Page 89 of Destined Lovers

13

Nora

It’s an unusuallysunny January day, beating down on Ben and me as we walk through the park. I still wear my favorite wool scarf to protect my bare neck from the wind and to remind myself of the good times I’ve had in my life—Ireland road trips.

Since that last day I was forced to leave, I’ve felt more alone than ever before.

I miss the life I started to build again.

Unfortunately, if I don’t stick to my plan, I might not have a life at all.

Despite the warm weather, a sudden chill runs through my body, and my heartbeat picks up, rapidly beating against my chest. I look around and don’t see anything unusual but…

“Why are you so uneasy right now?” Bennett asks from beside me, eyeing me suspiciously. We’ve just finished a long lunch, and I’m now heading to work for the rest of the night. I now work at an art gallery,a dream jobfor some artists. They’ve even asked me to show my work.

Sadly, it doesn’t feel so dreamy when I barely want to get out of bed in the morning.

It’s a struggle each and every day.

Today I have a big-time client coming in, and I need to get everything ready before my boss arrives. But as we walk through the park, in a way to avoid the foot traffic on the main road, I have this feeling I’m being watched.

“I don’t know. Something seems… off.”

Bennett furrows his brows. “What do you mean off? Have you seen something and didn’t tell me?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just a feeling.” I shrug. It’s probably nothing. A feeling caused my wild thoughts.

He puts his arm around me and pulls me close. “Your ‘feelings’ are continuously getting you into trouble, little sis. You’ll be fine. I’m right here, and you’re safe at work. They have top of the line security. It’s why I got you the job. Millions of dollars in paintings are very well guarded.”

Little sis.

It’s what the people of Birmingham think we are. Brother and sister.

It was either that or an old married couple since we bicker enough to want to kill one another, but since I’m not yet thirty, I think brother-sister makes more sense.

We arrive at the gallery, and Bennett hugs me goodbye wishing me a good night at work.

I nod and walk past him, about to walk into the building, when he calls out.

“Call me later, Fiona.”

I turn to face him. “Will do!”

“Who. The. Feck. Is. Fiona?”

Oh. My. God.

I stop dead in my tracks at the deep familiar voice I know better than my own. This was the feeling...the feeling I felt in the park.

A low burn deep coats my stomach, and shivers rack my body at the thought of him watching me. How long was he there?

This is why they always say follow your gut because I knew something was off. I felt something, and all along, it was Declan.

But he can’t be here. Why is he here? I cry to myself.

Why does this keep happening?

I feel his presence behind me, not moving, not speaking, just waiting for me to look at him.

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