Page 180 of Destined Lovers

Her stomach grumbles loudly, and she chuckles quietly. I’m happy to hear something other than chaos right now.

“Did you eat today?” Knowing full well she didn’t since she painted this morning. She gets so lost that sometimes she forgets to take care of herself.

She buries her head in the crook of my neck. “Sorry,” she mumbles, practically inaudible.

I rub my hands up and down her back. “Let’s go out to lunch on the way home. We can discuss everything and then head home to pack. Wills has secured a plane for us first thing in the morning.”

“Okay.”

“You going to be okay, Pip?” I ask, genuinely concerned at her lackluster attitude.

“I just need some time to process it.” Her stomach rumbles again. “And maybe some food will put me in a better mood.” She smirks. Finally, an emotion I enjoy seeing from her.

* * *

We’re on our way to lunch, and she’s texting nonstop, no doubt telling Bennett about the new court date since he’s insisting on coming.

No sooner than I think it, his name is out of her mouth. “Bennett is meeting me at the restaurant quickly. He’s dropping off things he picked up for me from Agnes’s while he was in Ireland this past weekend.”

I can’t help the grumble that leaves my lips. “Can’t he mail them?”

“Oh please, you don’t even have to say hi. He’ll pull up front, and I’ll grab them from him.”

I don’t respond because it’s times like these that I eerily remind myself of Wills’s possessive arse, so it’s best I keep my mouth shut.

After a few more minutes, I see Nora drop her head from my peripheral vision.

Concerned, I ask, “What’s wrong, Pip?”

“I know this is silly, but I realized we don’t get to go on holiday with our friends. I was looking forward to it.”

“I promise to take you anywhere when this is all over. A proper celebration,” I tell her, meaning every word. The second we can, we’ll plan something big.

“Anywhere?” Her eyes brighten. “I want to see the whole world one day.”

“I know, and I’ll show it to you. Me and you side by side. Where do you want to go first?”

She rubs her chin as she thinks. “Honestly? Is it crazy that I’m happy to go anywhere with the whole crew? They’ve slowly crept into my heart as they have yours and I don’t think it would be a proper celebration without them.”

I take her hand in mine, happy for her revelation. I already knew she felt this way, but it took time for her to realize it, and it’s the first time she’s expressed it.

“A little birdie told me that Wills is gifting Sadie a house in the South of France as a wedding gift since that’s where they met. We could all go there?”

She shifts in her seat and looks at me deadpan. “What is with you people and houses?”

I shrug. “It’s an investment, and it’s a special place for them. They plan to go back all the time, making it easier for them and the kids. He also made sure there was enough room for all of us to visit.”

Her brows draw together. “You understand that this is what people fantasize about, Declan. It doesn’t actually happen.”

“You’re right. Lucky for us, we don’t ever have to fantasize. I will get you whatever you desire. I’ve told you this many times before that I didn’t work my arse off to sit on all this money. I want to spend it on you, with you, and with our future family. I want to explore the world, and I want to indulge without feeling guilty. I volunteer my time and donate a shite ton of money. The rest should be spent on things that make us happy.”

She goes to open her mouth, but I cut her off, done with money talk, “Let’s drop it.”

Nora doesn’t do well disguising her annoyance at my dismissal, so she pulls my hand out of mine and huffs. I see her mouth open and shut, trying to hold back—I could laugh if I weren’t trying to end the conversation.

After ten minutes of sitting in silence and me trying a million times to hold her hand again until she finally gives in, we’re about to pull up to the restaurant, and I feel her body tense.

I tug her hand to get her attention, and her pensive eyes search mine.

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