Page 129 of Destined Lovers

“It’s not big enough for us to have our privacy and have the six kids you want on top of Maeve and Penny. So when this went on sale a few months ago—”

“A few months ago.” My eyes bulge. He was always so confident in our relationship that he bought a freaking house, knowing we would find our way back together somehow. Even though I know, he was mad this time. He knew we would forgive me.

“Yes, don’t act so surprised. It was a tough decision. I don’t want Maeve to think I’m leaving her. That’s why I thought this house right across the street was perfect. We’re still practically living together,but also not. We can go back and forth whenever we want. I envision it like Maeve’s house will be the guest house, only city style since you need to cross the road.”

He walks closer to the window, settling behind me. He snakes his arm around my midsection, and rests his chin on my head. I love this feeling, encased in his arms.

He makes me feel safe… loved.

“Since that house is smaller, and I had it fixed to be handicap accessible, I knew this was the house for us. We could fix it up and build it over time. It will take a long while for permits and approvals, so we may have a few years still living in that house with Maeve so she won’t feel abandoned. It also gives us the time to design it to our exact liking.”

I don’t speak. I take it in a few moments, staring out the window at all the other beautiful homes on the block. The fancy cars and the mams pushing their designer prams.

It still shocks me that Declan is this rich. However that rich truly is. If he can buy two homes in Notting Hill, hire private planes, and spend millions on bodyguards… I definitely underestimated how wealthy he truly is.

Declan takes my silence as disapproval. “If you don’t like it, I’ll rent it and use this house as an investment.”

I wrap my arm around his, squeeze, and pull him closer. “I love it. Please don’t. It just takes me longer than normal to process that you have this kind of money. But, Dec—” I point to the two women outside their home chatting away.

“Do I even fit in here?” I look down at my casual oversized jumper.

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.” He growls, annoyed. “The Nora I know and love wouldn’t care about things like that. She’s her own person and never worries about what others say or do.”He’s right.“This is a well-off neighborhood. I’m not denying that, but Notting Hill is filled with philanthropists, artists, and writers. Not just stuck-up housewives. I promise you.”

I turn in his arms to face him, lifting on my tippy-toes to place a quick kiss on his lips. “I really love it, thank you so much. If I were to pick a house, it would be exactly like this. Where we can keep its old world charm and craftsmanship, but add in modern décor, yet not feel out of place.”

“Exactly what I was thinking.” He kisses me back, deepening it with power and suction that I feel throughout my body.

This man can kiss.

“Mmm, I love these lips,” he mumbles against me, then pulls back all too soon. “Since it’s so late, we need to get ready for our date night.”

“Are you going to tell me what we’re doing and what I should wear?”

He shrugs, “I don’t know, something casual since we’ll be at home.”

“We will?” I know we will, he’s already told me, but I’m trying to get him to give me more. I love surprises, yet also hate not being in the know at the same time.

“Yes, Pip. Stop asking questions.” He pulls my hand toward the stairs, exiting the house to walk across the street. I judged those women before, except what must we look like with four bodyguards around us at all times?

When we make it to the house, he kisses me one more time, tells me he will pick me up from the bedroom at seven, then saunters off to do god knows what.

* * *

The bedroom door squeaks open, and I watch as Declan crosses the bedroom into his closet.

“Are you ready, Pip?” he calls, presumably as he gets dressed.

“Aye, just one more second.” I search through my perfume, wanting to pick one special for tonight. Most of them are in the closet, save my favorites I leave lined on the counter since they double as décor in their vintage crystal bottles.

I grab the elongated shape one since it was always Agnes’s favorite. I miss her dearly and can’t wait for her to move here. She still sounded terrible when I spoke to her earlier before getting ready. On the bright side, the doctor is hopeful that by the end of the week, she’ll be able to leave Ireland as long as we provide private transportation.

In times like this, I can’t complain about Declan’s money because I would have sold my left kidney to get her here otherwise.

I spritz the perfume. It’s mixed with juniper berry, which is the one ingredient that makes up all gin, Agnes’s favorite spirit. It also has an undertone of amber wood, which I know Declan will enjoy.

I walk out of the bathroom, and Declan is standing there with his legs spread, arms crossed, waiting and looking every bit like the man I love. Sexy, edible, and completely kissable.

He always says he loves my lips, but I’m addicted to his.

---