously from his house, but the details didn’t register when I invited the Youngs to move in.
“Seems so. Let’s make this easier. For breakfast and lunch we obviously leave for each family to do their own thing when they see fit. Susie and I usually go out to dinner once a week, but I can make that more often while we are here if I need to.”
“No, no, I don’t want you to feel like you can’t be here, but there is only one kitchen.”
“So ….”
“So how about we agree to three dinners a week together … for the kids’ sake.”
Declan leans back and chuckles, “Yes, for the kids’ sake. I hope you can survive that.”
I hold my chin high as I say, “If they are like tonight, I can survive and —no, stop. Don’t smile.”
“I can’t help it. I think we’re friends and you just refuse to admit it.”
I refuse to have a reply.
He laughs. “Well then, let’s move on to rent.”
I nod slowly.
