Page 37 of Destined Lovers

Declan

I knock on the front door of Agnes’s country home and am greeted with a friendly smile and a warm hug.

“Happy Christmas! I’m so happy you made it, Declan. It means the world to Nora and I,” she says, then looks past me, confused. “Has your sister decided not to join us?”

“She’s here, waiting in the car. I was wondering if you mind holding the door open while I carry her in. It will be hard for her wheelchair to maneuver on the rocky pathway.”

“Oh! Of course, I’m sorry we aren’t more handicap accessible. You would think in my old age we would start making some adjustments,” she jokes and then holds the door open, so I can run and get Maeve.

“Nervous,” Maeve whispers when I take her out of the car into my arms.

I smile warmly at her and kiss her cheek. “I’ll let you in on a secret, Maeve. I am too.”

“You… love… her,” she stutters and smiles up at me.

“Aye, never stopped,” I answer, leading us back into the house. It’s the truth, I won’t deny it.

Things may be different now, but my feelings never faded, considering I never gave up looking for Nora.

No one wastes years of their life looking for their best friend, the one they love, just to have those feelings disappear. If anything, they are back in full force.

I introduce Maeve to Agnes quickly, then place her on the sofa so I can run back for her wheelchair, knowing she’ll feel most comfortable sitting in it with her speech tablet, so she can easily join in on the conversation.

When I stride back into the house, Nora is walking up the stairs from her apartment, and I’m stopped dead in my tracks.

“Nora,” I murmur. Her head flies up, surprise written over her face. “You look…” I shake my head because I’m lost for words. “You look stunning…just unbelievably gorgeous.”

I push Maeve’s wheelchair to the side and quickly walk toward Nora for a proper hello.

“Happy Christmas, Dec,” she whispers and bites her bottom lip. It seems Agnes may be the only one not nervous tonight. I look her up and down, unashamedly, taking in every bit of her beauty.

She looks like… perfection. I’m stunned. I’ve never seen her put together like this, and I’m taken aback.

There is one thing I take notice of.

“Happy Christmas, Pip.” I take another purposeful step forward, lean down and kiss her. “You’re wearing green,” I whisper, then take a deep whiff of her perfume. There is no shame in my game. I’m not hiding any of my feelings from her now.

I want her to know where I stand, that I’ll be here waiting for her when she is finally ready to let go of her past and trust me again.

“It’s Christmas,” she says with a slight quiver. The thing is, even though I’m not hiding anything, she thinks she is. But as she stands there biting her lip, staring into my eyes, I know nothing has changed for her either.

I palm the back of her neck, rubbing my thumb over her wildly beating pulse, and pull her into me.

I kiss her cheek one more time, taking advantage of her openness. “I don’t think that’s the only reason you’re wearing this color,” I whisper again, causing goose bumps to scatter across her exposed neck and shoulders.

I pull back slightly to look her in the eyes, continuing to palm her nape, keeping us close.

She knows I love her in green, and since she does not deny it, I’ll take that as a win tonight.

She’s trying.

Nora’s hazel eyes dilate slightly, and if I wasn’t sure before that she feels this just as much as I do, I’m sure now.

I don’t want this moment to pass, so I take the chance, even knowing I should take this slower for her sake, lean forward, and go in for a real kiss… slow enough to allow her to back away if she wants to.

After having her lips on mine yesterday, I never want it any other way.

Her eyes close naturally, and I’m surprised she’s giving in to her body’s needs so easily.

---