Page 11 of The Lake House

She gasps. “Yeah, right, woman. Days.”

I shake my head. “Okay, fine… weeks. Please. I need to be alone just a little bit longer before I try to get involved with someone new. I’m not ready. But I’ll try for you. Soon.”

Now she rolls her eyes at me. “Girl, I don’t want you to do it for me. I want you to do it for you. You deserve to be happy. I think Declan is the perfect guy for you. I don’t know why it didn’t dawn on me sooner.”

“Please, Liv,” I beg her once more. I know sure as hell that I’m not ready to dive into dating or attempt to talk to a stranger right now. Okay, so technically Declan is not a stranger, but still. We don’t know one another that well anymore.

Liv lets out a sigh in defeat. “Alright, alright. I’ll give you some time. But you’ve got to promise me you’re going to try really hard to put yourself out there and find someone who really deserves you. I really want you to be happy, girl.”

I wrap my arms around her neck. “Thank you, Liv. I love you, my bestie.”

She laughs and hugs me back. “Yeah, yeah. I love you, too.”

ChapterFive

DECLAN

Of course I had seen her last night. How could I have missed those sparkling brown eyes and gorgeous smile? Those long, wavy brown tresses? And the way she looked in those tight, form-fitting jeans and T-shirt?

I bite down on my bottom lip just thinking about Giuliana last night. I hadn’t seen her in years, and yet, she still looked like the same gorgeous girl I remember from way back when. I had always found her so incredibly attractive, but she wasn’t from around here, and whenever she’d come to visit and stay with her grandparents for the summer, I could never manage to tell her how I felt. Talk about a fail.

But it doesn’t matter. She’s married and has been for a long time. But where was her husband?

I shake my head and sip on my cup of coffee. I don’t have time to think about someone who I can never have. It doesn’t matter. I need to get to work and stop worrying about nonsense. I open the book on my desk, ready to check the jobs lined up for the week, when Roger bursts through my door.

“Good morning, Mr. Bell.” He’s wearing a smile, and I know it’s because he’s about to get married soon. Rachel makes his heart skip a beat. The man’s been head over heels in love with her ever since he first laid eyes on her, almost thirty years ago.

Roger is one of my best friends and top employees. We’ve known each other since grade school, and there’s no one I trust my life with more than him.

I chuckle and shake my head. “Please don’t call me that, dude.” I take another sip of my coffee.

“What’s going on for today?” He takes a seat in the chair on the opposite side of my desk and places one leg on top of the other.

I look down at my agenda. “We’re starting a new project this morning… we get to play destruction.”

His eyes light up. “Oooh, I love that.”

I laugh once more, nodding. “I know you do. We’ve got to knock the walls down on a property over on Amber Street. We need to get going soon.”

He nods. “Sounds good. How was last night?”

I hesitate for a moment, thinking once more about Giuliana. Then, realizing what he means, I take a deep breath before speaking.

“Lily had a great time. She rode every single one of those rides.” I chuckle.

“Good. I’m glad she had fun. Rachel found a couple of dresses she’d love her to try on.”

Rachel had asked me if my four-year-old daughter could be the flower girl at their wedding. How could I say no? I was going to be the best man.

“Okay, sounds great. When?” I ask.

“Tonight.” Roger casually throws in there.

I laugh softly and then take another sip from my cup. “Okay, I’ll run home and shower after we finish for the day and then pick her up from daycare, and we’ll stop by your place.”

“Sounds good. While they try on dresses at the bridal shop, we can sit at that bar a few blocks down and throw some back. Think Lily will stay with my mother and Rachel without you for a bit?”

I smile widely. “Are you kidding? She adores them. A girl’s night out for three pretty ladies.”

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