Page 99 of Destined Lovers

I push open the large antique doors that are original to the house, luckily wide enough for a wheelchair, so we were able to preserve them.

Nora gasps when I turn on the lights that flood a long hallway.

“Declan,” she whispers and walks along the hall, tracing her hand along her paintings and Maeve’s. Nora paints more traditionally, and Maeve more modern, but they both mesh so well in the house. I’ve decorated a lot of wall space with them.

“When did you get them?” her voice quivers.

“I took them all from Agnes’s. I hope that’s okay. I couldn’t imagine your paintings sitting in a basement, not being shown to the world.”

She nods, not annoyed; she looks happy for the first time today. “And these are Maeve’s, I can tell by her technique. I know I said this last time, but Declan, she’s very talented, a natural.”

“I know,” I smile. She’s amazing.

“Where is she? Can I see her?” she asks hesitantly.

I shake my head. “She is at Sadie and Wills’s place for the night.”

“Oh.” Her face drops, and she tilts her head down, trying to mask it. “That’s okay. I’m probably too tired to be of good company anyway.”

I want to assure her it’s not because of her, but I won’t lie. I need time to talk to Nora and get used to the idea of her here,hopefullypermanently, before I bring Maeve into this.

Although devastated by Nora’s disappearance, Maeve will be ecstatic to see her and will quickly forget about the past. Of course, I want that, I only think it will be easier if everything is settled first.

“I think we’re both exhausted, so let’s skip the formal tour until tomorrow. That okay?”

“Aye.”

I put her bags in the lift while I lead her up the steps to retrieve them from the top.

“A lift for Maeve, I guess, comes in handy for other things,” she laughs awkwardly. I roll my neck in frustration that it’s like this between us. It shouldn’t be this fecking weird.

“This way…”

She follows, and I get a whiff of the perfume I’ve been trying not to inhale the whole car ride. It’s different from her past scents—deeper, masculine. She changes it almost daily, but I haven’t ever smelled one like this before.

“What’s with the different perfume?”

She smiles sadly, “A lot of deep thoughts and lonely nights don’t make for very up-lighting scents in perfume making.”

I nod my head, unsure what to say, and point to the first room—moving us along before I do something stupid like take her in my arms and kiss her better.

“This room here is the gym. I’ll hook your phone up later to the wireless sound system.”

“Who has a gym in their house?” she murmurs, but chooses to ignore the comment.

“Then there are two bedrooms on this floor, Maeve’s and her nurse Penelope whom you will meet tomorrow.”

“She’s with Maeve now, staying at your friend’s house too?”

“Aye, I gave her the night off. Sadie and Wills are fine helping Maeve. But Penny has become friends with my friends, so she’s staying with the girls tonight.”

“Penny?” she asks, confused.

“Penelope, Penny for short.” I show her their bedrooms then we walk up the next flight of steps to the third floor, “This is my office slash library.” My most prized place in the house. I spend hours, whenever I have the time, reading here.

She spins, her hair follows, and her flowy dress whips around as she takes it all in. “Is this modeled after the old library at Trinity?”

“Aye.” I lean against the doorframe, watching her admire my favorite space. It’s dark and mysterious, unlike much of the rest of my house.

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