Page 31 of Destined Lovers

Nora

I’m not sure whom I want to strangle first, my lovely nan, or Declan, who has had a smug grin, stretched the width of his face since Agnes so kindly opened her big fat mouth.

The two get on just fabulously, cackling like two old-school girls.

I’ve sat here the good part of an hour listening to them talk about nonsense. I’ve not said one word.

Declan’s been going on about his precious library he’s having custom-built in his new home.

Agnes promises to contribute books of her own that she no longer needs, and they continue to talk about their favorite authors.

Watching their interaction is the epitome of don’t judge a book by its cover.

On the one hand, we have this old Irish woman who lives in the countryside and knits for fun but has a weakness for hot men and smutty books.

On the other, we have this six-foot-five, tattooed hunk of a man sitting here quoting lines from Tolkien.

The only, and I mean the only reason why I even know who the hell Tolkien is, was because my da used to loveThe Lord of the Ringsmovies and often forced me to watch them.

Their conversation flows seamlessly, making me uneasy and unsure how we would get on in life now.

I’m choosing to forget our little sexual encounter earlier—well until I’m alone in my room later so I can replay it one million times and freak out over every single detail.

I’m focusing on our differences instead. He’s done so well for himself.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m beyond proud. But, I’m so far removed from any real success that I don’t know where my life is leading me or how it would fit in with his.

I know I continue telling him I’m not ready to open up, but eventually, he’ll know everything that’s been holding me back. Stupidly, I thought that we would just fall back into place.

Clearly, that’s not going to happen.

He has a whole new life, while I’ve been treading laterally this entire time.F

Listening to him talk about his charity, work, and life in London leaves me thinking that I have nothing to offer him anymore as a friend and even more so as what I always hoped, a lover.

For a lot of our lives, even as kids, we had different aspirations, but we knew we would work at them together.

Then when my parents died, my life paused, and I’ve yet to press play. Whereas his life has been on fast-forward ever since.

Have I been holding on to hope for no reason?

I glance back at the two of them, and it hits me hard in the chest when he turns his head, his chocolate eyes sparkle, and he smiles brightly.

What the hell have I been thinking this whole time? I can’t lose him, despite all the differences I think we have, I have to figure out a way to get back to the root of our relationship. Remind him that we have a connection that is like no other, a bond that has been building since we were kids.

He turns back to Agnes and gives his full attention to her but stretches his arm across the couch, and palms the back of my bare neck. He rubs his thumb up and down the side, and I feel it all the way to my toes.

I’m holding back a shiver, especially when he gives a light squeeze and starts to massage up the base of my neck.

Yeah… nope, feck that. I’m not giving up.

The old Nora would fight for what she wanted. I might not have all the money in the world or bring much to the table right now, but I bring me, and that’s all he should care about.Right?

I suppress the moan that’s dying to pass through my lips from his small touches, instead, I continue to watch him and Agnes. Taking in how at ease he is here with us. It’s always been like this, though. Declan gets on with most people he meets. His easy and calm demeanor has never let him down.

It’s hard to pull my eyes away from him, afraid he’ll disappear before my eyes. It’s been a whirlwind of events, and I never realized how much I needed to see him until now.

Then his guttural laugh booms through the room, breaking me out of my thoughts, and now I’m wondering what these two are laughing about.

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